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

Vanessa, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Pretty Wellthy emerged from a deep recognition I had with numerous people during makeup services. It’s also the reason why I’ve felt this career to be rewarding. Many assume that makeup covers up, my belief is that it has the the ability to bring out what’s inside: confidence, benevolence, etc. Pretty Wellthy signifies an overflow of inner beauty. It’s when one’s kindness and intentionality radiates from within to without. As a makeup artist, I bring out one’s very best in a way that my client’s can feel as good as they do on the inside – on the outside.

Vanessa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I stepped into the beauty industry in 2008 working for MAC Cosmetics. I absolutely loved my 12 years with the company. The training, feedback, and overall experience I received there was top tier. During this time I developed many skills. I also built a steady clientele that brought me to my next endeavor. I left MAC in 2020 to pursue my own makeup service business. I left weeks before the pandemic was announced. It was the most frightening time for my business, as was for most small businesses. However, the downtime from the pandemic allowed me to refine my business and learn the art of collaboration. During this time I also was inspired to get my esthetics license. At the time it felt like I was a bit lost and apprehensive, but looking back it was an essential year for my business. It was the fertilization season which would soon grow my makeup business to new heights. I learned to find my niche in the industry. I specialize in what’s called Soft Glam. Soft Glam has its variations, overall it’s a type of makeup service that emphasizes one’s natural features with neutral palette. My version is a personalized, luxurious, dreamy, clean glam, with an emphasis on buttery cloud-like skin. Because of the type of makeup I do, I most often am contracted for bridal makeup- which I really enjoy doing! Having a background in esthetics has allowed me to know more about what is needed to make skin reach its fullest potential. I spend much time on the skin prepping portion of the makeup, as this is what aids me to achieve one’s best canvas. Another key element within my makeup services is the customer service and consultation that I provide. I give myself more time than the average artist per makeup service to ensure quality services. I ask about past makeup experiences, what they like or don’t like, what inspiration they’ve come across, etc. This eliminates any unwarranted surprises. I also am open to feedback and alterations, as the client’s satisfaction is my biggest priority. Too many times have I heard the horror story of a client having an unpleasant makeup experience with another artist and had to redo their own glam. My hope is that the only unfavorable part of having glam done by me is when you have to wash it off at the end of the day! The best feedback is when I have a client ask ” I want to wear my makeup again tomorrow, is it ok to sleep in it?’. The answer is no, but it sure does put the biggest smile on my face! It makes me proud within my work when I see one’s illumination from within come out through the glam. Nothing beats watching one’s confidence skyrocket before my eyes. The main things I want people to know about my work is that it’s a service for your beautiful essence. It’s your time to unwind and to get excited for your very best glam.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best course for new clients is word of mouth. There’s nothing like a genuine recommendation from a past client or a social media supporter. I’m always grateful to know that people mention my name when they hear of a makeup opportunity.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’ve learned that honoring obligations and being trustworthy is major for building a great reputation. People need to know they can rely on you once you’ve committed to them. Additionally, it’s important to remember that when clients come to sit in your chair, that’s their girl therapy. They’re going to dish about what’s going on their lives. This stays between you and them. One slip of your client’s business can be a slippery slope for your reputation. Being a girl’s girl is key.

Contact Info:

• Website: PrettyWellthy.com
• Instagram: @PrettyWellthy
• Other: TikTok – @PrettyWellthy

Image Credits
Daniel Oni @Local.Videographer Melanie + Andy @Andrew_Melanie Ivan Gabriel @Ivangabrielsv