Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Brown.
Hi Valerie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hey, beautiful person! How are you doing today? My name is Valerie and I am a makeup artist and makeup teacher. My story began in Chernihiv, Ukraine. It’s a very nice and beautiful city with a population of almost 300k people. I was born in a regular family, when I was nine yo, my parents divorced and at ten yo my mom and I moved to live with my grandmother.
As I was growing up, I liked to buy and collect fashion magazines. And also to cut pictures of women from there and glue it on the door in my room. I always liked pretty women’s faces. During my school years, makeup was not so popular as it is now, it was much more simple and not such a big choice of makeup products. Computers and internet was not in every house, so I couldn’t just open YouTube and learn from there. And frankly speaking, it never crossed my mind to learn makeup, especially to make it my profession until I was 16 y.o. At that age, I’ve got to business presentation of a cosmetic company. My friend met a guy just on the street who invited people to presentation and she invited me to go, I agreed. Since that day, I spent four years working in that network marketing company. That’s where I got my first makeup education in 2006 and that’s where I actually became a makeup artist. Forever thankful for that experience and opportunities I’ve got. Also, I was selling cosmetic products, later I became a makeup teacher for group lessons.
But one day, our company fell apart, and everyone decided to move on their own paths. Me too. I became an entrepreneur. That was my first business. When I was 19 y.o. my friend and I opened makeup studio “Lollipops”. I was their makeup artist and teacher. Later I decided that I wanted to have more opportunities because my dreams were big. That’s why I decided to move to Kiev (capital of Ukraine). I came there with a dream to work as makeup artist but first I needed money to rent at least a room and to pay food, other bills. I didn’t have any money, my parents couldn’t help. And also I owed money to my friend. It was not big amount but that was my goal to return him debt as soon as possible. So I found waitress job in Japanese restaurant to earn and put money to the side and then to find a job of a mua. I didn’t have place in Kiev to stay. So I got up at 4:30 am, spent 2 hours on the bus to Kiev and then 1 hour through city to my work. I worked 21 hours and then the next morning came back to my home city. I worked 1 day and had 2 weekends and so on. I worked on such schedule four months until I finally could rent a room in some granny’s apartment and moved to Kiev completely. In my restaurant as a security worked man who also was masseur in beauty salon. He proposed to talk about me with director that I could work as a mua in their salon. They agreed. Once I was at work in the restaurant, they called me, said they had a client the next day but I said I couldn’t make it because I had work shift. So they didn’t call me again. And it’s very understandable. I was afraid to let go restaurant work for three years and three months. I moved to be a makeup artist and in result, I was waitress then manager in restaurant business. I was afraid not to be able to pay rent and bills. I worked hard and with a few weekends, I began to have a lot of health issues and to feel unstoppable tired. So that was time for me to move on. My makeup dream was very far away from me at that moment. Last year, I lived just on survival mode, felt exhausted from health problems, not even being able to dream, scared of everything.
Then I decided to look for an office job for lowest position because I didn’t have any work experience. I couldn’t find job for four months and then I finally got a job of assistant manager. So I began to work 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, sitting in front of computer almost all the time. That was my personal hell that last 1 year and three months. This kind of job is hard for me. I like to communicate with people, be active. Sitting and looking into computer is just not for my personality. But life always gives us opportunities, sometimes it gives us time to stop and to think about what we really want. One day I met a guy who wanted to open touristic agency. And I knew how to do it because not long time ago I opened touristic agency for director of my company. I also told him that I wanted to be a makeup artist and open a makeup studio. He liked that idea too. So he proposed me to work for him. He paid my makeup education in big makeup school. It was four months of lessons and practice, I got my new certificate. I gave up my office job, we rented offices for touristic agency and makeup studio. I finally had a chance to be whom I dreamt to be and why I moved to the big city. So our business was working for four months and didn’t bring much income. That guy who hired me came and told me to look for a new job because he planned to close all businesses. I said that I am not going anywhere and that I would continue to run makeup business and touristic agency. He was very surprised with my answer.
