Skillr Profile: Jessica Mayfield

Jessica Mayfield is a Makeup Artist teaching people how to level up their own makeup skills on the SKILLR App. Here, Jessica shares why she joined SKILLR, how she got started in the beauty industry and her favorite makeup brands. 

Mariama Hutson: We really just wanted to take a moment to highlight the Black Skillrs on our platform and also just get to know you guys and promote you all. So I guess you can just start by telling me a little bit about yourself, how you got started, and kind of what your skill is in the app.

Jessica Mayfield: Okay. So I've been in the beauty industry for the last 10 years. I was doing hair for a while and then I switched over to makeup. So right now, I'm a makeup artist in the app. But I just love artistry, it's very important to me. I feel like there was a big gap in the beauty industry when I was growing up, especially in high school when there wasn't that many tones or colors for darker skin. So I really felt like I was at a disadvantage at one point, especially in high school, even though I like makeup, I was like, "I really can't do nothing with this". So it was a little difficult. But I definitely, as I grew older and I realized, things need to change in the beauty industry, especially starting as a hairstylist. That's why I sort of switched over to doing makeup because I just felt like we need to make some changes. And I felt like if I can try my best to like have a voice in the industry, why not?

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. I love your top by the way.

Jessica Mayfield: Thanks. It's thrift shop

Mariama Hutson: It's just like a, it's cute.

Jessica Mayfield: I felt like it was black history-ish.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. No, it's cute. Is it like a cardigan material or is it more of a button up?

Jessica Mayfield: I don't really know what this material is, to be honest, it's not, like, soft. I don't know. Maybe like a cardigan-ish, but it's all right.

Mariama Hutson: Okay. Yeah. It's cute. But that's not what I was going to say. I was just going to say what you said about just meeting more people of color in the beauty and the fashion world. I've been on so many sets and the people just didn't know what to do with my hair. They didn't know how to do makeup for black girls. It was just like an extreme disadvantage to have someone that doesn't know how to do all ranges of hair and all ranges of makeup. But I feel like when you are black in the industry, you have to know all the shades. You have to know all the range.

Jessica Mayfield: Even fair skin. I feel like we know it all. You know what I'm saying?

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. But that's not returned on the other end.

Jessica Mayfield: No, I can be wrong. But [crosstalk 00:04:06]. Oh, I was saying that it's better now, but I still see gaps that beauty industries will have the complexion or tons of shades but the undertones be off. So I'm like, "Are they trying or are they just doing it because they want to fit in". I don't know what they're trying to do.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. No, I understand that too. And I think like [Fenty.. 00:04:35], I don't know if this is what you were talking about, but Fenty was kind of the first brand to do all shades of everything. And I feel like a lot of brands followed suit after that, but it wasn't really a universal thing.

Jessica Mayfield: They're trying, their undertones are a little off.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. But speaking of makeup brands, what's your favorite brand?

Jessica Mayfield: I actually like the Danessa Myricks Beauty. I don't know if you ever heard of it. It's newer.

Mariama Hutson: No.

Jessica Mayfield: Well, she's been around for a while. She's been in the industry for like 30 years or, well, not, 20, 20, 30 years, something like that. But she just got into Sephora but she's a black makeup artist and she created a whole line. So I love her stuff. It's just the quality is really good. So I think everybody can use it. Also the shades, she has tons of shade. She has like little, it looks like this. I got these things. These little .... You ever heard of this brand?

Mariama Hutson: No.

Jessica Mayfield: Its called ... Yeah. So I guess it's more of a bit small startup, but that's like my favorite. But if I had another one, I do like [inaudible 00:07:03] Pat McGrath. [inaudible 00:07:09] I do like Fenty. The foundation's not for me, but I will say, it's more dry. But I will say I love her lips. I love her eyes. Everything in it except for the complexion. But I love the shade range. Every time I go to match someone, I always match their skin with Fenty, it's the only brand I can do it in. Seriously.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: So it's good to at least have that option, but we just need more. I mean, NARS has been okay with complexion too, they're getting better, but it's just slim.

Mariama Hutson: And since you ... I was going to get some Fenty foundation, but I just noticed that I kind of have dry skin. Do you think that wouldn't be like a good foundation for me?

