Meditative Makeup w/ Natalia
Photo from Natalia Chang
Meet Natalia Chang - makeup artist, fashion-trend researcher, and personal trainer. She started wearing makeup in high school, “but it definitely was not how I would wear it today”, she said. Chang “truly started wearing makeup”, on a daily basis, when she moved from Los Angeles to New York. She’d just transferred from Cal State Long Beach to the Fashion Institute of Technology. The year was 2016 - one of her first friends in New York was also VERY into makeup and he would invite her out to party a lot. Taking part in those weekends and being around people that were so glammed up - her curiosity naturally began to expand. “Thinking back, I always had so much to say, but never had an outlet for self-expression. New York is open ground for finding one's self and that is exactly what I did.”
Fitting for talented, makeup-obsessed creatives like Chang, her first job in New York was at Sephora. She, then, went on to freelance at Clinique, Tom Ford, Tarte, and Chantecaille before building her own brand on Instagram. When asked about her experience of building a brand online as a makeup artist, she said, it’s been difficult. “Trying to get exposure when EVERYBODY wants to do the same thing - it’s hard...especially when algorithms have made growth extremely difficult. However, I don't do this just to build a brand. I do this because it's who I am and it's who I'm going to be. Making content is my life and I love it.”
Making content has become an around-the-clock activity for Chang, in addition to meditation, as Governor Cuomo is still mandating that New Yorkers stay-at-home. “I was a personal trainer, on the side, but because of the lockdown I had to quit since my clients wanted in-person training. One thing I do miss is fresh air and the gym: working out is my therapy and not being able to do that (with heavy weights) has been hard. As far as makeup goes, I love the free time because I get to focus on this much more - it’s allowed me to stay busy and I feel like my creativity has also gone up.”
Many of Chang’s looks are boundary-pushing acts of expression that transform her face into a canvas. Through meditating, she’s been able to reach her deepest thoughts which have served as inspiration for her carefully-crafted looks. Her attention to detail goes beyond her makeup artistry to social justice causes like cruelty-free product development. One topic in particular that Chang said does not get the attention it deserves is child labour in the makeup product development industry.
“Thousands of children work in mica mines in third world countries like India and Africa to make "shimmery" and "glittery" makeup for us. And it's difficult to trace these ingredients. I find it so strange that we all scream over how BLINDING a highlighter is, but nobody speaks about how dangerous it is for these children.” In addition to sustainability and ethical business practices, Chang supports many causes that have to do with giving people the right to live in their true skin. She plans to shed light, perhaps by starting an organization, on all of these causes once she has a large enough platform. Here’s a little more about this meditative MUA with an eye for authenticity and a heart for change.
Favorite Food: PASTA! Obsessed
Favorite Music: Hip Hop/Rap and, because of my boyfriend, I have been obsessed with ‘50s artists like Frank Sinatra
Favorite Music Artist/Band: So many, but currently obsessed with Brock Hampton, 6lack, and Eminem has always had my heart
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Makeup Brand: Ooo...Fenty and ABH
Favorite Facial Feature: Eyes
Favorite Makeup Product: Concealer - can't live without it or else I look like a panda