20 YEARS EXPERIENCE. 125+ FIVE STAR REVIEWS. THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS SERVED.

A woman with curly hair smiling and looking to her right, wearing a dark jacket and a striped skirt, standing against a dark background.

photo: Blue Mae Studio

I'M Cristina Rubio,
your MAKEUP ARTIST

I’m a makeup artist based in Stillwater, Minnesota. I’ve worked in this industry for 20 years and have been running my own business since 2015. After all that time, I still love the part where I get to learn someone’s face—and learn how they want to see it.

There isn’t one look I’m trying to put on everyone. I want to know what you love, what you’ve never felt comfortable wearing, and where the line is between more and too much for you.

That conversation shapes everything I do. I pay attention to how makeup sits on your skin, how it feels hours later, and how it looks when you’re standing in front of someone—not only when a camera is pointed at you. I’ll offer my expertise, and I’ll listen if you tell me something doesn’t feel right.

Most of my work is with people getting married, but you’ll also find me in my studio doing makeup applications and teaching one-on-one lessons, or working on set doing campaigns for big and small brands. Whatever brings you in, you’re allowed to have opinions, ask questions, and change your mind. That’s how we get to a look that actually feels like yours.

I’ve also advocated for makeup artists in Minnesota, helping change the licensing rules that affected our ability to work. I care deeply about this profession and the people who make a living in it.

I’d love to meet you and hear what you have in mind.

MY SERVICES
A bride and two bridesmaids playfully tug at the train of the bride's wedding gown outside on a wet sidewalk, smiling and laughing amid green trees and a cloudy sky.

photo: Shannon St. Clair

My Values

I want to know what makes you feel like yourself and what makes you feel a little more powerful. That’s where we start. Your face and your taste give the makeup its direction.

Expression

Being seen matters. I pay attention to what you tell me, take your preferences seriously, and give you my honest opinion. You should feel comfortable being yourself in my chair.

Connection

Artistry

I’m particular. I’ll make a tiny adjustment because I can see what it changes. Twenty years of experience informs those decisions, but so does paying close attention to the person in my chair. I want the makeup to have presence, feel good, and look just as beautiful up close as it does in a photograph.

FEATURED IN & COVERS:

  • Logo for Martha Stewart Weddings featuring the words "Martha Stewart weddings" in bold black font
  • Cover of Minnesota Bride magazine featuring a smiling bride and groom in wedding attire holding a bouquet of flowers, standing on grass against a pink and white backdrop with magazine headlines.
  • Cover of Minnesota Bride magazine featuring a woman in a floral wedding gown holding a bouquet of flowers, with large green text reading "Minnesota Bride" and additional text about wedding trends and experts in 2023.
  • The logo of Marie Claire magazine in bold black text on a white background.
  • Close-up of a female hockey player wearing a helmet and face mask, holding a hockey stick, on the cover of Sports Illustrated Winter Olympians magazine.
  • Book cover featuring Mallory Weggemann, a Paralympic gold medalist in a wheelchair, smiling and dressed in a white top and jeans. The title reads "Limitless" in large gold letters, with the subtitle "The Power of Hope and Resilience to Overcome Circumstance" and mentions Tiffany Yecke Brooks as a co-author.
  • Elegant dining table setup with white plates, napkins, silverware, tall candles, and a floral centerpiece.

    "Cristina is truly an artist.

    I've had my makeup professionally done quite a few times over the years, and without question, this was the best it's ever looked. She really took the time to listen to what I wanted while also offering thoughtful guidance on what would work best with my skin, features, and coloring. The final result still felt like me, but the absolute best version.”

    ~ Kathleen H.

  • Blurred image of a large, ornate chandelier with multiple candle-like lights hanging from a ceiling in a decorated interior room.

    Amazing, amazing, amazing!!!

    Cristina brought me and my bridal party’s makeup dreams to life!! She is so fun to be around, had all of our skin GLOWING, and made us feel so confident for our big day.

    ~ Sydney C.

  • Tangled white fabric or paper on a dark carpeted floor with some transparent material draped over it.

    Cristina made me feel more beautiful than I ever have in my life.

    She nailed a natural look that allowed me to glow and highlight my best features. She takes extreme care with her clients and has great attention to detail. Her experience is so evident. And she is a kind and positive person!

    ~ Amanda

  • Close-up of handwritten red text on a white surface.

    Cristina was an absolute dream to work with.

    She made me feel so comfortable in my own skin and I walked out feeling not only beautiful, but fully myself. You can tell how much she genuinely loves what she does and cares about her clients.

    The makeup was natural yet elevated…exactly the kind of look you dream about as a bride. It had that polished, radiant finish you usually only see on influencers or in bridal magazines. Just wow.

    Cristina is truly one of the best out there.

    ~ Kayla K

Let’s work together.

tell me what you have in mind & I’ll take it from there.

inquire here
A young woman in an elegant white dress holding a bouquet of pink, purple, and white flowers, standing indoors near white curtains.
Black and white portrait of a woman with wavy, shoulder-length hair, smiling slightly, wearing a dress with tulle details on the shoulders.
Close-up of a smiling woman with her eyes closed, touching her face and chest, with smooth skin and dark hair styled in a loose updo.
A woman in a wedding dress and veil smiling in a dimly lit indoor setting with string lights overhead and tables with food and drinks in the background.
Close-up of a woman's face showing her left eye, part of her nose, and lips, with smooth skin, subtle makeup, and natural freckles.