Meet Makeup Artist Lorrie Pearson

As a makeup artist and blogger, you will usually  find me working behind the scenes. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to those of you who may not know me to learn more about my experience. Makeup has been a passion of mine since I was a kid. Growing up I was always fascinated when my mother added her red lipstick as a finishing touch just before she headed out to an event.

My interest in painting started early, with finger paints. I could play with them all day. Later the interest evolved from painting on paper to using makeup to paint faces. By the time I was in high school I was the “go to makeup artist for proms and other school events.

When I graduated from high school  I landed my first full time job in a department store working behind the cosmetics counter. I knew then, my lifelong career in makeup had started.  I was a beauty advisor for Revlon and the specialist for The Polished Ambers Collection.

 

Many people don’t know this, but Revlon had a line called The Polished Ambers. It launched in 1975.  It was a line created for black women. The goal was to capture the more upscale ethnic market. Models including Iman, Gail Kendrick and Peggy Dillard Tune were the faces of the brand. The collection had the most amazing colors, darker lipsticks and blush, foundations and more. I remember wearing Blackberry lipstick for a long time.

 

“Working behind the counter was a great training ground because I learned  about skin, skin types and how to apply makeup on everyone who sat in my chair. ” – Lorrie Pearson

 

After working behind the counter for a couple of years, I wanted to learn more about skin. I attended the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics and my life changed. I became a licensed aesthetican, jr. skin care instructor and worked in a salon doing skin care and makeup. Little did I know, that I would later become a salon owner.

What I did know is that the training I received was evergreen. As a makeup artist, I specialize in beauty and I feel that skin should be enhanced not hidden. This is why I take time to prep the skin properly with every client.

Being an educator at Catherine Hinds soon led to other teaching, speaking and makeup opportunities. I found myself back in the retail beauty scene four years later, but I did not step away from teaching or salon work. I freelanced a couple of years for many brands, in the 80’s these were big names, Charles of the Ritz, Ultima II, Lancome, Flori Roberts, Dior and Dermablend and Clinique before accepting a position with Biotherm, a French skin care brand. I was a counter manager then promoted to account coordinator, the role to help train and support advisors in multiple locations.

“Biotherm’s cellulite cream was amazing!” – Lorrie Pearson

As an account coordinator, it was so much fun to help advisors in other stores better understand how to show and sell the brand to their clients. There was quite a bit of travel involved, so I quit my salon job and reserved time to teach advanced skin care and makeup workshops. I did so well with this role, that I was offer the same position with additional locations by Elizabeth Arden.  I now had 26 stores not 10 and a much bigger brand…that was so exciting.

“At my time with Elizabeth Arden, the primary skin care collections were Visible Difference and Millenium. I also experienced the launch of Red Door.” -Lorrie Pearson

Elizabeth Arden is a multi-faceted brand. I loved learning about the history of the brand and experiencing iconic products like 8 Hour Cream, that I still use today. My next move was a year later, it was a position that ignited all of the excitement inside that I experienced working with paints and color as a kid. The brand was Visage Beaute Cosmetics, a custom color company and I became the account manager for NYC!

Visage Beaute Cosmetics was a brand, innovative beyond it’s years. Founded by Roy J. Karrell in 1985, this brand was all about custom color. I loved that we created makeup for clients in the store. We mixed, and created custom foundation, blush, eyeshadow, lipstick and face powder. It was the best experience! I loved managing my NYC accounts. The teams were amazing!

“Working for Visage Beaute helped me better understand the importance of color theory. I still mix all of my foundations and lipsticks for my clients.” -Lorrie Pearson

I stayed with the company until it was sold. Afterwards, I returned to Boston and opened my skin care salon. Lorrie’s Skin Care Studio operated two locations. It gave me the chance to get back to working in salon setting. This time around, I hired a team of estheticians to work with me in the salons. This gave me more flexibility in my schedule to get back to accepting makeup projects working on set in addition to booking weddings and teaching.

Teaching allowed me to work with  many corporate events. Freelance makeup connected me with photographers who requested me to work on sessions often. This eventually led to bookings for commercial and advertising jobs. Freelancing helped me learn more and work with more  brands including, Iman, Shiseido, Smashbox, Lorac, Fashion Fair, Josie Maran and Chanel.

I’ve also worked on some cool print, production, commercial and live performance jobs including Makers, Women Who Make America: Women in Business, Collette Tours, Albertson’s/Star Market, Hood, iRobot, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Aflac and others.

Today I not only teach makeup artistry, I mentor aspiring freelance makeup artists by helping them set prepare for success. It’s still fun working on set and getting booked on projects.

Once restrictions as a result of Covid-19 lift, I look forward to doing what I love…makeup.