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Beauty

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It’s not often we indulge Dad in skincare or haircare products for Father’s Day (Sunday 16th June), we’re more likely to get him some of his favourite aftershave, beer, or socks, yet more and more Dads are starting to take notice of the products now available to them from a skincare and haircare perspective – #TeamCoco have put together a list of four ‘go to’ products that we think are on fiyyaaahhh right now and ideal for Dad.

Haircare

Fudge Urban Matte Wax

Fudge Urban Matte Wax is for the well-groomed dad who likes to maintain a dapper look. This was offers maximum texture with a super strong, undetectable hold, and it’s non-sticky formula and firm hold means that it can be worn all day with confidence. Ideal for dads that seek a matte finish and a dry texture for a bold messed up look.

Priced at £6.99, available from Boots, www.boots.com, Superdrug, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s.

OSMO Fibre Paste

Your dad can expect the unexpected with this unique styling gum. The gum texturiser gives added volume and control with a polished shine, it creates a glossy controlled style, and OSMO Fibre Paste enhances the hairs natural shine with light reflecting particles.

Priced at £8.65, available from www.justmylook.com, www.sallybeauty.co.uk, and www.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk.

Skincare

Harry’s Face Wash, Razor, Shave Cream, and Face Lotion

Men’s care brand Harry’s is now available across the UK in various Boots stores. We think that Dads will love Harry’s Face Wash, Harry’s Orange Truman Razor, Harry’s Shave Cream, and Harry’s Face Lotion.

Priced at £6 for the face wash, £8 for the razor, £7 for the shave cream, and £7 for the face lotion. Available from Boots stores and at www.boots.com.

CEYX Travel Kit

This fun travel kit by CEYX includes face and shaving soap, splash-on cologne, hair and moustache styling wax, soothing moisturiser, face and beard oil – all in an organic cotton pouch. These products are infused with the smell of fresh sandalwood, pettigrain and patchouli.

Priced at £40, available from www.lovelula.com

Levi Shephard is the President and founder of the National Association of Lash Artists, a professional body for lash artists. Here she talks to HoC about how focusing on the problems in her industry, rather than her passion for it, opened up a clear direction for her business.

What inspired the creation of the National Association of Lash Artists?

The inspiration for NALA came from pure frustration, really. As a professional lash artist I felt very lost and confused, because my training didn’t cover any of the important aspects of my responsibilities as a lash artist. I wasn’t taught about hygiene, sanitation, or safe practice.

Back in 2011 it was fairly typical for eyelash extension students to simply be shown how to apply the extensions and nothing else. Training didn’t cover anything about running a business with integrity.

I searched government websites but because lash extension services are not regulated, I didn’t have much luck finding answers about lash services specifically. So, I began researching regulations and guidelines for similar trades, such as aesthetics and cosmetology.

I utilized all of their disinfection guidelines and safe practices, and modified them so they made sense for lash treatments. Then I incorporated those ideals into my business. Years later, I created NALA so others wouldn’t have to struggle the way I (and so many other lash professionals) struggled, just to find vital information about running a successful and sustainable lash business.

The mission was to create place where lash artists and educators around the world could turn for up-to-date industry information as well as much-needed support.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in setting up your business?

One day, my business coach said to me, “Passion, passion, passion! I am so tired of everyone talking about their passion! What I want to know is what really pisses you off?”

Well, when she asked me that I just started listing off so many different things that were a big frustration for me in my industry: No regulations for professionals; an over-saturated market; too many people offering education; all these new artists entering the field without the proper training….I just went on and on and on.

And then she said to me, “Go fix that! If it pisses you off, it probably pisses off other people as well.”

I knew that she was right. I had been waiting years for someone else to create an association to support us. Her suggestion for me to create the solution was very exciting. It was also absolutely terrifying! I came back with all kinds of excuses: “Who am I to fix these problems? I’m certain there are people out there who are much more qualified than I. There are people with more knowledge and more experience than I have….they should be the ones to create an association for us.Shouldn’t they?”

Then she simply pointed out that no one else was doing it! It took me almost an entire year to actually build up the courage to do it. I’m not sure how I found this courage, but one day I just decided to put on my big girl panties and do what needed to be done. As an educator I had already been conducting two years of global research, looking for solutions and regulatory guidelines for my industry. With this new concept of an association in mind, I begin to assemble a board of advisors. We continued to do our research for another year. And then it was time to stop letting my fear hold me back and just take that leap! I sold my successful business so I’d be able to dedicate myself to the association, full-time.

I am so grateful to my business coach for encouraging me to be brave. So many times, I have told my friends and family that ‘anything worth doing is scary’ and it was high time for me to take my own advice and to stop letting my fears hold me back. The association is now three years old and has been very well received by the lash community. We are serving in over twenty countries and offer our services in three languages. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some haters along the way. There have been many obstacles, but my mission and my passion are so strong, they carry me through the challenges.

Why should lash artists join the National Association of Lash artists?

NALA Membership is evidence of your professional integrity. You must meet the association’s standards in order to qualify and all members are bound to the NALA Professional Guidelines, Code of Ethics and Disinfection Guide. Once approved, members are listed on the NALA Global Directory and promoted to the public.

Lash extensions have become the MOST requested treatment in the spa and beauty industry for the past few years and they continue to grow in popularity. However, clients are sometimes apprehensive about getting the treatment, because they don’t know how to find a quality lash artist they can trust.

NALA offers a global directory where clients can find a professional who has successfully completed a thorough review by the association. Membership is a great credibility booster that shows clients you are the sure thing. Not to mention access to the members-only website which is filled with workshops, expert interviews, business building videos, resources, discount codes and more!

Members are also encouraged to join our NALA Members forum where we offer support, encouragement and advice to each other. This is particularly valuable in our industry as most lash artists are solo-preneurs and that can get very lonely. NALA Members truly help each other. We are collaborators, not competitors and I love the community we have created through NALA.

