Eyeliner and foundation might sound trivial to some people. But when Oneka Trott demonstrates the right way to apply them, some women cry.

“For a lot of women it’s a confidence thing,” said Mrs Trott. “They don’t wear make-up because they don’t feel attractive. When I show them how to do it, and they see they look nice, they are really happy.”

She is a paraeducator by day, but runs O’Faces Makeup Artistry in her spare time. Through O’Faces she helps with make-up at events such as parties, weddings, recitals and fashion shows. She also provides consultations to clients wanting to get more out of their make-up.

This summer she is running a series of make-up workshops aimed at women over 13. Many of the workshop participants are teenagers dabbling with make-up for the first time.

“I wanted to learn about make-up and how to do it properly when I go out,” said Hannah Jones, 16. “I was just interested in it.”

She scoured the internet for ideas, but found the information lacking.

“When you watch a YouTube video you often don’t get how to do it,” she said. “Sometimes you don’t get all the steps. Here you learn what you have to do to get a certain look.”

Olivia Washington’s aunt signed her up for the make-up workshops as a birthday gift.

The 16-year-old said: “The workshops have helped me achieve a more natural look.”

But Tameisha Simons, 34, had other reasons for taking the workshop.

“I have a one-year-old,” said the Prospect Primary teacher. “He’s up in the night now. Sometimes I wake up with dark circles under my eyes. I feel tired and I look tired.

“Sometimes I have meetings to go to and want to look my best.”

She tried dabbing on eye shadow and lip gloss, but it did not work very well.

“I had absolutely no idea how to put on make-up,” she said.

So she signed up for Mrs Trott’s class.

The workshop consists of five four-hour long sessions. Students learn everything from applying false eye lashes and applying eye shadow to ideas for carnival make-up.

Mrs Trott first learnt make-up application in the late 1970s while dancing with the Greg Thompson Follies in local hotels.

“They brought in a professional make-up artist to teach us how to put on our make-up,” she recalled. “Then we were applying it six nights a week before performances. When you do something that often you perfect it.”

She eventually left entertainment. She now works with autistic children but still has a passion for make-up.

“People knew I knew how to put on make-up so they’d ask for help all the time,” she said.

When she got married 20 years ago, her husband, Ernest, was shocked by how much money she spent on make-up for other people.

“He said call yourself something and charge people,” she said.

Taking his advice she started O’Faces, the “O” being a nod to her first name.

“I tell my students every make-up artist has a different way of doing things,” said Mrs Trott. “My way of teaching is not the end all and be all. It is really Oneka’s way hence it is O’Faces.”

She also went away to be certified.

“I wanted to have that because people were always asking where I’d trained,” she said.

Now she says she cannot help noticing other women’s make-up when they walk by on the street.

“Sometimes I just want to get in there and fix it,” she laughed.

She says there are no mistakes in make-up.

“If there is something you are trying to achieve and you do so then it is correct,” she said.

But she admitted she does have several make-up pet peeves.

“I hate when people have blush and slap it in round circles on their cheeks,” she said. “The overuse of highlighter and shimmers also annoys me. I can’t handle shimmer eyeshadow during the day at work. Shimmering is meant for evening. But I love my make-up artists out there. I’m not trying to offend anyone.”

She admitted to being a make-up junkie.

“I have never counted the shadows and pencils I have, but there are so many I wouldn’t want to count,” she said. “I don’t have one name brand of anything. I try a little bit of everything. No one brand is suitable for everyone’s needs. I just wish I had more space. My husband is promising to build me a make-up closet.”

• Oneka has workshop space available between August 14 and 18, and some September classes.

For more information, e-mail onekatrott@gmail.com or telephone 705-1232