BABE #350: LISA CARREIRO - Makeup Artist
Lisa’s hustle is a combination of makeup, music and a whole lot of moving. First and foremost, she’s a freelance makeup artist who works weddings, fashion shows, commercials, music videos and whatever else she can get her hands on. When she’s not painting faces, she’s on the road working for The Music Experience, where she helps with set-up and merchandise sales at music festivals around the country. Lastly, she curates a show called Runway Horror: a horror-themed runway show featuring drag + burlesque performances, etc. This creative gal has her hands in all kinds of projects, and we’re stoked to see what she comes up with next.
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Current city: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma mater: FSCJ
Degree: Cosmetology
Very first job: Caribbean Connection
Hustle: Freelance Makeup Artist
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
Angelica Valdes (Forever Familiars) She is seriously one of the most creative and hardworking babes I know. She puts so much heart and soul into every single art piece she creates.
Photo: Cameron Nunez; Model: Melody Skenes
How do you spend your free time?
I love to either watch horror movies or play with fun makeup looks on myself. It’s so relaxing to sit for hours and just paint my face while I listen to fun music or podcasts.
Favorite fictional female character? Why?
I think Elvira would be my favorite. She’s unapologetically herself (always), she’s tough when needed, and she’s not afraid to get what she wants. It’s so important to feel fabulous in your own skin, even when everyone else thinks it’s not for them.
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I would drink a “Pink Drink” from Starbucks every day, if I could.
Current power anthem?
Honestly, anything by Lizzo.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
My mom’s vegetarian chili with garlic breadsticks.
What’s something you want to learn or master?
I feel that in my craft as a makeup artist, there’s always something new to learn. I would love to learn to sew and create my own outfits to go with different characters I create.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would absolutely love to have a coffee date with Kesha. She is so inspiring. I love the way she sees the world and spreads nothing but love—and lots of glitter.
What’s something most don’t know about you?
That I’m completely obsessed with the paranormal. I know, it’s strange, but it’s something I’ve been intrigued with since I was a kid. I’m always researching and looking to visit “haunted” locations.
If you could only work with one makeup product or tool, what would it be?
I think lipstick is such a versatile product. You can use it on your lips (duh), as eyeshadow, blush, eyeliner, brows, freckles, and more. I use it as an eyeshadow base for difficult colors often.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I’m a little all over the place when it comes to my hustle. When I’m home I try to stay busy doing makeup jobs; those range from weddings, photoshoots, fashion shows, commercials, music videos, and honestly whatever is thrown my way. I love marketing and meeting new people through each job/event I work. When I’m on the road I work for a music company called The Music Experience where I help set up for each festival and help sell merchandise. Sometimes we can be on the road for up to a month at a time, but I love every (exhausting) second of it. I meet so many wonderful people and get to see some of my favorite bands along the way. Another job I take on is putting together a show called Runway Horror. This is a huge event for me and generally takes months for me to put together. This show entails a horror-themed runway, drag performances, burlesque, and more.
Walk us through your typical day.
Honestly, I almost never have a “typical” day, and I love it that way. Every job is different with each makeup client; every festival I work is in a different city with different artists, and every show I put on has a different theme with new performers. When I’m in a photoshoot I am generally responsible for makeup, hair, styling each outfit, watching throughout the entire shoot to make sure everything is in place, and touch-ups. When I’m putting on a show is when I wear the most “hats.” I’m in charge of booking the venue and performers, picking the songs, fittings for the models (along with styling each outfit they wear on the runway), hiring hair/makeup, the decorations, and much, much more behind the scenes. It’s a lot to do myself, but I have a wonderful team and it’s so worth it when you’re able to watch it all unfold on the stage.
Have you always had a passion for art and creating?
Yes, I definitely have always had a passion for creating. My mom has always been the biggest advocate for being myself. She would let me wear feather boas and rainbow hair to elementary school, so I think that crafting with her my whole life has led to my expression through makeup. I’ve always experimented with makeup on myself and my friends, and it was a huge help in my learning experiences and techniques. I honestly think my lightbulb moment when I knew I wanted to pursue makeup was in cosmetology school. Everyone else was always talking about hair tools/ techniques, and I always found myself wanting to play with makeup and learn as much as I could solely on that subject instead.
What was your inspiration behind the Runway Horror events?
I’ve always been obsessed with fashion and horror, so I thought that I would put the two together. I’ve worked on a few fashion shows in the past for other creators, and I always sat there and envisioned how I would do it if I were in charge of my own—so, I did it. Every single show is a new learning experience for me. My goal was to bring a mixture of as many pieces of the creative community I could squeeze into one night. I always encourage art vendors to set up and new performers to join as well. Everyone is welcome into our night of misfits.
How has being a woman affected your professional experience?
As a woman, I have definitely found myself put in the background or not taken seriously. I always make a point to lift up my babes by shouting them out on social media, keeping their business cards on me, or suggesting them for job opportunities. I think keeping up the positivity and creating a loving community we can truly make a difference. Let’s make a point to keep out the word “female” when describing a woman doing something a man usually does. No, it’s not just a “female-fronted band”—they’re a talented band that happens to have a badass vocalist. We can do it all the same. Describe someone for their talent, and not just their gender.
What are some common misconceptions about your job?
I feel like people think all of my jobs are super glamorous all the time. They are definitely far from it (no matter how much glitter I add). I spend hours on my feet prepping my clients, planning shoots/looks, sanitization between each client, and much more. When it comes to my festival jobs, people look at my social media and think I get to watch bands all day. I work 12-plus-hour days in various weather conditions, travel 10-plus-hour-long drives to get there, eat whatever is available, and don’t have much of my voice or hearing left by the end of it all. (Yes, I do get to watch bands somewhere in-between when I’m not working.) With Runway Horror, I spend many hours perfecting every little detail, in constant communication with everyone involved, and planning every second of what will go down during the actual show. The beauty is that I get to watch it all in the end, but wow—it’s a journey to get there.
How has social media helped grow your business?
Social media gives me a platform to showcase my art and my life along the way. I have met and connected with so many babes through Instagram, and sometimes it leads to collaborating in person. I feel like social media is a modern-day business card for creatives.
How do you remedy creative burnouts?
I sadly experience them often, but I force myself to sit down at my vanity and create. Once I get back into it, I’m good for awhile. Strangely, another thing that inspires me is watching music videos. These artists put so much of their creativity and heart into each production. I think the combination of visuals and music helps get me out of a creative funk.
Who are some women in your field you look to for inspiration?
I’m inspired by so many women, but specifically in my field: Gina Harrison, Mykie aka Glam & Gore, Melody Skenes, Linabugz, Amy Doan (Sugar Pill), Loey Lane, Betsey Johnson, Toshi Salvino, Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick, and so many more!
What does your approach to work-life balance look like?
I think I have a decent balance of work and life. A lot of my work is alongside people I love to be around so working is usually my social life as well. I am a sucker for winding down at the end of the day with my favorite snacks, mindless YouTube, and my dog.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Do not let anyone (including yourself) tell you that you can’t do something. It’s OK to try something and have it not go as planned. Learn from your mistakes and keep going. Do not depend on anyone but yourself to make it happen—you got this, babes.
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