Meet Ruhama Ortiz | Makeup Artist

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

Hi Ruhama, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Over time, I’ve learned that the key to my success is enhancing each client’s natural beauty rather than changing it. I want them to look in the mirror and see themselves — just more radiant and confident.
I give my clients not only expert makeup application but also a space where they feel cared for and truly seen. Getting professional makeup done can be stressful, especially for brides navigating so many emotions and high expectations. From the moment they sit in my chair, my focus is on helping them relax, feel safe, and trust that they’re in capable hands.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Talking about myself has never come easy, especially because I never imagined I had any artistic talent. I didn’t go to school for makeup or take formal courses. I started at 15, doing my own looks inspired by fashion magazines. Soon, friends asked me to do theirs, and before I knew it, I was charging $15 a face with a tiny kit I barely knew how to use.

After each session, I would study my work — how the light hit their features, what I could improve — and push myself to do better next time. When online tutorials appeared, everything changed. I began refining the smallest details, and that’s when makeup truly became fun for me.

I also fell in love with artistic and special-effects makeup, especially for Halloween. I taught myself to create wounds with toilet paper and fake blood from blackcurrant juice. As makeup products evolved, so did my creativity — everything became easier, more expressive.

Along the way, I’ve learned that you can’t be afraid to take risks or embrace bold, imaginative choices. To me, art has no rules and no limits — it’s about the freedom to express yourself and to help others feel that same freedom.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado is where movement and creativity come alive. You can’t set foot here without feeling inspired to get active, whether it’s playing volleyball in the park, hiking rugged mountain trails, biking past crystal-clear lakes, or paddleboarding at sunrise. The whole state feels like a playground for anyone who loves the outdoors and staying in motion.

But it’s not just athletic, Colorado has an artistic heartbeat. Street art, sculpture parks, live music, indie galleries… creativity is everywhere you look. You might catch live jazz as the sun sets, or lose yourself in house music late into the night. The mix of cultures and passion here creates a nonstop celebration of expression.

And the people? Energized, welcoming, and full of charisma. Colorado isn’t just a place to visit, it’s a place to move, create, and feel completely alive.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe so much of my growth as a makeup artist to my clients. Every appointment is a chance to reconnect, understand their unique needs, and refine my craft around their expectations. Their recommendations and requests remind me how much my work is valued — and that inspires me deeply. I love working with a diversity of faces and skin types; it constantly challenges me and fuels my passion to keep learning and evolving in how I highlight and celebrate feminine beauty.

Instagram: www.instagram/ruhamaortizmakeup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruhamaortizmakeup