In the fast-paced worlds of television, high fashion and celebrity styling, a makeup artist's reputation builds entirely on trust, precision and longevity. For over two decades, Knoxville-based professional makeup artist and stylist Susan Bourdeau has been behind some of the most recognizable faces and networks. Yet, while her career regularly takes her across the country to bustling production sets and high-profile photo shoots, her ultimate mission remains deeply personal: bringing that same level of professional-grade, skin-loving luxury to everyday consumers.
Bourdeau’s extensive resume reads like a directory of entertainment royalty. Her talent and integrity have made her an in-demand professional for major networks, including ABC, HGTV, TLC and more, alongside iconic music and sports mainstays like MTV and Sports Illustrated. Whether she is prepping Dolly Parton and her sisters for the cameras, styling Hollywood veterans like Billy Bob Thornton and Ashley Judd, or ensuring sports icons like Peyton Manning and Danica Patrick look camera-ready under studio lights, Bourdeau operates at the highest level of her craft.
Her editorial and retail styling portfolios are equally distinguished, boasting work for premier publications like Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar, alongside retail giants such as Dillard’s and Belk.
However, spending twenty years in the industry also exposed Bourdeau to a recurring problem: the lack of high-quality, dependable cosmetics that perform under pressure without taking a toll on the skin. On-set environments, harsh studio lighting and long hours of wear frequently left clients dealing with irritation and breakouts from subpar ingredients.
Driven by a desire to bridge the gap between heavy-duty camera performance and healthy skincare, Bourdeau took matters into her own hands. In 2012, she channeled her decades of practical, hands-on expertise into launching her own signature line: Susan Bourdeau Makeup and Skin Care.
“I was tired of products that didn’t work,” Bourdeau says. “Makeup and skin care products that didn’t do what they promised. That didn’t offer coverage.”
Her main objective was simple: create high-performance cosmetics and skin care available at reasonable prices, using only the best possible ingredients from highly reputable suppliers.
“But mostly, I was tired of products that contained harmful chemicals. So, I created a line of clean cosmetics and skin care that was plant-based and free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates and animal cruelty.”
Bordeau believes that what sets her makeup line apart in a crowded beauty marketplace is an unwavering commitment to clean, ethical formulations and made-in-the-USA products.
The comprehensive beauty collection spans everything an individual needs for a complete morning routine or a glamorous evening transformation. The line features beautiful, skin-evening foundations, high-pigment pressed eyeshadows and loose mineral gems that add a touch of customizable radiance.
For shape and color, she offers velvet-smooth powdered and cream blushes, highlighters, bronzers and precision eye and lip liners. Complete with high-performance mascaras, nourishing lipsticks, high-shine lip glosses and innovative powdered sunscreens, the collection ensures that looking flawless doesn't have to mean compromising on skin health. Pair these cosmetics with her full line of tailored skin care, and the result is a holistic routine designed to cleanse, prep and beautify.
By making her entire professional collection available online, anyone can now access the same products trusted on closed Hollywood sets and high-fashion runways. From her home base in East Tennessee to living rooms across the country, Bourdeau is proving that true glamour starts with great skin—and that everyone deserves a touch of star-quality luxury.
Her makeup and skin care products can be found locally at Laura’s Nail Salon in Knoxville or online at SusanBourdeau.com.