The Full Story
Makeup Journey
Learning the language of makeup has been a winding, wonderful journey for Siobhan. Learn more here.
The Start
Siobhan had never bought a makeup product besides lip gloss until she was about to graduate 8th Grade, but when she got that first brown Covergirl mascara and eyeshadow trio, she was immediately hooked.
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While visual art was never her strong suit, makeup made sense to Siobhan. As she developed her vocabulary, more and more people began seeking out Siobhan's advice: what product to get, how to use it, etc.
Makeup and Self-Acceptance
Cosmetics are often vilified as a method of deception or a way to increase insecurity amongst young people. While Siobhan has no interest in denying that people who view makeup in that light are valid, she hopes her work and story will shine a new light on what so many see as trivial at best and harmful at worst.
"Growing up, I was taught how to hide as much of myself as possible, I had it drilled into my head for 13 years that the worst thing I could possibly do was take up space in the world. Discovering makeup was discovering that I didn't have to fade into the background to be worthy.
I started thinking of my face and body as a canvas with infinite possibilities and not something I had to bend to conform to one narrow standard.
Accentuating my features with makeup reminds me what qualities particular to me are to be celebrated, even cheating certain features with contour and concealer can be empowering, it shows me I can be whatever I want to be, and that can change just as quickly as I can take off product and start again."
My Philosophy
"I say everything about my self-acceptance journey to show that I view makeup as self-empowerment and expression and anyone who works with me will see that my goal is to evoke that feeling in them."
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As Siobhan ventures further into the makeup world, she is developing an environment of creation and collaboration.
Siobhan sees social media as a way to share knowledge and develop her skills, hence the decision to start posting makeup videos to TikTok and Youtube.
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Siobhan has decided to avoid photo editing as much as possible to give a realistic view of how the makeup sits on skin. Some earlier photos may have more editing, but from now on she wants to show her skin, blemishes and all.