I’ve been doing makeup professionally for 13 years. Ten of these years have been in my hometown of Paducah, KY. Prior to working in the Bluegrass State, I was freelancing in NYC, applying cosmetics on celebrities and runway models.
I used to think that more industry experience equated to a feeling of coasting and relaxation, but economies and markets are moving targets. My soul is not. There’s constant friction and an endless journey at play. I’m grateful for the creativity that blooms from an oscillating industry. It’s my homeostasis.
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
-Albert Einstein
Everyday, we get to confront the gap between where we are and where we want to be. It’s easy to feel like an imposter in the learning process.
Imposter syndrome stems from a sense of inadequacy in the environment despite objectively being competent. To the individual, it isn’t about assessing the situation but about assessing themselves. They tend to feel like a fraud.
Consider makeup to be a tool, an assistant that aids in presenting ourselves in the way we’d like to feel.
When I do my own makeup, I feel aligned with my profession. I represent on myself what I can provide for others. Some days a lip color illuminates the words spoken. Other times, enhanced liner optimizes eye contact, signaling the ability to truly “see” someone. Certain occasions call more minimal makeup, symbolizing vulnerability. Every day, I face a new version of myself and other’s new versions of themselves.
