Natalie Ruiz, in love with makeup looks. “My 17-year-old self would ha

Encounter with the young makeup artist Natalie Ruiz, from Keasbey, NJ who shares passion for makeup looks and is currently developing her talent pool by attending the Fashion Institute of Technology and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion business management.

Natalie can you walk us through your personal story and interest for makeup looks?

I am a first-generation Dominican my parents came to the U.S at a very young age. I speak both Spanish and English, I am also currently attending a fashion school in New York called the Fashion Institute of Technology and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion business management.

Early life

Makeup was introduced to me by mom when I was a kid. Since then makeup looks became a passion. My mom would buy me kid’s makeup sets and I would play with the glitters it came with and the glosses. I loved being creative and loved to dress up and put glitter all over my face and thought I owned a whole runway at my house!

At the beginning of high school, I will never wear makeup to school until I met my best friend who put mascara on me. I loved it so much that I told her to bring the same mascara to school every day so I could put it on every morning until I bought my own. That was when my own makeup collection began to grow from foundation, concealer, powder, and more.

Makeup became a passion and helped me define my inner me. When I was stressed out with school or with the passing of my grandpa, it helped me regulate my emotional balance a lot.

By my senior year of high school, I would rock a full face of makeup to school and many of the girls in my class would like it. I got a few girls that wanted a glam from me on graduation day and from there I realized that being a make-up artist could become a career. but it took a lot of hard work to get where I am at and it wasn’t easy.

NYX Cosmetics

When I turned 18 I landed my first job at NYX Cosmetics. I can’t thank the people there enough for giving me the opportunity and for teaching so many skills. At NYX I learned how to deal with people and improved my makeup looks and skills on clients. I also pass my certificate for makeup application there.

At that time, I was also freelancing once in a while on the side. After a year and a half of working at NYX and perfecting my skills I left and decided to be a full-time makeup artist while going to college.

Nowadays

I have been self-employed as a makeup artist for over a year now with my own studio at home. I am still learning every day from so many makeup looks and trends happening in the beauty industry.

There have been so many people who have influenced me down this road and supported me. Today, my social media allows me to showcase my own makeup looks I do on my clients and myself. The loyalty of my followers is a great suppport every day.

Makeup looks with Natalie @style.fashion.nat.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

I definitely can’t complain, it has been a slow but smooth bumpy road. Starting from the bottom of learning makeup is not easy. Just like any other skill you want to master, make-up technique and artistic skills don’t come to you instantly. You have to be determined, very patient, and practice, again and again, to perfect your art, design your makeup looks and find your own style.

My parents were very supportive and gave me a space in the house to put my mini studio together. They invested in the basic material and products I needed to slowly put my kit together as well.

I’m very grateful for all this and I must say that my 17-year-old self would have never imagined being the make-up artist I am today.

Tell us why your makeup looks are so special?

I am known for my soft glams. Most of my clientele love getting that style done by me. Beyond these signature makeup looks, I do full to natural glams, bridal, editorial, ad and more. I have the inner feeling that the thing that sets me apart from other skilled artists is my integrity, my patience and my ability to achieve perfect make-up very quickly.

Natalie working on a Bride on her Wedding Day

Who or what makeup looks inspire you the most?

What inspires me the most are makeup artists from Europe. I feel like they are always above the game and their work inspires me to get on their level and push myself.

I also get inspires by editorial glams that I see on Euphoria and a few YouTubers I love. Also, The global make-up artist community inspires me a lot.

Could you tell us what BEAUTY means to you?

To me, the definition of Beauty is embracing our true qualities in the form of art. The concept of Beauty has huge power over our minds. It makes one feels confident, empowered, and positive!

Makeup looks by Natalie – Editorial and Prom.

Can you describe your own skincare routine, and why is so important to you?

My skincare routine is important because makeup looks are great when the skin is well moisturizer, healthy and clean. The skin is the canvas of anyone’s glam.

currently love doing a mask every day like a clay mask is a favorite of mine it helps clean your pores and clear your skin! I exfoliate every other day. At morning and night, I use a cleanser, a moisturizer, lactic acid, retinol cream, and a lash and brow booster, and lastly rosewater facial spray!

This combination is really working well for me and my skin looks and feels smooth and beautiful.

Can you share with us some of your pro skin prep tips/tricks before makeup?

The skincare tips I always use on my clients are:

Exfoliate first
Wipe the face down to make sure I am working on a clean face
Apply moisturizer, glow serum and under eye gel pads or cream

Once the skin preparation is done, I go to priming and begin the makeup look.

Skin prep is very important to me because it makes the makeup application easier and improves the lasting of it as well.

One personal trick I use on myself as well: After each cream product I love to put a hydrating spray to keep the skin nice and hydrated throughout the application. It gives the skin a really nice radiance!

What are your favorite skincare products among Embryolisse range?

Embryolisse Lait-Créme is a fave of mine for over a year and a staple in my kit. It hydrates the skin perfect and doesn’t leave it oily and it is also a great face primer.

What’s your favorite memory from childhood?

My favorite memory from my childhood is being at my grandparents’ house and my whole family was there. I remember the 15 of us (cousins) lined up on the stairs of the house eating ice cream or chips that my grandpa bought for us. I remember the feeling of happiness at that moment. We were all together talking or playing games while the adults were upstairs watching us. We had a family reunion like this every weekend when I was young.

And your motto, if you have one?

I can list various but my favorites are:

“live day by day like it is your last!”

“Be grateful for what you have and the rewards you receive in life!”

Thank you so much Natalie for showing your makeup looks and for sharing your sweet story with our readers.

Contact information: Style Fashion Nat Makeup Studio

Instagram: @style.fashion.nat
YouTube: Natalie Ruiz
Twitter: @stylefashnat
Phone number: (732) 910-2989

Natalie Ruiz, in love with makeup looks. “My 17-year-old self would have never imagined being the MUA I am today”