Why lashes? Where did your passion come from? And do you agree that brows should look like sisters and not twins?

When I got my first set of lash extensions I was blown away at how subtle, yet impactful they were. I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t possibly live without them now. This amazing new discovery came into my life just as I had sold my first business and was looking for a new adventure.

Lash extensions were a fairly new service at that time so I jumped on the chance to become a lash artist and start offering them as my new business adventure. There can often be a strong advantage to being among the first people in a new industry.

For me, it worked in my favour because the lash industry exploded shortly after I started and it was easy to grow my new business.

As for brows; you should be striving to make them symmetrical. However, an expert brow designer will sometimes keep them slightly different from one another to potentially correct an asymmetry in the clients face shape or eye shapes. It is possible to create an optical illusion of the overall features if the brow expert has a deep understanding of the cause and effect of different designs and shapes.

What do you think is the key trend in lashes and brows for 2019?

I think women, and men, should be looking for lash and brow enhancements that are best for their face shape, age, lifestyle, etc. To do what’s “trendy” isn’t always what is most attractive for you. I recommend visiting a professional studio that specializes in lashes and brows and request a consultation. The experts are trained to understand the impact of different designs and they can recommend what’s best for each individual client.

For our readers who might find applying lashes intimidating, what are your top application tips for at home falsies?

To apply your own falsies, or strip lashes, always read the labels and follow the directions. Make sure your skin is clean so the adhesive can stick properly.

Most importantly; never attempt to apply consumer strip lashes or cluster lashes with a professional adhesive. Always use the adhesive intended for use with consumer products. Also, you should know that if you use strip lashes regularly it will begin to have a negative effect on your natural lashes.

Most people will experience loss, or thinning, of natural lashes because the adhesive is applied directly on the skin and over time, the hair follicle is suffocated. Extensions are a great alternative because they don’t have any adverse effects on your natural lashes.

What do you think are some of the challenges of running a business in 2019?

I think most of us find marketing to be a challenge. Anyone doing business should be taking marketing courses. Also, the game is constantly changing, so we need to take marketing courses regularly to keep up.

When I chat with other business owners at networking events or conferences, marketing seems to be the element we all struggle with most because it’s such a general concept.

Marketing strategies vary drastically from company to company so there is no blueprint or template for us to follow. It’s a concept that is difficult to grasp for many business owners.

What piece of advice would you give to our readers who want to set up their own business?

Oh my goodness, there is so much to say. I don’t know how to choose a single piece of advice! Here’s a list of my top things:

1) Have a crystal clear vision of what you are creating and why. You need to know exactly what you’re trying to achieve so you can plan accordingly. The plan will change as you go, but there always needs to be a plan and the more clear you can make it the faster you’ll achieve your goals.

2) Mindset is key! No matter how hard you work or how educated you are, if you don’t have the right mindset you will not be able to achieve great success. If you don’t truly believe in yourself or if you have any negative thoughts holding you back, you will always struggle.

3) Be authentic. When I first entered into the beauty industry I felt like I had to try to “fit in” to be able to build my clientele. When I recognized that I wasn’t really enjoying my job as much as I had expected, I realized it was because I was going out of my way to create an image, and therefore attract a certain clientele, with whom I didn’t resonate. I decided to just be myself and if people don’t like me they can book elsewhere.

In a short period of time my clientele had shifted to a different group of people and I began to thoroughly enjoy going to work because they were MY kind of people; and because they were all “my” kind of people, I was their kind of people, so they loved me, they loved my business and they become long-term loyal clients. Always be authentic so you can attract the clientele that you WANT to spend your time with.

4) It’s going to be tough! If you are building a business based only on the assumption that your idea will be profitable, you are going to be miserable. Business is an indescribably difficult endeavour. You have to be passionate about your purpose so you will continue to get up everyday determined to serve your community. You need to have love for what you do in order to stay motivated during the struggles. And there WILL be struggles.

5) Ask for help! If you are determined to do everything yourself, you will burn out. It will likely be ALL you, ALL the time, in the beginning, but as soon as the workload begins to feel overwhelming you must let go of some of that control and start delegating. A stressed out, busy, business owner is not serving her audience to the best of her ability.

6) NEVER let fear be your reason for not doing something. The stuff that scares you is most likely the stuff that will take your business to the next level and help you to stand out in your market.

7) Make sure you have fun and always take care of yourself. Running a business can take over all aspects of your life. Remember your priorities (family, friends, your home, hobbies, etc.) and always put yourself at the top of that list. You can’t serve anyone if you’re sick. Your health MUST be the most important thing in your life. Not to mention a healthy body works better and has more stamina.

Find out more about NALA

All images courtesy of Levi Shephard, Alieen Fawcett, Kami Hill and Kyla Kidd.

Do you have aspirations of running your own business empire? ‘Sleeping is for the dead’ is how Deborah Willam approaches her work. House of Coco talked with her about how she runs a charity, publishing business, a beauty brand AND works in real estate and marketing consultancy. Phew! She really is a female warrior.

House of Coco: You are prolific in your businesses, running a beauty brand, publishing books, running a charity and working in real estate and marketing consultancy, how do you do it all?

Deborah: Having worked in Corporate for years, I felt undervalued as an employee. I wanted more for myself because I was confident in my abilities and skills. Although I brought values to the companies I worked for, I always felt I could do more than I was doing. So, upon completing my Master’ degree 18 years ago, I moved my Son and I, as a Single Mum, from the safety of our home, family and friends in London, and moved to Orlando Florida, USA, where I knew nobody, to start afresh.

After working for a company for a couple of years, I decided to embark on investing in Real Estate properties, then I got licensed as a Real Estate Broker, in Florida, and Georgia. Simultaneously, I was writing books under the pseudonym of EM.EM.GENESIS, and publishing them to raise funds for my Charity organization, a Florida 501c3, Educate the World Inc.

