Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Melkisetian.
Christina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for makeup started when I was really young. I remember sneaking into my mom’s room and going into her makeup drawer to play with her colorful shadows and eyeliners. I hate to say it, but when I was in fifth grade I started wearing eyeliner. As much as my mom tried to get me to stop, I just couldn’t. I kind of became addicted to it. By the time I was in high school I was experimenting with everything from foundation to bronzer. I also started practicing on my friends as a way to learn and build my skills. I wasn’t good, but it was a way to gain knowledge! If I wasn’t doing it on my friends I was practicing it on myself. Sometimes it was out of boredom and sometimes it was because I was inspired. In March of 2016 I got hired as a freelancer at MAC Cosmetics. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I remember crying while I was still on the phone with the manager after she told me that I was hired. At that point everything kind of kicked off artistry wise and work wise. In September I was promoted to a part-time employee and then in July I was promoted again to a third key position. At the same time, I also started my blog, BookOfBeautyology to combine my two favorite subjects, makeup and science. I wanted to create quality content that was very useful, and educate people who are new to using makeup as well as other artists who want to learn. There is still so much that I would love to do. One of my goals at MAC is to be invited to participate in New York Fashion Week. Ultimately, I would love to have my own studio where I can teach classes and do makeup all day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Honestly, I can’t imagine someone pursuing something they are passionate about without encountering any obstacles. For me, I did not have the full support of my parents in the beginning. I went to college and earned my undergraduate degree in Biology with a double minor in health and cognitive neuroscience. My parents really wanted me to get a career in that field and although I liked it, I still wanted to pursue a career in makeup. As you can imagine, they weren’t too thrilled when I told them. I really can’t blame them after they spent all that money putting me through school. However, I knew that if I got a job in a lab or office and did the same thing every day, I would be miserable. So I chose makeup. It wasn’t easy at all. I had to start fresh, build a kit and learn how to get clientele. Makeup is not cheap, so I was using every cent that I had to buy decent products to work with. To actually build clientele, I was basically doing makeup on anyone I could find such as my friends and my mom, hoping that people liked my work and would book an appointment with me. This is way easier said than done. On top of that, it took a lot of time to develop skills. If you look on YouTube or Instagram, everyone packs on five pounds of makeup and calls themselves a professional makeup artist. If you really want to be a good artist, you have to learn how to do everything from natural makeup, to glam, to editorial, to wedding. You have to learn what colors go with a person’s complexion, what to use if they are dry or oily, how to balance making their look last all day without being too heavy, and so on. Mastering makeup that looks good in real life and in photography is a huge challenge and take a lot of time and practice. People pay you to make them feel confident, so you have to know what you are doing! Advice: -Don’t be too selective. Take every opportunity that comes your way. Even if it is something minor, keep in mind that word of mouth goes a very long way. If someone loved working with you, they will recommend you to others. This is how you build clientele and become noticed. – Realize that there are people who will always be better than you, more talented than you, or more successful than you, and that’s O.K. Everyone is at their own pace in life but as long as you are authentic, consistent and show passion in what you do, you will inevitably be rewarded. – Don’t be threatened by someone else’s success. Instead, take the opportunity to learn from that person’s success and use it to grow. Even I have coworkers that are more talented than I am! I love watching them do makeup and ask them questions on how to do things. If it weren’t for them, I think my artistry would not have improved at all. – Be humble. One of my favorite sayings is that “if you are the smartest person in a room, then you are in the wrong room,” and this especially applies to people who are in the makeup industry. Sadly, there is a lot of cockiness and artists who think they know everything. Those are the people will never create anything original because they aren’t willing to push their boundaries. In the words of Kevin James Bennett, an Emmy award winning makeup artist, “the day an artist thinks they know everything, is the day they need to retire.” -Be prepared to fail. Failure teaches you how to succeed but only if you are willing to learn from your mistakes.
We’d love to hear more about BookofBeautyology.
I have done a bit of everything from photoshoots, weddings, and proms to editorial. My work has been featured on the MAC Instagram page, as well as their website and global newsletter. One look that was re-grammed was used as a theme day look by a MAC team in Cannes, France which was really cool! In addition, my work has also been featured on Allure’s Instagram account. I think what sets me apart from others is that I am a well-rounded artist. I have the ability to create something very original and can also do beauty makeup. Another thing that sets me apart is that I love to teach my clients how to create a look during an appointment. I go through the process step by step, have them ask me questions about certain techniques, and help them choose the right products for their skin type, tone, and beauty goals. Not only does it make our session more fun, but the client leaves feeling beautiful and more confident that she is able to recreate a look at home. It’s a win-win!
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Luckily, I am a very social person and love to meet new people so networking is never a problem for me. I would say that if you are interested in networking but too nervous about putting yourself out there, the best way to start is with your friends and people you already know. A lot of my clientele has come from my friends, co-workers, and family. You can also start really small. For example, at your next networking event, make it a goal to introduce yourself to one person. After that, make it two, etc. Another thing that has worked well is talking about things other than work. I think talking about work can get a bit boring and keeps the conversation short. If you have a hobby or do something cool it is more interesting to talk about. Also, don’t forget ask questions! People love to talk about themselves a lot. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but imagine trying to listen to a “me” conversation for twenty minutes without losing focus. Asking questions shows that you are interested in knowing a person and makes them feel important. My last piece of advice is to make sure to follow-up with whoever you are networking with. I don’t mean to send an email every day, but occasionally sending an email to ask questions or for advice on a topic you know they are very knowledgeable about. You always want to keep the connection going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bookofbeautyology.wordpress.com
- Email: bookofbeautyology.info@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bookofbeautyology
Image Credit:
Christina Melkisetian
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