Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Flach

Hi Christina , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I started Pretty Girl Makeup in 1999, after a personal shopper and image consultant while I began my journey as a makeup artist with the goal of being able to make money by doing what I love. As a mother of 5, I was constantly on the go. Between shuffling kids to school and meeting with clients, I was constantly in a battle between applying my lip gloss and drinking water. Every lip gloss I wore seemingly disappeared with one sip of water. For months I tested dozens of lip products, looking for a gloss that would hold up during the busiest days. When I didn’t find anything, I decided to create a lip gloss line of my own, and Pretty Girl Makeup was born. I was determined to develop a formula that was not only long lasting, but also anti-aging, moisturizing, and hydrating. Self-funded since the beginning, I worked with beauty chemists on my unique lip gloss line that took over a year to formulate. I launched my line with unique shades of colors that flatter a wide variety of skin tones because ‘Every Girl is a Pretty Girl’. Since the launch of Pretty Girl Makeup, my career as a makeup artist has taken me to places all over the country and worked with extraordinary people that I couldn’t have ever dreamed would be in my makeup chair. I have worked with some well-known brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, have been featured in campaigns for Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Benefit, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and have been featured in magazines including Vogue, Time, People, and Elle. My celebrity clients include Condoleezza Rice, Tyler Florence, Hilary Swank, Isaiah Washington, Melissa McCarthy, Rita Moreno, Sammy Hagar, Cameron Brink. and many others. My client list keeps growing and it is always a thrill to work with amazing photographers, stylists, and creative teams.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Building a career as a makeup artist is never easy, especially in the beauty industry. Within the beauty industry, things evolve constantly and you have to be willing to adapt or you will be left in the dust. A decade ago, beauty editors, stylists, and publicists held the power; but today, influencers run the industry. It is important to be willing to change your marketing to appeal to consumers while still staying true to your brand. It can be hard to compete against all of the celebrity lines that have come out today because they have the financial backing and fan base to bring them to the top of the market instantaneously. While this can be difficult, I am extremely confident in my brands and the products I love to create.
I believe in finding a way to make money doing what you love. However, when you are starting out in the beauty industry, finding clients that are willing to take a chance on you can be extremely difficult. To solve this problem, I would go to my friend’s hair salons and offer free ten minute makeovers in the hopes that someone would like my work enough to hire me in the future. I also reached out to photographers and offered to work with them for free to start building a client base. I encourage any one who is just starting out to be comfortable being uncomfortable, take risks, take jobs, even if there is little or no pay and do not be afraid of failure. Even after building an extensive clientele, I encourage those in the industry to always be a team player and to have a positive attitude. There are a million makeup artists to choose from, and they are going to hire whom ever responds first and isn’t difficult to work with. I never take it for granted and I never say no. Most importantly, however, I want to ensure that the person sitting in my chair feels like the best possible version of themselves. I believe in making someone feel as good on the inside as they do on the outside because that is what is truly important to me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I always say that you should do what you love and then find a way to make money doing it. For me, I love meeting new people, traveling, thinking creatively, and making people feel like the best versions of themselves. Being a makeup artist allowed me to design my life around the things that I love and in turn, give me a life of bliss.
For me, bliss is a feeling of inner peace and joy. Everyday and everything is not always perfect, but in these times I remind myself that I am surrounded by love and blessings. I am extremely grateful for everything I have, including a successful career.
While I love my life today, maintaining a state of bliss was not always easy. Life has thrown many curve balls right at me, from the unexpected loss of my son and my husband to a wrongful death lawsuit that spanned years. I was facing inexplicable sadness that I do not wish on anyone.
Although I have faced many tragedies in my life, I do not consider my life to be tragic. Time is not guaranteed, so you have to live everyday to the fullest and love big, which includes loving both yourself and the people around you. I feel my best when I make other people feel their best and while being a makeup artist naturally lends itself to creating outer beauty, I have integrated inner beauty into my career. I pride myself on being able to read my clients and know what they need to change their mood before they step in front of a camera. I try to exude energy that will positively impact my clients. I want every single person who leaves my chair to feel like the best version of themselves on the inside and the outside. We underemphasize inner beauty and underestimate the connection between how a person feels on the inside and what they show the world on the outside. In today’s world we often forget the importance of human connection yet it is so important to treat those around you-and yourself-with kindness and love.
Prioritizing wellness and nutrition has been instrumental in improving not only my physical, but my mental health as well. I have created a life filled with balance, where I laugh and have fun but also exercise, drink my green juice, and rest my body. Making the time to take care of ourselves can be difficult, but with discipline, consistency, and time management it will help you achieve seemingly impossible goals. Society often stigmatizes self care as selfish, when in reality it actually gives you the energy and clarity to take better care of the people around you. The kinder you are to yourself, the better you and the people in your life will feel, and the more likely you are to cultivate a state of bliss. It is imperative to me to set a positive self care example for my children because if I can not show them a life of fulfillment, love, and happiness, how can I expect them to achieve it themselves?
If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, I would tell her to be kinder to herself and not stress over uncontrollable or unrealistic outcomes. If you utilize a positive mindset and focus on the outcome that you want, it will happen. Not always the way or how you expect it to happen, but manifestation will enable you to design the life you want. Napoleon Hill once said, “Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.” You are the only one in charge of your life and if you are not doing what you love, you may end up looking back with regret. So many people are afraid to fail but I truly believe the only failure is when you do not try at all. Every failure is a lesson learned that leads us to where we belong. Things that may appear to be happening ‘to us’ are actually happening for us. If I had never taken a chance on my career as a makeup artist, who knows where I would be today. Building this career took a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice but I would not change a single thing. I have enjoyed every milestone and every misstep along the way because it has led me to who I am. If you cannot enjoy your journey and only focus on your destination you will end up burnt out and resentful. I truly love my life and every opportunity that comes my way. I am so excited for what the future holds and what I will achieve in a year, five years, and this lifetime. Finding your bliss can and will be a bumpy road, but you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable to make your dreams a reality. Dream bigger than you can possibly imagine and never stop reaching for new heights. You’d be surprised at how much you are capable of.

Who else deserves credit in your story?

My friend, celebrity chef, and client of over 15 years Tyler Florence, has helped me to create a positive mindset that I carry with me in my day to day life. While working with him over the years,I have seen Tyler receive dozens of opportunities. I would watch and admired his enthusiasm with every opportunity he was given. Tyler has inspired me to wake up everyday excited and passionate about trying new things. There is always something new to learn or to explore in this world and you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I have also found support and guidance from her friend, Berlin Fisher. Berlin is the one who pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence I needed to go on NBC’s California Live as their on-air beauty expert. Without him, I would have never been given the opportunity to be on the beauty segments. I am most comfortable behind the camera but Berlin has helped me to shine in front of it. I of course have to thank my agents Keith Zenobia of Zenobia, Brandi Moore Artists and Jay Tedder of Ford Artists for all the amazing jobs! Of course my “Person” Steve, who always is my biggest supporter!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.christinaflach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaflachmakeup?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christinaflachmakeup?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: @Prettygirlmakeup
• Youtube: @Christinaflach1852
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/christina-flach-makeup-artist-corte-madera-2?uid=6KhVPJtmYdSjVf4GMJu79w&utm_source=ishare

Image Credits

Richard Shui
Chris Harrison
People Magazine
Rita Moreno
Sammy Hagar
Guy Fieri
Santo Tequilla
Tanner Able
San Francisco Magazine
Chris Harrison
IHeart Radio
Pretty Girl Makeup