Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Mathews. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Megan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

For years before I even pursued makeup as an art form, I would be mesmerized by the talent of online makeup creators. I learned a lot about makeup through youtube and Instagram tutorials. During this time, my makeup routine consisted of a one-step foundation, a little mascara, and if I was feeling fancy, a small winged liner. It wasn’t until I received an eyeshadow pallet for Christmas full of colors that I was intimidated by, that I decided I was going to learn the skill of applying makeup, and I was going to learn it well.
I am honestly unsure as to what I could have done to speed up my learning process. When I am inspired to do or learn something, I allow it to consume my entire being, which is not an entirely voluntary phenomenon. Almost all of the media I consumed were either eyeshadow tutorials or makeup history videos. I would fall asleep planning my next look/ choosing what technique I wanted to try the next day. Makeup and the art of it was all I wanted to think or talk about, and it still is mostly.
Comparing myself to others has always been one of my biggest obstacles, and I believe it held me back in finding my own personal style. I had the misconception that I was a better and more skilled artist if I could replicate a technique that I admired in someone else’s art, which now I see is the furthest from the truth. Especially for makeup, some techniques will never look the same on one face as the other because all faces are shaped differently. I think if I valued finding my personal style sooner, I would have been able to learn more techniques that suit my eye shape and, more importantly, create more looks that make me feel proud and happy to wear.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Megan and I am a makeup creator, brand owner of M81 Cosmetics, and future scientist/ current STEM student. I love the art of makeup and I am extremely passionate about science and math. I’ve had the idea in the back of my mind for years to create a science themed makeup brand, but I was always waiting for someone else to have the idea so I did not have to take the leap of faith myself. When it finally became apparent to me that the company of my dreams will not magically spawn into existence, I started researching and planning. In November of 2024, M81 Cosmetics was born.
I think what sets M81 Cosmetics apart is the degree at which scientific and mathematical phenomena influence the products. Every now and then I will see makeup with shade names usually inspired by space, but I have yet to see a brand with the entire focus and inspiration being rooted in STEM. With every product I create for M81 Cosmetics, I write a few paragraphs or create a video explaining what science or math concept inspired it. I try my best to channel through makeup how beautiful and profound STEM can be.
I feel the most proud when I see people using M81 Cosmetics and/ or expressing excitement about them. For example, when I was feeling a bit lost in life one night, I opened up Tik Tok to doom scroll and I saw a video a creator made with their Test Tube Lip Glosses singing along to the Bill Nye song. It was hilarious and so heartwarming, it completely changed my mentality for the rest of the night. In those moments, I realize that what I am doing is sparking joy in others, which is the whole point of why I created a makeup brand.
What I want people to take away from M81 Cosmetics is that you never have to choose between expressing who you are and academia. Oftentimes, people who wear makeup and appear more “feminine” and artsy are taken less seriously in a STEM environment. There has always been such an unnecessary divide between the arts and the sciences, when really both fields require a great deal of creative thinking. Being fabulous and creative will never take away from your academic and professional merit.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Despite always being drawn to making art, as I grew into my late teens/ early adulthood, I had somehow convinced myself it was a waste of time. If I was not monetizing my skills somehow, I felt it had no value. Afterall, how can something have value if the only thing it has to offer is something as fleeting as enjoyment?
My perspective on art quickly shifted after I became disabled and my life completely changed. In the darkest of moments, it was all I had. My internalized idea that I was “wasting my time” no longer mattered to me, and art became a powerful outlet to either distract myself from or channel my pain into. Through this experience, I learned that art is an essential and beautiful part of humanity.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of doing creative makeup is the ability to explore many types of styles. Makeup truly gives you the ability to “choose your avatar” daily: each day is a new opportunity to change your look and try out different aesthetics. For example, I became fascinated with goth makeup, and I never thought I would love it as much as I do. Typically, I use a lot of color, and don’t make a lot of harsh lines in most of my looks. I ended up doing a goth makeup series, and I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed not only creating the looks, but also wearing them. I felt so beautiful in a style I never thought I’d try.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://umxmvf-w0.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: @makeupbymegan_6e23
• Youtube: @makeupbymegan_6e23
• Other: M81 Cosmetics Socials:

  Instagram: @m81_cosmetics
  Youtube: @M81Cosmetics