I have always loved makeup. I remember looking in my mom’s drawer and finding bright, shiny things—powder compacts, lipsticks, eye shadows, pencils—that I could play with (when she wasn’t looking). I couldn't wait for the day I would be grown up, old enough to start wearing makeup.
Over 20 years ago, I didn’t set out to be a makeup artist—but I loved makeup artistry the minute I started it. I attended Smith College in Northampton, MA and earned a degree in American Studies—an unlikely education for a makeup career. But while it sounds worlds apart, it wasn’t entirely unrelated. As a women’s college, Smith helped shaped my views, including the way I approach women and beauty. I believe women are to define and recognize the beauty they possess—and that beauty is who you are, not how someone perceives you. Makeup is not about changing who you are or thinking you must look like someone else—that’s not beauty (that’s kind of ugly). For me, makeup is an art— it’s playful, creative and fun.
Before and during my years at Smith I worked at Clinique. When I graduated, I went to the Estée Lauder Companies in NYC and worked for the Origins, Estée Lauder and Clinique brands—eventually becoming Clinique’s Director of Strategy and Creative Development and Global Beauty Director. In this position I developed programs and taught makeup application throughout Europe and Asia, in the Middle East and South Africa. My experience at ELC also included strategic branding, executive training and collaborating with marketing, product development, communications and sales to launch new programs.
Today I have my own beauty consulting business based in NYC, Shizué Beauty. I work on global beauty projects and as a makeup artist for many different companies. I have worked with Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Neutrogena, philosophy, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Christian Louboutin Beaute and Guggenheim Productions. Other clients I have worked with include Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Lucy Liu, Golfers Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter, Kevin and Dani Jonas, Jon Bon Jovi. The work is rewarding and fun - and I get to work with so many great people, in various brands and capacities.
My aim here is to provide makeup tips and ideas that are informative, helpful and fun. Makeup is not a serious endeavor, it's to be played with and enjoyed! Please let me know any feedback or thoughts or ideas you may have. Because while I do enjoy this for myself, I want you to enjoy it too.