Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Richardson.
Hi Brandon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my career in 2005 as a freelance artist and then a part-time makeup artist at the MAC counter in Atlanta. That era of artistry was electric, walking into work felt like stepping into the most elite, exclusive space and it was completely inclusive. I soaked up everything I could from the artists around me, honing my craft in real time.
I come from a family of educators, and it wasn’t long before I realized teaching was my real passion. That led me to Richmond, VA in 2008, where I stepped into the education department and lived there until 2009. I moved back home to Atlanta and spent the next few years, 2009 to 2012, training artists across Georgia.
In 2012, I relocated to Miami to lead education for Travel Retail training for North America; a role that ended up defining 14 years of my career. I opened markets and trained teams across the US, Canada, and the Caribbean.
During my career, I’ve had the honor of creating makeup campaigns, working backstage at Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris, Milan, and London, working with celebrities on some incredible projects. I also built a social media presence on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok leading with education, artistry, and a whole lot of humor.
At the core of it all, I’ve taken my love for makeup and merged it with my love for exploring the world and that combination is really what’s carried me from a MAC counter in Atlanta to where I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The short answer is no, it hasn’t always been easy. Like a lot of us, I’ve had to deal with that inner saboteur voice at times. In the words of Erykah Badu, “I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my ish.” I’m so passionate about my work that sometimes that passion opens the door to self-doubt.
I’ve had executives tell me I was “too extra” and that it could be distracting. Those were the moments where I questioned if my full personality slowed my career growth. I’ve had positions created with me in mind, only to be passed over when it came down to it. But like so many elders, my Grams especially, always told me “God’s denial is your protection.” I’ve leaned into that truth as much as I can when things get hard or an opportunity doesn’t pan out the way I hoped.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a makeup artist, beauty educator, and travel wanderer. At my core, I’m a makeup artist with a passion for educating and let’s be honest, makeup and skincare have no real gender. But I love empowering women to feel and look their best through makeup. I’ve also leaned into breaking down makeup through the lens of pop culture, digging into the history and the “why” behind the trends.
What I’m most proud of is the sheer number of people I’ve taught over my 17-plus years as an educator. I’ve also had the fun full-circle moment of appearing in a MAC campaign for the airports LOL, still can’t believe that happened.
What sets me apart is that I’m not just a makeup lover, I’m a makeup expert. I’m an artist who can have worked backstage and watch a season’s trends be born, then translate that same expertise to red carpet beauty. I teach it, I live it, and I make sure to bring humor and joy along with the education whenever I’m on camera.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The ability to feel incredibly uncomfortable outside yourself. To be willing to listen, learn, watch, and ask questions and Lord, do I ask a lot of questions. It’s the ability to read a room and pivot when needed. The last couple of years especially have required all of us, as a people and a culture, to lean into pivoting.
But for me, leaning into my village has been a cornerstone of my success. My faith, my mother, my Grams, my family, and my whole village the people who affirm me when I need it, and tell me when I’m wrong. LOL. You have to have balance in life. But believing that God has given me a greater purpose to fulfill is what keeps me in forward motion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brichbeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brich_beauty/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brichbeauty