Jessica Mayfield: Well, she has two different ones. She has the matte one and the hydrating one. I mean the hydrating one is still more, it's not super hydrating. So if you have a good base, like maybe a stronger moisturizer, I think you can do the hydrating one. It oxidizes a little bit too. So that's another thing that's like, so it's hard. It would get dark on you sometimes. I would try it. I mean, you can definitely match your skin at least.

Mariama Hutson: Okay.

Jessica Mayfield: [crosstalk 00:08:28], I don't knack it, but yeah. I love me some Rihanna. So I always love and support.

Mariama Hutson: You approve of her pregnancy.

Jessica Mayfield: I do. I mean, ASAP, but I love Rihanna, she deserves to be happy. She really does.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: I really look up to her as a business woman because she be doing it. Like she got her lingerie, she got her skin, she got her beauty. I'm just like, okay, Rihanna. She deserve to chill out and have her baby and stuff. And I'm happy for her. She's like 33 now. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. And that's what she wanted.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah.

Mariama Hutson: I'm happy for her too, but I'm not a ASAP fan.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah.

Mariama Hutson: I'll allow it for Rihanna.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. That's fair. We'll take it. She knows, yeah, it's okay.

Mariama Hutson: So how long have you been doing makeup?

Jessica Mayfield: 2018 is when I got my LLC. I did it before, but I wasn't a professional. So I've been doing it now for almost five years, four to five years. Something like that. Yeah, definitely in the beginning I was really bad. I look back, I was like, "whoa, what was I doing?"

Mariama Hutson: That's how I feel like, I don't know what I'm doing at all. I'm really just out here and the makeup is not doing, it's not looking like the girl said it was supposed to look like.

Jessica Mayfield: It is not easy. It is not easy. Seriously, I still be having issues. I now can get the skin, but sometimes I'll have issues with lining up something, it's just practice makes perfect.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. Because I think it's more so about the blending technique that really makes the face like, wow.

Jessica Mayfield: It is. Blending different colors and tones. You have to find the right foundation for your skin. You have to find the right blush. You can't use everything that everybody else uses. You got to find your right color and stuff. So it is difficult.

Mariama Hutson: That's why I feel like something like SKILLR is so important because going on YouTube and like buying $200 worth of products, and then they all just look crazy. Like, it's not adding up.

Jessica Mayfield: Exactly. And then also you to be just so fake, like TikTok, YouTube, it's like, you can't even get real. They're like, "oh, this is amazing" because they paid for it, kind of thing. Like you don't even know if it's real.

Or what's popular. People just look at TikTok like, oh, this person's using this so it must be good. No. It's not for everyone. So I think it is important. I think live teaching is very important. For sure.

Mariama Hutson: What interests you about joining SKILLR?

Jessica Mayfield: The teaching aspect of it for sure. Just being in the beauty industry as a brand ambassador in retail, I sort of teach the customers before they buy, but it's like a different kind of feel [inaudible 00:11:48] selling. So this is like not even selling, you're literally just teaching someone. It makes such a big difference. And I just want to make people smile. I think makeup makes people happy, but it's not the easiest. It's really not. So if I can teach someone and make someone feel pretty that day, then I think that's something that I would love to do.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. How do you think skill sharing or something like SKILLR can help our community?

Jessica Mayfield: It would have to be more open. I think it's... It came to like, especially like mental health, seriously. That is really something that needs to be talked about more. And even about like on makeup, on makeup, someone feel beautiful about themselves because they might not be comfortable in their skin tone or something like that. Because society is really like, it's mess. And you always feel like you're singled out or you feel like what's this beauty in society kind of thing. But now, your black skin is beautiful, but it wasn't always like that. You know? So-

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: I think it's just important to have people that look like me, I'm teaching someone like, in the store, when I be working, selling retail, like some black girls would just come up to me because like, "I know you know how to match my skin." You know what I'm saying?

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: And that's important. I feel like, just seeing someone that knows the skill and know that something that you want to learn from, that it looks like you, I think that's important.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: So that's how I feel.

Mariama Hutson: Representation.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. For sure.

Mariama Hutson: You touched on mental health. This year's black history month theme overall is black health and wellness. What comes to mind for you when you think of that?