Many years ago, I discovered that some of the hair & beauty brands I was using may have been causing me health problems, so, I created and developed hair products with natural ingredients, from my kitchen. A year ago, my husband and I sold our homes, and investments, and moved to Dubai/Sharjah, UAE, to oversee the manufacturing of our Hair Care products, created with natural & safe ingredients.

“It’s all about enjoying what you do!!!”

I had always been interested in Ancient Female Warriors and Women who made impact on our World. I came across the DAHOMEY Warriors when I was conducting research for my book, Ancient Female African Warriors. They were also named AHOSIs hence my Hair & Beauty Brand, AHOSI BEAUTY. I believe Women are Warriors by nature. We navigate through life being overly judged on a daily basis – judged for our looks, our parenting abilities, professional life etc.

Running all of my businesses is natural to me. I don’t get bored working for myself, because I enjoy what I do. I’ve always had excellent organisational skills, and I’m able to organise my schedules, so I can devote time to each of my businesses, with my lovely husband, Hubert, right by my side.

HoC: Who are the Dahomey Amazons and how do they inspire your beauty business, Ahosi Beauty?

Deborah: As I intimated earlier, the DAHOMEY AMAZONS, I discovered during research for my book, Ancient Female African Warriors, were an all-female military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey in the present-day Republic of Benin, which lasted until the end of the 19th century. They were also known as “AHOSI”. I understood that the story of the Women of the recent Black Panther movie, was based on the AHOSIs.

I choose the name AHOSI, years ago, as a Brand name for my Hair & Beauty Products, because I’m a Woman, and, a Warrior!

HoC: Tell us about Books By EM. EM. Genesis, what books do you publish and what inspired you to do it?

Deborah: I’m a product of Boarding Schools. When I needed to escape the loneliness I felt, I would wonder into a different world, through writing. I’m a Story-teller. I am inspired by the on-goings in our World, and particularly, my desire to raise funds to help those less fortunate than I am. There’s no particular style to my writing. I write books for children, young adults, and Adults. I started publishing my stories to raise funds for my 501c3 Charity organisation.

HoC: What is the mission of your charity Educate the World Inc and how did it come about?

Deborah: The Mission of Educate the World inc.. is to Change our World positively, through promoting Education, and tolerance. We go directly to underprivileged children and youths, and dilapidated Schools in poorer parts of the World, from Africa, to Asia and do the little that we can for individuals. We also visit schools to speak to young people about the importance of Education and how it useful to help get them out of poverty. We are a small organisation, however, we have changed many lives for the better.

I have always been an extremely generous person. I would give unreservedly. I had a lot of compassion for the sufferings of others and that’s what led me to set up Educate the World Inc, and do things the right way. We are all volunteers. We do not take salaries, and we pay our own expenses. We raise funds by selling books, which can be challenging at times.

HoC: What do you think are some of the challenges of running your own business in 2019?

Deborah: Running your own business is an extremely FULL-TIME, 24 HOUR DAY work. You’re constantly working, even when you’re sleeping. You’re constantly coming up with creative ideas of how to do things better. That’s why it is important to enjoy what you do. It takes the pressure off.

HoC: What are your future aspirations, is there more you want to accomplish?

Deborah: My aspirations for the future are to ensure that my brands, especially AHOSI BEAUTY products becomes the norm in the sense that Hair & beauty products created with natural ingredients /chemical free, are not a specialty, but the norm.

HoC: What piece of advice would you give to our readers who want to set up their own business?

Deborah: It is important that you understand what your skills are. What are your passions which could translate into a profit-making business? For instance, if you enjoy baking cake at home, and for friends, are you skilled enough to attract consumers to your products?

I enjoy baking cakes but I know that my skills in that arena, are limited. So, I will not attempt to run a cake making business. Do what you love, enjoy and skilled at.

HoC: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in setting up your business?

Deborah: Not everyone gets business related advice. Some of us have had to discover the hard way, through trial and error. Adversities and challenges equal growth – for me! Someone once told me, do what you can now, with the time you have. When you die, you have plenty of time to sleep!

“Live your life on your own terms. Be a Female Warrior!!”

Deborah Willam can be reached at: www.ahosibeauty.com www.booksbyememgenesis.com www.educatetheworldinc.org www.reibllc.com

With an ever increasing concern towards our planet, more and more of us are seeking alternatives to help reduce our environmental impact. Whether that be through our plastic use, our meat and dairy intake or our every day choices. At this stage it’s up to conglomerates to really turn things around but when it comes to the individual, every little makes an impact.

One way is to opt to use and buy into brands with a conscience, beauty brands in particular are making the conscious choice to become vegan, cruelty free and adapt their packaging.

One brand that has a deep concern for the environment and endangered species is Chantecaille Beauté. Since 1997, the brand has supported causes for endangered species such as, wolves, gorillas, coral reefs, tigers, butterflies and sea turtles. Chantecaille is a luxurious brand that is committed to creating revolutionary skincare, cosmetics and fragrances, together with reaching out through their products, to shine a spot-light on global issues.

Through their collections the brand is currently supporting a variety of causes from African and Asian elephants that are facing extinction to climate change. Chantecaille’s newest collection is a limited edition range of cream blushes and lipsticks along with the return of a cult-bronzer.

The Summer 19 Lip Veil is not only good for supporting endangered Asian elephants; it is also good for your lips. Organic Baobab oil, Wild Mango butter and Argan oil combine to leave your lips with a wash of colour that feels creamy, weightless and hydrating. Available in three limited-edition shades in a magnetic-click case, this revolutionary lipstick is sure to leave your lips nourished and gleaming.

Aqua Blush is packaged in a mini pot that is ideal for travelling and the product itself is a gel formula that is more than half water, meaning your skin is left hydrated and refreshed. Although sheer the blushes are build-able to give just the right pop of colour. The formula melts onto skin and is perfect for a dewy summer glow.

