Creative Lip Makeup You Won't Find Anywhere Else: Stunning Works of Neea Kurne

We continue to share the most amazing stories about super talented makeup artists all over the world. These stories about the road to success will inspire and show that everyone can achieve their goals.

The heroine of our today’s story has come up with something unique that goes beyond the ordinary. She is a freelance makeup artist known for her closeup lip art works. Meet Neea Kuurne!

Neea studied makeup in Makeup Forever Academy in Helsinki. She graduated over 7 years ago and since then she has been working in the makeup industry. 

Neea found the first paid client when she still was in makeup school. A novice makeup artist got to do makeup on hosts for two TV shows. Neea remembers her thoughts on it: “Hmm I'm gonna get paid really well”. But however she did not. “I really hope you don’t overprize yourself out of this industry”, this is what the producer said to Neea. “That always stuck with me, but most always say as a starting makeup artist you need to work for free. I totally understand that, but I had to make a living out of it, so I never worked free, only a couple of times and still to this day  — every time I have an assistant with me I always pay something to him/her”.

Neea’s work is exceptionally creative, with a focus on one bodypart (lips). Before it blossomed into her signature Neea practiced with her whole face with crazy makeup ideas when she was in school and just starting her makeup career. Then it slowly went to eye makeup and lips and then in the end she found out that she could really express her thoughts and her artistry through lip art. But in ordinary life, Neea prefers to wear something more neutral and modest: “I'm too tired to go crazy on my own makeup, I actually almost never wear lipstick when I'm out, just natural lipgloss is my go to thing”.

What is inside Neea’s makeup kit? As Neea says, she uses such a variation of products. Some MAC, Makeupforever, Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath and also tons of natural skincare such as Weleda and Flow Cosmetics. “When I started my kit was a tiny little thing. Now I carry a huge luggage since you never know what you are going to have to do on a job, but I feel that when you are starting out, just figure out what products are good for you and are versatile”.

Through working in the industry for all those years, Neea learned that it is important to be nice to everyone and be a professional. “At first when starting just say yes to everything. And do not ever think you know it all — there hasn’t been a day that I don’t learn something new,” – she says.

Now, working as a freelance makeup artist, Neea admits that she has a lot of work. If she has a day off she loves to lounge around with her dog and husband usually in the countryside where they have a cottage. 

As for many makeup artists, New York became the city that helped her build her dream career. “New York will always be my second home. I just love the people and the atmosphere there and I just feel so lucky I got to hold my second solo exhibition there”. 

Lots of fashion and beauty editorials are talking about Neea: “I feel so happy and so honored! My native country really hasn’t given me that much attention when it comes to my art so I'm even more happy when some of the biggest editorial magazines saw my work and loved it. Just always remember, you never know who is going to see your work”.

As an influencer on Instagram creating specific content (artistic based creative makeup), it is important to stay inspired. Neea also has her own way of doing this — just keeping your eyes open, wherever you are. Around people, nature, what's happening in the world. Everything can inspire you. She adores movies from the early 1920 - 1940, with makeup, and also Kevyn Aucoin has always been influencing the makeup industry with all the things Neea grew up watching. She thinks that his books are must-have if you want to be a makeup artist. 

Despite a success Neea Kuurne does not stop and sets new goals: “I just really want to keep working on the field where I am pretty much working right now - with recording artists. And also taking my clip art exhibitions around the world”.

Neea also gave advice for other makeup artists who want to get started or are just starting out: “Listen, learn and practice. And be patient”.