In Conversation with Megan Martinez - The Bend Magazine

In Conversation with Megan Martinez

We talk to the Chaos Makeup Founder about owning a viral beauty brand

Photo by Dustin Ashcraft

KC: Take me back to the beginning of Chaos Makeup. What originally inspired you to start this journey?

MM: When I was a celebrity makeup artist, I was known for colorful and artistic looks. I was also known for using a ton of highlighter, even though colored highlighters did not exist (yet). Since no one carried them at the time, I started making my own for my own looks. At the time I also taught workshops, and my students were wanting me to make them for sale. So I did it — with no intention of having a brand. I called it Chaos Makeup for short since I was known as Chaos Makeup Artist before. I eventually made an online store where people could purchase them, so I could fund local animal assistance and humanitarian goods where needed. In a nutshell, that’s kind of how this whole journey began.

KC: When you first launched the brand, did you ever expect it to grow into the viral beauty company it is today?

MM: Absolutely not. We hand-crafted our products thinking this would be a small-scale thing. It was NEVER supposed to be a huge thing. I was still a celebrity makeup artist at the time, and I thought this would just be a side thing to help me do what I truly love, which is giving back, helping my planet and of course helping animals, especially locally.

KC: From the clear-to-rainbow highlighter to color-changing mood creams, your products always seem to be innovative and ahead of the trend. Is this something you consciously work toward with your brand?

MM: We always strive to create innovative products. We want to create things no one has ever seen; even products that give that nostalgic feeling. It also comes naturally since I’m a makeup artist.

KC: Other celebrity makeup artists have used Chaos products on everyone from Dua Lipa to Cardi B. What have been some of your favorite celebrity Chaos sightings? Do you ever get used to seeing your products on such notable people?

MM: I have a ton of favorites! [Like] Kim Kardashian and her daughter, Kat Von D, who is a friend now. I am somewhat used to it since I have had celebrity clients, but I do always get excited and feel honored when any celebrity uses our products.

KC: Describe the feeling when you see a makeup tutorial or look with Chaos products being created by people from all corners of the internet.

MM: Seeing all the creative looks people make with our products is mind-blowing. I would have never thought that this would be real life, people creating works of art with products my brand creates.

KC: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to launch their own brand?

MM: My advice would be to always believe in yourself and in your dream. Like Selena once said, “the impossible is always possible.”

KC: With “Euphoria’s” makeup looks being a huge talk of the internet and beauty world, how did it feel for Chaos Makeup to be one of the brands used to create looks for the show?

MM: We were considered before the show aired, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect or how the show would be. We were only told that it was a new show that Drake and Future were producing. But, now that the show is out, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have our makeup be a part of these iconic looks.

KC: I’d love to know a bit about your creative process. From the inception of a new product idea to launching a product, what does that process look like?

MM: In a simplified answer, I sit down with my right-hand person and we make a list of all the ideas I have, and we
brainstorm step by step on what we need to achieve this. We create a prototype to see if it’s achievable, and then we adjust it from there until the product is perfect. We then do tons of video content for marketing and photos to launch on our website.

KC: Any future plans or projects for Chaos Makeup you can share with us?

MM: We’re currently working on our custom palettes right now. It’s a work in progress, but as of now that’s the next thing we are working on.

Rapid Fire Q’s –

If you could do anyone’s makeup, who would it be?
Gwen Stefani.
If you could only use one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A beauty blender.
What’s a movie or TV show you’d love Chaos Makeup to be used in?
Our products are used in “Euphoria” and that’s my absolute favorite.
Any upcoming beauty trend predictions?
I go against trends.

 

Contact:

chaosmakeup.com | @chaosmakeup