As with many of the beauty bloggers/influencers I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Mandy is as positive and fun loving as any other blogger interviewed to date. She speaks from her heart and is an all-around beauty fanatic. Her work with clients is nothing short of delightful (be sure to check out the makeover she did on Beth!) and she has a knack for personalizing each client. Her love of God comes through in all she does right from the opening biblical quote on the beginning of each video.  She is versatile and confident in her approach.

In addition of being a true professional, she shares her love of family in a number of her videos. Be sure to watch the video in which her husband, Chad, does her voiceover. (It’s a riot!) Her daughter Cortlynn Davis is so charming in her inaugural blogger debut at 5 years old.

Watching Mandy is not only educational, it’s simply feel good fun!

Welcome! You are such a breath of fresh air. When I first started watching YouTube beauty channels, I found yours and it just felt so like being at home with my friends.  How did you decide to offer a YouTube channel in addition to being a full-time make-up artist?

To be honest, it was all my husband, Chad’s, idea. He has always been the most outgoing of the two of us. He has always wondered why people who want something, just don’t do what it takes to get it. He isn’t afraid of work and does what needs to be done. So, knowing how much I loved makeup, how it was my job, and how none of my good friends were near as into it as I was, he urged me to start a channel. At first, I was like “No…absolutely not. The internet is a mean, dark place and I don’t want to put myself out there and be so open to criticism.” He really worked on me…probably for about 6 months to a year, before he finally said, “You know your identity, and it doesn’t lay in the hands of anyone on the internet. Do what you love and don’t worry about the rest.” So, I did! And it has been awesome to see the community that has grown from my channel.

You are very open in your belief in God and His goodness. You mention that makeup is “…never seen it as a way to mask someone’s face, but to enhance the beautiful features God gave them. It is an expression and art that can be done in so many forms, and it never gets old.” This is such a beautiful sentiment. In reviewing the   many looks you have created this rings through.  How do you stay focused on finding the inner and differentiated beauty within each client?

That is so sweet, thank you! I really like to spend time with my clients, especially my brides. I am lucky to have the extra time during their trial appointments to really get to know them. I always want to know what their definition of makeup is. I want to see what they do on a daily basis, what they do when they go for a night out, and examples of what they think is too much. Then I start to realize what they are most comfortable in. I have to say that the biggest lesson I have learned being a makeup artist is the act of restraint. There are many times where I want to do more to accent their eyes or bone structure, but it’s not about me. It’s the client’s day, whether it be their wedding or just a special event. And really chatting about what they want helps me to give them the exact look they are looking for. And to be honest, a makeup artist is the bartender of the beauty industry. We are told many many things in the chair. I think that people think if they are close enough to you to have you touch all over their face, they can tell you LOTS of other stuff. LOL And unfortunately, there is rarely a client that sits in my chair and doesn’t apologize for something on their face. “Sorry…I have no brows. You have your work cut out for you.” “I don’t know how you are going to deal with my double chin…sorry for all the hard work.” “I hate my eye color; it’s so drab. Sorry you won’t have much fun with them.” It’s so sad, but I really pay attention to these statements and make that part of their face my biggest focus. I want them to embrace what they were given and learn how to enhance it…so they don’t have to feel the need to apologize for it anymore.

One of my favorite makeovers you did was on Beth, who is 67 years beautiful! As a 68-year-old myself, I loved seeing how you honored her request for “glam” and made her look stunning. How did you come to realize mature women could wear sparkle? What are the top three myth-busters should women over 45 should know about makeup?

I am so glad you enjoyed that. I just love Beth so much, and hope I am lucky enough to do more looks on her. It’s funny that you ask when I realized women over a certain age could wear sparkle. I never thought they couldn’t. I didn’t have an epiphany one day….I just always knew. I have a very strong personality and once I believe something, no one is going to convince me otherwise. And I have always believed that women should wear what they want to wear when it comes to makeup, not what society deems acceptable. It is one of my biggest frustrations when women come to me with all of the “rules” they have heard about and listened to. They are missing out on so many opportunities because they don’t think something is appropriate for their age. That being said, these are the three myths I believe are being told to women over 45 regarding makeup:

