Meet Yvette Sausameda | CEO of Vetted Beauty / Certified Hair and Makeup Artist

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

Hi Yvette, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose art because of it’s beauty. Beauty is in everyone and I get to use the power of makeup to bring that out. My absolute favorite thing about my profession as a makeup artist is when clients hold up that mirror and they see themselves. The way their eyes light up and that smile is instant, it’s something I can’t put a price on! I love the way art expressed through my makeup brings out that out. Makeup does the same for me, I feel like I can take on the world with a full face glam! So, that’s what I try to bring to each of my clients each session and why I chose it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Vetted Beauty stands out because we offer a wide variety of makeup services. I feel as an artist I can do any style of makeup that walks through my doors. I’ve done makeup for weddings, birthdays, full length movie productions, short films, editorial/creative photoshoots, family photoshoots, headshots and especially for Halloween! We also offer a wide variety of hair services too, so you don’t have to drive around to multiple appointments. I’m most proud of the services and growth over the last 2 years. I went from doing makeup on myself only to part-time as extra income, and now it’s a full-time gig! In those few years, we went from only offering a one or two makeup looks to whatever makeup style you’d like PLUS hair! I feel I have really grown as an artist. I don’t like to box myself in and say I’m a wedding or specific makeup artist, to me I do makeup period!
I achieved my accomplishments by my ambition, discipline, and strong support. I went back to beauty school in 2020 to become makeup certified and back again in 2022 to become hair certified. This was after I graduated in 2016 with my Paralegal studies degree. I worked full time as Paralegal, which helped my pay for my beauty certifications. So, at one point I was working full time managing a law office, going to beauty school at night, and working/trying to build my business on the weekends! It was pure chaos! I swear I had a breakdown weekly. I felt so overwhelmed at times I cried. Then I realized the reason I felt so burnt out was because I no longer had a passion for the legal field. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my time in the office, however it didn’t fulfill me anymore. It was time for a change, a BIG change. I had decided to leave the legal field after 6 years and pursue being a makeup and hair artist full time. It wasn’t an easy decision. If I remember correctly I think it took me a few months to even turn in my notice. I remember there was a rush of feelings! There was the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of owning your own business. There was also excitement and curiosity! To be honest, the excitement took over. Just the thought of me running my own makeup business brought me so much joy! I knew deep down Vetted Beauty is where my heart was, so I followed it. Now, I am the proud CEO of Vetted Beauty! It has a nice ring to it!
Thankfully, I had a great support system for those extra hard days and to celebrate the good ones. My “A-Team” was my partner, my mom, and my closest friend. My partner is my biggest supporter and helped me with any challenge. My partner had no issues helping me study, with chores, or anything else I needed. My closet friend she was my model all through beauty school and we won first place at my graduation. My Mom supported me no matter what and was right there cheering me on! She was also the person to bring me my first actual paid client. I have Vetted Beauty’s first dollar billed framed and it’s because my mom helped with that.
Through all this, I learned that consistency is the key to success. I kept pushing through the long days and nights to create the brand I saw in my dreams. I couldn’t do all alone and had the right kind of help and support I needed. I learned that not everyone is going to support or believe in you, but if you believe in yourself everything will fall in to place.
That’s all it really takes, is just believing you can. I was in my stable in my career (6 years) and had worked my way up to Senior Paralegal, which is the highest you can go without becoming an Attorney. I had accomplished a lot by the time I reached 30, yet I still decided to follow my passion. What I would like everyone to take from my story is it’s never too late! It’s never too late to change your life, it’s never too late to go back to school, it’s never too late to follow your passion. It won’t be easy and you’ll second guess yourself, but if you are consistent then success it not to far behind. I followed my passion for makeup despite being in a stable career and now I get to work my passion everyday as a full-time certified hair and makeup artist. I’m living, breathing proof it can be done!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: A Day spent in nature! My favorite places in Dallas. A few of my recommendations are: White Rock Lake. My absolute favorite place in all of Dallas! A lake located about 25 minutes from Downtown Dallas. There is a big dog park where your dog can swim in the lake (my fur baby loves it!). There’s a 9.2-mile-long trail that goes along the whole river. It takes about 3 hours to walk! There is also cycling, sailing and paddle boat activities that take place here too. White Rock Lake Park has tons of wildlife there are about 33 types of mammals such as squirrels, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, possums, bobcats, red foxes, and minks. There is also about 50+ varieties of reptiles, including rattlesnakes, turtles, lizards, and horned toad. If you enjoy bird watching there is 217 species of birds such as swans, pelicans, sea gulls, loons, and all kinds of ducks. I love that Dallas offers so much nature without having to travel far.