
Art Stories: The Official Podcast
The Beauty of Becoming: Ciara Allen on Craft, Multiplicity, and Creating Across Disciplines
In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Ciara Allen, an Emmy-nominated makeup artist, painter, musician, and author who has spent 17 years crafting beauty across film, television, fashion, and commercial work. Originally from Dublin and now based in Vancouver, Ciara brings a distinctly artistic sensibility to everything she touches—whether she's designing a transformative makeup look, writing guides that reshape how beauty professionals think about their practice, or creating visual work across multiple mediums. We explore what it means to hold multiple creative identities at once, how her approach to makeup artistry serves the story being told on screen, and the philosophy behind her bestselling book "How to Succeed in the Beauty Business." Ciara shares candid insights about navigating an evolving industry, the intersection of commerce and artistic integrity, and what calls her to keep creating across disciplines. This is a conversation about the working artist, the power of craft, and why some people simply refuse to choose. Follow Ciara Allen: Www.ciaraallen.net Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficial Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!




