Beauty Makeup: Through the eyes of a Latina Artist

It’s 4 am. I’m wide awake so I deicided to grab my laptop and start typing. Maybe that’s how some of our best thoughts begin…when the world is quiet and there is no distractions. :)

Beauty makeup has always had my heart.

From the very beginnings of my career as a makeup artist. I went to school to become an esthetician, and while I was studying and working in the field, I fell in love with makeup. My boss and mentor at the time introduce me to it, and I never looked back.

I had the opportunity to work with so many faces, complexions, personalities ans stories. Looking back, that was a real pivot point in my life.

Those years taught me so much, not only about makeup, but about myself and humanity. I learned that, in many ways, we all want the same things. We want to be treated well. We want to feel good, we want to look good, we want to feel seen.

I had the opportunity to do makeup for television, photography, theater, fashion shows, wedding and special events. Each environment was completely different, but they all taught me the same thing over and over again:

Beauty makeup was what I truly loved

I always enjoyed doing fantasy makeup for hundreds of dancers during the Barranquilla Carnival. I loved working with pigments. glitter, face paint, rhinestones and all little details that made each look come alive. It was another way to create beauty.

Fashion shows were a completely different experience. Behind the curtains, everything could be chaotic, models coming in and out, people rushing, last minute changes but somehow it was also incredibly fun. Everyone one was there to play a part in helping create a look that would translate the fashion designer’s vision to life.

And then there were the brides. I was the makeup artist’s assistant, applying the foundation and preparing the “canvas” for the makeup. But before the makeup began, I had another very special role. As an esthetician, I would go first in the morning to the bride’s home and give her a Baño de Novia" (The Bride's Bath) an exfoliating body treatment as part of the bridal package.

It was the perfect quiet window of time before the rush took over. A traditional ritual designed to polish and soften the skin, a time for the bride to breathe, ground herself and truly prepare for the walk down the aisle.

People sometimes ask me, “What do you miss about working in Colombia?”

I wouldn’t say I miss it exactly. I think I simply wish that chapter of my life could have lasted a little longer. It was such a meaningful time in my career, filled with wonderful people, creativity, and experiences that shaped me as an artist, and so much of what I learned back then still influences the way I approach beauty and bridal makeup today.

There was nothing subtle about makeup back then. We Latinas loved color, drama, and glamorous makeup.

Today, natural glam is becoming more popular, and that makes me happy. But I believe there is room for both—the soft and the dramatic. Makeup should be whatever makes you feel beautiful and confident.

Latina beauty, for me, means a broad spectrum of unique undertones and features, an expressive smile, vibrant culture, and tradition.

It also means making a conscious effort with your appearance. Your hair is done. Your clothes are pressed. You take pride in looking polished. Not necessarily to impress someone, but because looking put together can be a way of expressing how you feel about yourself.

For me, there is something powerful about that.

There is no single definition of Latina beauty. We come from different countries, backgrounds, complexions, hair textures, and traditions. We can be glamorous or natural, bold or understated. There is room for all of it.

And as a Latina makeup artist, I love being able to celebrate that diversity—one face, one complexion, and one story at a time.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! ❤️

After all these years, I’ve realized that makeup was never really just about makeup.

It was about connection, confidence, creativity, and making someone feel good when they looked in the mirror.

And that will always be beautiful to me.