Meet Kaitlin Malley Aka Makeup Houdini | Makeup Artist & Esthetician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaitlin Malley Aka Makeup Houdini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
To be honest.. the one reoccurring thought that goes through my mind time and time again, “Why not just try?”

This is what gave me makeup in the very first place and it what keeps me going this day and what I encourage others to do too: why not just try?

See, this brings me to the part 2 of the question “Why not just try?” and that is, “What is the alternative?”

See often times the alternative just sucks. Example: if you don’t try, what, do you stay stuck at the job you hate? Do you stay stuck at your current income your whole life? Do you settle for safe because you’re scared of the unknown?

All these “alternatives” will still be there so why not just try and see what happens?

Why not just try came about when I was a senior in High School.

I was good at school.. but I disliked school with every fiber of my being. I was that kindergartener counting down the days until I graduated. I just felt like a caged bird and being in jobs that made me feel the same just sucked.

In my senior year of high school, my guidance counselor informed me 1.5 months before graduation that though they accept my Personal Finance class from NY, Florida Bright Futures does not and that if I’d like my scholarship.. I would have to ::gasp:: take algebra!

Math and I are not friends.

Give me English.. cool. I can execute that despite the timeline.

Math? No.

Here’s the thing though.. I didn’t even try.

I just accepted the loss of my scholarship and spiraled into a really dark place.

While all my classmates went off to school.. I worked at Starbucks.

However, all things work together for good right?

It was that exact place at 19 years old working at Starbucks that the MAC Cosmetics manager would come in on a regular basis and I would make her what I called the “Kaitlin Special” (this consisted of a Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream and caramel drizzle at both the top and bottom.. true sugar overload and delightful!)

It was through this manager that a catalyst came..

One day she asked, “do you know anyone who would want to work for MAC?”

Being someone always involved with art (it was a pastime that entertained me as an only child).. I said to her, “can I just try?”

That was it.

I had my interview which entailed day to night makeup and when I was finished she said the words, “this is MAC.”

A few days later I got the phone call.

She said that there was a 12 hour or 20 hour position, which would I like? 20.

This was August 2008.

Things have not been the same since all because of the thought, “Can I just try?”

So now.. I live by this.. why not just try?

To the first wedding I ever “just tried” back home on Long Island, to creating Makeup Houdini, to expanding to a team of wonderful, kind hearted and talented artists, to becoming an esthetician.. why not just try?

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

100% no.

I am so beyond grateful to my husband!

I am the human relations side of everything and the creator.. my husband, his mind is just business.

He loves it and encourages me every day.

When he and I first began dating.. he took my “hobby/side hustle” and turned it into a legit business in less than 10 minutes.

The thought of Sunbiz seemed like this insanely high mountain and he scaled that mountain with such ease I was in complete awe!

I would be perfectly happy pampering clients all day everyday but let’s face it.. without the business side, how do you grow? How do you truly create something and make your place in this world?

Through him, I am actually more and more excited to pour into the business side of things.. I also see it as, “the more I pour into the business, the more paths I cross and get to know and pamper!”

What challenges have there been?

Many. I think the biggest one is when things get hard to ask yourself the question: what’s the alternative?

Keep going.

When it’s hard, keep going.

What do I want the world to know about me or my brand or my story?

Honestly that I care about what I do. I have been told by brides that, “Kaitlin is lien one of our friends who just comes and does our makeup from time to time” or “I never felt like just another bride to Kaitlin.”

I care. That’s what I want known.. I truly care and I love what I do.

My art growing up.. I couldn’t talk with it. (I mean if it was talking back to me we’d probably have some pretty big fish to fry right?) I would have so many half complete photos because I would get bored..

With makeup.. I do not get bored.

I love it. I love conversations and laughing and just having a blast pampering my clients for their most memorable moments.

So that’s the most important part I want people to know: I care.

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?
Hmmmm gosh where do we begin!

Okay 1. Food 2. Fun 3. Shenanigans

I would have to take them to Calveras Cantina in Jupiter for their brisket/short rib nachos, ceviche, chicken quesadilla with mushrooms added and then their vipers venom marg!

Following this, probably an ill advised axe throwing down the road!

Stuart Florida, I would take them hopping around downtown Stuart starting at Water Bar and migrating to Spritz City Bistro and Cafe Martier followed by the floating tiki taxi!

A daytime hop in downtown Stuart for lunch and coffee shop hopping is also a must (hello Blue Door Coffee Bar and The Googan)!

Dubois park in Jupiter for some paddle boarding and then PopStroke for some mini golf fun.

Gosh I can list a ton more!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This may sound cliche.. but first and foremost the Big Man in the Sky because though I didn’t see it then, it was all a part of His plan. I was the kid in 8th grade that once thought being a Makeup Artist was too far fetched but it’s true what they say, all things truly are possible with Him.

Caridad, she was my shift supervisor at Starbucks who basically said, “you are not leaving that stock room until you make the call and set up your interview.”

Donyell, my MAC manager turned friend for taking a chance on an immature 19 year old kid and giving her the chance to completely change her life.

My husband for encouraging me in the hardest of days and darkest of times.. he helps me to keep going and growing. His brain amazes me and with his help, I can’t even imagine what MH will be in another 10 years.

Of course my parents too.. they got me every art supply imaginable and allowed me to play with their 10lb camcorder and cameras growing up. They always encouraged me to do my best and to not give up.

Website: https://www.makeuphoudini.com

Instagram: @makeuphoudini

Facebook: Makeup Houdini

Other: TikTok @makeuphoudini

Image Credits
Samantha Shaw Photo (IG: @samanthashawphoto)

Innasnap Photography (IG: @innasnapphotographyllc

Gina Marie Sullo Photography (IG: @ginamariesullophoto)