⭐ How Makeup Has Evolved: A Youngstown, Ohio Makeup Artist’s 15-Year Journey Through Trends, Nostalgia & Glam

How Makeup Has Evolved Since I Started: From Digital Cameras to Social Trends

Sometimes I sit back and laugh thinking about where this journey started.

When I first began my career as a makeup artist, the beauty industry looked completely different than it does today.

Social media was still in its baby stages. There weren't influencers posting daily tutorials, and TikTok makeup trends weren't a thing!

I remember getting SO excited every time a complete stranger followed my makeup page. I thought I had officially made it.

Three hundred and fifty strangers followed me.

Three hundred and fifty!

To me, I might as well have been a celebrity makeup artist. 😂

People would actually make fun of me because I'd get so giddy every time my follower count went up.

Looking back now, it's funny—but honestly? Those strangers became the foundation of everything I've built today.

After a makeup application, I would take photos, upload them later, and hope I got at least one good picture.

Not only would I take 19 photos that were basically the same exact picture.. but so was this Era of life

We would take one picture with the flash.

One without.

One slightly tilted.

One where someone blinked.

And then we posted them all. 😂

I definitely was posting to build my page, but looking back, those pictures actually showed something important.

People started noticing the difference between someone who invested in professional makeup services and someone who didn't.

The flash photography didn't lie.

I had such a love/hate relationship with this era.

On one hand, I hated seeing people feel like they had to chase perfection or compare themselves to an unrealistic standard. Beauty was never meant to be about looking flawless.

But on the other hand, this was also the moment makeup started becoming an experience. People started celebrating getting glammed, feeling confident, and making memories. Watching someone light up when they saw themselves finished was—and still is—one of my favorite parts of being a makeup artist.

Before Professional Glam Was the Norm

When I started in 2011, homecoming and prom were both very minimally scheduled events.

Most girls weren't booking professional makeup. They were getting ready together with their friends, on the floor, doing their own makeup, and making memories before the dance.

My calendar was mostly weddings... And even weddings looked different back then.

One of the biggest changes I've seen over the years is watching mothers of the bride and mothers of the groom experience professional makeup for the very first time.

Many women in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s had never had their makeup professionally done in their entire lives. At first, there was often hesitation—almost an intimidation factor.

They weren't sure what to expect.

Would they look like themselves?
Would it feel like "too much"?

Then they would see the bride and her friends looking beautiful, confident, and still completely themselves, and that curiosity would turn into excitement.

Now, years later, I regularly bring assistants with me so we can accommodate larger bridal parties and make sure everyone gets the experience of feeling pampered and beautiful.

Watching that shift has been very rewarding - not just seeing makeup evolve, but seeing people's comfort and confidence around it evolve too.

My $45 Makeup Days

When I first started, I was charging $45 for a makeup application without lashes.

Yes... $45.

I was just trying to get my name out there and build a reputation.

I placed advertisements in the local Youngstown Coupon Savings Book offering 10% off, hoping someone would find me, take a chance on this young makeup artist, and book an appointment.

And the craziest part?

I still have clients today who found me through those advertisements.

People who saw my little coupon ad years ago are still purchasing from me, booking appointments, supporting my business, and following along with this journey.

That means more to me than I can explain.

Because those little ads were the beginning of something much bigger.

Social Media Made Us Do It: The Makeup Trends We All Tried (and Learned From)

As social media grew, the beauty world completely transformed.

Year after year, there was a new trend everyone wanted to try.

Bold contour.

Bold lips.

Big lashes.

Bright pops of eyeshadow.

Everyone wanted the latest look they saw online.

And let's not forget the Pinterest days...

The days when clients would come in with a photo and say:

"I want to look exactly like this."

Exactly.

As makeup artists, we quickly learned how to explain that inspiration is amazing, but makeup is not one-size-fits-all. What looks beautiful on one person may need to be adjusted to complement someone else's unique features.

I'll be honest...

The eyebrow era stressed me out.

Not because I couldn't fill in brows—but because every single client had a different idea of what "perfect brows" looked like.

Some wanted soft and natural.

Others wanted them bold enough to make a statement before they even walked into the room.

Before filling in someone's brows, I'd secretly be wondering...

"Are we going for soft and fluffy... or are we shooting for the full Groucho Marx look?" 😂

One trend that also still makes me laugh is how strongly everyone avoided looking dewy.

Nobody wanted shine.

Nobody wanted glow.

Everyone wanted to be completely matte.

We carried blotting papers everywhere.

If there was even a little bit of natural shine showing through, we were immediately trying to remove it.

I think the " All. Matte. Everything " makeup phase is what made me intrigued with expanding my own line... Over time, we learned that healthy skin has dimension. Skin isn't supposed to look flat or lifeless. I love that makeup has shifted toward skin-first beauty—hydrated skin, beautiful preparation, and enhancing what someone already has.

Learning the "Non-Lingo Lingo"

One of the biggest things I've learned after 15 years as a makeup artist is that sometimes beauty professionals and clients speak completely different languages.

Makeup artists might say:

"Let's add warmth, balance your undertone, soften the transition shade, and diffuse your contour."

And a client might simply say:

"I don't know... I just don't want to look orange." 😂

I've learned that the best way to teach makeup isn't by using fancy terminology. It's by explaining it in a way that makes sense.

My clients have taught me how to speak the "non-lingo lingo."

And tthat has made me a better artist.