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The garden is located adjacent to the lake. The most interesting thing about our botanical gardens is they don’t focus on a certain type of flower or plant. That’s because each garden consists of a mixture of different flowers and plants. There isn’t one type of flower or plant that is dominant in these individual gardens. So, whenever you visit you’ll get a surprise at each garden!
Day 2: Visit Dallas Arts District – My second favorite place in Dallas and it will take up a whole day. A few of my recommendations are:
Nasher Sculpture Center (the center). The center is only $10 to enter for adults and free for any children under 12. Check out their website for discounts offered! The center offers modern and contemporary sculptures that are quite unique! There are numerous sculptures from famous, but my personal favorite artist is Auguste Rodin. Also, check out the online calendar as the center offers different events and activities, so if you’re lucky something the center might be showing a concert, documentary/film, or a special exhibit.
Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). The DMA is free to enter and if you want to see a special exhibit, then you’ll pay a small fee. But the free admission art has plenty to see because the exhibition space is one of the largest art museums in the country! This allows for “more than 25,000 works of art from all cultures and time periods spanning 5,000 years of human creativity”, according to the DMA.
Next, you’ll leave the DMA and right across the street is Klyde Warren Park (which will be our next stop, but they do offer food). You will have a line of food trucks to pick from! Not every truck comes back daily, so you’ll have a different menu depending on the day you go. However, there will be a variety of foods like: Tex-Mex, seafood, Asian, ice cream, and maybe even a Tiff Treats truck! If food trucks really aren’t your thing, then there is a restaurant located on the park called Mi Cocina. Mi Cocina is a Dallas staple! It’s a upscale Tex-Mex restaurant that originated right here in Dallas. They have fabulous food and legendary margaritas! Try their house drink Mambo Taxi, it’s my personal favorite!
Klyde Warren Park. A beautiful park right in the middle of downtown Dallas. You’ll great views of the skyline, take a stroll around the park to check out the greenery, rent a board game, ping pong table or play in the water fountain. There is even a nice playground and tree house for the kids! There is also a big green field in the middle which is great for relaxing or playing catch. There is also a small dog park so you can bring your fur baby. Be sure to check the park’s calendar as they offer a variety of free classes, movie night, concerts and much more!
Day 3: Visit Dallas Downtown Historic District. As I call it, the “Heart and Soul of Dallas”. It will take up your whole day. A few of my recommendations are:
Pioneer Plaza, this is a public park and it’s a very popular place! Here you’ll find a large sculpture that features our famous cattle drives. There are almost 50 bronze steers and more sculptures of the trails. The sculptures of the riders and trials show how the cattle drives helped create our city. Also, it’s a great place for a good photo-op for social media!
John F. Kennedy Memorial. The memorial lies close to where the Former President was assassinated. You can also visit where the exact assassination took place. It’s a part of American history, and even though a very tragic day, but one we don’t forget. Another part of history that molded our city.
You can grab a bite to eat on Market Street because of the variety of restaurants to choose from. My personal favorites are Record Grill who offer great burgers and fries and RJ Mexican Cuisine who offer great Tex-Mex!
6th Floor Museum. This museum is at the exact location where Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated Former President Kennedy. The museum offers education of what the Former President did for the county and more about the assassination.
Day 4 – There’s still a lot of art Dallas has to offer, so this will be another day visiting museums! A few more of my recommendations are:
Crow Museum of Asian Art. This museum is free to enter! Here you will find a collection of exhibits that focus on the different art Asia has. The first gallery is my personal favorite, and it offers Japanese art. The second gallery features Chinese art, and the third gallery is about art from India and Southeast Asia.
Trammell Crow Park. This is a beautiful public park that you find surrounding the Trinity River. Once you’re at the park, you’ll see a pond and sculptures of cows (we love our cows here). You can also take the trails to walk around, and you’ll get great views of the Dallas skyline.
Next, you’ll grab a bite to eat and probably Tex-Mex. There’s a ton of Tex-Mex restaurants near Trammell Park, but my personal favorite it Iron Cactus. Try their fried avocado, its delish! However, it doesn’t matter which restaurant you pick because Dallas definitely knows how to Tex-Mex.
