My Five Favorite Things About Being a Makeup Artist

I love my job. I feel really lucky about that. So many people spend forty hours a week (or more) doing something they hate for a paycheck. It isn’t all luck - I haven’t always made my living this way and it took a lot of hard work to get here. But not everyone has the luxury of doing something they love. So as an exercise in gratitude, here are my five favorite things about being a makeup artist, countdown style.

5. Being paid to have fun. I love makeup. I love photo shoots. I love weddings and fashion and art. My work feels like play. And I get paid to play? It's like being 10 years old again, playing dress up and someone saying, "Oh hey, here's your reward for just being you. In candy."

4. The perks. Professional discounts on makeup from MAC, Tarte, Stila, Urban Decay, Smashbox and Bobbi Brown… Did I mention that I love makeup? Sometimes I get event tickets for free, like to KC Fashion Week, complete with food and free booze. Sometimes I get paid in makeup. Sometimes I get paid in booze. And did I mention the booze?

3. Working for myself. I have a child with special needs, so setting my own schedule relieves a TON of stress in my life. I can do the back office stuff in my pajamas. I don’t ever have to take a job that isn’t worthwhile to me. No one dictates what I wear or how I go about my work. I am fully in control of my business. And my boss is awesome! (Not to mention that I sometimes get to go to work in my jammies.)

2. Getting the art out. I’m an artist. Art is like poop. What?!? Hang on. I don’t mean that in a negative way - stay with me here for a minute. Inspiration is like food. It’s part of my daily life and I’m always taking it in. Digesting it. If I don’t then poop it out - as my own creative work - I’ll turn septic and die. Or possibly explode. I don’t know, maybe my crappy metaphor falls apart there. Um… Something about diarrhea? Whatever. You get my point.

1. Making people feel beautiful. Regardless of age, size, gender, or any other demographic, I see the beauty in every person. I just bring out and embellish what is already there, so that they can see what I see. And when it moves them to see themselves in that way, that is my very favorite thing about my job. This inspires me.

I'm helping people with art, doing a job I love, and this makes me feel happy. I love making others feel happy as well.