Making Faces

Working in computers seemed steady and fiscally responsible, but Mary K. Flaa was bored. Really bored. Maybe it was time to follow the spirit  of her name (Mary Kay) and pursue cosmetics.

“I always had a fascination with makeup, and I realized that I needed something a lot more creative and freespirited, like I am,” Flaa says. So she headed to New York and got creative, by training with MAC Cosmetics and at the Parsons School of Design—then she headed for the other coast and trained at Joe Blasco in LA.

After that, the world was her oyster. “It was very serendipitous. I decided to move back here after doing some print work and independent films. I went on tour [with Fleetwood Mac]. . . . I go wherever the work goes.”

Taking the celebrity route isn’t always what is seems, she maintains. “Generally, I see celebrities without makeup and that disarms them and reminds me that this person has ups and downs in their life too. Without the dress, the hype, and the action, without the vibe and entourage, it puts them on a more realistic plane. Plus, I can’t be awed by that. It’s a job.” Yet she loves celebrity culture and says it keeps her excited about her profession—especially when she sees clients looking great in a magazine or loving the character in the movie they just wrapped.

The consummate professional, Flaa doesn’t tattle on famous clients—simply put, some are a dream, others are more difficult. She’s painted the faces of Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Reese Witherspoon (Flaa did call Witherspoon ‘very sweet’), Kevin Garnett, Prince, and Joe Mauer, among many others. She also says many look like “one of us” until all the pieces are in place—“sometimes their transformation surprises even me”—while she “wonders why others are in my chair, they’re so beautiful!”

But Flaa finds working with the average woman “may be even more rewarding.” She says finding a look that works within the budget, lifestyle, and general experience is key—then build from there. “Whether that’s mascara and lip gloss or a full-on makeover, you’re going to look your best.”

Don’t think just because Flaa went Hollywood that she doesn’t know how the average girl makes up. “We are pumped to be like Hollywood, but our budget and lifestyle don’t allow it. Drug store cosmetics get a bad rap, but a lot of high-end companies have drug store brands. I switched from Skinceuticals to Olay Regenerist. I encourage people not to get hung up on what celebrities use. Why knock yourself out? Most of us aren’t in the limelight every day. This is your life.”

But the ritual of beauty can be important to a woman’s self-esteem and well-being too. “Makeup can only enhance what’s already there,” she says. “It helps you project what’s going on inside of you—your inner beauty or confidence. The rituals help us feel grounded. I get up, I get ready, I put on lipstick. I feel ready to go to the next deal in my life. It’s putting the best face forward.”