Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cristina.
Hi Laura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a freelance makeup artist, content creator, and social media manager. I have always been a creative person. I took dance classes for 15 years and started playing the piano when I was 5 years old. Before the pandemic, I was a music teacher. I have a master’s degree in music education and I had to learn how to play almost every instrument in order to be able to teach middle school band (which I did for 5 years).
I always loved makeup. Once I graduated from college, I moved back home and was unable to find a teaching job right away. While bored at home, I would watch YouTube beauty videos. I realized that was something I wanted to do. I started my YouTube channel in 2014, where I would create makeup videos about my favorite beauty products.
Eventually, I got a teaching job, but I continued to post makeup looks on social media. I also became a certified makeup artist, so I was able to freelance after the school day and on weekends. My husband and I moved to the DMV just before the pandemic began and I wasn’t able to find a teaching job here, so I decided to freelance full time. I started posting looks on social media every single day and began to grow a following rapidly. I focus on creative makeup looks, such as face and body paints and character cosplays. I also review new makeup releases on my YouTube channel.
As I continued to grow my following, beauty brands would contact me, asking to promote their products, and would pay me to do so. Now, I continue to post almost daily on my social media accounts (getting paid for some posts), but I have started a social media marketing agency, where I help small businesses with their social media presence. I also have my own manager that negotiates with brands that want to work with me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I took a leap of faith in not pursuing teaching in the DMV and just freelancing. It wasn’t always easy.
The pandemic (2020) slowed down makeup artistry, so I wasn’t able to find clients who needed their makeup done, since many events were canceled. Beauty brands were also not willing to pay as much to promote their products, so making money was difficult. I persevered and continued to create content every single day until brands were willing to pay what I was worth to promote their products.
I found that working with small businesses was the way to go. Either I promote their products on my social media platforms or help them boost sales through managing their social media.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I focus on creative makeup looks on TikTok and Instagram.
I love turning myself into characters, such as “The Grinch” or creating random body paints, such as my butterfly look. I am known for doing seasonal makeup challenges, 31 days of Halloween, 25 days of Christmas, 14 days of Valentine’s Day. I’ve even created body paint looks for all of the zodiac signs.
Although I focus on creative looks, I focus on bridal makeup on clients. I do creative looks on clients who request it for special occasions, such as Halloween, but my focus is the wedding industry.
I also do 1:1 and group makeup lessons (in person or virtual). Those are always a lot of fun to do! It’s so much fun to be able to create beautiful bridal looks and I love experimenting with my creativity on myself.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am in the process of creating a website (beautybylauracristina.com), where I will have a blog and a biweekly newsletter on all things beauty. A simple follow on any social media platform would greatly support me! My website has a place for clients to book with me, as well!
If a business or brand in the beauty industry would like to work with me, e-mail my manager, Jose, at partnerships+laura@a-listme.com.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@beautybylauracristina.com
- Website: https://beautybylauracristina.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybylauracristina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeautyByLauraCristina/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauracristinax
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LauraCristinax/
