Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Rachel Reyes.
Hi Amanda Rachel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When beginning my story as a professional makeup artist and business owner, I would have to say that I definitely did not foresee my life going in this direction. This was not my plan at all. Don’t get me wrong, I always loved fashion, magazines, and the beauty industry from a far growing up in New York; but I was so focused on education and making sure to follow that path that nothing else was on my mind. My makeup journey would have to begin circa 2010 when I was graduating from Boston College with my masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I was absolutely petrified I wasn’t going to get a job in my career, because I didn’t have many connections in the education system and I knew I wanted to go into schools and help children and adolescents with social and emotional barriers to their learning. As August began to get closer and closer, the interviews were getting to be less and less and I knew the academic year was about to begin and I knew even at that age I wanted to stay in Boston and be independent. The only way to do this would be if I had a job so I started to brain storm some ideas with my best friend, my mom. She advised me to just try and get some job to help pay the bills for now and recommended a well loved department store by many on the east coast called Lord and Taylor. Now here is the thing, me snd retail didn’t really seem like a good fit as I really am not a sales person. But she reminded me of all of the times I would go with her to department stores and pick up makeup with her at the different counters, get my makeup done for special occasions, and constantly steal her gift with purchases to create new looks. I began to think she was on to something because in college I loved introducing makeup products to my roommates, and would never leave the house without some sort of makeup on just like my mom. I enjoyed that, and felt as though the more I learned about makeup the more I would be able to help people in their confidence journey just like counseling was helping kids.
I applied to the beauty department shortly after that conversation, and got a job with the legendary brand of Chanel Beauty. Now here is the thing back in the day, you applied for a position in the beauty department and they decided where you would go. Apparently, I was giving off classy and timeless vibes for Chanel so that is where I was placed. After accepting the job with Chanel, I received a phone call from a private school in Boston and was offered a full time counseling psychologist position, in which I accepted immediately. This began my extensive experience of juggling two jobs which lasted for the next nine years. During this time I left Chanel and entered my Bobbi Brown era, which basically created the artist portion of my life. My time at Bobbi was full of connections and networking, education with Bobbi Brown, certification, as well as really developing my skills for artistry, product knowledge, and styling all together. I decided after so many years, it might be best to take a step from behind the counter and begin working directly with well known artists and brands on artistry teams and began to freelance. I began freelancing for brands like Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, and Nars as well as working with a well known artist in the New England area Jennifer M. Viveiros in order to really nail down my artistry skills, develop a signature look, and explore my options in this industry. I was doing all of this with a full time counseling career and cheerleading coach for middle school students. I felt like I was absolutely thriving in everything and was being supported by family and friends for working so hard in my career and my artistry. I had a creative outlet where my passion was, but everything slowly began to change on the counseling front. As many educators know, working in education is very difficult and working in a district with administration changes and chall.enges is even more difficult.
It was summer vacation on a plane to Europe, Amsterdam to be specific when everything made a shift. I was sitting there listening to the new Jonas Brothers Album Happiness Begins. When it kind of all hit me, here are three brothers who have gone through so much and grew from it. They created this album because they realized being together as a family and being creative were their happy place. As I listened on; I begin to think about where my happiness begins. You only get one life, and one opportunity to live to its fullest, so where am I the most happy. Like the Jonas Brothers, being creative, and with family is my happy place. So at that moment, I turned to my mom on the plane and said, I am moving back to New York to be closer to you guys and I am going to make the beauty industry, bridal makeup my full time job. My mom looked back at me with a glance sarcastically saying “yea, right”. As soon as we got home from that vacation and I went back to Boston, I began making arrangements to move back to New York, and get into freelancing, and bridal there.
Working in New York was a whole different animal. I learned so much from meeting people in the industry, and freelancing for brands to build my bridal makeup artistry business. New York is the Mecca of fashion and beauty and I couldn’t help but to take everything in. I continued traveling to Boston to work under Jen and take master classes and lessons to really mold my skills. She guided me on business practices, and became a full on mentor to me as well as a close friend. I wouldn’t be here today without her. As I was just getting started, the world began to come crashing down, and I wasn’t just in the greatest city, but I was in a changing city at the center of the pandemic.
During the pandemic in New York, no one was working. No one was even going outside. I took virtual classes online and attended seminars from different brands to keep my product knowledge up to date. Fast forward to 2021 when my parents decided to move out of New York and into the valley of the sun. Definitely wasn’t ready for that one, but I continued to persevere in New York as things began to open up, even though masks were still a thing, mandated actually and so were vaccinations. The world was bananas, and I slowly began to realize that New York would never be the same, and the fast paced lifestyle and beauty industry would never be the same either.
