Meet Emma McDonald | Makeup Artist & Esthetician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been obsessed with makeup, whether it was rummaging through my mom’s cosmetics as a teenager or doing my friend’s looks for events in high school and college. After college, I accepted a role in marketing but deep down, I knew makeup and skincare were my passions. After a few years in the corporate world and with encouragement from one of my best friends, I decided to enroll in the Esthetician program at Colorado Advanced Esthetics. This is where I developed a true skincare-first approach to makeup. From there, I started my own business, Emma Lynn Esthetics, where I offer makeup and esthetic services.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My goal is to use the transformative power of makeup to express, enhance, and empower my clients. Rather than cover up imperfections, I want to bring out clients’ natural features and leave them feeling uplifted and confident in their skin.

I started out doing my friends’ makeup in high school, then holding mini photoshoots with them to capture the looks. At its core, makeup is art and every face is a different canvas. As I’ve progressed in my career I’ve learned so much, like the importance of communicating clients’ needs or being ready for anything in unpredictable environments like fashion weeks. Growth is doing things you are uncomfortable with and I’ve definitely pushed myself to take jobs before I felt fully ready. In turn, I’ve gained valuable experience working weddings, fashion weeks, photo shoots, music videos, and more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite spots downtown is a speakeasy called Run for the Roses. The menu is on a deck of cards and the cocktails are delicious. I would also recommend driving up to the Horsetooth Reservoir in the summer. The hike loop there is great and the views are incredible. They also offer boat rentals for a fun day on the water.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The women around me are just incredible human beings. My mother is my biggest mentor and supporter, and my friend Camille is an MVP for encouraging me to turn my makeup talents into a dream career.

Website: https://www.emmalynnesthetics.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalynnesthetics/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/emma-lynn-esthetics-denver

Image Credits
Brooke Austin (Featured Photo)
Lindsey Mazzaferro