Makeup has been around since ancient Egypt – most likely the inspiration for the modern cat eye – and it has evolved greatly since.
Makeup, whether you like it or not, is an art form, and it’s certainly not going away anytime soon. I, myself, am an avid makeup enthusiast and I would even go as far as to say that I am a self-taught makeup artist. Being a makeup artist takes creativity, patience and an eye for detail. These traits radiate off of Victoria DiMaio, 21-year-old biology major at Florida Gulf Coast University and self-taught makeup artist.
DiMaio spent close to two hours perfecting this look - starting with washing her face and prepping with moisturizers (yes, plural), a face primer and finally starting on her foundation.
DiMaio's makeup collection is pretty intense, here are some of her essentials - Laura Mercier Loose Powder, Too Faced Primed & Poreless and Makeup Forever Step 1 eye shadow primer to name a few. The pink sponge will be used to apply her foundation. DiMaio suggests keeping a cup of warm water handy to keep your sponge damp - this allows for easier blending.
After the initial prepping, priming and the application of foundation - DiMaio uses Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation, I personally swear by this foundation and so does she - DiMaio starts to get creative.
Now, DiMaio has used more than five brushes and a sponge leading up to this step, in which she grabs another brush for baking. Baking is when a makeup artist applies an excessive amount of loose powder - DiMaio suggests Laura Mercer's loose powder - in various places on the face. 
DiMaio uses this strategy under her eyes and along her jawbone. Baking is intended to allow the powder to "bake" onto ones face for anywhere from 10-30 minutes before being dusted off - usually using a fan brush like the brush in to the left in front of the lens - leaving the skin looking smooth and pore-less.
Now, DiMaio is on her 7th brush, and she is still on her face makeup - yet to touch her eyes or eyebrows - but she has moved on to contour. Contouring used to be a secret trick used by professional makeup artists and drag queens to make their face look more chiseled, which gives a more appealing bone structure. However, thanks to the internet, it has become mainstream. DiMaio is using Kat Von D's Shade and Light contour kit - another of my favorites.
DiMaio, after completing her contour and setting with the Primed & Poreless loose powder, set out all of her favorite eye shadow pallets for inspiration. Pictured here from top-to-bottom and left-to-right are: Urban Decay Naked 2, Too Faced Chocolate Bar, Too Faced Sweet Peach, Urban Decay Naked 3, Urban Decay Vice, Urban Decay Naked Smoky and finally - the pallet she chose to use - Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly. *Note: the Too Faced pallets also smell like their coordinating names.
If you thought she used a lot of brushes on her face makeup, you can't even imagine how many it takes to perfect her eye shadow. Here comes the fun part!
DiMaio talks through the process of her eye shadow application, explaining why she switches from the flat brush to apply shadow all over the lid to a fluffy brush to blend out the edges.
Looking satisfied, DiMaio turns her head from side to side to ensure both eyes are even.
DiMaio nears the end of her makeup adventure - which means that she continued to tweak and nitpick for another 30 minutes. Welcome to the life of a makeup artist.
Q-tips, or as some call them - cotton swabs, are a makeup artist's best friend. As you can see, DiMaio has three just in this shot, not including those in the garbage already.
DiMaio, looking every bit the beauty queen in the glow of her vanity lights, applies the finishing touches to her face.
Alas, the masterpiece is complete! Now, DiMaio is ready to study - did you forget I mentioned she's a biology student? She is also a straight-A student and as you can see through her extensive makeup process: an overachiever.