Dallas Contemporary Museum. If you are a fan of contemporary art, then I would recommend this museum. The thing I find most interesting and make this museum stand out from the other previously mentioned, you will not find a permanent collection. This is because the museum features changing exhibitions. So, no matter when you visit, you’ll never visit the same collection twice here!
Day 5: A few staples, new and old, in Dallas. A few of my recommendations are:
Thanks-Giving Square in Downtown Dallas. Here you’ll find a park that has the Chapel of Thanksgiving here. This a spiritual place that welcomes people form every religion. The Chapel has a modern design with a spiral shape and plenty of stained glass. A beautiful place right in the middle of the Dallas skyline!
Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This is a museum offers exhibits on natural history and science. For example, my favorite exhibit is one that focuses on the universe, and one that focuses on the wildlife. It’s a 3-story building, so there’s so much to explore and see when you go to this museum! The museum offers food if you get hungry and there is also a cool gift shop!
Majestic Theater. This theater is in Downtown Dallas and one our city’s gems! The Majestic Theater opened on Elm Street in downtown Dallas on April 21, 1921, and it’s still standing right in the middle of the skyscrapers! The theater offers different shows, such as music, there are plays, and there are talks. The variety of shows makes the theater great to visit!
Day 6: Shopping! This always takes up a full day for me! A few of my recommendations are:
Northpark Center Mall. This mall offers high fashion luxury and art. This mall has 200 retailers such as: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Oscar De La Renta, and Tiffany & Co, just to name a few. Northpark also showcases museum-quality artwork by Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, and Beverly Pepper. There is also a movie theater and food court located inside the mall. Be sure the check the calendar as Northpark offers various free activities such as concerts, puppet shows, and much more! Right across the street is the Shops on Park Lane. The shops offer more retailers, such as Saks Fifth Ave, a two story Forever 21, two story Old Navy, DSW and Ulta. It also offers a few restaurants to choose from ranging from pizza to gourmet food. I would recommend checking out Bar Louie! It has indoor and patio seating! The drinks are amazing and food it delish (Riesling wine and calamari are my go-to)/
Galleria Dallas. This mall has 4 floors with retailers ranging from local to luxury brands. There is a huge ice-skating rink located right in the middle of the mall! The rink can be seen from every floor of the mall and it is opened year round. During Christmas, it offers one of the largest trees on display right in the middle of the rink. You can ice skate as a regular person or take private lessons. Ice skates are also for rent on site. I would recommend checking out the Grand Lux café. I have yet to try something on their menu I didn’t like, but my favorite is the eggs benedict! The Grand Lux Café is conveniently located next to the Galleria mall.
Highland Park Village. This is the most high-end mall Dallas has to offer. Hermes, Chanel, and Loro Piano just to name a few. The shops are located in beautiful buildings with lush plant life all around. If you are that IT girl or love high end brands, then this is your spot! There are a few restaurants and Starbucks located within the shops. There is a Mi Cocina here, so you know that’s my recommendation to eat!
Day 7: Most hip and local places in Dallas!
Bishop Arts District. This is a great place for all ages to visit. It’s a place that has great nightlife, boutique stores, and a lot of street art. You can take the Dallas Trolley here for free or ride a scooter! There is a ton of local businesses here from food, yoga, and art shops. They also offer local food, with plenty of different foods to choose from. If you’re there at night, you’ll great skyline views. You’ll spend most of the day/night visiting all the shops and food places, but I would recommend afterwards to visit the Texas Theatre. This is a movie theater with many independent and horror movies that you don’t normally see at an AMC or Alamo Draft House. If independent movies aren’t your thing, then there is also Kessler Theatre. This theatre offers concerts and other entertainment, just be sure the check their calendar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Kary Albarez – my biggest supporter and partner. Gracie Sausameda (Mom) – always believing in me and reminding me of how much I can accomplish.
Kristian Hutchings, she photographed all the headshot pictures and model pictures. We’ve worked together now for over a year and is always supportive.
Sydney Allen, she is a model, friend, and supporter. (I’ve labeled her pictures accordingly)
Vicki Gomez, friend and supporter. She was my model thru beauty school and is always down to let me practice on her! (Her pictures have also been labeled accordingly)

Website: www.vettedbeauty.com

Instagram: instagram.com/vetted_beauty

Facebook: facebook.com/vettedbeauty

Other: tiktok.com/vetted_beauty

Image Credits
The credits have been renamed as title of each photograph, but the names are as follows: Models: Vicki Gomez Sydney Allen Karissa Ellis The Harris Family Photographers: Kristian Hutchings Portraits Richard Portraits