Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Baetz
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born & raised in Miami, FL. From a young age, I always felt as though I knew who I was and felt a strong responsibility to take care of those around me. I’ve heard that is typically called the “hero role” as the eldest of two children.
My younger brother, John, was diagnosed with cancer and after a 13 month battle he succumbed to his illness and passed away at the age of 10, I was 12. I remember feeling like I didn’t tell him “I love you” enough, so ever since I tell anyone and everyone I love them and that strong sense of responsibility I felt for others went into overdrive and I promised myself to only ever do what I loved and live for today. A motto I can often fail at but for the most part try to adhere to.
Flash forward several years, I was a sophomore in college in North Carolina and I’d tried my best to figure out what I wanted to major in, what I wanted to do with my life, but to no avail. I felt lost, confused and depressed as all my peers came in declared and for the first time I felt like I didn’t know who I was, nothing seemed to click and all I did well in school was save up money in our piggy bank to buy a box of Franzia, which wasn’t very promising to me.
Sophomore year was coming to an end and I asked myself the most basic question when deciding my future, “what do I enjoy?” and could I see myself doing it every day for the rest of my life, it came down to makeup and photography. I chose makeup.
I did some research, found a school in Burbank, CA called Makeup Designory and I presented my Mom with a case to drop out of school, she obliged but told me I wouldn’t be coming home and had to dive right into the school I chose. She made me enroll in every course they had, saying “you need to be well rounded,” & I did.
At the end of sophomore year, my mom and I drove out to California (a side of the country I have never been) and I I took every course they had. That was in 2010. I remember being in awe of California, its promise, the scenery, the smog even had a glow to it, I was trembling with fear and excitement all at the same time.
Prior to my first day of school, I dropped my mom off at the airport so she could go home to Miami, I cried the whole way home…the safety net had officially fallen and I went home to my studio apartment in Burbank to prepare for that first day of school, which I remember so vividly.
Makeup Designory taught my quite a bit of what I know, it was a serious school and we had class five days a week from 8am to 5pm and it was that first day of school that I knew I had made the right decision. All the pieces fit, and I knew in my heart choosing a career in makeup was the right choice, I felt like I’d belonged and was exactly where I was suppose to be.
Flash forward 18 years, I am still a makeup artist and my career has taken me all over the country and some parts of the globe. From Los Angeles to Miami, to Las Vegas, South Carolina to Ireland, Jamaica and now, Memphis – my new home.
I’ve worked with celebrities, been a top requested artist at some of the top salons on the Las Vegas Strip and am represented by some of the most sought after agencies in Las Vegas for destination brides and productions. I could list names and productions, but ultimately doing what I love has truly given me the ability to never work a day in my life. There have been trials, there have been struggles, there have been doubts and a plethora of poor choices, it’s been a long road and it hasn’t always been easy.
In 2019 I nearly lost it all as a result of my struggles with alcohol, I felt alone and lost; I couldn’t understand how I’d become a stranger in my own body. Work no longer brought me joy and I couldn’t look myself in the eyes, I believe that God came to me and removed from me all the things I thought I needed. This coming June 19th, 2024 I will be 5 years sober and that has been an adventure all in it of itself, I finally reconnected with the person I always thought I was and the woman God intended me to be. I started volunteering in animal rescue again and fostering puppies and kittens, I did that as a teenager as well and loved being able to take action in situations that can be so difficult.
I feel truly blessed to have walked the road I have and to become the woman I am today, I fought for her.
For the first time, I realized in always feeling compelled to fight for others I wasn’t fighting for myself – I discovered a sense of responsibility to myself and here I am. I am worthy of the life I have today, of the recovery I also fought for and I am enough – we all are.
Stronger than ever. I started a new business, an online home decor store called Lu home, I moved to Memphis with my fiancé, Dan (also a gift from God) and am rebranding myself here in Memphis in attempt to make a name for myself, my name. One that represents all the things that are important to me.
I once heard this quote, I forget by whom, but it always stuck with me “People will forget what you said, they’ll forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” That is who I am and I truly believe in trying to be the positive part of someone’s day, I’ve taken that approach with makeup and have been very successful because of it, and I am using that same approach with my home decor store.
I pride myself in creating an experience for the people I work with, and just maybe I’ll leave the world a better place than I found it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I previously mentioned my struggles with alcohol, I would say that has been my biggest struggle and triumph. It is something I think many people may struggle with but it can be so taboo to talk about, but where is the solution in that? I’ve learned that if I’m not the problem, then there is no solution and being willing to take accountability in my life has given me so much freedom.
I am responsible for my shortcomings as well as my happiness.
I think that is how I started Lu home, don’t get me wrong I love make up, but do I want to be 60 lugging my bags around from place to place? Perhaps not, but I’m happy to either way, I just try my best to do the next right thing and remain present in the moment. I believe more will be revealed and with Lu home I truly love that too, I get to be creative. I either source, design or create all my products, photograph and edit them, I designed my own website and am now a Star Seller on Etsy, simply by creating quality products and a great experience for my customers.