A cult favourite bronzer has returned as part of the collection and it is back permanently. Available in two shades and created using modern pearl technology which yields an innovative gel-powder formula, this bronzer glides onto skin. A dusting of the bronzer leaves skin with a beautiful glow and its soft aerated texture blurs, perfects and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, with a second skin feel.

The Summer 19 collection is like all of Chantecaille’s products, cruelty free and also free of Phthalates, Sulphate Detergents, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Palm Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances and GMOs (the nasty stuff). Chantecaille believes in the healing powers of flowers and plants, and builds their formulas on pure ingredients and science.

The brand also has a wide variety of vegan products, including their Future Skin foundation and Rose de Mai face cream, which are two of our favourites, it’s clear Chantecaille is a brand that will be leading others in the right direction. With a huge focus on giving back to charities, let’s not forget Chantecaille’s main focus is their clients skin. Using only ingredients that produce the most impactful, visible, beautiful results.

An anti-pollution range aims to focus on the the power of stem cells and skin barrier-strengthening extracts to shield the skin from pollutants that age and damage the skin, cause reactions and inflammation. The brands Bébé range introduces a new way to care for little ones, a soothing collection which nourishes their skin and can even be used by adults with very sensitive skin. Some products are on-trend such as those with a focus on retinol, whereas others are a brand classic; their Rose de Mai collection.

Whatever collection or product you fall upon with Chantecaille, it’s sure to revolutionise how you shop for beauty, along with having a positive impact on the planet and your skin.

The fabulous Queila Doyle founded My Beauty Squad in 2016 with the dream to create an empowering culture within the beauty industry while providing high quality on demand beauty services. It all started 10 years ago when she first had her own mobile beauty company in her hometown, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. House of Coco were lucky enough to attend the My Beauty Squad launch party earlier this month. The event was girly, empowering and inspiring. Bespoke cocktails flowed and of course a chocolate fountain, make up consultations were on hand as well as experts showing you their hair tricks of the trade.

Since the company launched, starting with only 10 beauticians 3 years ago, My Beauty Squad has grown a team of over 140 expert stylists in London, Cork and Dublin. At the event, we had the opportunity to chat and mingle with Quelia and we asked her about the origins of My Beauty Squad and where she sees it going in the future. Queila was so excited about her work and the launch and said, ‘I am passionate about making women feel good.’

This is something we can get on board with.

After all the experience and customer feedback throughout the years, the team believe that 2019 is going to be My Beauty Squad’s biggest year yet, and with the successful of the launch party, we are excited to see My Beauty Squad go from strength to strength.

All the information you need to revolutionise your beauty routine (you are welcome!):

This never seen “beauty bible” app is organised into 3 key areas; Book an Appointment, Tutorials and News Feed. Each element of the app has been entirely designed to work with the user’s unique personality, including personalised preferences in terms of skin, makeup style and areas of concern. The app also ensures it’s inclusive for EVERYONE, casting real women and also men of all ethnicities. After all, men want to look good too!

Book an Appointment – from a categorised menu, app users can easily select which treatment they require; from Bridal, Hair, Makeup, Nails, Face & Body and My Beauty Squad’s Party Bundles. Within each category the services are clearly listed with pricing and availability. Once a treatment request has been confirmed via the app, the My Beauty Squad beauticians will then accept and confirm – making it quick and hassle-free. Payment details and previous bookings are securely stored to ensure subsequent bookings are more convenient. Customers also get loyalty points to use against future bookings.

Tutorials – Empowering individuals is My Beauty Squad’s core ethos. By using the UK’s top makeup artists and beauty influencers, My Beauty Squad has filmed an exclusive collection of tutorials and for only a small fee, enables app users to watch and learn how to prep the skin, contour and perform pro makeup looks from truly talented professional artists. All the while being able to customise the classes according to skin colour, areas of interest, occasions and personal requests via their social media channels. If Netflix had a beauty channel this would be it!

News Feed – the power and creativity of the beauty industry allows My Beauty Squad to continuously try new products, review and work alongside worldwide brands whilst sharing their honest experiences, top tips and tricks with their passionate customers. My Beauty Squad news feed features and publishes on the app a weekly blog and top beauty tips for users to stay aware of global beauty trends. They have created a highly engaged platform on which their readers can give comments, share across their social channels and in recognition of this, there is an increasing number of brands wishing to collaborate weekly.

The app will not only allow people to do all of the above but will also enable people to join a real beauty community free of biased ads, unrealistic goals and conflicted reviews. The app can be downloaded on the App Store for Apple Devices and the Play Store for Androids, free of charge.

Further information can be viewed online: www.mybeautysquad.com/beautyapp.

Cult on-demand beauty app LeSalon have just introduced an at-home spray tanning service, so clients can get a healthy summer glow without even leaving the house. It’s without a doubt the most effortless way to get a safe tan, and we are all over it at #TeamCoco!

LeSalon was co-founded by Natasha Pilbrow in 2015, when her hectic life as a mum and lawyer inspired her to start a business that would help women fit me-time into busy schedules, and restore their work/life balance. She also wanted to help therapists work flexibly on their own terms, so LeSalon offers technical support, training and financial advice to all therapists to help them up-skill and progress professionally.

Two premium spray tan treatments can now be booked via the LeSalon website and app, where clients simply need to select their treatment and specify a time and location, before being matched with an available therapist.

Clients can opt to book a standard spray tan (£45) or a Vita Liberata spray tan (£50), both of which are carried out by the platform’s trained and qualified ‘Salonettes’. A favourite of dermatologists, Vita Liberata’s tanning products are vegan-friendly, organic, and full of anti-ageing ingredients that guarantee an even and natural tan. The treatments last thirty minutes.

