Radhika Samani is a makeup artiste working strictly with cruelty-free makeup brands

Radhika Samani is a gorgeous and celebrated animal-loving makeup artist who has taken her love for animals into her professional life. She feels so strongly about animal welfare that she is the only cruelty-free make-up artist we have met. Radhika is also a member of the KSPCA and made waves when she hosted a makeup demo at the Lohana Community Diwali Programme. We spoke to her this week to find out about her endeavours…

Tell us a little bit about yourself…
I am an animal lover and self-confessed makeup and skincare junkie! I absolutely love makeup that is more natural, and makes skin look like skin. I do not like that caked on makeup look at all. I firmly believe makeup is meant to enhance your natural beauty; not make you look like a different person! I like keeping the base makeup more natural and creating drama in the eye makeup. I love playing around with eyeshadow!

What got you started in the beauty industry?
I’ve been very passionate about makeup from a very young age and used to play around with my mom’s makeup a lot. As I got older and started learning more and more about makeup theory, I started experimenting with different looks on myself. Applying makeup has always been therapeutic for me. I had a light bulb moment one day and thought to myself, ‘Hey, since I’m so passionate about this, why don’t I turn it into a profession and do makeup for other people?’

The past year has proved especially challenging for business. How are you coping with the situation?
It has been difficult, especially with many events hat I had been booked for getting cancelled. I’ve been trying to remain positive throughout the situation, marketing myself more and also assuring potential clients that I am taking all the necessary health and safety precautions so they can have a stress-free makeover experience.

You are a passionate cruelty-free makeup artist. What does this entail?
A cruelty-free makeup artist is one who only uses makeup products that have not been tested on animals through any party, all the way from ingredients, to finished products, to products sold in stores. I am also cruelty-free with skincare and haircare. Natural hairbrushes are made from animal hairs and a lot of false eyelashes can be made from mink or silk. I only use makeup brushes and eyelashes made of synthetic fibres, not containing animal products.

What exactly goes on in the production of makeup that is not cruelty-free?
During animal testing, the animals used are normally rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and mice. In the process, the animals are subjected to skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed onto their shaved skin or dripped into their eyes without any pain relief. They are also repeatedly force-fed, lethal dose tests are done on them in which the animal is forced to swallow a large amount of a test chemical to determine a dose that causes death. At the end of a test, the animal is killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck breaking or decapitation. No pain relief is provided.

Why is it so important to use cruelty-free products?
Using cruelty-free products means you spend money on supporting brands which do not test on animals. Animals are not ours to experiment on. There is absolutely no reason brands should be testing on animals. Not only is it cruel, but it is also unnecessary and inaccurate.

Some people might argue that they eat meat or use animal by-products, so why should they splurge on a cruelty-free makeup brand?
Even if a person does not want to change their diet, they can make a huge difference to animals by going cruelty free. Note that cruelty-free is not the same as vegan. Cruelty-free means not tested on animals, while vegan means the product contains no animal ingredients or animal derived ingredients. I am cruelty-free with these products but hope to be cruelty-free and vegan with them in future.

Are cruelty-free makeup products more expensive than other brands?
No, there are high-end brands and drugstore brands, so you are bound to find products that fit your budget!

With a lot of people now working from home, share some tips on staying presentable even while staying or working from home...
I always say this to my clients: the first step to flawless makeup is taking care of your skin! Even if people aren’t going out as much, don’t slack on your skincare routine. Also, don’t forget to put on sunscreen, yes, even while you’re at home! A lot of people don’t know this, but the sun can damage your skin even while you’re sitting indoors. Also, even if you’re just at home, put on a bit of concealer, some mascara and a lip balm. When you look good, you feel good!

Share your top tips and tricks for those who want to master a basic makeup ritual…
First and foremost, make sure you take care of your skin! You will see how perfectly your makeup will sit on your skin if you do. Also, always do your eye makeup before your base makeup so you can clean up any fallout mess.

If you’re wearing a liquid lipstick, wear a lip balm before you start your makeup. Wipe the lip balm away and put on the liquid lipstick. This will really help people who have dry lips. I am not a fan of baking. All you need to set your makeup with is a light dusting of powder.

What do you do in order to unwind and what activities keep you motivated?
I absolutely love spending time with my fur babies! I also love working out, it’s a big stress buster. Meditation and journaling really help me to unwind too.

What practices can people undertake to be kinder to animals in their daily lives?
They can start making conscious, ethical decisions by buying from cruelty-free brands. Also, take care of the environment, recycle, and if you’d like a pet, best thing to do is to adopt. Be more conscious of what you put in your body, think of the animals when it comes to your diet and also make ethical decisions about where your fashion and lifestyle items come from.