About The Artist

Senior Artist Debbie Finnegan

is the tomboy-turned-makeup-artist whose love of all things gothic can be traced back to her childhood growing up in the Black Mountains of Northern Ireland. That said, she’s just as much at home in sunny Ibiza and shares her tips for taking your look from the rain to a more tropical climate. Here she tells us more about her humble beginnings, working behind the M·A·C counter and becoming an internationally recognized makeup artist.

The Great Outdoors

“I'm originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland. I grew up just outside the city and had the Black Mountain as my back garden. My childhood was a jumble of random pets, dirty knees and climbing trees. Then, around my thirteenth birthday I stopped being a tomboy and discovered makeup. I never looked back. I attended a three-week long Irish-speaking summer school near the coast in Donegal. It was so much fun staying in a house with ten other girls of different ages. I began practicing makeovers on them.”

Holy Smokes!

“Later I spent six years working as a Retail Artist at different M·A·C counters in the UK and Ireland. The first product in the M·A·C range that I fell in love with was a kohl pencil in Smolder. The soft pencil allowed me to create a new level of smokiness and I loved the drama it brought. I'm such a fan of eye kohl pencils as they can transform the face instantly. I love Pearlglide Liner in Lord It Up as it's a super soft pencil in a warm bronze shade with a slight sparkle.”

Spanish Sun

“My favourite place in the world is Ibiza. When I go I’m taking Extreme Dimension Mascara, as it gives me the longest lashes and is the perfect way to dress up the eyes. I'd also pack my Studio Finish Concealer, as I like to warm it and use to cover my dark circles, and also to hide my hyper pigmentation. Finally if I'm hanging out in the sun I need a strong lip colour to finish off my look. My shade of choice at the moment is Lipstick in So Chaud, a rich spicy orange-red in a dramatic matte texture. It makes my eyes look super blue and brightens up the rest of my face.”