In Conversation with Makeup Experts Airlie & Co
Airlie & Co has become known for a beauty experience that feels as considered as it is personal. Grounded in connection, emotional intelligence and refined artistry, the brand offers far more than hair and makeup, creating a calm, nurturing presence from first enquiry through to the wedding morning itself. With a focus on trust, intuition and thoughtful care, Airlie & Co curates beauty experiences that feel effortless, deeply supportive and centred on how each client wants to feel.
For those discovering Airlie & Co for the first time, how would you describe who you are as a brand and the experience you aim to create for your clients?
Airlie&Co is built around a deeply personalised, relationship-led experience. We do more than hair and makeup. We curate the entire journey from first enquiry through to the wedding day. With highly experienced artists, thoughtful coordination, skin and styling support, our clients feel genuinely held and cared for. By the time the day arrives, we are a calm, joyful and familiar presence in the room, like a trusted friend who knows you and wants nothing more than make your day.
What first led you into makeup artistry, and at what point did Airlie & Co begin to feel like something bigger than just your own work?
I have always been drawn to opportunities for connection, caring for people and creating moments of joy. Makeup became a way to help people feel confident, comfortable and seen. As the business grew, it became clear clients wanted more than a service. They wanted connection, trust and someone who truly understood them. That was when Airlie & Co became bigger than me. Today, I work alongside a collective of incredible artists who share the same values: personalised and refined artistry, emotional intelligence and an unwavering commitment to high standards.
Your approach to bridal beauty feels very considered and intentional. How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to makeup on a wedding day?
Our philosophy is intuitive and personal. It begins with understanding how someone sees themselves at their most beautiful, then enhancing that in a way that feels effortless and authentic. Technique matters, but intuition and restraint are what create something truly special. The goal is never transformation for the sake of it. It is about refinement, confidence and feeling completely yourself.
Connection seems central to the way you work with your clients. How do you take the time to truly understand a clients’s personality, style, and vision before creating her look?
Connection is everything for us. We take time to listen properly, ask the right questions and understand how our couples want to feel. Inspiration images are just the starting point. From there, we guide with experience and and care. Our role is to remove stress, offer thoughtful recommendations and quietly lead the process so the entire experience feels calm, supported and considered from start to finish.
Airlie&Co has grown into a trusted name. What do you think couples are really responding to when they choose to work with you?
I think it is the balance. We are warm, accessible and genuinely human, while also being highly organised, professional and polished. It feels luxurious without being intimidating. Couples trust us because they know every detail has been thought through and they can relax, knowing they are in very capable hands.
The wedding morning sets the tone for the entire day. What role do you see yourself playing beyond just makeup on that morning?
We help set the emotional tone for the day. Every room carries a different energy, and we meet it with positivity, intuition and steadiness. Our role is to be calm, reassuring and quietly in control, offering guidance, emotional support and structure while holding space for the couple at the centre of it all. When the couple feel present, the morning feels grounded that’s when the day flows.
Running a beauty brand in the wedding industry comes with its own challenges and rewards. What has been the most defining moment in building Airlie & Co so far?
Opening House of Airlie this December has been a defining moment for us. Overlooking the water in Neutral Bay, it’s a one-of-a-kind space that brings together bridal hair and makeup, skin, grooming, styling and education for all ages and genders, a place designed to support couples, their loved ones and our artists well beyond the wedding day.
Looking ahead, how do you hope brides feel when they look back on their Airlie & Co experience years from now?
I hope they remember how they felt. Listened to, supported and truly beautiful in their skin. More than that, I hope they feel a sense of belonging, that they were part of something intentional and meaningful. If Airlie&Co becomes a name they continue to recommend and feel personally connected to long after the wedding, then we have done our job.
Visit airlieandco.com.au
Instagram @airlieandco
DISCLAIMER: We attempt to credit the original photographer/source of every image we use. However, in most circumstances, the images we use are provided by the brands spoken about, and we rely on them to inform us of the image source. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@theodoremagazine.com
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