Meet Colleen Gagnon-Beal | Makeup Artist and Owner of La Planta Skincare

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colleen Gagnon-Beal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colleen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I think I’ve always had a business mindset. Every since I was a kid I was always trying to sell something on eBay or host some type of yard sale or lemonade stand. I’ve always had a goal to make money and have fun while doing it so as I got older I wanted to do the same but with something that I was passionate about. It’s so important as an entrepreneur to truly love what you do or else you’ll burn out. So far, after over a decade of doing makeup I’ve yet to burnout so I like to think my thought process was right on track.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been a professional makeup artist for well over a decade. I attended the Joe Blasco Makeup Artist Training Center in 2011 with a focus on makeup for film and television. Even though my training was for makeup for film and television I think my favorite type of work is bridal. Being such a huge part in someone’s big day means so much to me. I’ve met so many incredible women through out the years, some of whom I keep in touch with today. Things have definitely not always been easy, though. As a freelancer, sometimes things are fantastic but sometimes business is dead. I still don’t know how I made it through the pandemic. I surely would have drowned if it wasn’t for my extremely supportive clients. I’m very proud of my clientele. Their support has brought me to where I am today and where I’m going. I owe everything to them. I’ve definitely learned to be overflowing with gratitude. Like I said, I wouldn’t be where I am now without support from my peers, loved ones, and clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even though Huntsville is somewhat small, the growth is unreal so we actually do have some fun stuff to do in town! Hiking is something I don’t get to do often but I’m definitely a fan so we’d probably start the day with a açaí bowls at Honest Coffee and head up for a quick hike up Monte Sano Mountain.

I feel like bowling is looked at as being lame but it’s honestly so fun. That and Top Golf. I’m a terrible golfer and bowler but I’m also competitive so it’s always fun to see who can score the highest, even if that score is embarrassingly low.
Im also a fan of Boba tea and ramen. Mid City has a great Boba tea spot and right next door is an awesome Ramen spot called Kamado. To end the week we’d probably grab drinks and dinner at Campus 805 or StoveHouse where they would probably have a live band playing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Both of my parents but specifically my dad. We lost him 2 years ago but he was always my biggest cheerleader. He believed in me enough to send me to school 10 hours away in Florida when I was 20 years old. As a freelance artist things can get tough and you can get a bit discouraged at times but my dad always told me I could do it. I owe my parents a lot but my success is my biggest debt and I’ll always be grateful for them.

Website: Www.ColleenGagnonMUA.com

Instagram: @ColleenMakeupArtist

Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/ColleenGagnonMakeupArtist

Other: La Planta Skincare Instagram @La__PlantaSkincare La Planta Skin Website Www.LaPlantaSkin.com

Image Credits
Gaia Lios Photography, Brittanie Wichael Photographry, Picha De Ro Photography