Makeup Artist Ellen Navarro helps women see their beauty.
“I was always ‘that girl’ when it came to doing make-up for prom or other events. My family and friends always turned to me. I loved doing it, but I had no idea that you could actually earn an income applying makeup,” said Navarro, of Ellen Navarro Makeup.
In college, Navarro studied advertising at Northern Arizona University. “A few years after graduating, I got married and my sister-in-law was a photographer. Much of her work was with models and she utilized makeup artists frequently for her photo shoots. After watching and learning from her, I realized my love for makeup could be more than just a hobby.”
With the encouragement and support of her husband, Gabe, she stretched beyond her comfort zone and opened her business. “He gave me the inspiration to do something that I loved and, according to friends and family, something I was really good at.”
She says her spiritual parents also played a huge role. “They have a lot of business experience, so they spurred me on and helped bring legitimacy to my ability and natural gifts with makeup. That was pretty huge for me.”
It took Navarro a year before she announced that she was officially on social media. “It was a big leap of faith, but with the support of my parents and Gabe, I embraced my fear and did it,” she said.
Facebook Marketplace is where Navarro started advertising her services. “People responded, so I moved on to Instagram and the calls came in.”
“Ellen is just an amazing woman and makeup artist,” said Phoenix freelance court reporter Pamela Giffin. “She did the makeup for our daughter’s wedding, and the bride along with the wedding party looked breathtaking thanks to Ellen’s gift of artistry. My daughter, Candice, is very outdoorsy and Ellen made her look naturally gorgeous. She also did my makeup and I just felt so beautiful. Her professionalism and warm personality added to her work, everyone enjoyed her.”
“As a makeup artist, my goal is to enhance the natural beauty in a woman; I don’t want her to feel like she doesn’t look like herself, so I start off soft, as I’m very light-handed. It’s also important to have the ability to read or discern what my client is asking for and have the talent to know how to execute,” said Navarro.
Navarro will also take time to teach her clients how to apply makeup. “There are times I will do a one-on-one and share my knowledge and give tips and tricks,” she said. “My clients seem to really appreciate that.”
Helping clients see the beauty in themselves is one of her skills. “Sometimes women struggle to see the positive aspects of their features, so I give them a perspective of their face they’ve never seen before. It’s really fun.”
After seven years in business and three children later, Navarro is able to be a full-time mom and run a full-time business. “My children are now one, four and seven years old, but I feel I’m as busy as I want to be. Once my children are all in school, I can see changes.”
“Ellen Navarro is truly a professional. She was so sweet, caring and loving to me,” said Salon 33 stylist Dee Wilson. “I told her I wanted her to surprise me. She looked at my face and knew exactly what I needed. She was delicate and efficient and when she was done, I felt absolutely beautiful. She is amazing and I will be using her makeup services for other special occasions as well as referrals.”
“It takes courage to be a makeup artist,” said Navarro. “The level of critique, opinion and judgment is high. You’re not only an artist but you are doing artwork on someone’s face, usually before a big event and in a matter of minutes.” FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
Ellen Navarro Makeup Artist can be contacted at @ellennavarromakeup, ellennavarromakeup@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/, or 928-308-7763.
