Allow me to reintroduce myself....

​Welcome to Beyond The Brush!
If you don’t know me yet, I’m Jerica (JE-ri-kuh), and I’ve spent 17 years working in the makeup and beauty industry. It feels strange to say that number out loud, but I’ve been in this game for quite a while. If you know me already or have followed my work, sat in my chair, or collaborated with me, welcome to this new journey—I’m so glad to have you here.

What is Beyond The Brush?
This blog will take you beyond the surface of makeup artistry. Here, I’ll share insights into makeup, skincare, and what really goes on behind the scenes from the perspective of a working makeup artist. In 2024, where influencers and social media trends dominate, there’s still a big difference between beauty influencers and true makeup artists, and I can’t wait to dive into that. You can expect product recommendations, deep dives into my favorite TV shows and movies (especially for the makeup!), and more on the industry’s unfiltered side. But we’ll save those for later posts! For now, let’s talk about my journey and why I’m here.

Growing Up and Finding My Passion
I was born in Rochester, NY, on a sunny day in April—an Aries, through and through! Growing up with two Puerto Rican parents, my life was filled with the warmth of Latin culture, from music to cooking, to the constant drive to work hard. Both of my parents have worked every day of my life, which inspired my own determination to pursue my dream in makeup.

I wasn’t always set on being a makeup artist. In high school, I loved eyeliner and playing with a bit of eyeshadow, but back then, I wanted to be a performer. Like many Millennials, I was influenced by a music-driven culture, but I didn’t yet know what I wanted to do. People would compliment my makeup, though, and I remember friends saying, “Wow, Jerica, I love your eyeliner! How did you do that?” At the time, I was painfully shy, so I brushed it off, never realizing that these small interactions would lead me somewhere big.

Starting My Career in Beauty
During my first year in college, studying liberal arts and sociology, I felt this creative pull. I was doing makeup on friends and family, even getting hired by a few brides, and finally, my parents suggested I pursue makeup artistry. This made me laugh at first—I had no idea what they meant or where to even start! But it was 2007, the early days of YouTube, and I was glued to the OG makeup gurus like Kandee Johnson and Makeup by Koren (who I eventually got to meet). I was inspired but still didn’t fully realize what was calling me.

One night, I went down an online rabbit hole and discovered the Makeup Designory (MUD) in NYC, a prestigious school with a big reputation. I knew I had to go there, but I also knew there were steps to take first. Before I could attend, I wanted to get my esthetics license to understand the skin better—after all, skincare is the base of every good makeup look. So, I enrolled in Continental School of Beauty and became a licensed esthetician.

The Path to Sephora
From the moment I started school, I knew I wanted to work at Sephora. I applied to my local store five times but didn’t get a call back. Then, just a week before graduating, I heard that JCPenney would be opening a Sephora in its store and was hiring. I rushed to apply, crossing my fingers that this would be my break. The very next morning, my phone rang…

To be continued…

With love,
Jerica

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