Co-founder and COO of LeSalon, Natasha Pilbrow, said: “We’re really excited to be introducing at-home spray tans this Spring, especially in partnership with a brand as revered as Vita Liberata.

At LeSalon we’re all about empowering clients by making treatments relaxing, accessible, and convenient. The introduction of at-home spray tanning means clients can relax and wait for their glow to develop once the treatment is finished; rather than rubbing their tan off and turning their clothes orange after getting dressed to leave the salon.

It’s completely fuss and mess-free too, as Salonettes bring a specially designed tent for clients to stand in whilst they get their tan. Your furniture and carpets will be completely safe; and our therapists always leave the room exactly as they found it.”

She went on to say: “A spray tan is a really safe way to get a healthy summer glow all year round, and feedback from clients and therapists about the at-home service has already been really positive.”

LeSalon brings the professional salon experience to clients’ homes and offices. As well as spray tans, the platform offers the full range of manicures, pedicures, waxing and eyelash treatments you’d expect to see in a traditional salon.

LeSalon’s mission is to help people feel confident, by empowering clients to take ownership over the way they look and feel through easy and affordable access to premium beauty treatments. The platform is also keen for therapists to reap the benefits of being their own boss, by empowering them to work on their own terms, hone their skills, and increase their earning potential.

LeSalon provide all therapists with regular technical training, financial advice, emergency childcare and a host of other benefits to ensure they feel secure and supported in their career.

For more information about the services that LeSalon provide, simple search for www.lesalon.com

There’s so many exciting happenings in beauty and beauty tech and Glam Doll are right there, in the spotlight! We sat down with Andrea, founder of Glam Doll, about her journey from aviation to Hollywood glam!

HOC: Great to meet you, Andrea; what’s your elevator pitch for Glam Doll?

Andrea: Glam Doll is the leading supplier of Hollywood inspired beauty products for homes and professional salons. Specialising in Hollywood Glam Mirrors, Speciality Lighting, Cosmetic Organisers, Vanity Tables and more Glam Doll’s goal is to help everyone ‘Bring Hollywood Home’. Our aim is to provide top quality products, attentive and personalised service that provides our customers long term value.

HOC: How awesome! What was your journey to starting your business?

Andrea: I was born and raised in Seattle and started my career in the Aircraft Leasing Industry which brought me to Miami and eventually to Ireland over the course of 15 years. Aviation is an interesting industry and I gained a wealth of experience including, commercial negotiations, managing technical specifications, cross border logistics and global marketing while travelling the world!

Given the experience I had gained I always wanted to build a company and brand that was received by customers as excellent, so when I came to a point in my life where I could take this step, I took it but it was not in the direction I had anticipated. While redesigning our daughter’s bedroom I identified a gap in the Irish & UK market for quality beauty products that provided customers a new experience with lifelong products. I set about researching, designing and manufacturing our innovative range of Hollywood Mirrors, Speciality Lighting and more.

HOC: We love when new business ideas pop up from unexpected places. Tell us more about what it was like when first starting up?

Andrea: Starting this business was a big leap of faith and I had to trust my instincts. We made a decision to position the business in such a way that we could protect ourselves in the beauty industry by providing scale. We decided that rather than initially investing in infrastructure or staff we would invest in a variety of quality products that would span the market and be available immediately. This meant designing for the future and placing large orders to satisfy our anticipated future demand at a price point where we could remain strong even with potential new entrants.

HOC: What does the team at Glam Doll look like?

Andrea: We are building an incredible team of strong, creative and brilliant women where we encourage each other and foster a sense of community. It’s important to me that we create a culture at Glam Doll of leading our market which I believe requires mutual respect, hard work and real customer-oriented innovation so that Glam Doll stays at the top of our market while developing new markets.

HOC: We’ve in awe of a strong female team! How has your business grown since starting?

Andrea: When I launched the business 18 months ago it was from my kitchen table in the Irish countryside! We had a small storage facility close by for our stock which was quite unglamorous, and we worked hard on building our brand and getting the word out about what we are doing and our Hollywood inspired products. We were fortunate in that word of mouth really spread as more and more clients purchased our products and connected with the Glam Doll brand. We grew from strength to strength and worked in getting our products into salons, training academies and client’s homes throughout the Ireland and the UK.

Due to our rate of growth and customer demand, last September we set up our HQ in a modern 3-storey warehouse in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. We have a showroom where clients can come and see the quality of our products first hand and I designed an elegant office space with future growth in mind.

It’s come quite far from the kitchen table and I’m just so proud of what we have achieved!

HOC: So inspiring! How can someone prepare themselves for entrepreneurial life?

Andrea: It really requires a leap of faith, to me it was an unknown frontier and I just jumped in and grabbed the reins, determined to succeed and I believed in my capabilities. To me, being an entrepreneur means very long days, sleepless nights, challenges that sometimes seem insurmountable but always persevering, pushing through with the next goal in mind and most importantly having an incredible team and network of supporters. To see our ideas come to life and be appreciated by so many people is the positive outcome from all the hard work and this fuels my passion to keep going and growing.

HOC: Alongside fueling your passion; how do you take time out, do you ever find it difficult?

Andrea: Life can be quite hectic and trying to find balance between running a business, a home, 4 children and pets is a lot to juggle. I have found that it really helps to try and be in the moment and not worry too much about what happened yesterday or what is on tomorrow just being mindful now, otherwise it can be overwhelming.

We do try to get away when we can whether it be a local getaway or something further afield, it’s important to take time out and recharge. We have lovely wooded paths near our home and just getting outside with our 2 dogs helps calm the craziness of the day!

HOC: What’s your ambition for your brand?

Andrea: When I created Glam Doll, it was important to me that we develop a brand that is synonymous with high quality, innovative yet affordable products. Our decision to build an ecommerce business rather than a brick and mortar high street shop was that we wanted to ensure our products were accessible to everyone no matter where you live. The on-line distribution costs we believe provide the best value for our customer and is the 2nd part of how we plan to protect our market position as we grow. We want to provide that Hollywood feeling for clients & salons so they can create their own Glam Stations at home or in their business. We hope to become a household name and continue to grow our business in the UK & Europe, Bringing Hollywood Home.

