I wish I understood the value of continuing education. As a makeup artist, it’s essential to stay current with the latest trends, techniques, and products in the industry. I wish someone had stressed the importance of continuing education and investing in courses, workshops, and seminars to improve my skills. By staying up to date with the latest trends and products I feel like I am in a position to share my expert opinion on the industry.
Many successful people reinvented themselves in a later period in their lives. Jeff Bezos worked on Wall Street before he reinvented himself and started Amazon. Sara Blakely sold office supplies before she started Spanx. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a WWE wrestler before he became a successful actor and filmmaker. Arnold Schwarzenegger went from a bodybuilder, to an actor to a Governor. McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc was a milkshake-device salesman before starting the McDonald’s franchise in his 50s.
How does one reinvent themselves? What hurdles have to be overcome to take life in a new direction? How do you overcome those challenges? How do you ignore the naysayers? How do you push through the paralyzing fear?
In this series called “Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life “ we are interviewing successful people who reinvented themselves in a second chapter in life, to share their story and help empower others.
As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mish Bush.
Mish B. Makeup is a no B.S. educational makeup artist who was the go-to MUA of A-Listers for 30 years. Now, she’s teaching you how to PROPERLY apply makeup through her new book and highly-concentrated makeup line, ShineOff Cosmetics.
Mish didn’t turn to makeup because she saw the glitter and glamor. Her story is gritty and grounded in reality — a reality that at times was closer to a horror movie than anything else. She found refuge in makeup at a time when she was living through an unimaginable nightmare. Trapped in an abusive relationship that subjected her to physical, verbal abuse, and worse, she was working a day job at a Publix grocery store, trying to find some semblance of normalcy. Makeup became her escape, not just in the sense of covering up the scars but as a way to hold onto a piece of herself that could still be beautiful, still be worth something. In those moments, a makeup brush became her way of fighting back, of painting a vision of the world as she wished it to be.
Mish emerged not just to survive but to thrive. She’s since graced high-profile guests and celebrities with her makeup artistry, readying them for television appearances and magazine covers. Yet, her true passion? Teaching. Mish is all about sharing the wealth of knowledge she’s accumulated over the years. Her experience in the trenches of high-stakes makeup artistry, where every detail is magnified, informed her decision to champion a matte finish for the baseline product of her entire ShineOff line. It’s practical, forgiving, and versatile — qualities that anyone who’s ever been under harsh lighting can appreciate.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Myname is Mish Bush. I was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1970. When I was younger my mom told me not to run with scissors or play with makeup. But I was a rebel and I did it anyway. When I was eight years old, my father suggested that I use Makeup as my medium because I wanted a way to express my creativity but wasn’t able to paint portraits like he could. So he bought me my first Barbie head. I have two older siblings, a brother Kenny and a sister Sharon, and I have also a twin brother named Michael, we moved to Palm Beach, Florida when I was 10 years old.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My sister once told me “Stop pointing your finger at someone else who’s done you wrong and look at yourself and ask why are YOU allowing this to happen?”
That quote changed my life. Hearing that finally made me reflect on the situation with my ex-husband. He was my abuser for nine years and I finally decided enough was enough and I had to leave. I didn’t want my daughter to think it was OK to accept this kind of behavior from her partner, nor did I want my son to treat his partner the way I had been treated. So, I decided that I needed an escape plan and would leave as soon as I was able.
You have been blessed with much success. In your opinion, what are the top three qualities that you possess that have helped you accomplish so much? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
I believe my creativity has played an important role in my success.. I created the ShineOff Cosmetic line out of necessity. But, to accomplish my goals and find success in my business, I had to get creative. I found that there were certain products that I kept gravitating towards when I was doing freelance makeup, products I felt I just needed to have in my kit. I asked myself what it was about that product that I loved so much. I then took that insight to create a narrowed-down universal kit with my own products. That’s part of how ShineOff took off and I keep growing. I’m constantly coming out with new ideas. For example, now I’m working on sweat-proof makeup.
Inner strength is so important when starting a business. It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows but you have to find ways to persevere., Cry your eyes out if you need to and then put your big girl pants on. I had to sit with myself long enough to find my strength. Eventually, I got tired of crying and decided to do something with myself. First things first, get out of bed.
