As part of Vogue Scandinavia's Ode to the Beauty Artist series, we shine a light on the beauty teams behind the scene of our shoots and films. We speak to the pigment goddess herself, Linda Hallberg
She’s an acclaimed Swedish make-up artist, founder of the award-winning brand LH Cosmetics and has worked with some of the biggest artists in Sweden. She is also on every beauty editor’s speed dial for creating breathtaking editorial shoots and movies such as our Shapeshifter or A Tale of Stockholm.
Here Linda Hallberg speaks to Vogue Scandinavia about what keeps her creatively inspired…
Do you see yourself as an artist?
I would definitely say that I see myself as an artist. I have been into art, drawing and painting since I was little. I see make-up, hair and nails as art forms. Together they create a different piece of art every time. To be able to create something on a human canvas is a beautiful thing. First, you have an idea. Then you meet the person and the idea changes because of a specific mood or simply their character. Make-up for me isn’t just lipstick on the lips or an eyeliner on the eyes, it’s about expression, feelings and mood. Like many artists, I paint my best pieces when I’m in a specific mood. I see make-up as colours to play with and people as my canvases.
Growing up, what informed your idea of beauty?
I grew up in a small town. The only place you could get make-up was at the grocery store where they basically had five shades of beige foundation, a mascara and maybe some kind of frosty baby blue eyeshadow. It was important not to stand out or be different. I
never liked the typical ‘trends’ back then and they never felt right for me. When it was time for Halloween, though, and I could dress up like an emo-punk-rocker, that’s when I felt like I was home! But sadly I was never brave enough to stand out and fully be me when I was growing up.
Photo: Linda Hallberg
When did you first discover your passion for doing make-up?
I loved the theatre when I was little, and my passion for make-up came when I realised it was so much easier to get into character when you had your full make-up, hair and outfit on. I never used make-up to ‘look pretty in school’. For me, make-up was only about
expressing myself when I got into a character. I quickly realised it was more fun to paint on a person than it was to paint on a piece of paper, but I had never heard of something called a ‘makeup artist’.
At what point did you decide to pursue make-up as a career?
After I finished high school, I saw an ad for a make-up school, and I was like, “Damn, that’s what I’m gonna do!” So I applied, got in and realised that, for the first time in my life, I was really good at something. Throughout my MUA education I lived in a caravan at a campsite outside Stockholm with no running water because I couldn’t find an apartment to live in. I had to learn how to be creative. I was very ashamed about my living situation back then, but I’m very grateful for it today. I learned a lot from having very little and I think that is one of the reasons I am where I am today.
Photo: Linda Hallberg
What was your first big break?
That’s a tough one…I think if was when I won the prize ‘blog star of the year’ and started to blog for a Swedish magazine many years ago. People started to notice me and my work.
What does make-up artistry mean to you?
I have been living and breathing my artistry for the past 14 years. The fact that I still think it’s the most amazing job in the world says it all!
Who has inspired you most in your career?
There are so many people that inspire me daily – my family, friends, colleagues, other makeup artists, stylists and models. It’s not just one person, but hundreds. My parents encouraged me to go my own way. My mom, in particular, always believed you should
follow your heart and be stubborn. I think I got my mindset from them, and I’m very thankful for that, as it meant I followed my dream and started my own brand LH Cosmetics five years ago.
What keeps you creatively inspired?
I have always been drawn to nature. When I feel uninspired, I put on some music and walk in the woods. Or I look at architecture in the city. I also love darkness – I have a really hard time creating when everything is happy and sunny, you know? There are so much shapes and colour combinations everywhere. You just have to look for them. I have a good trick for when you get a creative block: Take three everyday items in your home, look at them and see what you can find. Does the item have a specific shape? What colours does it have? And so on. It can push your creativity in the right direction.
What was the inspiration behind the look for Shima Niavarani?
Johan Hellström, Frida Selkirk and me often work together and are good at being
spontaneous when it comes to creating looks – that’s what we do best! Shima also had the same thoughts and ideas as us, so everything came together very naturally for this video shoot. Shima’s story is a magical one about an elixir. She is also a very magical creature, so all of her make-up looks are very ethereal as I wanted to keep that sense of magic throughout.
What sort of things might we find on one of your mood boards?
It can be everything from flowers, a hairstyle, an outfit, or even a pillowcase that I like the colour of. It can be anything really!
How important do you think the role of the beauty artist is for creating the transformations we see in movies, in shoots and on the runway?
The beauty artist has a super important role. Make-up artists, hairstylists, wig makers, and nail artists are usually not credited enough for their work. It’s all a 360 solution in the end, and we all need each other to create a good piece! Don’t be afraid to credit your team and make sure they are given the time they need to create something amazing.