Meet DoMa Makeup Artist, John Wilger

The industry professional reveals the tricks he’s learned in his creative career from photoshoots to fashion weeks.

Interview with @JohnWilgerMakeup

April 20, 2022

What is your favorite thing about working in beauty?

Meeting other creatives. To be around others with an interest in creating something gives me energy. Passionate artists photographers stylists brings light to the world. With all the craziness out there to have a product or image that you can call your own and that came from you is very fulfilling.

"To be around others with an interest in creating something gives me energy."

How did you get into the beauty world?

During quarantine I had a friend who is a makeup artist that wasn’t working due to the pandemic and they had a lot of free time of their hand. I used to be a personal trainer so we made a trade, I would train them and they would teach me makeup. This helped pass the days when the world was upside down (it’s still upside down). 

What's the secret to dewy, natural-looking makeup? 

The best natural dewy makeup comes from really good skin prep. The better the model/client’s skin the better the result in any application. On a clean face I like to mix an up illuminating primer with a moisturizer and give a good facial message. Then a skin tint or light liquid foundation with cream highlight and blush finish off a solid dewy look.

"The best natural dewy makeup comes from really good skin prep."

What's your favorite way to make a statement with a makeup look?

I think the best way to make a statement with makeup is to accentuate the eyes it is the first thing people see when you talk to someone and connects us to other people. If you have green eyes for example it’s compliment is violet so a light wash of this color over the eyes will accentuate the color of your eyes. 

What's your go-to approach for everyday beauty?

My go to for everyday beauty is personal. I’ve had clients tell me they want their faces painted white with black smoky eyes and liner and a bold lip on top of it all. To them that made them feel beautiful. For me I really try to read the client and get to know them to understand what they are going to feel beautiful in. They better someone feels about themselves the more likely they are going to have a positive impact on something else so for me it’s really about being of service to others.

Do you have any favorite DoMa products that you go to time and time again?

DoMA Product. The Payot Facial Oil — facial oils are a great for multi purpose use. It’s good for softening the skin you can sheer out your full coverage foundation or use it on your hands after you wash them, just a drop.

Payot

Face Beauty Oil

$46.00

Do you have any tips for effortlessly incorporating color into makeup looks?

Effortlessly incorporate color by simply replacing your everyday products with a colored one. Using a peach blush? Try a purple one, purple has red in it like peach but will emphasis your blue undertones. Using a black pencil liner on the eyes? Try navy and smudge until blended. Starting with small pops of color is easy with to incorporate color.

Explain your approach to runway versus photo shoot and how you come to contriving these different looks?

If you are unfamiliar with runway it is always chaotic. Even with all the planning in the world there is still so little time and so many models. You know these makeup looks will be published so you need to a great makeup look. Ultimately runway is like a final exam for your level of technical ability you have to perform quickly and accurately on multiple models under a serious time crunch. 

"Ultimately runway is like a final exam for your level of technical ability"

A photoshoot can vary depending on the client but usually you have much more time to complete the look. A photoshoot could be a collaboration of artists who will talent all the time in the world to make that perfect image. Therefore, the days can be very long. On the other hand if it’s more commercial the look is probably more simple and clean, not too challenging but you are fulfilling a client’s need rather than creating your own masterpiece.

 Meet DoMa Makeup Artist, John Wilger

The industry professional reveals the tricks he’s learned in his creative career from photoshoots to fashion weeks.

Interview with @JohnWilgerMakeup

April 20, 2022

What is your favorite thing about working in beauty?

Meeting other creatives. To be around others with an interest in creating something gives me energy. Passionate artists photographers stylists brings light to the world. With all the craziness out there to have a product or image that you can call your own and that came from you is very fulfilling.

"To be around others with an interest in creating something gives me energy."

How did you get into the beauty world?

During quarantine I had a friend who is a makeup artist that wasn’t working due to the pandemic and they had a lot of free time of their hand. I used to be a personal trainer so we made a trade, I would train them and they would teach me makeup. This helped pass the days when the world was upside down (it’s still upside down). 

What's the secret to dewy, natural-looking makeup? 

The best natural dewy makeup comes from really good skin prep. The better the model/client’s skin the better the result in any application. On a clean face I like to mix an up illuminating primer with a moisturizer and give a good facial message. Then a skin tint or light liquid foundation with cream highlight and blush finish off a solid dewy look.

"The best natural dewy makeup comes from really good skin prep."

What's your favorite way to make a statement with a makeup look?

I think the best way to make a statement with makeup is to accentuate the eyes it is the first thing people see when you talk to someone and connects us to other people. If you have green eyes for example it’s compliment is violet so a light wash of this color over the eyes will accentuate the color of your eyes. 

What's your go-to approach for everyday beauty?

My go to for everyday beauty is personal. I’ve had clients tell me they want their faces painted white with black smoky eyes and liner and a bold lip on top of it all. To them that made them feel beautiful. For me I really try to read the client and get to know them to understand what they are going to feel beautiful in. They better someone feels about themselves the more likely they are going to have a positive impact on something else so for me it’s really about being of service to others.

Do you have any favorite DoMa products that you go to time and time again?

DoMA Product. The Payot Facial Oil — facial oils are a great for multi purpose use. It’s good for softening the skin you can sheer out your full coverage foundation or use it on your hands after you wash them, just a drop.

Payot

Face Beauty Oil

$46.00

Do you have any tips for effortlessly incorporating color into makeup looks?

Effortlessly incorporate color by simply replacing your everyday products with a colored one. Using a peach blush? Try a purple one, purple has red in it like peach but will emphasis your blue undertones. Using a black pencil liner on the eyes? Try navy and smudge until blended. Starting with small pops of color is easy with to incorporate color.

@johnwilgermakeup

Explain your approach to runway versus photo shoot and how you come to contriving these different looks?

If you are unfamiliar with runway it is always chaotic. Even with all the planning in the world there is still so little time and so many models. You know these makeup looks will be published so you need to a great makeup look. Ultimately runway is like a final exam for your level of technical ability you have to perform quickly and accurately on multiple models under a serious time crunch. 

"Ultimately runway is like a final exam for your level of technical ability"

A photoshoot can vary depending on the client but usually you have much more time to complete the look. A photoshoot could be a collaboration of artists who will talent all the time in the world to make that perfect image. Therefore, the days can be very long. On the other hand if it’s more commercial the look is probably more simple and clean, not too challenging but you are fulfilling a client’s need rather than creating your own masterpiece.