HOC: With your brand being built around the idea of Hollywood, we have to ask, do you visit LA much, where are your favourite spots?

Andrea: I absolutely love California, LA in particular, and the backdrop of Hollywood was my inspiration for the brand. I visit LA once a year and am going next week. I love staying in Santa Monica at Shutters on the Beach, it has such a laid-back vibe, it provides instant relaxation. A favourite is taking the bicycles and riding along the shore down to Marina del Ray for fish tacos. Shopping provides something for everyone from the open-air market on Melrose to all the glitz and glamour of Rodeo Drive. Dinner at Nobu in Malibu is always on the list; the food, cocktails and the views are amazing!

HOC: Let’s finish with a classic question! The ’10 years ago’ challenge is all the rage on insta at the moment, what advice do you have for the 2009 you?

Andrea: In 2009, I was a single mother living in Miami working very hard to advance in my career while balancing family life. Looking back, I would tell myself to relax, enjoy each day and all will work out. Everything happens for a reason and these experiences makes us the person we are today. I would also advise how important it is to build a supportive network around you, the greatest feeling is when you can trust that someone has your back and you can hold each other up.

Wonderful to speak with you, Andrea!
To find out more about Andrea’s business head to GlamDoll.ie and follow @GlamDoll.ie

If you want to stay on top of leading trends this Spring, then check out what our #TeamCoco beauty experts have put together for you to drool over.

There are some gorg products to cover all budgets including haircare, skincare, body care and a delicious scent that you’ll be hankering after.

Starting with skincare we’re feeling all-indulgent and have fallen hook, line and sinker for Kimberly Sayer of London, Light Cleansing Lotion.

This light cleansing lotion contains soy protein and essential oils including lemon oil to decongest cellular tissue and minimise oil production while balancing the skin’s natural pH level. Gentle enough to remove eye makeup, it deep cleanses the skin for a clean, clear complexion.

Recommended as a daily organic cleanser for normal, oily, or acne prone skin.

Price: £22.20
Visit: lovelula.com

Keeping with the skincare theme and Frances Prescott recently launched TRI-BALM in Geranium & Mandarin to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise.

This luxurious triple-action facial balm is a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser all in one glorious solid stick. Perfect for simplifying your skincare regime this clever balm takes three major skincare steps and puts it into one balm, without compromising on results.

Cleanse: a blend of botanical oils enriched with starflower and oats melt away impurities and make-up from skin. Exfoliate: enzymes from pumpkin seeds provide an extremely gentle daily exfoliation to freshen and brighten skin. Moisturise: hyaluronic acid locks in moisture whilst antioxidants vitamin E, carrot tissue oil and blackcurrant oil neutralise free radicals to protect the skin from environmental aggressors. TRI-BALM also doubles up as an intense moisture masque.

Price: £46
Visit: francesprescott.com

Our third must-buy for this Spring is Lavender Essential Oil by SOiL Aromatherapy Oils, and this is a serious multi-functional product, which can be used for haircare, skincare, stress relief, aches and pains and much more.

SOiL was born from a passion to bring the health and balancing benefits of essential oils to homes across the globe. The fertile soils and high rainfall of the family farm in Zululand, South Africa, combined with the rich local heritage of medicinal plants formed the perfect foundation from which to develop and refine their oils – known for their integrity, purity and traceability.

These oils by SOiL can be added to the bath, used as a massage oil, used for inhalation, added to in burners and diffusers, and used as part of a compress.

Essential oils are the highly concentrated active ingredients of plants. They should always be diluted in a base before use and should not be taken internally without professional recommendation.

• Baths: Add 5 – 10 drops of essential oil(s) to a warm run bath. Soak for at least 10 minutes relaxing and breathing deeply.
• Massage: add 5 – 6 drops of essential oil per 10ml of carrier oil. Mix thoroughly and apply liberally to the skin.
• Inhalations: Add 4 – 5 drops of essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Place a towel over your head, close your eyes and lean over the bowl. Inhale the vapour for a few minutes.
• Burners and Diffusers: Fill the bowl of the burner/vaporiser with water and then add 3 – 6 drops of essential oil. Light the candle and the oil will evaporate as the water heats up. Do not let the bowl dry out.
• Compress: Recommended when the area is too painful to massage. Dip a towel or cloth in 4-5 drops of essential oil and 200ml hot or hold water and wring out. Cover the affected area with this compress, place a plastic wrap over this and a towel on top. Leave on for 2-4 hours.

Price: £3.90 – £39.50
Visit: soilorganics.co.uk

Another all-rounder for the full works is the brand new UK launch of Ethique for Face, Body and Hair, this company makes everything from shampoo and conditioner to body wash, body butter and many other products.

Founded by British-born entrepreneurial biochemist Brianne West, Ethique is the only company in the world devoted solely to producing handmade solid beauty bars in place of liquid beauty products.

The impressive handmade range consists of concentrated face, hair and body bars, which are cruelty-free, vegan, and made with ingredients that are 100% sustainably sourced and fair trade.

One shampoo bar is the equivalent of three bottles of liquid shampoo. The packaging is 100% compostable and recyclable, and Ethique has already saved over 3.3 million plastic bottles from production.

Price: from £13
Visit: ethiqueworld.co.uk

Talking of things hair related, the Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask with Lemon is a definite necessity for hair that requires some tender loving care.

This cult cleanser is a 3-in-1 for coloured, highlighted or sensitive hair. It is fully detergent-free and has an acid pH for the ultimate No-Poo hair care. It maintains the colour’s radiance and deeply nourishes the actual hair fibers.

