I always find it fascinating to ask people in the beauty industry how they got involved. Stylists, makeup artists, nail artists – anyone with an eye for beautification – all have a story of what lead them to their field. I’ll tell you mine.
For those of you who don’t already know, I fell in love with makeup while working as a performer at Walt Disney World. I was trained by the makeup artists on staff there to do my own character makeup. I ended up loving it more behind the scenes than I did on stage!
That inspired me to enroll in professional makeup school.
For me, it started out as a fun, creative outlet that I thought I could turn into a business. It wasn’t until I met a very special woman at school that I really understood the therapeutic and true transformative power of this industry.
The woman had lost all of her hair – including eyebrows and eyelashes – due to her chemotherapy treatments. She walked in scared, alone, and timid. She was so visibly self-conscious about her look that it just broke my heart. We gave her a full makeover – complete with wig, lace eyebrows, false lashes, and a full glamour makeup application.
The joy in her eyes when she looked in the mirror is something I’ll never forget.
It was then that I realized that this can be so much more than playing with pretty eyeshadow colors. So many people make the argument that makeup is frivolous, just superficial and unnecessary. I disagree. Anything that gives you the power to feel beautiful and the confidence to face the world is ok in my book. And that is why I truly love this industry.
So, that’s my story. Now, Regency Beauty Institute, Refinery 29, and I want you to share yours!
Regency and Refinery have teamed up for the #ShareBeautyContest which runs through Aug. 13th. One lucky winner will be chosen following the end of the contest. Each person who enters will have the opportunity to win a customized VIP beauty treatment worth $2,000.
Entering the contest is easy! Try one trend (or all of them). Trends will be posted each week at the contest landing page. Take a photo of the beauty trend, share it on Instagram, and use the #ShareBeautyContest hashtag. Done and done! Now go out and make the world a more beautiful place. 🙂
[Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Regency Beauty Institute, but all opinions are my own.]