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What No One Tells You About Building a Career in Beauty

When most people think of a career in makeup artistry, they imagine glam, red carpets, celebrity clients, and creative expression.

What they don’t picture?

Invoices. Taxes. Burnout. Boundaries.

And the harsh reality that no work often means no paycheck.

In our latest episode of the Hey Glowfriend Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Melissa Street - a veteran film and TV makeup artist with 30+ years of experience, and one of the most honest voices in the industry.

This is the conversation I wish someone had with me when I was just starting out!

💥 Why You Need to Hear This Episode

Melissa doesn’t hold back.

From sharing the story of surviving a life-changing stroke to breaking down the real-life logistics of being an independent contractor, this episode goes way beyond brushes and blending.

We talk about:

✅ What it really means to build a career as a self-employed makeup artist

✅ How the glam of the film industry often hides harsh truths

✅ Setting up your business properly (yes, including bank accounts and tax write-offs)

✅ The mental health cost of pushing past your body’s limits

✅ How Melissa redefined success after 30+ years in the game

Whether you’re new to the beauty world or deep into your career and wondering what’s next, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and validated.

💬 Favorite Quote from the Episode:

“Nobody’s going to take you aside and teach you how to run your business. You have to decide to be in control — and build a life that supports you, not drains you.”

🎁 Bonus: This Episode Was Club-Only… Until Now

This conversation was originally recorded as a private session inside my mentorship community, the Coming in Clutch Club, but it was too powerful to keep behind closed doors.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the business side of makeup…

If you’ve ever questioned how to make your artistry sustainable…

Or if you just need someone to tell the truth for once…

You’re going to want to hit play!