I felt defeated and unsure. For the first time in my life I had no plan. I moved to New York with a plan but this pandemic truly threw me for a loop. It was really hard, but I realized my mental health was taking a deep dive, and I wasn’t where my happiness began anymore. I took a trip to Arizona and visited my parents for a short time in February of 2023 and by April 2023 I moved to Arizona, and began to call it home. The weather was the turning point for me, and the people were just so welcoming. Before I moved as always I had to check out what I was in for business wise, so I started to make connections on instagram and get a little insight. By June I was working. I freelanced for bridal companies here in the valley, and began to work bridal. I started to get my own clients by the fall, and began building my business back from the ground up. I am still a newbie around here, but I am doing everything I can to show my hard work ethic, professionalism, talent, and expertise in bridal. I believe I have a lot to bring to the valley, and bridal out here is a huge market. I recently invested in a studio space close to home in the west valley, directly inside Gloss Lab Beauty in Glendale. My journey has really brought me to my happy place and I cannot wait to work on the west coast.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If anyone tells you this journey of being a business owner, entrepreneur, in absolutely any way has had no challenges. They are lying! I think taking on anything will have some challenges, and you are definitely warned and prepared for some. Most of the time the challenges come in forms of curve balls, or things you didn’t really expect. For me, I would say challenges along the way would include of course moving and starting over again twice, the pandemic, and social media. When I decided to make the jump of creating my own business, even though it was only a few years ago it was pre-pandemic. So things were a lot different, people were a lot different, social media was a lot different. At that time I was going into it as a passion for beauty and making people feel good, I had no idea the pandemic would shut the world down especially the east coast. Your challenge wasn’t just a bump in the road, it was a mountain. I couldn’t run a bridal beauty business during this time, I had to take a step back and strategize for when the world re-opened. Once it did reopen, it seems like social media became huge. Now there are algorithms, keywords, content. What happened to just doing pretty makeup and telling all your friends? It is almost like you are constantly adjusting how to run a business and make your dreams come true, and you have to be quick with the changes. I don’t think running a business will ever be a smooth road, it will always have its challenges, but I think getting through some of the things I have already has set me up to be ready for what is next.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A.Rey Makeup Artistry is a makeup and consulting business. I specialize in soft, classic, and timeless makeup artistry focusing on special events and primarily bridal. I once heard a client refer to it as “I look like myself, natural, but elevated.” I have loved that reference ever since because that is what I want for anyone who sits in my chair. I am known for my artistry, but also my communication and honesty. When you book an appointment with me whether it’s an entire bridal party, special event, or lesson; clients know that booking with me means constant communication and transparency. I like to check in and follow up, I like to be transparent about what we can achieve together, and what adjustments might have to be made in order to get your desired look. I will never let a client leave my chair unless I am certain we have achieved the goal! I think what sets me apart from others is my training and education, and I am not only talking about with makeup but counseling too. Weddings are a stressful day, and I know that from the moment we book. So it is my job to be the calm force they spend half of their wedding day with. I am a good listener, and buffer when chaos ensues. I also feel like I am relatable because I am not trying to make you look like a completely different person on your big day. You want to look but ultimately feel like yourself. No one wants a stranger walking down the aisle. Even with makeup lessons, I eel rather relatable because I know you aren’t going to do a full face of makeup everyday. We want to make sure you achieve what your life allows for, we want to be realistic.
A.Rey as a brand is giving confidence. That is what I am most proud of brand wise. Like I said, I am not turning you into a different person with makeup, I am not changing your age trying to make you look like you have less wrinkles. I am enhancing your natural unique beauty. Be proud of who you are, be proud of those wrinkles, they mean you laughed and smiled a bunch in your life.
I would love all readers to know that A.Rey Makeup Artistry is not only for bridal, but we offer special occasion, event makeup, proms, makeup consultations, makeup lessons, and makeup party’s. A.Rey Makeup Artistry is for everyone. I have been in this industry so long and have worked with different skin types, textures, colors, and gender.s. Everyone needs a little confidence and whether that be in a lesson or on your wedding day, I am absolutely here for it and cannot wait to hear your story.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Makeup artistry is where my happiness begins and my business is a huge part of my life. But if there is one thing I have come to understand it is the importance of work life balance. So make sure if you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur you not only make time for business but take time for yourself and your loved ones.
Pricing:
- Bridal Pricing $225
- Bridal Party/Others $125
- Makeup Lessons $200
- Event Makeup $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.areymakeupartistry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.reymakeupartistry
- Other: areymakeupartistry.square.site
Image Credits
Nicole Vieau Jp Elario Megan Ealy Carmela Joy Sam Sansudsavet
