Lauren On The Beat
Mosaic Souls had the honor of speaking with DC Make Up Artist Lauren Brown, who invited us into her OH-SO colorful world! Lauren gave us highlights on her artistry and how she uses it to make a statement in more ways than you’d think.
Get into her responses below, and be sure to enjoy her playlist that she uses as artistic inspiration when creating a face.
READ OUR CONVERSATION BELOW!
Hi Lauren, can you start off by first introducing yourself - name, age, where you’re from, ethnicity?
Hi! I’m Lauren Brown, I’m a 17-year-old black woman from Washington, DC.
What was your first introduction to makeup, and what was the effect that it had on you?
My mother bought me my first makeup kit at 3. Of course, it was play cosmetics, but it foreshadowed the point of life I’m at currently. Throughout my pre-teen years, I decided to explore more and more. Around my sophomore year of high school (around 14 years old), I started wearing makeup to school almost everyday and creating looks in my free time. I created my Instagram in January of 2017, at age 15.
How long have you been using makeup - at what age did you start?
I’ve always had makeup but started wearing it more and more throughout my pre-teens. My mother was always very supportive, she is very decorative in style and appreciates makeup, despite never wearing any. My dad had apprehensions and slick comments at first but now he’s tied with my mom for the title of RaggedyRoyal’s biggest fan. Neither of my parents ever tried to suppress my artistry and I am very grateful for that.
What inspired you to continue doing makeup, and to offer it as a service?
Makeup is my stress-reliever. I equate it to how people feel when they smoke a cigarette. It’s also gained me notoriety, bringing me new people to help and new friends. My platforms are my children, a life-long project that always can be improved. I don’t do makeup on others, but I do serve people with knowledge and inspiration.
What does beauty mean to you?
Beauty is an intricate term. Beauty is both inner and outer. Beauty is how you treat people and different situations. Beauty is also physical. Beauty can be natural. Beauty can also be shown through your skills of enhancing. It can be shown through makeup or a bare face. Beauty is vast, yet also minuscule. It’s a very hard term to define and describe.
How would you describe your signature go to look for an “everyday wear” and how do you make it unique to you and your art style?
My go to look for everyday wear these days is a nude lip with a brown liner, natural face makeup, dramatic lashes (my favorites are @Xoxoartistry lashes in Icon, use code LAUREN for 10% off) and a neon inner corner. The lashes and neon make it calm but still very fun, vibrant and Lauren-esque.
Do you have any dos or don’ts, or do you prefer there be no rules in creating a face?
I prefer there to be no rules when creating a face.
“I think makeup should be a freeing experience and placing rules on that limits people’s ability to express themselves and their thoughts how they see fit.”
DON’T use Milk of Magnesia on our face though. I will say that.
Where do you draw inspiration from when creating your looks?
The biggest inspiration for my makeup designs is definitely a tie between my past looks and mistakes that I make. I start with a color scheme, pattern or picture and it doesn’t always work out that way. But most times, the best looks I have ever done were mistakes and a detour from the path I was trying to follow. Mistakes cause me to be resourceful and get my creative juices flowing in crisis. I also love recreating past looks of mine because it allows me to measure my growth.
How have you seen yourself develop in your artistry? In what ways do you hope to grow?
I’ve definitely developed stylistically. My techniques for makeup, like how I do my brows and foundation have improved. My techniques for lighting and how I set my lights up has improved. My camera quality, new phones and cameras, as well as angles have also improved. I hope that in the future I can improve my content quality, as well as stay true to myself and my mission.
Do you plan on going to school for cosmetology? What are your future goals in the art industry?
I do not plan on going to school for cosmetology. I am currently a Business Management student at Howard University. My future goals include working with a few of my favorite big brands, verification badges and continuing to inspire more and more people, especially those who look like me.
Did you always know you wanted to work in the art industry in some capacity? Have you ever had an alternative career path? Or maybe you still do! What’s is it?
I actually am very heavily involved in the hospitality industry and I have been since my freshman year in high school. I keep my social media influencing life and my 9-5 job life separate. They’re too very different lanes that I’m moving in simultaneously.
You are very vocal about makeup being a form of art and we love it! What is it about makeup that makes it art?
Makeup is a visual art form and an expression of self. These days, there are artists painting flames, animal prints, flowers. There are artists using special effects to create illusions such as missing a body part. There are artists drawing portraits of other people on spaces as small as an eyelid.
Do you believe makeup can sometimes be looked down upon because it alters the face, and if so, how do you combat this idea?
I do believe that there is a stigma that makeup is used solely as a mask to cover and hide. I fully respect people who use makeup to cover up imperfections or insecurities. Do what makes you happy and comfortable. Do what makes you ultimately feel best. Makeup is fantastic for that purpose. Although, I see makeup as way more versatile than that. Never limit yourself or your tools. More often than not, society views women wearing makeup as women trying to hide something. The stigma stems from the fact that makeup can be and often is used to cover blemishes or discoloration.
“Yet, makeup can be so much more than that and the current emergence of beauty influencers across social media platforms in intricate patterns and idiosyncratic colors speaks to that notion.”
How do you feel your art is received in the art world and more specifically in the DMV?
I feel like my art is received very well in the art world and beauty community. I am very thankful for those who have paved the way and faced backlash before I even came onto the scene. In the DMV, it’s usually received well. The DMV, especially DC, is filled with creatives and I love it.
How do you see yourself fitting into the DMV art scene as an unconventional artist?
I actually never think about it in that way. I’ve never tried to fit in, especially in such a small bubble like DMV (or even smaller, DC.) I think of myself, my personal branding and my goals in a much more global sense.
Who are some DMV Creatives that you would like to collaborate with?
I have a few favorite DMV content creators and creatives. @IAmBrattyB, @PrimalaPrincess, @Leopahtra, @DylanDavii, @NefOnTheBeat and many more.
How do you feel makeup creativity can be used to make a social or political statement? How have you done so with your platform, if you have?
Just like any other art form, makeup is used to express yourself, your thoughts and beliefs. Those beliefs include political. My favorite politically charged look was this Black Lives Matter Look from two years ago where I drew a fist on my face, it took me many practice sketches to get the structure of the fist correctly.
“I believe with the platform and following that I have, it is my duty to stand up for my communities and others.”
How do you feel about the expanding makeup colors and products? Are you proud of the progress colored skin tones are receiving?
I’m very grateful for the expansions of shades, formulas and overall products happening in the beauty community right now. In the same breath, I am disappointed and disgusted by the pandering and profiting off of black outrage happening in the beauty community currently. Intentions are very important and I hope that we see more inclusivity that is coming from a place of love and because it’s the right thing to do, and less driven by capitalism.
What are 3 pieces of advice to makeup artists who want to be noticed for more than just “doing a face” but as artists who use the face as a canvas for creativity?
1.Quality and authenticity are key! Do not take what you think are shortcuts, like buying followers or spamming people’s comment sections for attention, they are not short! 2. Invest in lighting. Pictures are 30% what you’re taking the picture of, 50% lighting and 20% your camera. Most people try to go out and splurge on an expensive camera when they decide they want to post makeup pictures. Invest in a ringlight (with orange shutters) first. 3. Pay attention and do your research. Social media branding is a constant marketing project. Stay up to date on trends, tips and algorithms.
What is something near and dear to your heart or you think needs to be said that you would like to discuss?
Support Palestine! Black lives matter! Prison reform is needed...and urgently! Respect people’s pronouns! People with certain disabilities NEED plastic straws! Recycle! Fast Fashion is ruining our ecosystem! No one is illegal on stolen land! Do everything with love!