Another key to my success is my passion for teaching and helping others. Oprah once said that it is key to find something that when you do it, you lose all sense of time. When you find that, you know it is your passion, and you should make that be your career. For me that was creating the ShineOff Cosmetic line and teaching women how to properly apply makeup to their own unique and individual features. When I worked in the field, women would always ask me, “How did you make me look so good?” I realized there was a need. Many women don’t know the method behind applying makeup properly. That’s why I wrote A Makeup Artist in Your Pocket. It teaches you how to find your face shape, how to find your skin tone, how to shop for products, and it also offers a lot of tips and tricks that I know from my over 30 years in the makeup industry. This book is for anyone. It is for people who may feel intimidated by makeup and for seasoned professionals. Whatever your makeup skill level is, you’ll find something useful in this book.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about ‘Second Chapters’. Can you tell our readers about your career experience before your Second Chapter?
My career experience before ShineOff consisted of working two jobs for many years. I worked for a grocery store chain as a florist and later a price scan coordinator for many years. After 23 years of service, I was given an ultimatum. Are you going to take care of your parents or keep your job? At the time, my mother had a stroke and she was paralyzed on her left side. My father was so stressed about it, he developed an aggressive form of terminal cancer. So I needed to take care of both parents. The second job was makeup in the evenings. I worked for advertising agencies. But to gain practice, I worked in a strip club as a House Mom doing their hair and makeup. I became really good at applying lashes and I was getting paid to practice. It turns out that the supermarket giving me an ultimatum was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It allowed me to jump headfirst into the makeup industry and start that second chapter of my life. I was able to give my passion a chance as a career.
And how did you “reinvent yourself” in your Second Chapter?
First, I changed my name from Michele to Mish. I lost 110 pounds. I also got divorced and finally felt free enough to finally fulfill my dreams. I became a makeup artist and got to do makeup for on air personalities. That led me to realize that a lot of people don’t know how to do the makeup that’s best for them. And a lot of people aren’t familiar with what types of makeup to wear on camera to make them look less oily. I created a brand based on my decades of makeup experience called ShineOff Cosmetics where I sell products that uphold the standards that I looked for as a makeup artist. I also prioritize makeup education which is why I ended up writing my book A Makeup Artist in Your Pocket.
Can you tell us about the specific trigger that made you decide that you were going to “take the plunge” and make your huge transition?
Without going into detail about the trigger that made me change my life, I will say that it was when my ex-husband violated me for the last time. I had felt so degraded by his actions that I decided I needed a change and I needed to leave. I left a nine year marriage while my kids were only one and two years old. I left materialistic items and all my money but I got out with my life.
What did you do to discover that you had a new skillset inside of you that you haven’t been maximizing? How did you find that and how did you ultimately overcome the barriers to help manifest those powers?
The skillsets that I learned I excel at include color theory and teaching. I started reflecting on my experiences and taking note of my strong points and my passions. I enjoyed painting and had an innate understanding of what looked good together, that is how I discovered I had a keen eye for color theory. I found teaching through my experiences with my makeup clients. When I would do a client’s makeup they would ask me how I made them look so good. I would try and impart some of my tips and tricks with them and realized that so many people don’t understand the basics. So I began teaching while I would do their makeovers and that led to me writing a book called A Makeup Artist in Your Pocket. It is a big step in my teaching journey and allows me to help more people understand their face shape and the fundamentals of makeup so they can feel bold and beautiful.
How are things going with this new initiative? We would love to hear some specific examples or stories.
I have found a lot of success and fulfillment through ShineOff Cosmetics and writing my book. I have been able to build a brand that I am proud of that is centered around nature and sustainability. I have been able to embrace my hidden talents and push the bounds of my creativity. And I have been able to elevate my brand and attract a loyal customer base. I have found that when you can provide a product that speaks for itself all you need is for that person to make one purchase and you have a customer for life. I recently had a professional event where I met a woman that said she didn’t know what makeup suits her best. I did a quick assessment and told her what to get. I let her try a sample and she was so happy with the product that she went online and ordered 12 more. That allows her to have some for her purses and others to give to friends.
Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Talking about who I’m grateful for is easy, it is my current husband Kurtis. He is my rock. He is so patient, gentle and loving. He makes me laugh myself out of the funks I can get in. One one hand he acts as a financial advisor for my company ShineOff Cosmetics. His expertise has been integral to the company’s success. He is someone I bounce my new product ideas off of, which is important as a creative person. He also encourages me to meditate and makes sure I remain in a good headspace. By having someone who makes sure I am taking care of myself I am able to come up with new ideas for the business.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started in this new direction?
The process of writing and publishing a book has been one of the most interesting things I’ve ever done. I never considered myself as someone who could become an author but I learned that it is never good to pigeonhole yourself. If you approach things with a can-do attitude there is a greater chance you’ll find success. Also creating a product is so interesting. Most recently I have released a waterproof line of products. Creating a new product, especially one with the nuances that a waterproof product requires, needs close collaboration between lab and creator. I have enjoyed getting to create new facets of my business.
