Meet Your Airbrush Artist: Sandy

My fascination with beauty and transformation began at a young age as I grew up on stage as a dancer. I quickly learned how makeup was a component of great storytelling. At the age of 10, my mom became my first model as I tried to recreate the makeup looks of the actresses from the Spanish soap operas we would watch.

As a Chicago-based Makeup Artist for almost 20 years, I combine my Mindset & Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certifications to work with women in a signature Beauty + Wellness Coaching Program. My method combines conscious beauty practices, mindset, and nutrition to help women level-up their beauty from the inside-out and ensure total radiance and wellness. Possibly even defying age along the way.

I have been featured in Yahoo! Lifestyle, Modern Luxury Chicago and NBC News. The majority of my career was spent as Regional Trainer of Education for M.A.C Cosmetics and Estee Lauder Companies where I trained and mentored over 700 makeup artists in technical artistry. In recent years, I’ve provided makeup support at New York Fashion Week, consultations to Chicago-based production makeup departments, Chicago brides, and makeup to celebrity clients like Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, and Jared Leto, just to name a few.

Beauty is my jam, people are my passion. That is why I am so excited to be on the Glamour Girl team!

I would literally do anything to eat the Brussels and Kale salad at Blue Door Kitchen and Garden on a daily basis. Truth is, I feel the same way about the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl from True Food Kitchen. But if you are a health nut with a sweet tooth like me, you’ll want to run to Ingrained for all of the yummiest vegan and gluten free desserts - they will blow you away.

My biggest obsession is my two kids. Being a mom is literally the most rewarding thing in the world. Besides my family, I am deeply passionate about being in nature, cooking, reading, meditation, clean beauty products and all things wellness & self-care.

Some would say my obsession with eating pickles is a little dramatic. I eat pickles with EVERYTHING! My love for salty snacks will never waver. Same for my love of Schitt’s Creek, and EDM.

Being a born and raised Chicago-girl, you know I also take pride in the pizza, hometown traditions and Chicago sports teams. White Sox fan over here!

Energy-shifting beauty rituals are non-negotiable for me. My two favorites to do the night before my tan are Gua Sha and dry brushing. These rituals help to boost circulation, firm the body, encourage lymphatic drainage, and smooth the surface of the skin. Consider it the ultimate spray-tan prep.

Here’s how I roll: before I shower, I use a dry brush on dry skin and start at my feet working my way up. Brushing towards my heart. When I get out of the shower I use the Osea Undaria Algae Oil to massage all over my body. After I apply my clean beauty skincare I use the Mara Beauty Algae + Moringa Universal Face Oil on my face and Gua Sha with the Wildling Empress Stone.

On the day of my tan I make sure to work out early in the morning and keep my face free of makeup. I also pick out an outfit that is loose to wear for the day so my tan stays on point.

I like my spray-tan appointment about 3 days before any special event. I like to leave my tan on until the next day. When I shower, I just use a gentle body wash and only use my hands. No loofah or washcloth. This helps with the longevity of the tan.