Connect with Christina Vega on Instagram @ChristinaVega_
From Sephora Personal Beauty Advise to Senior Artist
Hello, beauty bestie! I'm Christina Vega, a makeup artist with 15 years of experience. My journey into the beauty world began with a deep love for color and creativity, which I’ve had since childhood. After graduating from Baruch College in New York City in 2008, I decided to follow my passion and attended makeup school at the Lia Schorr Institute. My career officially took off in 2010 when I joined Sephora as a color consultant. From there, I quickly advanced and became the face of Sephora’s Personal Beauty Advisor program, offering private beauty lessons that helped me discover my love for teaching. I eventually became a Senior Artist for Sephora Soho, where I focused on training my team, piloting in-store beauty classes, and filming tutorials for Sephora’s YouTube channel. Today, I work as a freelance makeup artist and beauty influencer, collaborating with some of the top brands in the industry.
Advice for Aspiring Makeup Artists
If you’re aiming to grow your career and achieve success as a makeup artist, networking and self-promotion are key. Remember, no one will promote your services better than you. Attend events, collaborate with other creators, and make the most of social media to reach potential clients. It’s also important to continually refine your skills—take masterclasses, watch tutorials, and experiment with new products. While it’s natural to have favorite techniques and go-to products, staying on top of industry trends is crucial if you don’t want to get left behind.
Strategies for Success in the Industry
For me, stepping into the role of an educator opened up many doors. I used to be quite shy and preferred one-on-one interactions with clients, but pushing myself to be comfortable on camera and in front of large groups allowed me to connect with a wider audience. Taking that leap and putting myself out there led to some of my biggest opportunities, like being one of the original members of the Sephora Squad and doing product reviews with Amazon Live.
Navigating a Successful Career as a Makeup Artist
To maintain a successful career in this industry, you have to treat it like a business—because it is. Don’t get complacent and expect clients or campaigns to just show up. Building relationships, promoting your services, creating engaging content, and being both a student and a teacher are crucial to long-term success. Keep learning, keep growing, and never get too comfortable.
Gerard Cosmetics Must-Have
My absolute favorite product from Gerard Cosmetics is the Slay All Day Setting Spray. The different scents are lovely, but Peach is my go-to. It’s perfect for locking in makeup and also works as a refreshing spray throughout the day. I even like to spritz some on my beauty sponges for a smoother, long-lasting application.
Gerard Cosmetics Slay All Day Setting Spray
Pro Tip: Elevate Your Lip Look
One of my favorite tricks is adding a pop of shimmer in the center of the lips. Even a lighter shade of gloss can create dimension and make the lips appear fuller—plus, it looks fantastic on camera. For this, I recommend checking out shades like Nude or Crystal from Gerard Cosmetics’ Color Your Smile Lighted Lip Gloss collection!
Christina's work for Fortifyd Naturals Hair Campaign
Christina's personal Portfolio Work