Meet Jay-Lee Smith | Hairstylist – Makeup Artist – Owner of Superstition Makeup Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay-Lee Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay-Lee, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Sometimes I really have to pinch myself. I am so blessed to be able to express myself creatively on a daily basis, and get paid to do so! This is what I would choose to do for fun, and now I’ve made a thriving career and business out of it. It’s the only job I’ve ever had. I went to beauty school right after graduating high school, and I really could never imagine myself doing anything else. I am blown away on a daily basis that I get to help women look and feel amazing, create meaningful connections, and celebrate in life greatest moments with clients that truly trust my vision. I get to do all of this while simultaneously expressing myself through living art and supporting my family in a career I am truly passionate about. It’s always been a part of me and has always been what I knew I was meant to do.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I have spent the last 12+ years honing my craft and building my portfolio in this industry. My husband and I  moved to Arizona two and half years ago and that is where things really took a turn. Arizona welcomed me and my business with open arms. I spent a lot of effort behind the scenes working on my website, digital media, blogs and creative content for my social media accounts. I focused on making as many connections and networking as much as I could.

I also found nailing down our ideal customer and niche clientele to be a huge game changer. Our makeup philosophy is a little bit goes a long way, and we want you to look like the best version of yourself on your wedding day. We use our special techniques and high end products to enhance our clients natural features, and help unleash the inner beauty that resides inside all of us. We are NOT about a makeover or a transformation. Our process is a collaboration between both client and artist to create a one of a kind, flattering look that our clients not only feel beautiful in, but also comfortable in. Yes you want to look amazing in your wedding photos, but we also want you to look amazing in person!

A fire was lit inside me by watching my vision come to life and I finally started to see that this little business of mine could really become something! Next thing I knew I was flooded with more bookings than I could handle alone. I knew I needed more help and I had a dream of leading a team of artists with the same passion and philosophy for hair makeup that I had. I needed to find the quality of artists that I would trust on even my own wedding day and people I could trust representing my brand. That was probably the hardest part, and the most crucial step in expanding the business. I slowly curated a talented team of women to join me and it has been such an incredible journey to watch the business really grow from there. Overtime we have grown from just me to now a total of eight incredible hair and makeup artists that are not only at the top of their game, but also absolutely love what they do.

A huge part of my own personal philosophy, brand and business is gratitude and positivity. I am so incredibly blessed to have found such amazing members of my team to be able to grow the business to what it is today. It wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of their talented hands. Not only am I incredibly grateful for my amazing team, it would not be possible without our amazing clients. At Superstition Makeup Co we want our customers to know how truly grateful we are for their business, so we shout it from the rooftops every chance we get! If it were not for our amazing clients trusting in us we would not be currently living out our dream careers as freelance hair and makeup artists.

By honing my craft for over twelve years, creating a makeup company focusing on natural beauty, leading a team of the most talented artists in the valley, and always remembering to stay humble and grateful even for the little things, we’ve created the recipe for our brand to stand out.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m an East side girl through and through. Once I saw those beautiful Superstition Mountains I knew I was home. My husband and I are super into the outdoors so we knew we wanted to be as close to the best hiking trails is possible so we ended up settling in little known Gold Canyon. I love the fact that I can hike and walk my dogs in the beautiful state land right behind our house, and a trip to the Lost Dutchman State Park is just a few short minutes away! I love meeting up with the girls from my team at Nektar Juice Bar for their amazing acai bowls for work meetings or just for fun. I found my fav pizza place in downtown Gilbert at Fired Pie and seriously can’t get enough of it. During the warmer summertime you’ll probably find me kayaking one of the nearby lakes or floating down the salt river trying to spot wild horses. I love that Phoenix offers such abundant beautiful nature, with the perks of metropolitan living where we can take in baseball games, football games, and concerts when our fav bands are in town.

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?
Before I moved to Arizona I worked under an amazing makeup artist named Nancy Zinzun of @msnancyz Beauty Team. She took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew about makeup and building a beauty business. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the chance she took on me and all of the invaluable knowledge she shared with me.

Website: www.superstitionmakeupco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superstitionmakeupco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superstitionmakeupco/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/superstition-makeup-co-apache-junction

Image Credits
Carly Raes Photography Megan Sessions Film Swoon Collective Photography Emily Fuller Photography Abby Quintana Photography Ashley Shaw Photography