That hasn’t been easy and it’s not nearly as successful as I would like it to be, but it’s a journey. Sometimes I have to actively remind myself that the journey is where the magic happens, it’s where I learn. The question is whether or not you’re willing to entertain the idea that you’re wrong and apply the lesson to the next scenario, which I am. I think my career in makeup has conditioned me to be and has made me a better artist and person because of it.
I have to often remind myself that it’s not about me, but rather, what can I do for others today.
When I focus on that, everything seems to fall into place and I remember I am exactly where I am suppose to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With regard to makeup, I go by Makeup Artist LuLu B. The name comes from my mom, she’s perhaps my biggest supporter. My name is Lauren, but she calls me LuLu. Kind of an homage to the woman to raised me and supported me all of these years, I would not be where I am today without all the sacrifices she made for me, even after the death of my brother she showed up for and encouraged me, I don’t deserve her. Being well rounded as she “made” me by taking every course Makeup Designory had to offer gave me a unique opportunity to truly offer and be able to execute anything. From character and special FX makeup, to beauty and high fashion editorial. I can literally do all of it and do it well. I, of course, have my preferences and passions, but in terms of services and abilities I do everything.
I would say bridal is my primary clientele and when I travel to Vegas for work, I work in production for MGM, award shows and other networks or shows like Showtime and The First 48 Hours.
I also offer spray tanning and lash extensions. I am fully mobile and provide all of my services on-site for my client’s convenience. I prefer that, I have more freedom this way.
I would say what I am known for is my skin, hairstylists I often work with say my skin always looks like “butter” and it does. I love working with my clients and creating a look from head to toe. I love events and creating red carpet looks, I do well with being told what to do but where I really shine is when I get to turn on the creative light and use my clients face as a canvas and her entire look as inspiration. That’s possibly my favorite part of any makeup I do.
I also pride myself on the relationships I build with clients, leaving Vegas was difficult because I’ve had loyal clients for over 15 years there that stuck by me, some knew about my struggles, some didn’t. The ones that knew have a special place in my heart, because they loved me through it and I think the relationships I’d built with them prior to that were the reason they stuck by me. I’ve been told by clients that I make people feel comfortable and confident around me, I think that is important to make people feel safe – I strive for that. I think that, more than my talent was why I was/am successful, because it’s not just makeup it’s an experience and relationship. There’s value in that, because it’s more than a service. I have clients that I follow on social media whose makeup I did for their big day, and it is a really cool thing to watch how their lives have unfolded since then. There aren’t really words you can put on watching someone’s confidence and self-love kick up a notch when they look in the mirror for the first time, it’s so rewarding.
Being a freelance makeup artist gives me a lot of freedom, which enables me to turn my attention to Lu home and give that the efforts it deserves, I make candles at home currently and pack and ship all my orders from my home in Memphis. I photograph, edit and create all my listings and shop content. My shop offers mostly handmade goods, from chunky knit blankets that are to die for, an interchangeable welcome sign that I designed, to handmade natural wreaths, preserved florals and vases, and candles. One day I would like to expand, but baby steps. I have a long way to go and so much more to learn.
With Lu home, I created it to work entirely as a mood board. I feel that sometimes people become put off and can second guess their taste and confidence in their purchase. My goal with Lu home is to create an experience where shoppers are confident in their purchase and choices. I created Lu home bundles which include preserved florals and vases, so they know the product they choose will go with their vase, both size and esthetically, but they decide. I created a neutral palette for the entire line for the most part so it won’t conflict with any current concepts they have and they can buy with confidence knowing that everything within the Lu home line is cohesive.
With the candles, I get to be most creative and almost let that be where I can be more artistic and colorful, thus creating an ambiance with sights and scents.
I maintain an open line of communication and answer any and all questions as well help with product selection based on my clients needs or desired esthetic & I send every buyer a personal thank you message because their order really does make my day.
I applied and was accepted into my first Holiday Market which will be at the Agricenter International in Memphis this October 25-27. It will be the first time Lu home will be offered to buyers in person and I can’t wait to meet more people in the Memphis community.
How do you define success?
Happiness. Serenity. Inner peace.
And the ability to give that to others whether that be through services or products.
I believe that if I do good unto others, I’ll be taken care of and it’s not my business what that looks like, God will take care of me.
I try not to have money be a motivator, money can rob you of a lot of joy if you let it and I’m not fond of that. Of course, I have goals, and just like my recovery, my goals are a process not an event and it’s definitely a practice, but there’s a confidence in knowing that everything is ok in the end, if it’s not ok then it’s not the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lulubaesthetics.com
- Instagram: Makeupartistlulub
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeupartist.LuLuB?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/Ws2bg5xtPp
- Other: https://www.luhomestudio.com
