We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carrie Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes, absolutely. So, I started my career with Clinique, where I spent five years, and then I moved to Bobbi Brown for 15 years. During my time at Bobbi, I was really fortunate to have women ahead of me in the industry who gave me the chance to take on side projects, things like working with the Jacksonville Jaguars, doing production shoots, and even commercials. That is how I started building my career on the side, while still working full-time. Eventually, I was able to shift more toward my own work and only part-time with them, until I finally took the leap on my own.

It wasn’t like that from the start, though. It was a slow, steady progression. Working with a larger company gave me so many valuable lessons, skills, structure, and a network I could build on. Some big turning points were taking on those large projects, starting to develop my own brand, and finally opening my studio. Looking back, I don’t think I would speed it up. Every step was important, and each one gave me something I needed to get where I am now.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been in the beauty industry for 30 years, starting with Clinique when I was 19 and working for Bobbi Brown for 15 years. Over the years, I’ve shifted my focus into a few key areas. I have my own makeup line and brush collection, and I especially love working with women over 40. I help them navigate the overwhelming choices in the beauty world, simplifying their routines so they feel confident and in control. I still work with amazing brides and on commercial shoots because staying connected to different sides of the industry keeps me fresh. My studio is in an eclectic, artsy area of Brooklyn, Jacksonville, right between Riverside and downtown. What I want people to know is that every step of my journey is about making beauty feel personal, practical, and entirely yours.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

I founded Studio Edison with my close collaborator, Julie Ryan, an incredible photographer. Studio Edison is a space in a creative, eclectic area of Brooklyn, Jacksonville. We rent it out to production companies for commercials shoots, but it’s also become a creative hub. I recently launched the Edison Reset, a series of events in the space, where I DJ and host guest DJ’s. These events bring people together, mixing creativity, community, and a new energy, and it keeps me inspired and connected to my work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part is seeing how my work helps someone else feel more like themselves. Whether it’s a bride who feels radiant on her wedding day or a woman who finally feels confident in her daily routine, it’s that moment when they see themselves differently that really sticks with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carriewilsonmakeup.com
• Instagram: cwmakeup
• Facebook: Carrie Wilson Makeup
• Other: www.carriewilsonmakeupcollection.com and www.studioedison.net

Image Credits

Julie Ryan Photography