MAC Artist Keri Blair: What I’d Tell My 20-Something Self
MAC Cosmetics senior artist Keri Blair talks about gaining confidence and integrity. (Photo: Keri Blair)
MAC Cosmetics senior artist Keri Blair has worked with the brand since 1996. At nine years old, her mother took her to a flea market where she bought her inaugural cosmetics. Being a makeup artist seemed too fun to be a real career, so she initially pursued chemistry to make colors for hair dye. But after one semester of it, she changed her mind and switched her major to broadcast communications. She later worked in video production before meeting a makeup artist on a feature film who inspired her to pursue a career in cosmetics. She was hired as an artist at a MAC counter at Nordstrom, later holding various positions from trainer to senior artist in several cities from Chicago to Manhattan before settling in the latter with the brand’s Pro team.
Make it known, put it out there in the universe, and write it down. I majored in broadcast communications, because I like talking and I wanted to be an MTV VJ, like Kennedy or Tabitha Soren, because, who didn’t? Afterward, I worked on a movie and met a makeup artist and he was this magical creature to me. He made me feel like makeup was something that I could do and reassured me that this could actually be my career. I realized in 10 years I don’t want to be running up stairs with light stands and sandbags. I realized it was a goal I had and wanted to obtain. Just putting it out there makes it so much clearer.
“Last picked at kickball, first picked at MAC.” I interviewed at MAC and got the job fairly soon after. I finally felt like I belonged. I’m one of those people who are completely obsessed with things nobody cares about and MAC celebrates that. I always laugh about this quote: “Last picked at kickball, first picked at MAC.” The people I worked with at my first job made me feel important and that I belonged. Sometimes your mentor is not your boss, it’s someone else. It could be someone else who sees something in you and makes you aware of something you’re capable of doing.
It’s not always perfect: you gain confidence by doing and by making mistakes. I’m GenX to my core and I believe that experience gives people confidence. Have some tenacity about what you’re doing. Humility breeds confidence, as well. Success is different to everyone and it evolves over time. My early 20s were about checking things off a list, not about traveling, or taking a risk. When things didn’t happen the way I thought they would, I’d have to check in with myself and acknowledge that every single thing leads to the next thing. Now, it’s about going to bed at night and feeling good about what I’ve done during the day, and about the person I am.
It’s important not to want a relationship so badly that you’re letting just anyone in. My dad gave me some really good advice, “Once a relationship starts going one way, it’s never going to go two ways.” A coworker also taught me to write down a list of all the things I wanted in a partner, but to start with two questions at the top, 1. Are they emotional? 2. Are they emotionally available? Answer those questions and then start your list. At this point, I was dating a guy who was emotional, but not emotionally available. It’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten in my life. As soon as I learned that, I met my husband. I started being more discerning and got rid of people who hurt me. Clarity comes with finding the right person: it’s not about drama or being a jerk. You don’t have to vie for someone’s attention.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. In my twenties, I moved to Atlanta from Baltimore. It was a risk. We’d restructured the company and there were more positions available. I was slated to move to Philadelphia, but I didn’t want to be there and I went to my boss and said, “I’m willing to move to a place where I don’t know anyone because I think this job is better for me.” That turned out to be a pivotal step in my career. It taught me that if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Makeup artist Keri Blair. (Photo: Keri Blair)
I was, essentially, the MAC poster child. Oddly, I spent about five years in my twenties wearing no makeup. I went from wearing a ton to none. A year before I started working from MAC, I started getting back into it. I started wearing MAC lipstick in 1993 — XTC and Brave lipsticks were favorites of mine, along with Crystal eye shadow. I was, essentially, the MAC poster child: all skinny brows and flat, matte white skin. My mom would take my picture and it’d be lashes, two black holes and black mouth — a nose-less wonder! I always looked like a Polaroid. That was my makeup goal. Now, I love MAC Pro’s pigment in Frozen White. Iridescent is my favorite color. Blue under-toned iridescent is always the goal. I’m a lipgloss girl. I like the ease and youthfulness of it. If I wear a lipstick, I wear MAC Mattene in Fresh Amour, a light lilac color.
Stand your ground about your integrity. Being a makeup artist in New York City is incredible. I travel around the world. I’ve met so many important people in my life due to my job. Instagram, especially, has changed the landscape for makeup artists. I love that we’re accessible to so many people so that they can reach out and say you inspired them today. With all due respect, just because you can buy makeup and watch a tutorial, that doesn’t necessarily make you the master of your craft. Working with MAC does give you a 360-degree view of makeup. It’s not about a chiseled-out eyebrow. Stand your ground about your integrity. It’s not about likes on Instagram.
The only person who stands between you and what you want is yourself. I’d tell my 20-something self to be easier on myself, less self-critical. I’d allow myself more playtime. But everything I did led me to where I am. I have a very rich life and I’ve worked very hard for it.
Related:
Ted Gibson: What I’d Tell My 20-Something Self
