#WomanCrushWednesday celebrates our favorite beauty influencers.

Here, makeup artist and influencer Madison K. Murrell of @madisonkrista_ shares her current favorite products, her first makeup job and what beauty means to her.

How did you get started in makeup?

My start in makeup came from my interest in magazine editorials. My mom worked in fashion, and when I would visit her office there were always the best European and fashion magazines sitting around. I would skim through them and was always inspired by the looks created on the pages. I would try to recreate the looks and practice on friends and family. I always knew I wanted to be a makeup artist.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

I was most proud of when MAC cosmetics hired me when I was 19 years old. I really wanted that job, and I admired how all the artists embodied what their brand stood for. I wanted to be part of the MAC culture so badly – and I felt that I accomplished that because of my persistence, not because of my prior experience. I consider MAC the start of my beauty career because I met so many industry veterans ever since.

What's your favorite product at the moment?

My favorite product right now is my L’Oréal Paris Pro Glow Foundation. My skin is really dry, and it is the perfect texture and formula for my skin type. It gives me a glow without making me look oily. I recommended it to so many friends and now they are all wearing it!

Aside from a wallet and phone, what do you keep in your bag at all times?

I always have my lipstick with me. If my lipstick is faded, I feel like my look is incomplete – lipstick is life!

If you weren't doing makeup, what would you be doing and why?

If I wasn’t a makeup artist and beauty blogger, I would be a photographer. As a child I always loved taking pictures of people and events. As a photographer, I loved capturing candid moments. I really thought I would be a photographer doing weddings and other specials occasions – but now I am doing the makeup for weddings!

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty means happiness. When you are happy, there will always be beautiful energy around you, and you will always create your best work. It is important to remember the things that really matter in life, to be grateful and humble.