Today we’d like to introduce you to Arabia Machen.
Arabia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always had to work twice as hard for everything being a single mom. I had married young when I was in my second year at Georgia State. I separated in about 4 years and moved back to ATL. We were in North Carolina during a big part of my marriage. I was not too excited about coming back to Atlanta because I knew I was starting from nothing. I was also very young still so I was very wild, unorganized and just had a poor focus about life. I had studied ballet and dance in college so I took up dancing again for a while. I never committed fully because of being a mom. My time was always spread thin. I worked in restaurants as a waitress and bartender for over 10 years before seeing the light of entrepreneurship and growing in my personal development.
I started first with being a skincare consultant for a top dermatology brand. and to this day I still get orders from that on my link in my bio on IG. When I started using social media for my business I started with 150 followers. When Covid hit I started to realize I gained a ton of weight and I was not getting many skincare orders which I never understood why people didn’t care enough to invest in their skin properly. So I wanted people to educate people on their skin and be more informed so I started what is known to this day a show on IG called The Skincare Plug 
and I also created my own beauty box for my skincare clients called Baddie Boxes. I started out thinking it would be a subscription box that people could get every other month but it turned into people Just grabbing boxes here and there. People love the Baddie Beauty boxes to this day. It’s a box that gives you a cleanser, toner, clean skin towels (who I am a Brand Ambassador for on IG), serums, makeup brushes, Lush Body soaps and more. Every box is different each month. The Men’s essentials Box came sometime after. Which my guy friend til this day we are super close put that idea in my head and I brought it to life. It actually sells more than the Baddie Box sometimes. So for a while, I started to work out and stopped drinking because I didn’t like how I looked on camera. I am still astonished it took a year and I’m still working for a more toned body cut I went from being 153 lbs and feeling super sickly to now I’m 135 lbs and I feel better than I was at 20. So how & why PMU well in 2022 I decided after I fell in love with getting my own eyebrows done with PMU. I decided to get certified and become a cosmetic tattoo artist. I trained in Woodland Hills, California just outside of Santa Monica near Malibu. It has not been easy but it’s so worth it to help people with their skin and beauty.
After about seven months of getting all the health department certifications and finding a studio which is also not easy in ATL, I am finally open near the battery in Marietta. I also run two successful blogs one is a beauty blog the other is a life and relationship blog. You can find all my links in my IG profile for SkinImmortal. I have a separate page for brows so if you’re looking for Ombré or Powder or Microblading! I’m your girl. I still have yet to resume my Skincare Plug educational show but I plan to make a comeback one day for now I’m still trying to create my brow foundation and make my mark in the cosmetic tattoo industry. My brow page is The Brow & Beauty Plug on IG. You can find all of my info there!!! My brow studio is off Delk Rd. so if you are in need of brows you can find me there. If there is anything I can say to people struggling to be an entrepreneur or be their own boss! Just don’t give up it’s not easy but anything worth having never is!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth I had an ugly divorce with a man I really feel like because I was so lost I let him lead me into a very unhealthy space in my life for over 10 years. When you have kids with someone even when you are not together the kids just don’t go away. Also, working as a waitress has never been easy trying to support myself I was at one point living out of my car until one of my good friends let me stay with her until I could get on my feet. I still see her as an Angel until this day. She helped when no one else would.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been a cosmetic tattoo artist for about a year now. I specialize in Microblading and Combination Brows. I am most proud of sticking through it even though there is honestly nothing easy about stepping out on your own to have your business. What sets me apart is that my training was extensive and I learned from artists who charge 1000 for the service I provide for brows!!! I am still learning and perfecting my craft daily. I am also all about educating others to be better! No matter how hard it looks. Just take the first step.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I work late nights at a bar in Buckhead so I can’t lie I am tired most of the time.
Pricing:
- Microblading ninth of February 250$
- Combination Brows in February 200$
- Baddie Beauty Boxes 60$
- Mens Essentials Box 60$
Contact Info:
- Website: thebrowandbeautyplug.com
- Instagram: SkinImmortal
- Facebook: Arabia Shakoor
Image Credits
MLA Microblading Academy in LA. Bella & Sasha Instructors Molly Khan Rodan & Fields Leader Roxanne Thomas friend Many more !!!!
