I could write a book on everything that got me to where I am today, and maybe one day I will. Until then, this introduction can be brief as I hope my writings moving forward share my insights on beauty and the industry that I love so dearly. Starting from the beginning – I watched my mom step into a career shift in her early 30’s and witnessed her embark on her own beauty journey into cosmetology that unknowingly would heavily influence mine. The smell of perm solution and hair color walking through salon floors as a kid is embedded into my psyche and the hot summer days waiting for Mom in the parking lot of her beauty school is etched in my memory. How I got into the industry happened so naturally, and almost effortlessly. As much as I ever wanted to deny beauty, it always seemed to choose me.
Fast forward to my teenage years, and past the point of spending a chunk of my adolescence inside old school beauty parlors with tiles and flooring from the 60s and 70s. I’ll skip past the memories of sitting under hair dryers to read books when no one was using them… yet as I’m writing, I had to pause for a moment to reminisce on the sound of laughter filling the narrow hallways that seamlessly filled the entire space as my mom would pamper my aunties.
I get emotional revisiting the sweet memories of long summer days and late night family appointments filling salons with laughter. I owe my entire career to the unintentional influence of this magnetic result my mother gave me through exploring the tug and pull of her own beauty desires.
Long story short, I decided I wanted to move to LA at the peak of the 2008 recession which happened to be my graduating year of High School. By my last semester, my guidance counselor suggested that I explore the beauty school option so that I could graduate with a trade. My mom seconded that opinion but encouraged it after highschool.. Regardless of the nuances in between —- that’s where I ended up: at a local beauty school in Alameda California, a humble suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area where I clocked into the beginning of my beauty career.
My first official job in the beauty industry was at a local salon owned by three sisters. I was able to grow into not only being a receptionist, but to also be a manager. I opened the salon and I closed the salon and I managed the family that worked there. They were so sweet, so generous, so kind. I was able to learn so much from being there… little did I know this would help lay such fundamental foundations for me in the industry. I finished beauty school and my stateboard in 13 months, saved money for 3 months and then was on my way to LA.
I’ll save my LA story for another time but here are the cliff notes: I started my career at the break of social media, there were no beauty influencers. I watched the disruption of multiple industries, and no longer was an “influencer” vetted by length of craft within an industry, as artists were from decades past, but I had a front row seat backstage as I watched the value of followers and growth impact and influence beauty culture. While this was all happening, I first had to get a job and get good at being a makeup artist outside of the marketing and social element. My mentors had to do the same, and they drilled into me that my craft and my dedication to the ins-and-outs of the set was what would get me to where I needed to be. Absolutely no focus on social media, if anything it was looked down upon. I learned set etiquette on the fly at the iconic Smashbox Studios…
I overslept, under packed, made mistakes, was horribly anxious but I grew tremendously because of all the challenges. I often worked for products for my kit, sometimes gas money but made just enough money to survive. I ran around Smashbox Studios making friends on set and bonded in the studio grip rooms after hours through heartfelt conversations and eating catering left overs as dinner before we went home. I owe my humble beginnings to Smashbox Cosmetics and the original founding team that first built it into the brand we know today. Had I not been offered an unofficial internship from Mrs. Lori Taylor Davis – I would have never had the opportunity to say I worked in the same PR closet I once watched on The Hills… but most importantly, that chance given was pivotal to where I am today.
I had to grow into a highly competitive career field while simultaneously growing into my own as a young professional and young woman… it was challenging, confusing, yet rewarding and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I put my personal life to the side and because I just wanted to work and that’s what I did. I committed to doing the best job I could and followed everyone’s successful lead. I didn’t do it alone. From the help of mentors who turned into big sisters, to clients who held me accountable and pushed me graciously to be the best artist I could be, and crew members that referred me and hired me. This industry has been all based on relationships and faith for me. From working in commercial, print and beauty campaigns, to fashion shows, television and press outlets. To winning a couple of awards, and then putting everything down in the pandemic to start something new… It has been a ride. The acts of faith of just trusting the entire process but knowing what direction I wanted to go into might sound reckless to some. It might not make sense to many, but I promise you it’s all been worth it.
Now I’m writing to you from an Island in the Philippines, in the middle of a world wide beauty tour, where for the first time, I’m finally unafraid to share stories publically and admit that I’m taking yet another leap of faith with beauty and business. I miss LA, but this new venture has opened up the world to me. It doesn’t make sense to many, yet again… and as I reflect on my humble beginnings there are patterns that feel so familiar. The trusting, the letting go, the staying open, the nerves yet an easier practice of trust because if I have learned anything in the past decade its that: everything always works itself out.
So I’ll be here, sharing musings, learnings and studies I have found abroad and through the years in my career with hopes it helps or encourages someone else on their beauty journey.
From Pro Makeup Artist, to pioneering a new path that feels the most sincere to me… There’s one thing that has stayed the same. I am an observer and seeker of beauty. It speaks to me, inspires me and holds me accountable. I’ll forever be learning, there’s so much to uncover and I can’t wait to share all that I’ve learned so far. This new venture has required me to dig deep into the history and heritage and culture of beauty beyond the surface. I am studying this craft and industry in a way that I wouldn’t have even known was possible. The process is new and scary but I’m sharing while Im learning along the way…
Forever A Student of Beauty,
XO
Gabbi
Palawan, Philippines
March 2023
A STUDENT OF BEAUTY 
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