What’s the 411? Makeup Moguls Julia Dantas + Carli Bybel Talk Beauty

Celebrity makeup artist and global educator, Julia Dantas, was joined by renowned beauty influencer, Carli Bybel, as the pair teamed up to deliver an unforgettable Toronto-based Makeup Masterclass. The event featured a series of captivating live makeup demonstrations, where expert tips left the audience in awe. The immersive day also included a VIP panel, with industry leaders, such as Taylor Frankel, Co-Founder of Nudestix, offering invaluable insights. The highlight of the event was an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming launch of Julia Dantas’s highly anticipated beauty brand, 411 Cosmetics, set to roll out on March 20th, 2025. 

During a brief moment with the duo amidst the hustle and bustle of the Makeup Masterclass, Dantas and Bybel poured over their shared love of makeup and the beauty industry, demonstrating just how passionate they are about empowering others through artistry and education.

Renowned for her expertise as a makeup artist to the stars, including primary make-up artist to Avril Lavigne, Dantas has built an impressive reputation in the beauty industry, working with A-list celebrities and gracing prestigious red carpets around the globe. Reminiscing on some of her favorite moments to date, Dantas explains how the rush of going into a red carpet is always “so exciting.” Bybel, who is considered an OG in the YouTube beauty community, has amassed millions of subscribers since joining the platform in 2011, and recently debuted her cosmetics brand, The Beauty Bybel, in 2023. Personally reflecting on changes in the beauty community over the past few years, Bybel feels as though she has “evolved so much, learning from other pro artists.” 

Diving into the upcoming 411 Cosmetics launch, Dantas gives us the inside scoop on what to expect. “411 Cosmetics is a makeup toolkit,” shares Dantas, detailing how the idea for her brand came about through her world travels. “I was just like, why is there not a ‘one size fits all’ makeup bag that is stunning and also functional?” 

And so, 411 Cosmetics was born. 

The brand offers a luxury beauty organizer crafted from genuine leather with luxe hardware, featuring three removable pouches, a standing brush holder, and a detachable bottom compartment that transforms it into a mini kit. It also includes a detachable mirror, a waterproof interior, and an easy-to-clean design, making it the perfect blend of style and functionality, priced at $350. Dantas is particularly excited about the toolkit’s modular interior, which is designed with a ‘packing cubes’ aesthetic that allows everything to be magnetic and accessible. This means the pouches can be interchanged, rearranged, removed, or added to create the ideal kit tailored to your individual needs. Dantas also highlights the bottom of the bag as a great space to store toiletries, which can be removed and collapsed for a more customized look. So, whether you’re a makeup artist or a beauty enthusiast, 411 Cosmetics offers a seamless and organized experience that keeps your essentials in place and ready for use. Plus, there’s even more to look forward to! Dantas teases the brand’s next product launch, revealing, “Our upcoming release is designed to make life even easier while on the go—think organizers, tools, and much more!”

Building on the vibrant energy from the 411 Cosmetics launch, our conversation shifts to all things makeup—especially the duo’s essential tips and tricks for achieving flawless, red-carpet-ready glam. “I think the most important thing is your skincare,” says Bybel. “Perfecting your skincare routine can help your makeup sit really well.” Having been “super-focused” on skincare in recent years, Bybel swears by the transformative power of a well-prepared base, which allows makeup to go on “smoother.” She also champions the importance of a good setting powder, with one of her top picks being Huda Beauty’s New Ube Birthday Cake Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder. “Skincare is so important,” chimes in Dantas, who claims that she’s been into using a red light therapy mask every night. “I feel like it makes such a difference!” Dantas also points out how using a gua sha to sculpt the face helps everything look more lifted. When it comes to makeup, Dantas strongly emphasizes using cream products over powder products to help the skin look dewy and hydrated.

Segueing into how to create the perfect smokey eye, Dantas— who is famous for this— leads the way in outlining how to achieve the ideal sultry look. “I think the perfect smokey eye takes layers,” she starts. “Trust the process!” Dantas acknowledges that a smokey eye can be daunting to some, but gently reminds her audience that “it’s just makeup.” She points out that blending is your “best friend” and that you should just have fun with it. Bybel, echoing Dantas’s insights, advises that she always goes back to the eyes during her makeup routine, even if things start to look a little messy at first. Like Dantas, Bybel loves using a fluffy blending brush to help bring the whole look together. 

We ended our conversation by asking a very important question: What’s your go-to makeup product you can’t leave the house without? Bybel excitedly reveals that it’s the lip liner from her own brand, The Beauty Bybel. True to her style, she passionately describes her signature shade, “Carli,” as a stunning dusty rose that perfectly complements any look. For Dantas, it’s all about the brows, praising brow gel or a brow pencil as her daily must-have. “When my brows are done, I feel good!” –Samantha Vecchiarelli