The deeply satisfying mask works best when worked from the base roots of the hair through the lengths and finally onto the ends, leaving hair soft, healthy, nourished, and beautifully clean.

Price: £39
Visit: spacenk.com, lookfantastic.com, harrods.com

One of the most used body products across the world is hand soap (think of every café, restaurant, bar and hotel room you have ever visited), and we are lusting after The Castilian Soap Company, Natural Castile Soap with Lavender Essential Oil.

The Castilian Soap Company’s natural soap products are made from an organic castile soap base with natural vegetable oils of the finest quality. Idea for those looking for a hypoallergenic alternative to other soaps. Perfect in the morning to start the day with a peaceful, calm mind or before bedtime to aid with sound sleep.

Price: £8 / £13.50
Visit: lovelula.com

To finish your beauty routine a spray of your fave scent is a definite so why not try something different and try a new scent by Walden Perfumes.

Spring is the perfect time to trial a fresh, new scent, especially a natural one! Walden Perfumes make unisex, vegan perfume oils from only the finest natural absolutes, resins and essential oils. They are named after Henry David Thoreau’s seminal work “Walden” which prized living in harmony with nature.

They are handmade in small batches from 100% natural ingredients and are throwback to the heyday of perfumery before the advent of cheap synthetic substitutes.

There are five scents including; A Little Star Dust, Two Eternities, A Different Drummer, Castles In The Air, and The Solid Earth.

Price: £40 – £50
Visit: lovelula.com

The shiny, instagram friendly side of small businesses is hard to escape but sometimes, we need to get real and into the numbers! Today we chat with Camille, founder of leading semi-permanent make up brand Camille Beaute .

We loved speaking to Camille as she’s so real and inspiring – I mean, she went from starting her business from £2K to having clients travel to her from mainline Europe to snag an appointment spot in her 4 month waiting list…

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HOC: So nice to meet you, Camille! Can you tell us why you do what you do?

Camille: Hello! I guess first of all, it’s about my clients! Seeing happy faces and making lives so much easier (I can save them time every day as they don’t need to draw their eyebrows every morning!) For some clients this can change their life. I’m so passionate about my work!

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HOC: What is your journey to starting your business; we know you started with only £2K…

Camille: Yep! I started three years ago, with just £2k. I didn’t have a job at that time and my mum offered for me to do some training. Throughout childhood I was an artist. And I see permanent make up as being art, because you are drawing on faces!

I came across courses for Micro-blading; and did them all! Getting started was really hard because I was new in the beauty business. Of course, semi permanent make up it’s not easy, you need to put in lots of practice and hard work! .

HOC: What difficult choices did you have to make when starting the business?

Camille: When I started, day by day I kept practicing and learning from my mistakes! The beginning was very difficult, but every day I woke up and thought ‘it’s new day to make something good for my business!’ At the beginning I was working so hard just to survive in London. When I became busier and got used to seeing so many happy faces and getting good reviews, I started to love what I’m doing. That feeling just makes me work harder and harder!

It took me half year to become busy. And now I’m a woman-in-demand; this is what my clients call me! The most important part of my business is that I love meeting amazing people from all the world. Having clients from Australia to Canada including New Zealand, Middle East, Asia, Pakistan, Mauritius, Nigeria, Zambia, Canada, USA, and South America! I even have clients who travel to me from all over Europe just for their eyebrows! It might sound crazy, but it’s amazing to have such a great clients, who say that they only trust me!I will always keep training with best trainers in the world especially as my industry is such a big business at the moment! There’s always something new to learn, for instance there are lots of more natural looking techniques; it’s nothing like the old fashioned permanent tattoo eyebrows or lip contour!I started with one client per week and now I have a 4 month waiting list! It’s so important to never give up! .

HOC: What does the team at Camille Beauty look like?

Camille: Because I’m so busy, I found a great assistant! I’ve trained her, showed her all my skills and step by step she is becoming an amazing Micro-blading artist!

At the beginning it was challenging for my clients to trust her work as well as mine but now she is doing so well! Hopefully soon she will become just as in-demand as me!

I’m also on the lookout for more girls to work with me but it’s tricky finding the right people that me and my clients can trust.

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HOC: How can someone prepare themselves for entrepreneurial life?

Camille: You need to find something you love to do. And then it doesn’t feel like work anymore. Starting anything new is difficult and mistake after mistake! But if you keep learning, you won’t repeat your mistakes!

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HOC: What’s your most popular service?

Camille: Semi-permanent make up is very popular at the moment. Clients here in the UK are still really into Micro-blading but also ombré eyebrows or soft shading it’s also amazing treatment which looks natural. Many clients are still scared of semi-permanent make up, probably because of bad experiences with old fashion tattoo make up on faces. Everything is so much better these days! It’s looks natural and doesn’t go so deep into the skin and last around 12-18 months. For sure, everyone needs to do lots of research into where they go and who they are going to trust. This business is very popular and many girls think that it’s easy! In every salon you will find a beautician who’s doing Micro-blading or semi-permanent make up. But of course… not everyone can be good in this business! ..

HOC: What’s your ambition for your brand?

Camille: My dream is to be one of the biggest brands of semi permanent make up treatments and academy in the UK. I always want to offer the best and the highest quality service for all my clients and – of course- always keep them happy and pleased.

HOC: What trends are coming up in semi-permanent make up that we should look out for?

Camille: There’s new trends coming through: hyper realistic hairstrokes, natural looking lip colours, permanent BB cream, shaded eyeliner, scalp micro-pigmentation…. everything that enhances your beauty without changing your face!

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HOC: The ’10 years ago’ challenge is all the rage on insta at the moment, what advice do you have for the 2009 you?

