by Malena Lott

One of my favorite memories of my grandmother was watching her sit at her makeup counter and swipe on her red lipstick. I couldn’t wait until I could wear makeup and in the ’80s, I tried it all including the crazy neon phase.

What I love most about makeup is primarily that it makes me feel on the outside what I feel on the inside. You can make up your face to fit your mood or your style from Girl Next Door to Girls’ Night Out to Date Night Diva. Or simply go with what works for you. How do you want to feel? Voila. Kind of magical.

I met Sharon years ago when we were doing a shoot for Prom Dates to Die For and I love following her career and seeing the exciting projects she’s working on. As a makeup artist for movie and magazine shoots, too, she transforms people to create character and she’s damn good at it. I love hearing her mermaid origin story because it shows that your talent and passion can show up at any time in the most unexpected places.

ML: Sharon, tell us about the moment you made the deep dive for your dream and a bit about your successes.

ST: I was a 19-year-old art major in college and had no idea what I was going to do.  I was basically told I could be an art teacher or graphic designer.  I didn’t want to do either. I worked part time at a local department store in designer dresses. I was #1 in sales but the older ladies in my department didn’t care much for the young social chatter box. I was told I talked too much and they demoted me as a floater. A floater was someone who just filled in where needed. Which is so funny because my first floating position was a month at the Chanel makeup counter covering the cosmetic girl while she was on maternity leave. I just started putting makeup on people and sold makeup like crazy. The cosmetic department wanted to keep me on and after a month they placed me at Estee Lauder counter. They said I was too young to continue work at the Chanel counter due to the clientele. It’s such a funny ironic story – at this time I thought “wow! I can do makeup and make money?” I didn’t want to stay in retail and I had big dreams of doing movie makeup. 🙂 Of course I had no idea how to make that happen but I would figure it out. This was before the Internet and YouTube.  I couldn’t afford a makeup school so through the early years I just hustled my way and taught myself until I finally got into production work.  It’s been a long journey.  I’m proud of the movies, commercials, print work, celebrities, and everyone I get the opportunity to work with.

ML:  How cool that what was seen as a weakness (age and talkativeness) led to exposing your talent! Tell us what always brings a smile to your face.

ST: I’m so grateful for being able to do what I love. Every day I thank God for allowing me these amazing opportunities. Part of that is making people look and feel their best is very rewarding!!!  Most people have such hang ups on certain things about themselves that others would never notice. It doesn’t help seeing all these models and celebrities always looking so picture perfect. I like to bring out the best in people and see their attitude change!
ML: Love that. I like to think of makeup as an instant mood booster. If I’m feeling blah I know a swipe of the right lipstick is going to do the trick. What’s been the biggest challenge in your life and how did/do you overcome adversity?

ST: The biggest challenge I’ve faced is having an anxiety and panic disorder.  I had my first panic attack while in Esthetician school around the age of 20 or 21.  It continued to get worse in my early twenties and I had no idea what it was that was happening to me. I was in and out of ER rooms then finally I was diagnosed. I was then put me on medication This was also before the Internet so I couldn’t Google what was wrong with me.  The medication helped the panic attacks completely go away but it also made extremely tired all the time and  I gained 80 pounds in one year.  But during this time it was good because it eliminated the panic attacks, and eventually was able to function without them.

 

ML: Thank you for sharing that. What are your favorite tool(s) for enlightened living (presence, intention, action)?

 

ST: I love spending time with my family and pets.  My pets help me in so many ways!  I have 3 dogs and 2 cats, and  they are honestly my therapy animals.  Ha ha!  I have started exercising regularly and it is amazing!   I’ve started yoga and meditation but it’s something I need to continue to work on.

Connect with Sharon and see her work here:

Website: www. sharontabb.com

facebook:   www.facebook.com/sharontabbmakeupartist

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sharontabb/

twitter: twitter.com/SharonTabb

 

To living in the deep,

Malena

P.S. If you like the mermaid series and stories about Everyday Adventure, be sure and subscribe so it will come to you each week in your in box! And thanks for sharing the love. xo

P.P.S. Red lipstick still rocks.