Backstage With...Pixiwoo

They've recently been featured amongst the top UK bloggers in Company magazine. And deservedly so.                                                

Sisters Samantha and Nic Chapman have racked up some hundreds of thousands of views (and counting) on their YouTube make-up channel - and it's not hard to see why.

Samantha Chapman, one half of YouTube sensations, Pixiwoo, agreed to be interviewed in the latest of my Backstage With...interviews, right here on A Lauren to Herself...

Here, Samantha talks meeting Paul McCartney, working backstage at Milan Fashion Week and juggling family life with her hectic career as a top celebrity make-up artist.

It's a glamorous life, but someone's got to do it...

Sister act: Samantha and Nic Chapman

Lauren: So, how did your journey into the wonderful world of make-up begin?

Samantha: Nic and I studied 2-year BTEC Media Make-up courses at our local college many many years ago (sadly).

We became make-up artists because our aunt is an MUA (http://www.maggiehunt.com/) and she inspired us. Both Nic and I worked at MAC for five years at different times.

I started recording videos when I was 8 months' pregnant and feeling fat and unattractive.

Somehow the fact that only my face was visible was a huge release from my massive restrictive body. Putting make-up on made me feel so much better about myself in that last month and I really hope that I pass that feeling on to others.

 Lauren: Yourself and Nic have been running successful make-up courses for a while now. What's the feedback from attendees been like so far?

Samantha: I have been teaching via various make-up schools for years but I started teaching my own courses about four years ago.

I love it but it is incredibly hard work. I give those courses every bit of energy I have. At the end of our recent courses I was almost certifiable.

Lauren: What's been the biggest highlight in your job as a make-up artist?

Samantha: I guess the biggest highlight would be either getting my first Agent (six years ago) or our success on YouTube and all the doors that YouTube has opened for us.

Lauren: What's the worst thing about your job?

Samantha: That's an easy one! Travelling to and from a shoot on London transport in rush hour.

Lauren: You've been privileged to do make-up for celebs, such as Paul McCartney, as well as working on major fashion magazines.

How does this compare to your day-to-day work, and are  celebs always as you expect them to be?

Samantha: Celebrity work doesn't differ much from my usual shoots other than my nerves are slightly more on edge.

It is really important to maintain composure and professionalism when working with celebs.

I do not ask any questions that are not make-up related and I let them lead the conversation. Most of the time I leave the shoot knowing no more about the celebrity than I did before.

Lauren: What's your desert island beauty product?

Samantha: Benefit Bad Gal lash.

Lauren: What advice can you offer to budding make-up artists?

* Pay attention to the trends

* Keep a scrap book of the campaigns.

* If you get offered an opportunity take it immediately, worry about your train fare later.

* Try to be original (that means forget the coloured feather eyelashes)

* Keep your kit clean and tidy and hygenic

Lauren: With regards to YouTube, what's your most requested make-up look and which was your favourite video(s) to make?

Samantha: We get asked to do Effy from Skins quite often and Arabic make-up.

There are a few that I loved making. I loved Marla Singer, Sophia Loren and Beth Ditto. I also love creating the trend videos because I find them a bit more challenging.

Lauren: You've worked on TV shows and backstage at London and Milan fashion weeks.

How does a day/night at such a show pan out for you?

Samantha: Timings vary. When I have worked London/Milan fashion week it can be five shows a day. I'll be up at 5am to get to the show for 6.30am.

The day is a whirlwind of packing kit, unpacking kit and running from show to show. Finishing as late as 11pm.

The best thing about shows it that I get to work with some of the most beautiful women in the world including Isabelli Fontana, Maria Carla Boscono, Alek Wek, Liberty Ross, Georgina Grenville, Jade Parfitt, Anouk Lepere, Lily Donaldson and Lily Cole

Lauren: You recently got a make-up video request from Courtney Love. How did that come about?

Samantha: I'm not quite sure. I guess Courtney must have found us on YouTube and twittered about loving us.

Then we chatted for a bit and she asked me to recreate a look for her.

It was a bit of a surprise but I was really flattered because I love Courtney's music. It's always nice to be recognised by people whose talent you admire.

Lauren: You must get some lovely comments/feedback from people you've done make-up for...

Samantha: Yes, it is wonderful to get great feedback.

Although make-up is such a light subject the knock on effects run much deeper.

Good make-up can change how someone feels about themselves and thats what I really love about it.

Samantha and her stunning Edie Sedgwick-inspired look

Lauren: You have two young children. How do you juggle family life with your job and YouTube. It must be exhausting...

Samantha: It is really difficult. Olivia goes to nursery on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I have from 9am to 3pm (when I pick Lily up fom school) to film, blog, edit, upload, answer emails etc.

When a good shoot comes in I blag my mum into watching the girls. My mum is a legend!

Lauren: Which YouTubers/bloggers can you recommend?

Samantha: I don't get much time to watch or read blogs.

The free time I have goes into creating videos and replying to hundreds of emails.

If I do get any time I try to catch Lisa Eldridge's videos.

I tend to spend more time on Twitter because I can Twitter from my iphone and it takes seconds.

Lauren: I recently published a piece on my blog regarding an article on Make Up Advice Forum which suggested that beauty bloggers (who are not make-up artists) are not qualified to talk about make-up.

What do you think of this suggestion?

Samantha: Recently Nic and I went to the press launch for Laura Mercier and as she introduced us to her new products. We realised that the journalists from the major glossies didn't actually have much of a clue about colours and textures etc.

They jotted down what Laura said word for word.

It was a huge eye opener for Nic and I.

When I think about it, it makes sense. Why would a journalist know anything much about make-up? However, we assume they do because it is written and published as if it were gospel.

I wouldn't say that the people that write the articles in magazines know any more than bloggers.

In fact, I would say that sometimes they know significantly less.

Nic, riding the tube in style

Lauren: Finally, what's in the pipeline for yourself and Nic?

Samantha: Who knows. We are just taking it a day at a time. It's a bit like that crappy Costner movie 'Field of Dreams' ... "If you build it they will come"

Nic has moved back to Norwich so now we can really focus on fashionface.tv.

Our spring courses are completed and we are currently taking bookings for our July and August courses.

A big thank you to the lovely Samantha Chapman for featuring on A Lauren to Herself.

Watch Samantha and Nic's videos here and don't forget to subscribe to the girls' blog