    • You can’t wear shimmer on your eyes after 40. SAY WHAT??? No ma’am. You CAN! Do I recommend chunky glitter? No, but I honestly don’t tend to recommend that for anyone…it’s just not my personal style. But a nice shimmer shadow, especially a a cream shadow is so flattering on women of any age.
    • I shouldn’t powder because I have more mature skin. Now, this is true for some people, no matter the age, depending on their skin type. But, it shouldn’t be a blanket statement for all women over 45. Some of us need powder. Some foundations would fall off even the driest of skins without being set down. The trick is finding the right powder and applying it the right way. Once you do that, you can use it every day and it can make you look even more filtered. Powder isn’t the enemy.
    • I am older, so I shouldn’t wear bright colors. Ummmm…..BECAUSE you are older, you should wear brighter colors. I am not talking blue and hot pink, but as we age, we lose our natural color. The cheeks and the lips start looking sallow and they need a bit more pick me up to help us look more awake and healthy. So, I tend to use deeper berry shades on my mature clients. It’s very flattering.

You have a second YouTube Channel, “Clean Beauty by Mandy Davis”. You speak to the fact that the European Union (EU) bans over 1,000 toxic ingredients from use is cosmetics. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned 11. Why is this important information for consumers in the United States (US)? How do US consumers ensure they are utilizing the safest skin care and cosmetics available today?

Oh goodness…I could write a book when it comes to this topic. I started really paying attention to the ingredients in my products a little over two years ago. There are a lot of people who think that the clean beauty movement is a trend that uses marketing to scare consumers into only using their products. Some companies are worse than others, but I don’t think it’s a trend. It’s bringing to light something that desperately needs to be changed in this country. There hasn’t been a law passed to change anything in the personal care industry since 1938! I think we all know how much has changed in the beauty industry in the past 82 years. And since the US isn’t changing the restrictions on ingredients, at least not yet, it falls on the consumer to know what they are using. I always encourage people to read labels, even on “clean” products. Google what every product is to start recognizing the complicated names. Know what preservatives there are, which ones are the safest and what it means when it falls high on the ingredient list. Even clean products can contain ingredients that may not work on sensitive skin, so know your skin and know your ingredients. Also, I think it’s important to research the sourcing of those ingredients. Some people think talc is all around bad, but I personally think that if it is sourced right and tested correctly, it can be safe. It’s amazing to me how much someone will research a new diet trend before they start it, but don’t think twice about ignoring a label on a cosmetic. It may not be going in your body, but it’s going on it, and that’s just as important.

What part of providing videos and information to your followers provides you the most joy? Why? What would you like to do more of and why?

Hands down the interaction with my YouTube family. I love to hear people’s thoughts on a look or a product. I am the first to admit that I am nowhere close to knowing it all, and if a makeup artist says they don’t need to learn anymore, they need to switch professions. So, I love when someone comments something that I have never even thought of and I learn something new! I would love to start doing more client tutorials on my channel. It’s pretty insane how many people don’t want to be on film with no makeup, so it’s not the easiest to find models, but that is a goal of mine for 2020 for sure!

What are you top 2 favorite videos both channels (2 per channel) and why?

Oh goodness!! On my Mandy Davis MUA channel, I would have to say my favorite is the video I did with Beth. She is just the absolute sweetest, and her reaction to her look is why I do what I do. It brings my heart so much joy to make someone that happy with their look. And number two would be the Q&A video I did with Chad where we answered relationship questions. It was so fun filming with him, and he is truly my best friend. I am very proud of our relationship and where we have come through some really dark times, so that would definitely be a fave of mine as well. For my Clean Beauty Channel, I would have to give the number one spot to my Peachy Summer Look I did. It’s one of my favorite looks of all time, and I was so happy with how it turned out. Peach is my favorite color to wear on the eyes, and glowy is my favorite skin look, so it was perfect! And the second would have to be my pink/purple eye look using the Kosas shadow. Not only because it turned out so pretty, but because I was floored by the color of the shadow and liked how my reaction was caught on camera.

What is the one thing you would like to do with or for your subscribers?

I am not a huge channel by any means, but one day if and when I get there, I would love to do a meet up. So many of my subscribers have been with me since the beginning, and I feel like I know them so well already. So, to be able to hug them and meet them in person would be such a gift.

You, like everyone today, have quite a bit on your plate. How do you define and measure success while achieving work life balance? What role does your family play in helping with work life balance?

