Where to start...

Here I was, writing down a list of things I want to eventually blog about, trying to figure out where to start today, and BAM! It hit me, I need to start at the beginning. Where I really started, how I got into what I do, and why. So here we go...

I was recently reminiscing with an old elementary school best friend and she said to me "I should have known that's what you would do. I remember when I went to your house and you were making your own perfumes." I guess I started loving the beauty industry at a very young age. Fast forward to middle school, I was the "daring" one because I wore blue eyeshadow. I cringe at the photos to this day. Fast forward again to high school, I was a trend follower for the early years, wearing the blackest of the black eyeliners around my waterline, and the darkest mascara covering every lash. Every girl wore it like this. It was almost a right of passage. Our mother's stopped controlling our makeup usage, so we went overboard. Shortly after this, I started experimenting with trends, with makeup itself. I learned what bronzer was, how blush can be fun, and that eyeshadow can be pretty actually on your face rather than the container.

So now we're in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, right after Christmas. I got a Nordstrom's gift card for 50 buckos, and went off with a friend to spend it. I had never been to Nordie's before, and didn't have the time to shop around, so I stopped at the first place I saw inside - the MAC counter. This day, as unremarkable as it had been then, literally changed my life. I bought my first two eyeshadows, Carbon and Forgery, and a 208 angled brush for eyeliner. I became obsessed from that day forward. I bought MAC whenever I could. I educated myself on the brand, the products, the lifestyle that is associated with it. I secretly dreamed of being a makeup artist, but didn't think I could ever be good enough.

That was my first mistake in the grand scheme of my life. I didn't think I could. I didn't think I was good enough. I didn't pursue my dreams, instead I did it behind closed doors, or just for fun. I can only imagine where I would be today if I actively did things back then. However, no use looking backwards when there is so much ahead. I started watching youtube tutorials on makeup, reading blogs, and became a member of a group on livejournal. I was active in the online world of makeup, as well as doing makeup on myself. I invested more into products, and more time into practicing techniques. I started doing makeup on my friends, understanding that every eye, skin, face shape, etc is unique. That was hard at first. I had to learn that just because I was good at doing makeup on myself, doesn't mean I was going to be good at everyone else's as well. I kept practicing and practicing. I kept educating myself on techniques and facts and products. I kept at it, and that was the key.

People started asking me to do their makeup for certain events, like proms or nights out. I did other people's makeup as often as I could. Some of my early work is slightly embarrassing, but I learned so much through this time. The more I practiced, the more people complimented me on my makeup, and the more requests I got from friends to be their makeup artist. Somewhere during this time, I decided I no longer wanted to be a psychiatrist, I wanted to do hair and makeup. I wanted to go to school for this, and although I had to fight for it within my family, it just reaffirmed my passion for what I do. I went to beauty school, hated the school itself, and dropped out, and I am now pursuing an education through a Paul Mitchell partner school. I do makeup on a professional level, but I'm lacking in the hair department. I'll get there eventually, it's these stepping stones and learning experiences that make everything worth it.

Most people see makeup and the cosmetics industry itself as necessary but shallow. I see it differently. Yes, women can be just as beautiful without makeup on as they look with it, however do they feel the same? Typically no. That's what got me into makeup in the first place. I noticed a change in myself every morning after I had my foundation, eyeliner and mascara on. I felt better. I was happier. I smiled. That's the reason why I do what I do. It's not about layering cosmetics on a woman's face so they look like a stereotypical magazine model, it's about making them feel as beautiful as the world sees them. Watching their faces light up once I've finished my work because they feel beautiful is the best feeling in the world to me. Some people have larger goals than I, they want to cure cancer, fight AIDs, relieve hunger, while I just want people to be happy. Everything else will follow.

xo, jm