Camille: Omg! At that time I was just a child! Honestly, I didn’t care about anything ; I was just thinking about each day and living flippantly! I made so many mistakes but now I’m thinking that I was learning all lessons all the time. If I hadn’t have enjoyed my careless life I wouldn’t be where I am now! Everything comes at the right time and everything has a reason. Even if something bad happens, it doesn’t matter; just learn from it and keep moving. If you believe in yourself and also believe in karma you’re on the right path.You can’t ever expect someone else to create your future. Only you can do it! .Learn more about Camille’s business at CamilleBeaute.co.uk Follow @microbladinglondon

You’ve heard of Chanel, you’ve heard of YSL – but you really need to hear about Mirenesse. The award winning Australian cosmetics brand fronted by Pharmacist Irene Patsalides has gained worldwide recognition due to their unique formulas and scientific backing, as well as their beautiful products. Our girl Jenna caught up with the #GirlBoss at the helm of this growing company, Irene, to find out more about her Pharmacist past and what it takes to build a globally successful cosmetics business…

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JC: So after reading a little bit more about Mirenesse, we see that you’ve won over 100 awards in the past 20 years! That’s quite an achievement. What has been your proudest win so far?

IP: The first time is always the one we are most proud of, we won 4 beauty awards in our first year at the New Woman Beauty Awards 2000. We were up against all the major beauty brands, and they were all there – Chanel, Estee Lauder, YSL. They were all wondering “who is this brand” as we had just won Best Mascara , Best Lipstick, Best Foundation, Best Colour Cosmetic !

JC: We think your awards definitely has something to do with the scientific backing of your products – can you tell us more about your Pharmacist history before founding Mirenesse?

IP: I always had a passion for cosmetics, watching my mum from a young age apply makeup always fascinated me she was so beautiful anyway but I loved the application and transformation and how good she felt afterwards, so I wanted to study Cosmetics chemistry but courses were not available when I was going to Uni so I chose the next best thing Pharmacy and I loved helping people so that was a career I did for 17 years.

Then being totally dissatisfied with mascara offerings I decided to create my own and Mirenesse was born! My quest for perfection meant it had to look better on lashes than anything else and good for my eyes and last all day and come off easy, I was told I was crazy but I invented the tubing technology of our mascaras which I also infused lash caring ingredients into! I also was always good at Chemistry, mixing things, making things. Mum says I was mixing pancakes at age 3 for the whole neighbourhood, and now I’m Mixing mascara for the world!

JC: We love your Power Through Beauty campaign which is dedicated to empowering women and helping them achieve their dreams! What sparked this campaign?

IP: As a cyclone refugee, I came from nothing, and I’ve been through a lot and know what it’s like to struggle, get abused, have nothing, have something and lose it, lose everything, have major health issues, hit the glass ceiling and still survive!

I want people to know they can survive get through it and move forward to their dreams, that the power they seek lies within themselves, to never give up no matter how bad the odds are, feeling that power gives you the power and looking and feeling beautiful are all a state of mind and if a little lipstick or mascara help then bring it on! A portion of the proceeds from all Mirenesse products go towards donations to all sorts of charities, and individuals in need, plus we donate products and funds to organizations that empower women, that’s our mission to give back.

Oh and we recently started the Buy a Mascara Save a Koala fund as our poor Koalas are in trouble and were adopting them with the proceeds from our mascara sales!

JC: We see that you have a very diverse range of Makeup, Skincare and exclusive Gift Sets which all embody botanical ingredients?

IP: I have practiced my clean beauty philosophy and also infused skin treatments in Mirenesse beauty products since 20 years ago, we use botanical organic ingredients combined with safe clinically proven results driven lab ingredients as well, everything comes from nature we make sure it delivers the results we promise, and is safe for you to use.

JC: What would you say is your most popular and celebrated product?

IP: Our most popular and celebrated products being our Secret Weapon 24hr Mascara which has won over 13 awards and has achieved cult status in Australia, plus our Power Lift Treatment Cream which is an anti-ageing powerhouse. They both fly off the shelves daily.

JC: It’s great to see a cosmetics brand that is so heavily backed up by science! Can you tell us more about your transdermal delivery system (TDDS)?

IP: We wanted skincare ingredients to penetrate the skin so we studied the delivery into the skin, each ingredient is encapsulated to deliver its payload only once it fuses with the skins osmotic system, we get such great results because the ingredients get delivered where they can make a difference.

We leave out the heavy waxes which just sit in the skins surface and trap moisture, the textures are light fluid and gelatinous or oil in texture and feel wonderful – and they work!

JC: Who would be your dream influencer/celebrity to work with?

IP: Love Kylie Minogue for her Power and JLo for her timelessness and drive! I love women who have beat the odds against them…

JC: Can you tell us about a recent ‘Girl Boss’ moment?

IP: Life’s about choices so choose wisely.

Recently I came about the realization that trying to please too many people never works and when others around you feel insecure they want to cut you down so I had to put a stop to it.

I decided I wasn’t going to let them determine my self worth, and as much as I loved and respected these people I respectfully chose the high road and to not have their negativity around me for my own health and sanity, and cut ties with them.

JC: What has been the hardest part of running your own cosmetics business?

IP: Aahhh , sometimes I think “where was I going without even knowing the way!”

The constant evolution of the beauty business and the fast pace, means that it has truly become “Running “ a business” as you are nowadays constantly running a marathon to keep up with technology and the changes, but the challenge is also a good driving force so finding the right people with the skills needed to keep up the pace can be challenging at times.

JC: What’s in the pipeline for 2019?

IP: I’m very excited about 2019 I have been working on a few patented innovations for a couple of years which are about to be launched soon and have the potential to be real game changers, I’m a problem solver at heart and a really want to make things better and better things that help us all have an easier day! It’s also our 20year Anniversary and were celebrating all our “Solid Gold” hits with new packaging and campaigns worldwide!

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To shop the beautiful collection and to find your new skincare favourite visit https://www.mirenesse.com.

You can also keep up to date with all the latest Mirenesse looks and products via Instagram