Meet Dariia Day, Professional Makeup Artist

Tell us all about yourself

“My name is Dariia Day, and I’ve been a makeup artist based in Paris for 17 years. I work in the worlds of fashion, beauty, and celebrity, particularly during Fashion Weeks and on magazine covers, collaborating with major fashion and beauty houses. I started doing makeup at a very young age— From of 16—and continued my training in Los Angeles and Hollywood before moving to Paris, where I built my career shoot by shoot until I signed with my first agency.”

Photo: Claudia Chmielowiec

“At the same time, I launched my silk product line in 2016 By Dariia Day dedicated to beauty and well-being, after discovering its benefits for the skin and hair 13 years ago, when I was dealing with rosacea. With my family, who comes from the textile industry, we developed a line designed to soothe and protect the skin and hair, but also to create a true cocoon of self-care. For me, beauty begins with self-care and quality sleep. For the past two years, I’ve also been working on a new beauty line centered around an ingredient that fascinates me: vegan silk… stay tuned for more very soon.”

Photo: Joanna Kolarz

How did your passion for make-up come about?

“I’ve been fascinated by fashion From 13. My parents ran a children’s clothing business, so my mom kept a close eye on trends. I was fascinated by the industry, but especially by what went on behind the scenes at fashion shows. I grew up in a small town in Poland without knowing anyone in the industry, but I used to watch all the backstage footage from Fashion Weeks with Pat McGrath on Fashion TV when I was little, and I truly believed that one day I’d be there. And that dream came true: I worked on Pat McGrath’s team for 11 years at every Fashion Week.”

Photo: Joanna Kolarz

Tell us about how you got started

“Ever since I was very young, I always believed I would become a makeup artist in the fashion industry. I’ve always been very ambitious and I never gave up. My journey hasn’t been easy. I arrived in Paris at 19 without speaking French, without knowing anyone, without even knowing where to sleep. It took me time and a lot of resilience to get where I am today. Things started to change after a year in Paris, during which I did a lot of shootings and test runs and built my portfolio.

One day, my school in Hollywood told me that I had been chosen as Student of the Year to go to Milan to meet with an agent and do fashion shoots with incredible photographers. That experience inspired me immensely and gave me the confidence I needed.

And it was during that trip that something incredible happened: I got a call from Dior asking me to be the makeup artist for their next makeup campaign with Emily Weiss. It was my first major campaign. After that, I did the makeup for an event with Maria Giulia Maramotti, who then booked me for all the Vogue shoots with Max Mara.

"My portfolio has become quite strong; I've signed with my first agency and have started climbing the career ladder."

What's your vision of beauty?

“For me, beauty goes far beyond makeup. It encompasses well-being, sleep, skin, energy, and self-confidence. All of these factors influence the way I work, because I always strive to reveal natural beauty rather than mask it.”

How does your work influence the way you do your own makeup?

“I love trying out new products and staying up to date on the latest trends. Since I got pregnant, I’ve been leaning more toward clean beauty. Every day, I apply my ‘Day Skin’ base, with lightly defined eyebrows and mascara. Simple, but fresh and healthy.”

What's in your make-up bag today?

“The Limitless Lash Mascara by Ilia is one of my favorite mascaras, in black and brown.

The BabyBlade Eyebrow PencilVictoria Beckham Beauty: naturally defined and well-structured eyebrows bring harmony to the face without ever weighing it down. I particularly love the shades designed for blondes in the Victoria Beckham collection.

The Lip BalmAugustinus Bader: an excellent moisturizing balm that I take with me everywhere.

The Lip Sketch Moisturizing Lip PencilIlia, shade Pampas: I use it on my lips but also on my cheeks for a fresh, creamy touch of blush.

The Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20Oh My Cream Skincare: for special occasions, or when my skin needs a little color correction. I really like that it also contains sunscreen.

The The Concealer Pen with TFC8®Victoria Beckham Beauty: I love concealers for targeting only the areas that need a little coverage.

And the Brightening Eye Gel Tata Harper : I use it as a daily eye cream, but also as a highlighter.”

Photo: Eva Wang

Photo: Eva Wang

What about your bathroom?

“I love Susanne Kaufmann bath and body oils. Since I was pregnant, I’ve also been using the body oil Mega OilTalm. For my face, in winter I use the Rich Cream by Augustinus Bader, the Radiance Serum from Oden, and recently the Quinque Eye MaskQuinque for a hydration boost around the eyes.”

What part of your face do you like to apply makeup to the most, whether on yourself or others?

“For me, it’s all about the skin: adding a little bronzer, some glow, and a touch of colour the lips and cheeks, just to look fresher. I love the Brightening Eye Gel Tata Harper, which I also use as a highlighter.”

How has your relationship with makeup changed over the course of your career?

“At first, I was much more focused on pure creativity: colors, textures, artistic expression. Over time, I became fascinated by its power to boost women’s confidence. Especially that magic when the makeup is almost invisible, yet the person looks so much more beautiful, healthier, and more confident. Today, that’s my signature—what I call #DaySkin: a very fresh, sheer base, the true “healthy glow.” It’s perfect on its own, or to complement sophisticated lips, an intense eye look, or a creative editorial look. It creates a modern, fresh result, instead of layering on too much foundation and powder.”

How does your makeup bag change depending on the day or the season?

“In the winter, I use richer creams and balms. When it comes to makeup, I always like to keep a fresh, luminous look, so that doesn’t change much. When I love a product and it aligns with my vision of beauty, I stick with it for a long time.”

Photo: Natasja Fourie.

Photo: Eva Wang

What's your routine for preparing your skin before applying makeup?

““With my clients, I like to devote at least 15% of the time to skincare. I use my hands and tools to massage the face, helping to relax, reduce puffiness, brighten, and hydrate. I often apply eye patches and a rich balm to the lips, and sometimes exfoliate the lips if needed. For me, this is the foundation of perfectly prepped skin, especially before an important event.”

Do you have a quick makeup tip for an instant glow?

“Make sure your skin is well-hydrated, and spend at least a minute massaging and draining your face. This naturally brightens your complexion and reduces puffiness. I like to use a highlighter or an illuminating primer for an instant glow. Then a multi-stick for lips and cheeks, lip balm, and a little concealer only where needed—and your complexion looks fresh and radiant.”

Photo: Joanna Harasiuk

What's one simple thing you do to feel good about yourself, even on those "off" days?

“Daily self-care. For me, the most important thing is getting a good night’s sleep. That’s the foundation for feeling good. Surrounding yourself with people you love. Listening to your body. Loving yourself.”

Photo: Joanna Kolarz

What do you think is the one product everyone should have in their makeup bag?

“I’d say a concealer. A lot of people still mainly use foundation, even though it’s often not necessary to cover the entire face—the skin is already beautiful. With a concealer, you can target only the areas that need it and keep the rest of the skin fresh and radiant.”

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