Did you ever struggle with believing in yourself? If so, how did you overcome that limiting belief about yourself? Can you share a story or example?
I have struggled for a long time with believing in myself. As I had shared before, I was in a really bad marriage. I was put down for so many years that eventually I believed it. I still struggle with believing in myself. I just can’t believe how long it takes to unravel all that self doubt. I meditate myself out of it. Plus, building Shineoff Cosmetics and writing the book has helped keep me occupied. A positive story of me overcoming my self-doubt was with public speaking. I struggle with public speaking because I struggle with self- confidence. But I have learned that I am knowledgeable about the makeup industry and I should share my knowledge with others. I have now been able to publicly speak on multiple occasions and find success.
In my own work I usually encourage my clients to ask for support before they embark on something new. How did you create your support system before you moved to your new chapter?
Support has been crucial to my success in this chapter of my life. I created a support system by actively seeking them out. Some of my biggest supporters include my therapist, my current wonderful husband, family and good friends. I couldn’t do it without them. Before I started ShineOff Cosmetics I was in a low place and didn’t even want to get out of bed. I felt like I wasn’t even scratching the surface of what I am capable of. I spoke to a therapist that helped me get out of bed and get on with my life and I have surrounded myself with people who lift me up every step of the way.
Starting a new chapter usually means getting out of your comfort zone, how did you do that? Can you share a story or example of that?
I have definitely had to get out of my comfort zone. I just decided I was going to put one foot in front of the other and take things day by day. I told myself that if I don’t do this, someone else will. I had to be brave! I was worried that people wouldn’t want my products but small successes led to bigger ones. I built up my confidence and have been able to step further and further outside my comfort zone every day.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started” and why?
- I wish someone had shared with me the importance of networking. Building relationships with other industry professionals, such as photographers, models, and other makeup artists, can lead to valuable opportunities and collaborations. Before I started ShineOff Cosmetics I worked as a makeup artist. I specialized in TV makeup and did the makeup of anchors and reporters before they went on live tv. That connection has been integral to my success. Through those connections I have found customers for life and have been able to create word of mouth surrounding my business.
- I wish I understood the importance of maintaining a strong online presence.It is so important to maintain a professional website, active social media accounts, and engage with followers regularly. I realized this when I struggled to attract clients and grow my business because I didn’t have a strong online presence. I was unfamiliar with social media and the ways it can be used to promote my business. It allows me to connect with new customers and showcase my products to people who may be actively searching for me. I also learned quickly that if your website is messy people will leave at the homepage. This is why I continue to make improvements on both social media and my website.
- I wish I understood the value of continuing education. As a makeup artist, it’s essential to stay current with the latest trends, techniques, and products in the industry. I wish someone had stressed the importance of continuing education and investing in courses, workshops, and seminars to improve my skills. By staying up to date with the latest trends and products I feel like I am in a position to share my expert opinion on the industry.
- I wish I understood the importance of setting boundaries. As a makeup artist and business owner, it’s crucial to set boundaries with clients, colleagues, and even friends and family. I wish someone had told me the importance of establishing clear boundaries from the beginning to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.I have learned that it is okay to say no. You can’t give free products to all your friends and family or else you will not be able to be successful long term. I also found that even though it is my business and is responsible for my livelihood I can’t work 24 hours a day. I need to set boundaries for myself so I don’t burnout.
- I wish I understood the importance of self-care. As a makeup artist and business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of running a business and forget to take care of yourself. I suffer from the disease called Fibromyalgia, which is caused by years of trauma and affects the ends of my nerves. I needed to find ways to get myself out of fight or flight mode. I have been able to do that through meditation and through applying makeup. Makeup has been a form of therapy for me. I use it to cope with my issues, to help me feel beautiful, and to calm myself down. I find the art of putting on makeup to be therapeutic and recommend that if someone is looking for another form of self-care they consider giving themselves some time to do their makeup.Or even get it done professionally if you have the time and the funds.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
If I could inspire one thing it would be that more people incorporate kindness and empathy. We can create a ripple effect that uplifts individuals and communities. Doing that can lead to a more connected and caring world. I have seen that people turn to makeup to cover up. I want people to change their view on makeup and instead look at it as a form of expression, a way to be bold, and a way to show your inner beauty.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. :-)
One person who I would love to meet is Jamie Lee Curtis. She’s so down to earth. She lifts up women and she seems to be a true blue friend. Her perseverance inspires me and she makes me want to be a better person. I’ve seen her on tv praising others for things that others may overlook and I think it’s a beautiful skill to be able to pinpoint small things that make a difference. I want to emulate her energy in my own life.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
