About Me

Hello, I’m Susie Slack-Smith, a professional makeup artist with over 20 years of industry experience.

I began my freelance career on the Gold Coast in 2002 after completing a Diploma of Entertainment Makeup with Napoleon Perdis in Brisbane. My professional training covered beauty and corrective makeup, bridal, photographic and editorial makeup, fashion and runway, film and television, theatre and character makeup, special-effects makeup, simulated injuries and ageing techniques.

In 2010, I returned to Tamworth and founded Glamour Empire, beginning with a home-based makeup studio while building a loyal client base and creative community.

As demand grew, the first Glamour Empire retail store opened in 2014. The business quickly established itself as a regional beauty destination, eventually expanding into a larger shopfront and growing to stock more than 55 professional cosmetic brands.

Alongside my work in artistry and retail, I bring over seven years of experience in colour-cosmetic manufacturing, including working with formulations and private-label product development. This behind-the-scenes expertise gives me a distinct edge: I don’t simply teach application—I understand how products are formulated, how they perform and how they wear in real life.

I’ve worked and trained with both pharmacy and professional makeup brands, led workshops for brands including Napoleon Perdis, and delivered sold-out workshops through TAFE NSW in Tamworth. I’ve also appeared on podcasts and been invited to speak as an industry panelist.

My editorial experience includes writing for Downtown Magazine, with my makeup artistry featured in Cosmopolitan Bridal and Downtown Weddings. My work brings together creative direction, product knowledge and technical expertise.

Now, through Studio Edit | Makeup & Education, I focus on education-led services, including personalised makeup lessons, curated makeup edits and fun workshops designed to cut through industry noise and deliver practical, usable skills.

My passion now lies in sharing my love of makeup artistry, along with the skills and industry knowledge I’ve developed over more than 20 years, with makeup lovers, aspiring artists and fellow creatives.