Denise Elliott Beauty Co

Award-winning makeup artist Denise Elliott first practiced her trade not on a model or friend, but on herself. "I was a dancer and really into the whole routine of 'putting my face on' before a show," explains Denise, who danced throughout her youth. "Makeup for me started from a very young age and has always been a passion," she continues.

It came as no surprise to friends and family when Denise enrolled at beauty college Blanche Macdonald fresh out of high school. She studied makeup and hair before joining Holt Renfrew, where she trained with makeup experts and worked with top cosmetic brands such as Stila, Laura Mercier and NARS. "While I was at Holt Renfrew, I would do makeup for family members and friends who were getting married," she explains. "I felt a real passion for that work and eventually left Holt Renfrew to start my career as a freelance makeup artist, so I could do more of it," she continues.