Jessica Mayfield: So personally, well, how the black community is always like not willing to share about mental stuff or, you tell someone, they're like, "Oh yeah, you're okay." But, I think this is the time to really tell people how you feel and really open up. Because I know a lot of people deal with mental illnesses, depression. I mean, I dealt with it before, this is why I got one of my favorite tattoos, my little semicolon tattoo. I don't know if you know about that, but I think it was like back in 2017, something like that. I just gone through so much mental issues and I really just had no one to talk to. I just didn't know where to go. It's not that there was resources. I'm just like, what do I do? You know?

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: But I just didn't see people like me speak up about mental health. It was just never anything, so you just feel like, oh, maybe I should just not say anything. So [inaudible 00:14:29]. Yeah, so I'm glad that the theme is about mental health and wellness. Because I really feel like that community, we need to talk about feelings. We really do, because, we are going through the most, honestly, I'm not saying like other cultures have issues as well, but we got a lot of stuff inside of us that isn't something that we can never get rid of.

Mariama Hutson: It's a lot of layers here.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. Like living in America, you always feel like the world is against you. No matter what.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: So if we can get together and talk about our feelings, please, like that will uplift us. It really will.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. I was talking to someone about that yesterday. Just like how I tried to avoid the news and all of like being up to date and knowing everything that happens exactly in that moment. But like the other day I did go to Twitter just to update myself on what's going on in the world. And it's like somebody said the N word and some black Congresswoman was attacked. And it's just so much trauma constantly. It's like, "Hey, you all doing this on black history month?" Like it's just-

Jessica Mayfield: Exactly.

Mariama Hutson: It's hard to disconnect sometimes from everything that be going on in the world, especially when we're constantly being bombarded with everything. Like you're not supposed to be seeing people shot in cold blood on video through your screen, like that's not normal. And that's just being so normalized. Like the trauma that's just always evolving, like what you say, we need to talk.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah.

Mariama Hutson: We need just one conversation.

Jessica Mayfield: Yes. Really do. So it can help us heal. I don't think we're ever going to fully heal though, to be honest. It's going to be difficult, but [inaudible 00:16:49] at least help. You know?

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. And I was so like talking to someone about that as well. Because like, seeing this stuff every day can kind of feel a little hopeless or at least that can be my feeling sometimes. Like what do you do now? Like where do you go from here? And like, especially when it seems like every time that we try to band together and try to make some progress, it just gets burned down. It gets bombed. It gets, whatever, destroyed basically. And like the girl I was talking to kind of offered me a different perspective. Like obviously the ancestors, the people that came before us, they were in a much worse position than we were, but they were fighting for us to live a life that we have. So kind of just keeping my mind and alignment with like, this is for the next generation of people. Everything that I do, and just me, my being in my existence is for my children and that generation. Like it's tough though.

Jessica Mayfield: [crosstalk 00:18:02]. That's how I feel. That's why I push so hard. Like I feel like being black, you always feel like you have to push like 10 times harder than any other race. You're just like, they're going to look at you, you do something wrong, they like, "Here we go again." It's always in headlights. This person did this and this person did that. You know? Like you can't mess up. Yeah. So it's definitely hard, but I am doing all this stuff, so my kids can hopefully please not deal with the mess. My mom dealt with stuff and we dealt with stuff, and kids, they're going to probably deal with some stuff too. But it's crazy. I don't even know why.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: Why? Like, it don't make no sense and, I don't know. It's just crazy to me. It's crazy.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. It doesn't make any sense. I still don't get it to this day. What's all the commotion about.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. I don't even know. We just got to do the best we can, but stuff need to change. I just need to change.

Mariama Hutson: What is something that you think that could be implemented, that could have a direct and immediate impact on black people in America?

Jessica Mayfield: Oh, that's interesting. I don't know. Like, I mean, we have so many nonprofit groups. We have so many people doing good for the black community, but I think it's the media. The media takes what they want to put out there, you know what I'm saying? So if we can sort of change what the media lesser see, like instead of me, oh, white cop killed black person kind of situation. Can we see group of black people got together, did this for the community or something like, I would like to see more of that because they're out there.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: And I think the media just does not do a good job with, because it's always about drama and death, that's what the media's about. You know?

