Meet Cayci Jean | SFX Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cayci Jean and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cayci, what is the most important factor behind your success?
There have been many important factors behind my success here in Los Angeles, but I would say the most important factor is simply having such strong dedication towards a dream I have had for so long, that my willpower to succeed has outshined obstacles and has placed me exactly where I need to be in the beginning of my career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since I was a little girl, I held onto this dream of doing theatrical and special effects makeup. I was a theater kid growing up so this was really no surprise. When I saw the show “Face Off” for the first time, I fell in love. I fell in love with the artistry of the makeup that I was seeing and I knew immediately that that is what I wanted to do. I held onto this dream for over 10 years, with no real means of ever getting out to California to attend my now dream school, Cinema Makeup School. I was 16 years old putting small amounts of money into a savings account from my measly checks at my first job. It was my California Fund, and although I was years away from ever seeing real money accumulate, it was inspiring to me with every cent I put in it. I eventually began beauty school as a Senior in high school and would begin working in a salon at the age of 19. For the next four years I worked hard, built my clientele, and strengthened my skills as a Cosmetologist and as a professional adult in the working world. I was even given the opportunity of managing my own salon after coming back from Covid, which was an incredibly rare, challenging, and educating experience for such a young individual so fresh to the industry. After a major shift in my personal life, I decided it was finally time to execute my dreams of attending my dream makeup school here in California. I had dreamed for 10+ years, saved for 7, and knew that there was no better time than now. I moved halfway across the country straight from mom and dad’s house with nothing more than my things, my cat, and a dream that was all falling into place. Despite all of this, the hardest part was still to come. Learning how to navigate the real world on my own has not been easy, but I am extremely thankful that my life, work, and educational experiences have taught me well enough to get me to where I am today and then some. My parents have been an incredible help to my success and I thank them for everything that they have done for me every step of the way. I would not be who I am, where I am, without them. I am learning new lessons every day, but there is no better teacher than experience and motivation strong enough to push you past the fears of failure.

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?
Coming from landlocked Colorado, I would most definitely take my best friends to the Santa Monica Pier. It is such a surreal experience seeing such a colorful display of attraction on a pier next to the beautiful coastline and vastness of the ocean. Other super common attractions that I am disappointed to say I have yet to see myself – and yes I am painfully aware of just how badly I am lacking at getting out and TRULY experiencing this city – that I would absolutely love to have my best friend with me are The Getty, Griffith Observatory, and the one and only Disneyland!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this Shoutout to the incredible teachers and mentors that I studied under during my time at Cinema Makeup School. These teachers really opened my eyes to the professional world of makeup that I was about to enter and truly prepared me for what was to come! I look back on my time there with these individuals and wish I could do it all over again and pick their brains more, challenge myself even more, and take all the time in the world appreciating the knowledge that I was receiving that ultimately lay the final groundwork for the beginning of my success.

Website: https://caycijean.com

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

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16700278/

Image Credits
@Eyeofkamau, Matt Devlin, Mel Baxter