Daily Inspiration: Meet Karisa Tondo-Kramer Sava

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karisa Tondo-Kramer Sava.

Hi Karisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey started with a love for beauty, creativity, and color. I originally attended fashion school in Pittsburgh, but I quickly realized I wanted a more hands-on path. I went on to study esthetics, become a licensed esthetician, and pursue additional education in permanent cosmetics and color theory. Along the way, I built my career as a professional makeup artist, specializing in airbrush makeup, which I’ve been doing since 2011.

SMACKbyKarisa grew organically from working with clients and realizing there was something missing in the beauty industry: personalized color. Brides and clients would ask me for specific lip shades, and I started hand-mixing custom lipsticks to create exactly what they wanted. What began as mixing colors for individual events eventually grew into my own line of cosmetics, with a focus on custom color, wearable products, and helping people feel confident in their own skin.

I’ve spent the last 15 years building my business, learning through experience, continuing my education, and figuring things out as I go. I’m also a mom of three, including twins, so entrepreneurship has meant learning how to balance family life with the realities of running a business. I’ve worked through pregnancies, unexpected challenges, and plenty of seasons where I had to get creative about how and where I worked.

Today, SMACKbyKarisa is more than just makeup. It’s a reflection of my background in artistry, my obsession with color theory, and my belief that beauty should feel personal, approachable, and fun. I love educating people about undertones, helping them find colors that work for them, and creating products that make makeup less intimidating.

After 15 years as a business owner, I feel like I’m just getting started. My goal now is to continue growing SMACKbyKarisa, reaching more people through my products and education, and showing other women that you can build something of your own while embracing all the messy, beautiful parts of life along the way

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not! I think sometimes people see a business that’s been around for 15+ years and assume it was a simple hustle that built my success, but there have been so many of twists, turns, and moments where I’ve had to figure it out as I went.

One of my biggest challenges has been balancing being a business owner with being a mom of three. I’ve worked through pregnancies, dealt with a broken leg while pregnant with my twins and couldn’t drive, & learned how to keep my business moving even when life didn’t exactly go according to plan (2020). Entrepreneurship doesn’t stop when your kids need you, when you’re exhausted, or when the world decides to shut down. You learn to adapt, get creative, and keep going!

Another challenge has been growing a business in an industry that is constantly changing. I’ve had to wear every hat — makeup artist, product developer, educator, marketer, website designer, customer service representative, and everything in between. Creating products is the fun part, but getting people to discover your brand, LOVE the brand, building consistent sales, and growing beyond what you can personally do with your own two hands is a whole different challenge.

I’ve also had to learn that growth doesn’t always look the way you imagined it would. There have been seasons of reinvention, tough decisions, and figuring out what direction I wanted to take my business next. But every experience has taught me something, whether it was about business, people, or myself.

I think the biggest lesson has been that you don’t have to have everything figured out to keep moving forward. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have, trust your experience, and keep showing up. After 15 years, I’m so beyond proud of what I’ve built, but I’m still learning, evolving, and finding new ways to grow. I really do feel like I’m just getting started!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a licensed esthetician, professional makeup artist, and the founder of SMACKbyKarisa, an independent cosmetics brand built around my love for color theory, creativity, and helping people feel confident in their own skin.

I’ve been a professional makeup artist since 2011 and over the years, my work has evolved into something much bigger than applying makeup. I started hand-mixing custom lipsticks into little cups for clients who wanted the perfect shade for their weddings and special events. I loved the idea that makeup didn’t have to be one-size-fits-all, and that’s what inspired me to turn that passion into my own cosmetics line.

Today, SMACKbyKarisa combines my background in professional artistry with my obsession with color, undertones, and personalized beauty. I love creating products that are approachable and wearable while educating people about why certain colors work for them. I want makeup to feel less intimidating and more like a way to express yourself, whether you’re a professional artist or someone who is just learning what works for them.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just selling products; I’m a working artist who understands how makeup performs on real people, across different skin tones, textures, and ages. I use my own products in my artistry and bring that real-world experience into the products I create. My background in esthetics and permanent cosmetics has also given me a deeper appreciation for skin, color placement, and the science behind what we see.

SMACKbyKarisa started with a desire to create the perfect lipstick shade and has grown into a brand that allows me to combine artistry, education, entrepreneurship, and my personality.I’m proud that I’ve continued to evolve instead of staying in one lane. I’m a product creator, makeup artist, educator, and business owner, and I’m always looking for new ways to connect with people and make beauty more personal.

I still get excited about a new shade, a new idea, or helping someone discover a color they never thought they could wear. That new challenges & excitement is what keeps me going!!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about our area is the sense of community. People here remember you, support you, and recommend you to their friends. I’ve built so much of SMACKbyKarisa PRE social media through word of mouth and relationships, and I’m incredibly grateful for a community that continues to show up for me. This area is LOYAL, and I think that’s something really special about living and working here.

There are so many hardworking, talented people here. As a small business owner and a parent, I appreciate being part of a community where relationships matter and genuine connections are valued.

What I like least is that I think sometimes we underestimate what our area has to offer. I’d love to see more people think of shopping local for even the little things, like popping into a local business for a quick mascara run instead of automatically heading to a big-box store. We have so much creativity and talent right here in our own backyard! I think there’s so much potential for growth, and I’d love to see our community continue to embrace that. I want to see local businesses thrive because when they do, the whole community benefits.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SMACKbyKarisa.com
• Instagram: SMACKbyKarisa
• Facebook: KarisaSava
• Other: https://shopmy.us/smackbykarisa