This is a hard question because I feel like my definition of success varies every day. Some days I feel  like I have made it to where I want to be, some I feel like I haven’t succeeded in much, and some I want to just quit it all. LOL My family plays the biggest role in my work/life balance. And I don’t want to make it seem like I have figured out that balance, because it’s a learning process, and I have not mastered it by any means. But I am very blessed to have a husband that feels ok telling me “Hey, you need to slow down. We need mama, not Mandy right now.” And I am blessed that our relationship is strong enough to not snap his head off when he does tell me that. ha! And my girls will sometimes tell me “Mama, when are you getting off your computer? You have been on it a lot lately.” Talk about a punch in the gut. Whenever they say something like that, I snap out of it quick. I don’t ever want my family to think I am putting success over them. If that were the case, what kind of legacy am I really leaving anyways? My goal in life is to have my priorities as follows: God, Chad, Kids, Family/Friends and then work. It is not always how it happens, but it’s something I strive for daily.

We all have ‘bloopers’ in our lives. Can you describe the most memorial one you have experienced since starting your YouTube channel? 

I honestly can’t think of any…I’ll have to keep thinking on that. 

If you had the opportunity to make over three famous people who would they be and why? What changes would you make to them?

Oh goodness. So, I can tell you the three people and why but I can’t say I would want to change anything to them. I chose them because of how they are now, not because they need changing. 1. She is probably only celebrity status in the beauty industry, but the first person that comes to mind is Sam Chapman (PixiWoos and Real Techniques). I have had a girl crush on her for years. She is stunningly beautiful and her eyes are to die for! 2. Margot Robbie. I first really became aware of her when I saw the movie Tarzan. And since I pay attention to the person’s face and makeup just as much as the movie in general, I couldn’t stop talking about her. I kept telling Chad…she is so gorgeous! Her bone structure is amazing! She is one of those people that you couldn’t mess up with makeup. 3. Priscilla Presley. Let me be clear…the old Priscilla from Dallas days. She has had a lot of work done since then, but her true self was just so classic. And if I am honest, that is the one celebrity I am told I look like the most, so I would be interested to see how similar our faces really are.

It’s funny how you attract what and who you are. One of my goals in starting my blog was to host positive people and speak in a positive manner. I had been watching people like you and others when I finally decided to start my blog. I realized a while back that you and Abby Bliss White are friends which struck me as kismet. I’m in the process of interviewing you both at the same moment in time! If you could do one thing to bring joy to others while doing it together, what would it be and why?

That is so sweet of you. I love Abby so much! We have talked about doing another collaboration and possibly doing a giveaway together. Makeup is such a joy to us and still has the ability to make us giddy, so it would only make sense if we share that joy with others.

Think back to five years ago. Did you envision this is where you would be? Where do you envision yourself five years from now?

Oh heavens no! LOL I never thought I would have started a channel, started something like Beautycounter, or gotten to this place in my makeup business. It’s amazing what has happened the past five years. And I always tell my girls that the most exciting thing about life to me is not knowing what is to come. One day could change everything, so as cliche as it sounds, as long as I am happy and healthy in five years, I am good. But, I am super excited to see where God takes me!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your 20-year-old self and your 20-year-old husband?

 I don’t have to think twice about what advice I would give myself. I would tell myself to stop worrying what other people think of me. It’s not worth it, it doesn’t matter and it doesn’t effect my life like I thought it did. That has probably been the biggest change in me over the years. Some say it comes with age, but I attribute it to my relationship with God. I know more now what I am to Him, and I could honestly care less what anyone else thinks. It is very freeing, and something I try to instill in my girls on a daily basis. No questions asked, I would tell Chad to stop trying to keep up with the Jones’ and put the money away. LOL When he was younger, he was always trying to have the best car, the best clothes, the best everything for outward appearance. I think he went through at least 3 cars a year…..Land Rover, Lexus, you name a nice car, he had it. He lost his job a week before we got married and that changed his attitude quick. He is now VERY conservative with money, sometimes to the point of me having to remind him that we can’t take it with us. haha. But, he will be the first to tell you how he regrets trying to keep up.

What are the top 1-5 things that we can look forward to from you in 2020?

More client tutorials and more home related content. We are building our dream home, and I can’t wait to share more about it. That’s all I can think of right now. I think my brain is tired. LOL

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