How did you get into the beauty industry?

I’m a naturally very creative person; I enjoyed painting and drawing in my younger years which led me into Special Effects. I love creating characters, which is what I supposed led me into makeup artistry. I’m obsessed with faces and the story a face can tell – it’s fascinating. I’m completely self-taught and I’ve almost learnt my craft backwards in an unorthodox way. I began my beauty career alongside studying for my Special Effects degree, and the two fed each other simultaneously. During my early career days I jumped at any opportunity that came my way. I have always had a habit of saying ‘YES’ to an opportunity, even if it scares the hell out of me, and I would then try to figure out a way to make it work.

What does beauty mean to you?

Health, happiness, kindness, curiosity, gratitude, strength – all of these things are intrinsically beautiful. My idea of beauty has distorted slightly as I get older and it’s something I think about a lot. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that – in my opinion – beauty is reflected in the way that you treat others and having the courage to stand for something. Ultimately, beauty is all about doing the things you love with the people you love around you.

What is your favourite beauty product?

It would definitely have to be the <a href="https://www.lookfantastic.com/illamasqua-hydra-veil-primer-30ml/11264666.html" target="_blank">Hydra Veil Primer</a> as it saves your skin in all situations. It provides instant hydration and can even be mixed into your foundation for a perfectly dewy glow.

Why is the brand great for this campaign?

The brand celebrates self-expression without fear of judgement. We are a safe community to give you the freedom and empowerment to own your own look. We are here to offer you the tools and expert advice to help you express yourself! Illamasqua is all visualising on the outside how you feel on the inside, meaning you should always express your personality and not hide behind it.

What makes you look and feel fantastic?

The obvious things like plenty of water and sleep go without saying. My go-to look to feel fantastic is flawless skin and a bold lip – this somehow always gives the impression that you’ve got your act together (in minimal time)! But more than any of that, I guess just enjoying myself and being around friends and family; the people who inspire me. As creative as I am, I also have a very strong left-side of the brain which is very logical and fact-hungry so it’s important to me that I read a lot and learn about new topics. The older I get, the more it becomes apparent that the key to feeling and looking fantastic is to feed what drives you.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I don’t know if I would give my younger self any advice, as everything you do in your past leads you to become who you are now. That’s not to say I’ve not experienced failure or made bad decisions (I’ve made plenty!), but I’m a firm believer of learning lessons from your downfalls. The chinks in your armour make it unique to you and I don’t think I would ever change that. You never quite figure everything out, even as an adult. Plus, my younger self wouldn’t have listened to advice anyway!

#IAmFantastic with Illamasqua | LOOKFANTASTIC Blog

The launch of #IAmFantastic is lookfantastic's mission to make sure you look and feel your most fantastic each and every single day, and who better to do this with than artistry brand, Illamasqua?

We caught up with Nilly, who was our resident makeup expert from Illamasqua, backstage at #IAmFantastic to talk all things confidence and believing in yourself.

Illamasqua is perhaps one of the most poignant brands in this campaign thanks to its support to anti-prejudice and anti-hate campaign, The S.O.P.H.I.E Lancaster Foundation. Founded by Sophie Lancaster's mother, Sylvia, the charity aims to work with young people to dispel bullying, hateful and vengeful behaviour.

Working to accept cultural difference and celebrate people for who they are, they teamed up with Illamasqua who champion all types of beauty. Whether you want to go bold and beautiful or a little more understated, the brand are always on hand to ensure you feel your most confident.

A Q&A with Nilly Mussa, Illamasqua

Team LF Writer and expert

Our team of beauty experts cover everything from makeup to skincare, picking out the most effective products from the best brands and latest trends. Stay up to date on everything beauty with the LOOKFANTASTIC blog, and find all your essentials in one place.