At the age of ten, Dino Dilio would wake up in the middle of the night. But it wasn’t a midnight snack that got him out of bed…it was the call of beauty. Dino would apply his mother’s Avon make-up (a practice that allowed him to learn both the proper application and removal of cosmetics). It wasn’t until years later, though, that he had his first client-beauty experience, applying the make-up of a friend’s mother. “Maralyn was a model, and one night she was going out and I said ‘Let me do your make-up for you.’” After the transformation was complete, Maralyn suggested that Dino pursue make-up artistry as a profession. He attended a make-up school in Montreal, but says his real education came from studying in San Fransisco with (celebrity make-up artist) David Starr; “I found him in one of those ads in the back of a Vogue,” Dino remembers. David had done make-up for all the major stars of the 1960s and 70s, including Cher and Diana Ross (Dino’s beauty icon). After learning all the tricks and tips from Hollywood’s top make-up artist, Dino did his first make-up on David’s assistant. The time was most memorable because it was also the moment a 6.9 earthquake hit the West Coast of the United States. “I thought the shaking was just (my) nerves!” he recalls.

Returning to Toronto, Dino joined the team at the ultra-chic Yorkville spa, Mira Linder. “I worked my way up. I started at the bottom, and eventually became the Creative Director, and then General Manager and Senior Artist.” Wanting to experience the glamour of fashion and television work, Dino reduced his shifts at the spa, and began shooting for magazines like Flare, Glamour and Chatelaine. He also became part of the crew at both CBC and CityTV, doing the make-up for news anchors and hosts; he is now a regularly featured Beauty Expert on CityLine (he started that role in 1991). Wanting to share his knowledge and experience beyond the television viewing audience, Dino began teaching at Complections. “I teach here because I want to make the road easier for those wanting to get into the industry. My road was very bumpy!”

The rough road aside, Dino’s expertise in client-based beauty has served him well; he worked for Revlon Canada as a National Make-up Artist and consultant, and has also acted as a spokesperson for Tweezerman and Neutragena. He believes strongly in the ability of make-up to lift a client’s mood, and help them be the best version of themselves. He now runs a private studio and an eponymous cosmetic line. "Make-up artistry is a gift I treasure and love to share. I know how the power of make-up can reveal and heal unique beauty on all levels," his biography reads. This sentiment is echoed in all facets of Dino’s career, whether working on a top model, actress or member of the public. It is also an idea he shares with his students at Complections, where he teaches a 6-Week course in make-up for fashion photography and client-based services. He offers simple advice to those looking to start a career in beauty: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and be nice – a people person.” His infectious laughter and light touch to any situation are a testament to these rules and how they can truly make a career.

Barbara Alexander knew from the age of 14 that she wanted to do make-up. Her fledgling passion turned into a career when she began doing faces for film and television shows, but her sights would soon be set on the most glamorous side of the industry - fashion. Starting off with a designer’s lookbook, Barbara began working with gorgeous faces and fun personalities, and decided it was the life for her. After achieving a certain artistic status in Canada, she packed up for Europe and lived and worked there for the next six years. Runway, print advertising and editorial for some of the business’ biggest stars were all on her path; “I did commercials in Rome, I did Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia…campaigns for Moschino, Trussardi…an insane amount of work!”

It’s obvious that this kind of career is that of dreams – so how did Barbara make it her reality? “Preparation,” she says. “(And) I threw out my first book from Toronto when I moved, and started over!” Her ability to adapt a new book to appeal to a European client’s eye lead to meetings with agencies, which then lead her to connect with photographers who were shooting the hottest campaigns and editorials. Speaking of those days, Barbara says that she “got everything I wanted from life. The people, the traveling. My happiest time was living out of a suitcase, working – free as a bird. There was no responsibility, just focusing on the work.”

Along with making up some of the world’s most famous faces – Naomi Campbell, Isabella Rosselini – and spending countless hours on photo shoots, commercial sets and backstage at runway shows, Barb is also the co-founder of Cargo cosmetics; it was this position that lead her to Complections. “Part of what I did at Cargo was the hiring and training for new employees, many of whom came from Complections.” After leaving the company and spending some time traveling, Barbara channeled her interest in the training and educational aspect of make-up into a position as a Fashion instructor at the school; her experience, credentials and knowledge of fashion’s history help students form the foundational knowledge of what it means to be a make-up artist. Her hard work paid off once again in the form of a CNOMA (the Canadian Organization of Makeup Award) for Lifetime Achievement in 1996.

Now with a class of impressionable artists in front of her daily, Barbara has strong advice for her current, past and future students: “You are your own business. Learning to promote and develop your craft, but also merchandising and marketing yourself is so important.” Perseverance is also a key quality in a successful make-up artist, and she recommends fostering a love of fashion too - “Now, everyone knows celebrities. They don’t know as much about fashion.” Barbara also spoke of the need for passion in an artist, saying that it is “as important as the practical skills one would learn,” and her own passion undoubtedly inspires every student she teaches. With a career full of supermodels, international travel and glamourous clients, who wouldn’t want to follow in her footsteps!