Slaying The Makeup Game One Dragon At A Time

In this post, we’re chatting with @beautibean, a fantastically talented makeup artist whose dedication to makeup and beauty has been an inspiration to us and many other beauty junkies around the world. We knew, judging by her art, that our conversation would be thoughtful, colorful and detailed. This is her story about becoming and being an influencer, her source of creativity and more. Keep on reading…

Tell us about your journey into becoming a makeup artist?

I always saw makeup as an artistic outlet. As a naturally creative person, I loved it, because it didn’t have the structure that a lot of fine art has.

There were less rules for how everything had to work.

In fine art, if you make something a certain color, there is this pressure to have a reason for making it that color. Or if you don’t know what rules you’re breaking, then you’re not allowed to break those rules. As a makeup artist, if I feel like putting on mint eyeshadow with a graphic liner- then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I think this option is open to me because I’ve already thrown patriarchal expectations out the window. Since I’ve already crossed that barrier, all other possibilities are open to me as an artist. Eventually, this passion became such a large part of my life that it organically manifested as a career.

Does being a makeup artist equal to being a IG influencer?

These are two different worlds, and while they often overlap, they each have a very different set of talents and abilities. I know that in today’s day and age, it is almost impossible to get by without a social media presence. For established artists, it gives them a portfolio of work that demonstrates their credence. For upcoming creatives, it gives them a platform to be recognized. But in the end…

being an Instagram Influencer means playing a game where the house always wins.

You need to know that game like the back of your hand- which means posting the right content, at the right time, with the right pace. And you have to be prepared to lose anyway. That’s why people that have the option, will hire a social media manager to do it for them. Being a great online creator is a job by itself, and you may have a lot of respect in the community for the work you put out, but that doesn’t always translate into likes and shares-

and even likes and shares on IG won’t often get you a paycheck.

Considering what you’ve just said that IG is so unpredictable. Have you found other ways to earn a living as an artist?

This brings up something that I have been struggling with as a creator. Our culture places so much personal value into how much money a person makes- if you aren’t making enough money doing something you love, it’s frequently disregarded as a hobby or seen as a fairytale lifestyle, where everything is fun and easy all the time. And then, at the same time, so many people are unwilling to pay fair prices for the work that creatives put out. Probably because they see it as a fun hobby. My full time job is @beautibean and I love it. I am constantly creating, editing, writing content and managing my social media. I am a certified makeup artist and I do take clients when they pop up, but my focus is on creating art.

Would you call yourself an “Influencer”?

I do love being an influencer, an educator, and an artist – it is so fulfilling to be able to help others based on my expertise.

Being an influencer is a career path for some and a creative endeavor for others. But either way, people put too much emphasis on the title. Being a successful influencer means three things- that you have something in real life that you are very good at, that you can market yourself or your brand well, and that you can connect with your audience.

Was it challenging to share this part of you online? I mean, did you have a fear of rejection?

I am so happy to be able to say that…

this is not something I have struggled with.

I have always felt comfortable expressing myself with this medium. I am so thankful that when I was growing up, I was always encouraged to express myself creatively, whether I was using nail polish to put lipstick on my dolls, making Sculpey critters, or going out with yellow blush. When it came to posting my work online, it felt like a natural next step.

And when that turned into @beautibean, I was proud, but never afraid.

I have to ask, where does your name “Beautibean” come from?

I had a small dog growing up, who had many nicknames, including Bean, since he looked like an adorable little kidney bean whenever he went to sleep. I was really into Spoon at the time, and their song “Me and the Bean” became a song that represented my dog and I, plus the time we shared together. This, mixed with my endless love for tiny things of all shapes and small sizes, led to “bean” being used in a few social media handles. When I started my makeup account, the little bean followed.

Some of the artists we’ve talked said that putting on makeup feels therapeutic. What does makeup mean to you?

I love being able to wear art on my skin- and then take it off to put new art on the next day. I feel like I have the ability to go to a gallery and pick a beautiful piece of work to put on my wall, and then change it out whenever I feel like it.

I love being in tune with my emotions, and my work is often a reflection of that.

Some days, I may feel bright so my colors are bright. Other days I may feel more mellow- so my colors match that. And then sometimes, it’s the other way around. Some of my brightest looks may have been made when I was feeling down.

Color can be an amazing tool to change your mood!

Can you name a few people / art who influenced your style?

There are so many amazing creators out there in so many different disciplines that are supportive to myself and other artists. I don’t try to replicate any specific people in my life, nor do I see anyone as a personal mentor.

But I am constantly encouraged by the fierce and powerful women

and creators in my life that work their asses off and still prioritize treating people with kindness. I am influenced by a person’s confidence, their magic, their determination! I try to let that encourage me to show the same emotions in my own work.

How has your routine change since the pandemic?

I have an autoimmune disease, so…

a lot of my time is spent listening to my body and making sure that I am allowing it to heal when it can.

This does mean that sometimes I need to stay home and rest for a while, and I am grateful that I have the support I need to be able to work full time from home in an environment that allows me to show kindness to my body and rest when I am able.

COVID-19 hasn’t changed that much of my daily routine, except that our household needs to be extra vigilant, since I’m immunocompromised, and I’m going to be seeing my friends and family video chat for a while. When I’m resting, I’ll be making jewelry, playing video games, and spending time with my partner and our cats.

It’s important for me to make the distinction that social media is my job, not my life.

Although I am so happy that I have people that have crossed that barrier to become friends that support and encourage me, as well as understand the unique struggles that come with this job.

For the end, I have a few quick and fun questions. Most common misconceptions people have about you?

I am sure there are many that I am unaware of.

Social media is inherently designed to only show the best of our lives and the small amount of difficulties that we are willing to share to appear relatable.

We make so many assumptions about the people on our screens. Although I may be candid about my thoughts and experiences, in the end I am a very private person. I think there is a big difference between being true to yourself and being an open book. There are some things that I don’t think should be taboo to talk about, like my illnesses. So I try to be more open about the topics that I feel deserve a voice.

Most surreal moment of your life?

This question is helping me realize that every accomplishment can feel surreal when you have imposter’s syndrome. I have several moments that I can think feel surreal to me- but perhaps they shouldn’t because I’ve worked so hard to be good at what I do and I should be proud of that.

I love that I’ve been able to work with some incredibly talented actresses, models, and photographers that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to collaborate with.

I’ve also experienced being recognized by and becoming friends with some of the most incredible individuals in this industry. Hearing that someone whose own work I love and respect…

feels the same way about mine has been so encouraging and validating.

What sort of music do you listen to?

I pretty much have the Skyrim soundtrack on repeat.

I like to pretend I’m fighting dragons when I’m putting my mascara on.

Can you suggest a couple of movies or series to watch while in quarantine?

Whenever someone asks me to recommend a show, my gut reaction is to suggest anything by Micheal Schur. You may not know the name, but he has been involved with the creation of The Office, Parks and Rec, Brooklyn 99, and The Good Place. He is a shining beacon of light in a world of perpetual darkness. Everything he touches turns to gold, unless you don’t want that thing to be gold. Like pancakes, or a child. The people in his shows are more than a gimmick- he writes powerful and compelling characters for a wide variety of backgrounds, genders, and orientations. All of his shows make you feel like you’re part of the family, which is more necessary than ever at a time of so much isolation.

And if you’re looking for a good drama, The Sopranos is endlessly watchable. HBO streaming is offering some shows for free during this time, Sopranos included.