“What was your big break?”

InMy Beauty Break, we’ll dig into the behind-the-scenes details the money, the aha!

Danessa Myricksis your makeup artist’s favorite makeup artist.

Image of Danessa Myricks smiling on a graphic computer screen.

Danessa Myricks

Her unconventional products were for unconventional (and striking) makeup.

All this is quite ironic when you consider that the self-taughtMyricks calls herself an “accidental makeup artist.”

“I was the corny nerd girl in the corner,” she tellsAllure.

Black and white image of Danessa Myricks applying makeup on a model.

Courtesy of Danessa Myricks

“There was nothing cool or trendy about me at all.”

That passion was (and still is!)

I honestly did a no-payment situation for almost a year because I really needed to get experienced.

Makeup artist Danessa Myricks applying makeup on a model on stage during a masterclass.

Courtesy of Danessa Myricks

They knew I was a good worker, and they gave me an opportunity.

He did the perm boxes and all that stuff.

He recommended me for a job at Luster Products.

Makeup artist Danessa Myricks laughing with model she is applying makeup on.

Courtesy of Danessa Myricks

And that’s when I thought I had arrived.

I felt more confident after doing that job.

If people only knew all of the things.

Then you just aspire to be that person.

Clearly, I didn’t in the beginning, but that was my aspiration.

And so I did makeup a lot heavier.

So it was like, “I need to look flawless out the gate.”

It moved you emotionally.

That was my aspiration.

I didn’t want to just put makeup on people.

I wanted people tofeelthe work.

And now I’m really about full-on freedom.

There’s no right or wrong.

I taught myself photography.

I started developing one product at a time.

And that’s what led us to where we are today.

Throughout the entire presentation, I was always mixing things together, and layering things together.

So I wound up mixing up concoctions to sell at the end of the classes.

That’s literally where it started.

Or I’d do a cream, a pigment, and a mixing medium.

Allure: When would you say was your big break?

For so many years, I’ve mainly talked to artists.

My whole conversation had to shift.

Now I get to see the average person use my products.

Allure: One thing I’ve noticed is that people have been getting more artistic with their makeup.

Myricks:I couldn’t be happier about that.

I think people completely shifted their idea about using makeup.

People want it easy and effortless.

People are ready to break free and have more time to experiment.

I think that time really gave people a different level of appreciation for what our brand offers.

We have never been able to get funding at all.

That’s how the brand grew.

It always feels uphill in that process.

The time will come.

The opportunity will come and will eventually turn over.

I know it sounds like corny advice, but that really is it.

The moment is going to come differently, the journey is different for everyone.

Myricks: They absolutely are.

I went through a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed by deadlines, and all of the business elements.

I realized in those moments when I focus completely on [creative pursuits], the business is thriving.

It almost seems like it would be the opposite.

Butwhen I’m creating, that’s when everything moves forward.

Now, I check that that my week is split.

Then midpoint to the end of the week, I switch the script and I’m full-on about creating.

I have a model waiting for me now.

I say to myself, “you’re able to’t stop doing makeup.

I really do work really hard to keep it balanced.

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