Mariama Hutson: That's what sells for them.

Jessica Mayfield: That's what sells and that's true. And that's so sad, but people rather hear about death than-

Mariama Hutson: It's pretty sick.

Jessica Mayfield: Good positive stuff. Yeah. People are crazy.

Mariama Hutson: Unless you know the state of this country too, like that's the type of stuff that gets people going. I just-

Jessica Mayfield: It is. The media sometimes ... I mean sometimes media, they have to sell certain stories, but I don't know. I just think it has to do a lot with the media because I feel like the black community is doing, oh, I mean we could do better, but I do feel like we are pushing for change, but nobody's seen it. We're not getting an outlet to be seen. So-

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: I don't know.

Mariama Hutson: So maybe like a black-owned media conglomerate of some sort.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. That would be nice. Like, you know how Fox is all about Republican.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: Let's do a whole media for black news or something.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: You know what I'm saying? Actually, let it stay because we did have BET but that's gone. I think we don't have BET no more.

Mariama Hutson: That's not even black-owned.

Jessica Mayfield: Yeah. Yeah. But at first though, I think right? I thought it was black [crosstalk 00:21:38].

Mariama Hutson: The person that started it was Black. Yeah. But they got sold to like the-

Jessica Mayfield: They never owned it. Yeah.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.That tends to happen a lot too.

Jessica Mayfield: You know it. You know it.

Mariama Hutson: Well, what, or I guess who inspires you the most in your life?

Jessica Mayfield: Probably my mom, for sure. She was single mother and she really fought for her kids. And for real, I didn't think I was going to be like where I'm at. Like yeah, I'm getting my education. I pray to God I'd be successful in my field, which I will. But [crosstalk 00:22:22]-

Mariama Hutson: Are you getting your degree in?

Jessica Mayfield: Cosmetic [inaudible 00:22:26] and marketing.

Mariama Hutson: Okay.

Jessica Mayfield: So I'll behind the scenes of the beauty companies, and that's how I'm going to get in there and try to make some changes.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: So you all can see it on the front end. But, but yeah, my mom, she just never gave up. Situation that she'd been through. And she really inspired me to be strong. Like seriously, without her strength. I wouldn't be as strong as I am. So she inspired me a lot.

Mariama Hutson: Okay. I guess I'll just, I don't want it to be too long, but I'll just ask you one more question. My list of questions here.

Mariama Hutson: What's a quote that you live by? If you have a quote that you live by.

Jessica Mayfield: There's a lot of quotes that I like, but I would say, or maybe even a saying, I feel like there's no time in success. I don't know. I feel like society will always push you, like you have to get it done at this time. You got to have kids at this time. You got to have a family at this time, you got to do this. You got to do that. I feel like there's no time to success. So always say like, look at what you do and really take time of what you're doing. And don't look at other people's paths and you see that they got there at this certain time, but that's not your destiny. That's not your path. So don't worry about it. Stay in your own lane and do what you have to do, and you will succeed. It might take longer than your peer, might take longer than whoever. But I think it's important to just focus on yourself and not worry about time. You're going to make it. If you believe you're going to make it, you're going to make it.

Mariama Hutson: That was beautiful. That was comforting for me.

Jessica Mayfield: Thank you. I had to tell myself that, because at one point I wasn't feeling it. I was like, oh my God, I have to get here. I have to get there. But you know, I was going back to school, I'm almost 30 years old and I went back to school. So, I have no kids yet, like, that's not how society wants me to be. I'm pretty sure.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: But you know what? I don't care.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. But that's really so true. Like, we kind of are rushing to get somewhere, and it's like, you don't have to rush. If you know that you are going to make it, you're going to make it. You're good. Like, but yeah.

Jessica Mayfield: I love seeing the collaboration with the Black success. I love it. It makes me so happy. We definitely came far. We came so far, seriously.

Mariama Hutson: Yeah. And that's why I feel like opening these conversations are important, and that's why I really like being a part of this project. And I think working with the company that sees the value in these types of things, and like yeah, these conversations. So-

Jessica Mayfield: That's very true. I was very surprised when I got messages about that, because I really had never, no other company has really done that. And I was like, wow, this is a new company. Okay. I love it. So that's cool.

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