Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Tongco.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I first started out as a freelance makeup artist, aka MUA, at the age of 19. Growing up, I had a love and obsession with makeup at 13. I remember asking my mother for my 13th birthday for MAC makeup from foundation, eyeshadow, and gloss. I was hooked from the moment I was experimenting with colors, creating my artistry, and expressing how I felt through makeup. I really enjoyed watching YouTube tutorials at the time who ended up being mega YouTube gurus later on and trying similar looks on myself. I remember my first paid makeup artist gig was for my friend, who hired me to do her makeup for her wedding at 19. It the truly the defining moment I felt that I was destined to do makeup as a career. I ended up going through college dabbling in makeup gigs and started at Sephora as a seasonal artist. But after I turned 21, I became a freelance MAC makeup artist for 5 years. It was a dream come true, and it was on my vision board for a few years, and finally, it turned into fruition. It was then that I was hit with many challenges and learning how to express a person’s beauty and translate it the way they convey themselves – like creating a vision and creating a reality that meets their expectations. I was surrounded by such great artists who then later decided to go on their own solo careers as an independent artist and I followed suit shortly after. I traveled to many places locally and across the globe for my clients to be there for their special day like a wedding, birthday, or a celebration! I’ve done a few celebrity clients’ influencer and brand photoshoots. MirthMUA was then born as an interpretation of how I truly express my artistry to my clients. Mirth means expressing your beauty from the inside out. I wanted to create a process where I meet my client where they are at in my chair and elevate them through the makeup session. I take a deep dive on finding connection points and finding what truly makes them happy, so once the session is complete, their true beauty exudes how they truly feel. I now mainly reside in Las Vegas but travel to California as a makeup artist. I want to be able to focus on a subscription-based clientele to be there for all the events they attend every year and grow and evolve with them along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, what’s the journey without its challenges? The transition from translating my own artistic vision to understanding and reflecting the unique beauty of others required a delicate touch. Surrounded by talented artists, I absorbed their wisdom, and when they embarked on solo careers, I followed suit. I remember just trying to color match different foundations with skin undertones that you would have to experiment with and find the right match. For example, some people have a warm undertone where they appear more yellowish rather while someone who has cool undertones, they have more blueish tones or having someone who is in between with neutral tones and having to find a good mixture concoction almost to find a perfect foundation match. The color theory wheel has taught me another level about my artistry and almost becoming a scientist when color-matching clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about mirthmua?
Discover the transformative power of makeup with MirthMUA, your trusted beauty companion since 2009. As a seasoned makeup artist, I’m here to unlock the beauty that radiates from within, one makeup session at a time. A Decade of Artistry: With a passion that spans over a decade, I’ve dedicated myself to curating a unique and unforgettable experience for each client. Your journey to self-expression and confidence begins here.
Celebrating Every Occasion: From planning a girl’s night out to the elegance of weddings and the glow of bridal-baby showers, I’ve helped create beauty for every special moment. But the beauty doesn’t stop there; I am also your go-to for corporate conventions, podcast recordings, concerts, or just because you deserve to feel fabulous!
Tailored Beauty for Every Face: Embrace the beauty that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re aiming for a radiant birthday celebration look or a sophisticated corporate event glow, I specialize in tailoring makeup that enhances your features and complements your style.
Book Your Beauty Journey: Ready to experience the MirthMUA process? Book a makeup session or explore our subscription-based services to embark on a continuous journey of self-discovery and beauty enhancement. Your confidence deserves to be celebrated regularly!
I am most proud of brand wise to tap into an industry being able to create and express beauty on a different level while offering a subscription base service to my clients who have many events throughout the year and being able to build a relationship with their makeup artist.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Advice I wish I had known when I was starting out that passion and your gift can collide and can be your actual career. I was too afraid at first to step out and pursue my dreams and goals, but after 7 years of hustling on the corporate grind of pursuing college and having a degree in journalism and media studies with a minor in marketing. I went into the digital marketing industry and finally decided to take the leap of faith to pursue my own business this year as a makeup artist full-time. If I look back, I wish I had taken the leap earlier and just begun, but I am grateful to know what I know now and how to implement strategies in my business, especially in the digital world we live in today.
Pricing:
- 125-150 – glamourous makeup session
- 125-250 wedding makeup
- 500-1000 studio makeup
- 330 – 3 makeup sessions
- Weekly sessions $400, biweekly sessions $225, monthly sessions $150, quarterly sessions $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mirthmua.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirthMUA
Image Credits
@elev8gency
@thanosasfis
