There are days when you go to work, and there are days when you accidentally rediscover yourself.
A little while ago, I was invited to a beautiful gathering in Palos Verdes. Ocean views, the kind of California landscape that makes you forget about your to-do list, and a gorgeous table thoughtfully decorated by my colleague, a wedding planner. She had put so much love and effort into creating this little experience and invited a group of women to share it.
I wanted to give her something in return. Not flowers, not a gift card. I offered her my gift: makeup.
She does so much for everyone around her. I thought it was about time someone took care of her.
So I arrived. But this time, something was different.
I wasn't just coming as the makeup artist. I was a guest, too.
Which meant I actually got dressed up. A beautiful dress, my hair done, my makeup done. Imagine the scene: a sunny park in Palos Verdes, the Pacific Ocean in the background, and me, looking like I had somewhere fabulous to be — because I did.
And while I was doing my colleague's makeup, something hit me.
Why is it that the women whose job is to make other women feel beautiful so rarely get to experience that feeling themselves?
Why do we, in this industry, almost automatically show up in black? Comfortable shoes, practical outfits, hair tied back, bags full of products, brushes, hot tools, and everything else needed to make someone else's morning perfect.
Of course, there's a practical reason. We work hard. We carry heavy kits. We run between locations. We spend hours standing, bending, creating, fixing, adjusting.
But I couldn't stop thinking: aren't we supposed to be the fairies?
The ones who bring a little magic into the room?
And fairies, at least in my imagination, are supposed to feel light. Not necessarily wear wings, but carry that kind of energy.
That day, I felt like one.
And then I imagined something else. Imagine sitting in my makeup chair, getting ready for your wedding or a special event, and your makeup artist arrives looking beautiful herself. She's dressed up, glowing, enjoying the atmosphere. Wouldn't that make you feel even more excited? Wouldn't you feel the energy of the occasion a little more deeply?
I think it would.
Because beauty is contagious. And sometimes, the person creating it needs to feel it, too.
There was something else about that day that felt particularly special. For once, I wasn't measuring the experience by how much I had accomplished, how many people I had taken care of, or whether everything was running smoothly. I was simply there. Present. Feeling feminine, beautiful, happy, and part of something lovely. And somehow, being able to experience the moment rather than just create it for someone else made me even happier.
I love my work. I love the women I meet, the people I collaborate with, the mornings filled with anticipation, the transformations, the conversations, the creative energy. My work gives me endless inspiration. It's like fresh air.
But perhaps every once in a while, we need to step out from behind the brushes and remember that we are part of the beauty we're creating.
So here's my little reminder to all the makeup artists, hairstylists, planners, photographers, and all the women who spend their days making other people's moments special:
Don't always be the person behind the magic.
Sometimes, put on the dress. Do your hair. Wear the makeup. Accept the invitation. Let someone take care of you.
And please, don't feel like you need a special occasion to do it.
After all, even fairies deserve to attend the party.