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BEAUTY OF THE WEEK
MELISSA MURDICK
Photo shot by Kristen Wright
Meet Melissa Murdick, ARDELL’S Beauty of the Week.
Melissa is Energetic, Quirky, TikTok-loving and is sharing her beauty secrets with us!
| AR: | How did you get started working in beauty? |
| MM: | When I was 15, I got a job at a bagel shop that happened to be right next to a makeup store called Merle Norman. By the time I was 16, I weaseled my way in and got my first job in beauty there! |
| AR: | Who had the biggest beauty influence on you growing up? |
| MM: |
The makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin. Nobody in my family really wore makeup (and YouTube didn’t exist), so I read his makeup books to learn all about it. |
| AR: | Tell us about yourself. |
| MM: | I currently live in Los Angeles, working as a celebrity makeup artist. Crazy enough—I’ve been doing makeup for almost 20 years now. I also run a website called www.theprettyfix.com that teaches transgender folks makeup, and just last year I blew up on TikTok (I’m @itsmakeupbymelissam), so I create lots of content there as well. I’m passionate about helping people enhance their natural beauty and about helping them feel more empowered when it comes to makeup in general. |
| AR: | What is something that you no longer believe about beauty that you once did? |
| MM: | That frosted white eyeshadow looked good on me. It was my first makeup look when I was 14 and looking back—it didn’t! Haha! |
Vogue: shot by Dario Calamese, Rolling Stone: Shot by Amanda Charchian
| AR: | Is there a moment in your career that you are most proud of? |
| MM: | I am most proud of even being able to make makeup a career in the first place! I struggled for YEARS to get my start and it has been a long road. The fact that I succeeded makes me really proud. |
| AR: | Do you have any favorite beauty practices that you swear by? |
| MM: | Focusing on caring for and improving my skin as much as possible! Makeup only looks as good as the skin beneath it. I do a pretty extensive skincare routine (with sunscreen!) and invest in a fair amount of treatments like chemical peels. |
“Persistence is key and good things take time.”
– Melissa Murdick
| AR: | If your life were a song, what would the title be? |
| MM: | ‘Melissa’ by the Allman Brothers (is that too literal? lol) |
| AR: | What is the best beauty tip you’ve ever discovered? |
| MM: | When I was a teenager, I discovered curling my lashes and I’ve never looked back. It makes such a huge difference in your appearance! |
| AR: | You’re stuck on an island and you can pick one type of food to eat forever, what would you choose? |
| MM: | Dumplings. Hands down! |
| AR: | Coffee, Tea, or Energy Drink? |
| MM: | Tea! Especially matcha. |
| AR: | Do you listen to music when you get ready? If so, who is on your playlist? |
| MM: | I actually don’t often listen to music. I’m either filming my makeup for TikTok or trying to rush and get out the door in 5 minutes, so I don’t have the time to sit and enjoy it, ha! |
| AR: | In addition to making people feel beautiful, how do you like to spend your free time? |
| MM: | I’m a pretty active lady! I love cooking, taking trips, working out, learning new things, and hanging with my two awesome pups. |
| AR: | In an alternative universe, what would you do for a living? |
| MM: | Probably work for a non-profit. I volunteer consistently, and I find it so fulfilling to dedicate my time towards a cause that’s important. |
Orange hair model: shot by Thom Kerr, Tie dye background: shot by Brandon Lundby.
| AR: | Describe what the perfect "day off" looks like to you. |
| MM: | After 15 years in LA, I have truly turned into an Angeleno: I would get up, have a healthy breakfast, go get an iced matcha, and do a breath work class somewhere outside like in a park to get things started. Then I’d head to the Korean spa for a few hours, followed by a nice dinner out with friends. |
| AR: | Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on a beauty career path? |
| MM: |
Of course! Persistence is key and good things take time. If you are following a freelance path (like I did), don’t expect it all to happen overnight. Take the wins as they come and keep at it! |
| AR: | What’s next for you? |
| MM: | Aside from continuing my makeup work, I want to also continue educating folks about makeup. I have been cooking up some new ideas outside of my TikTok content, so stay tuned! |
RAPID-FIRE: ARDELL BEAUTY QUESTIONS
| AR: | What are your favorite ARDELL lash styles? Why? |
| MM: | Demi Wispies and the 110s. Also any of the ‘Naked’ collection. I love a lash that blends in seamlessly and looks real, so these always do the trick! |
| AR: | What keeps you coming back to ARDELL lashes? |
| MM: | I’ve been able to count on them for years! They offer an amazing array of styles and I can always find them when I need them. |
| AR: | What is the trick for the perfect ARDELL lash application? |
| MM: |
Finding a style that flatters your personal eye shape and then trimming the lashes so they perfectly fit — lashes that are too long drag the eye down. |
| AR: | Best ARDELL lash style for an everyday look |
| MM: | Ardell Mega Flare individual lashes! |
| AR: | Best ARDELL lash style for an all-out Glam look |
| MM: | Any of the ‘Double Up’ collection |
| AR: | Mascara on top of ARDELL Lashes or Nah? |
| MM: | For sure! It helps blend your natural lashes into the false ones. |
| AR: | What is your go-to DUO lash glue formula? |
| MM: | The clear brush-on glue. I won’t use anything else! |
