Today we’d like to introduce you to Elicia Soltesz.
Hi Elicia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I initially went to college in Boston for music but always had a passion for makeup. After graduating, I decided to pursue the beauty industry and set my sights on a specific studio called Prettyology. To work there, I needed an esthetics license, so I ultimately got certified, applied, and was hired! Fortunately, the owner, Julie Michaud, who had over 20 years of experience in permanent makeup, saw potential in me and offered to train me. I started doing permanent makeup under her supervision in early 2016 and quickly fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve specialized in brows, lips, and eyeliner, with extensive experience working with clients of all ages and performing corrective services on old permanent makeup.
In 2020, I moved to San Diego and began working for myself. After years of booth renting, I recently opened my own private cosmetic tattoo studio in May of this year. After almost a decade in the industry, the timing feels perfect, and I couldn’t be more excited!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every industry has its challenges, but I’ve always been confident in my abilities and know I can succeed in anything I put my mind to. The permanent makeup industry is constantly evolving, so staying adaptable and committed to continuous learning is essential. Personally, I’ve always embraced learning and have never viewed it as a struggle.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced was relocating from Boston to San Diego and starting from scratch. I had built a strong client base in Boston over the years, and moving meant leaving that behind. In San Diego, most artists work independently, whereas at Prettyology, I was an employee, focusing on client retention rather than finding clients myself. I’ll admit, marketing and social media aren’t my strengths, and building up my client list has been a slow process. With services like mine, clients typically return every few years, so it takes a larger clientele to stay consistently booked.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in cosmetic tattoos for eyebrows, eyeliner, and lips, offering a range of techniques. For brows, I do microblading, nano brows, combination brows, and powder brows. For eyeliner, I offer lash enhancements (tattooing between the lash line to add density) as well as traditional eyeliner tattoos. For lips, I offer lip blush and contoured lip liner. I also offer saline pigment lightening and beauty mark tattooing. Not ready to commit to a cosmetic tattoo? Come in for my favorite service – a brow shaping and tinting! I do not use wax, but instead shape brows using tweezers for a very precise shape, with a natural look.
I’d say my specialty is delivering natural, individualized results. I take the time to understand each client’s vision, as what’s considered “natural” can vary from person to person. My diverse skill set allows me to tailor my work to meet each client’s needs. What I’m most proud of is my ability to create personalized outcomes for every client. I’m also extremely proud to offer my services to clients of all ages; I’ve had plenty of clients into their 90s!
I’m also known for my corrective work on old permanent makeup. I offer saline lightening and color/shape correction. Many artists shy away from working on another artist’s work, but I believe if I can help improve a client’s permanent makeup, I’ll do it. It’s about the client’s happiness, not my ego, and I love being able to make a significant difference, especially in corrective work. Some of my most rewarding work has been corrective, as it can have a profound impact on a client’s confidence and overall life.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The industry is constantly evolving, and while it’s hard to predict with certainty, I believe we’ll see a resurgence of microblading, more defined powder brows, and richer lipstick tattoos in the future. We’re also seeing an increase in people opting for laser treatments to remove old pigment and refresh their look with new techniques, which I think will continue to be more normalized, and that’s a positive shift. Nano brows are currently trending and marketed as “new,” and the techniques have definitely evolved and improved to where they are currently, but eyebrows done with a machine have always been around. Right now, the focus is on natural, airy brows, but I’ve noticed most clients eventually prefer a more defined, polished brow. I’m hopeful that trend will become more popular and normalized as well.
Pricing:
- Eyebrows range from $350-$800
- Eyeliner ranges from $400-$750
- Lip Blush ranges from $400-$750
- Brow Shaping & Tinting – $50
- Mention this article for a *FREE* consultation – $50 value
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eliciamariebeauty.com
- Instagram: @elicia_marie_beauty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Elicia-Marie-Beauty/100063573821089/?view_public_for=1859574914101710#
- Other: https://linktr.ee/eliciamariebeauty
Image Credits
Rose Lindley – Twin Luminaries