That was the moment when my real career of mua had started. I was left alone to run the business. To pay rent for offices, my apartment, taxes, and bills. Was I scared at that moment? Yes, I was. But I could not give up my dream anymore, to betray myself again, to take jobs I didn’t like. I decided that better I will not earn much but I will enjoy what I do and how I live my life. From my experience, I realized that if I don’t like my job, I begin to have health issues. So since 2015, I am a makeup artist. I got a lot of new clients, built with them long time relationships. Some of them became my friends. I took part in photoshoots, campaigns, was doing wedding makeups, and gave makeup lessons. I made it work!
In 2016, I met American man in Kiev and in 2018 we got married. We continued to live in Kiev. My husband began to bring me a lot of great makeup products from USA that was not available in Ukraine, he supported my dream as he could. He told me about photo events in different countries. So I worked as a mua at such events in Dominican Republic and Jamaica in 2018. I met there a lot of people from USA (photographers, models). In 2019 our son was born. Life seemed to be pretty awesome until war happened in Ukraine. At that moment we have been in Bali. We couldn’t come back home. All our life, memories, great moments, our stuff, everything was left in Kiev. I went through hell first two months of the war. I have never been so depressed in my life. Worrying about my family and friends in Ukraine, feeling helpless and extremely vulnerable.
From Bali, we came to USA. And started our life here from the beginning. So now I am a makeup artist in LA and County. I continue to do what I like. Makeup for me is not just work. It’s lifestyle, art, opportunity to give people good moods and emotions. I am happy to be a part of person’s important event, a photo shoot. I dream one day to open my beauty studio in LA. Space where clients can see me at any convenient for them time.
I am thankful to my husband for believing in me and my dreams! He supports me in my career. But I had times when I was the only person to support myself. And I know how it’s important when there is someone who believes in you. But you can always be your own support and follow your dreams! The only thing that can be on your way it’s fear. But I am more afraid of not following my dreams and not to live my life as I want than to fail if I try. Do what you really like, don’t let your bad emotions stop you at moments when you fail. It’s ok to do mistakes, it’s ok when things don’t go the way you want. It will come. Just keep going! This is the most important in achieving your dreams. Don’t stop! I believe in you!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I am analyzing my struggles, I understand that most of them were caused by my fear. I think that exactly fear is on the way to success for most of people. The only way to beat it – action. Just make steps without thinking what if it doesn’t work. What if it does? And don’t compare yourself to others, don’t try to be someone else. You are a unique artist the way you are.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize on makeup for photo shoots, events and also in individual makeup lessons. I think this is the best way to teach makeup – individually. You can give all your time, attention for 1 person and answer all questions. It’s very important that my student will get maximum from my education. Every time I meet my new client for makeup or lesson, I worry like at my very first makeup. I really want my client to like his face with my makeup on it, to see that smile, joy, and happiness. These are the best moments for me! Yes, we all need to pay our bills to eat. But money never comes first for me in my job. People’s emotions matter the most!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I am sure that the makeup industry will be only growing bigger. It is a great way to look fabulous without making any big changes with your face. It is a way to look different every day, to express your personality or mood. Makeup trends are back time after time, from different eras. I think that in 5-10 years makeup of 90s will be back again. Those makeups that Kevyn Aucoin was doing for Naomi Campbell and Whitney Houston. This will work for some people. For other people, more creative makeup will be favorite. Using rhinestones on lips, eyes; unusual eyelashes (colorful, feathers). On everyday basis.
But I am not the best person to predict trends. When I was 10-11 y.o. home alone, I cut my eyelashes short. My thought was: I will not follow trends, I will dictate them. My mom came back home and asked if I cut my eyelashes. I hoped she wouldn’t notice. After that, I don’t remember trend for short eyelashes, only for long. So it didn’t work.
Trends are great but it’s better to wear on your face and body what suits you the best and what makes you happy!
Pricing:
- Day makeup $80
- Red carpet makeup $130
- Makeup for photoshoot $130
- Editorial makeup $120-150
- Makeup lesson $150
Contact Info:
- Website: valeriegloss.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerieglossmakeup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriegloss/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/valeriegloss
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/ChrUo8tAM4Ov6Lj-14hpBg
