HEllo there!

My name is Kristine Else and I am the author and makeup artist behind this website! I was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when I was twelve years old. I am currently a full-time business student in Chicago, who's also working as a Makeup Artist for MAC, and do freelance makeup artistry jobs on the side. I am a self-professed beauty junkie and would love to share my beauty tips, tricks and finds with you! 

When I'm not applying, testing and obsessing over makeup, you can find me cozied up in bed reading (a lot!), or browsing online lusting over some luxury finds. Some other interests that I have include cooking, baking, working out (addicted to yoga and Soul cycle) and traveling! You will definitely read about these topics every so often in my blog as well! 

MY makeup STORY

I was probably six years old and still living in the Philippines then, my aunt came to visit my family in the province, for a week. She was living in the capital city and she looked so sophisticated and elegant, all made up with her trademark red lips; I couldn't help but be amazed with her beauty. I was watching her get ready one day, and I was just entranced by how she transformed herself using makeup. Ever since then, I was hooked; makeup and everything beauty-related fascinated me. Thus, my love affair with makeup and beauty has begun. Since then, I tried to get what little makeup and beauty products I can afford from Birthday and Christmas presents, counting ever peso I had towards my makeup fund.  My parents didn't stand a chance in stopping me from this love affair. 

While kids my age played with dolls, I learned basic things about makeup and nail polish application as a child. I volunteered to do people's makeup and nails since I was 8. I begged my mom to buy me cheap makeup sets as my birthday present when I was 10. I volunteered to do my fellow classmates makeup for band shows and dance presentations in elementary. When my mom started giving me an allowance in high school, I pretty much spent most of it on cosmetics. I still pretty much spend a huge chunk of what I make on makeup to this day. 

As the years went by, I honed my skills in doing other people's makeup while I was still in high school and college. The opportunity to start freelancing as a makeup artist came when women started offering to pay me to do their makeup. As I was freelancing here and there, my cousin told me to apply for a makeup counter at Nordstrom. My interview led to the opportunity for me to work at MAC. I knew that MAC was one of the hardest makeup lines to get into, and let me tell you, the interview process was pretty long and complex. However, in the end, I got the job and I was able to do even more makeup on different people of all ages, sexes and races! I still get to do that to this day, and I couldn't be more thankful! 

While working at MAC, I then came to a point where I wanted to do something more with it. To share what I know, and be able to explore it some more. I was aware of the growing online beauty community; the women and some men doing blog posts and review videos of  makeup products they love online. I realized that it's what I want to do - be a makeup artist that also share my thoughts on products and beauty tips and tricks to others. When you do makeup on others, trying out so many beauty products pretty much comes with the territory and I want to be able to share the knowledge and information I’ve gotten through trial and error. With that realization, I created a beauty blog, but I didn't really prioritize it nor did I have a good concept on how to approach this passion project of mine. I let myself get distracted and not focus my goals and actions into turning my vision into reality- well until now. So here it is, Kristine's Artistry and Beauty Blog 2.0.  I'm jumping all in, and hopefully you'll join along with me! :D