How To Get A Culturally Driven Beauty Brand Into Stores With RANAVAT's Founder

Starting a culturally driven beauty brand as an engineer and scientist is not the path that I thought my career would take me, but it’s the path that has given me so much fulfillment that I could not see my life any other way.

I started RANAVAT with no connections in the beauty industry, driven solely by my passion and mission to see Indian beauty on the most coveted retail shelves in the world. It took a lot of no’s before there was a yes. But with that first yes slowly came more, and I was determined not to stop there.

There are 3 values that I hold dear to my professional (and personal) journeys, and most important in helping me get my product into the beauty aisles. Staying true to these values has never steered me wrong, even in the hardest of times, and relying on them in those hard times is what brings me up time and time again.

1. Find Your Niche

Find what speaks to your strengths. One lesson I’ve learned in this journey is to stay true to yourself. I knew my background was unique for the beauty industry. Having a business acumen and pairing that with ingredient sourcing and formulation experience, mixed with my South Asian identity, gave me the foundation to create and build RANAVAT.

Your identity is your strength. Use all of your experiences to create your space in this world.

2. Set an Example

Growing up in a South Asian household, my parents served as constant inspiration of the hard work and perseverance it takes to build a business. It’s incredibly empowering to see someone like you doing something you want to do, and watching my dad build a business from the basement of our home taught me the value of determination, self-belief, and passion.

I always knew from a young age that I wanted to, someday, start my own company too. Seeing our brand today at top retailers like Sephora and Harrods makes me hopeful for the next generation to be empowered to take on any challenge.

3. Create Your Network

Create and find your own network. I found my first mentors and advisors early on in building RANAVAT. They are my sounding board, my dose of reality, my inspiration, and an ear to listen to my struggles and my wins. I would not be where I am today without their support.

I also have an accountability group of close friends. We share our vision boards with each other in our respective fields, and we hold each other to those ideals. Regular check-ins allow me to not only connect with my friends and help them stay accountable to their visions, but stay accountable to my own visions.

Surround yourself with people who will champion you, challenge you, and support you every step of the way. They will be the ones who bring you up on those struggling days, who champion your wins louder and who provide advice on those difficult decisions.

Today, we are seeing more and more Asian-founded brands breaking norms in the beauty industry. I believe this is just the beginning of this movement. While my generation didn’t have the breadth of representation growing up, we were able to break into industries and challenge the norms.

Consumers crave connection and familiarity and are finding this in culturally driven brands like my own. I see my values represented in our customers and in fellow Asian founders and that gives me confidence that we will continue to see culturally driven beauty brands make their own space in the beauty industry.

About the author: Michelle Ranavat leverages her expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and her background in engineering to create a line of beautiful skin and hair treatments that honor her South Asian heritage. Each formulation is composed of the highest caliber Ayurvedic ingredients for transformative skin and hair care results across all skin and hair types. Distinguished Ayurvedic and adaptogenic cutting-edge actives such as Saffron, Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Manjistha, Amla, and Bakuchi are hand selected for real results. The luxurious collection is proven by science, and rooted in ritual. Founded in 2017, RANAVAT recently launched into Sephora with 8 of their best-selling products. The brand proudly donates 1% of proceeds to Desai Foundation, a non-profit organization in India that empowers women and children through community programs to elevate health and livelihood in India and the U.S.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, in Business or in Love–This Founder’s Story is Proof that What’s Meant to be Will Always Find a Way

Donda Mullis knows a thing or two about putting your heart into your business. People say business isn’t personal, but she believes it absolutely is, as it is the connections and relationships that we have that makes it all happen. Love is not only the foundation of her company, but an agent for meaningful change, and an ongoing narrative of a shared passion with her partner in both business and life, Ronnie Shugar.

“We wanted to create an aspirational brand that made people feel better inside and out. And a brand with a heart that connected us with a cause which became the catalyst for our give back mission,” Mullis tells Create & Cultivate.

The result is one of today's fastest-growing natural lifestyle brands, Raw Sugar Living. Based in Florida , Raw Sugar Living is a brand on a mission to promote clean and healthy living through products that are good for the body and nourish the soul, while being accessible for all. 

An early disruptor within the clean beauty and personal care category, Raw Sugar Living has been driving much-needed innovation in a new era of sustainability supported by a growing consumer awareness around buying choices and their impact on the environment. In fact, clean beauty is one of the fastest-growing areas of personal care and Raw Sugar Living remains at the forefront of the $22 billion industry. For more than seven years, the company mainstreams the highest-quality, hand-crafted soaps and personal care products that are made with plant-derived ingredients and cold pressed extracts (recognized by their signature 'Bamboo Tops & White Bottles' and 'Living Purely Unfiltered' tagline).

Mullis and Shugar first met many years back while working in the same retail field. While they had different focuses at the time, their diverse backgrounds––Shugar’s in manufacturing and logistics and Mullis’s in marketing, strategic partnerships and retail distribution––were a powerful synergy in the making. Their plan was always to do something bigger — together — that would inspire and connect their backgrounds with a meaningful cause. The two fell crazy in love, but eventually parted ways as young love often does.

Fast forward 20 years — the two reconnected by an act of destiny’s intervention. They renewed their love and their shared belief of wanting to inspire others to live from a place of self-love and wellness. For both of them, it was about sharing their passion for clean and healthy living while preserving a 60-year family history of making natural hand crafted natural soap and personal care products that are good for the body and that nourish the soul- and that people can feel good about using.

The latest addition to the Raw Sugar Living family meets the growing demand for planet-friendly, sustainable, and aluminum-free deodorant–one that ACTUALLY works. After all, one of the many lessons to take away from these founders’ story, is not to sweat the small stuff–in business or in love–because what is meant to be will always find its way. 

Ahead, Mullis tells us more about the latest launch, and shares her advice for building a brand that is for the people, adopting a clean lifestyle and beauty regime, and utilizing entrepreneurship as an agent of change.

Our mission is to love from the inside out. We embrace individuality and create with authenticity.

– Donda Mullis, Co-Founder and CMO, Raw Sugar Living

What inspired you to start Raw Sugar Living?

What inspired us was the white space in the marketplace for natural/clean products that were simply affordable, thereby making clean healthy products more accessible to all. Because, as I always say, we all deserve to feel beautiful and love the skin we’re in. For me, it was to create a brand that was much more than products sitting on a retail shelf, but rather an aspirational brand that inspires people to live from a powerful place of self love, wellness, empowering others, and loving ourselves, flaws and all. And very importantly, creating real change in our community. In fact, every product is tagged with a ‘sugar note’, kind of like a love note with a positive message that reminds us to simply love ourselves.

Developing a brand that is for all people. We embrace individuality and create with authenticity. We’re all about clean living and living clean. All of our premium yet affordable formulas are made with integrity. We believe in giving back, lifting spirits, showering people with love, and of course smelling good at all times!

We are a brand that does good.

How has this belief helped to underpin your mission as a brand?

To date we have donated over 15 million bars of soap and personal essentials to people in need, and we’re just getting started.

Products that are made with plant-derived and clean ingredients should be accessible to everybody. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to give access to clean healthy products to those in need.

What would you tell someone who’s new to adopting a clean lifestyle and beauty regime ––where should they start and what people should look out for when choosing a clean beauty or lifestyle product?

Advocacy, a brand you can trust, one that stands for good, makes clean ethical products, and simply makes you feel beautiful.

What are some common misconceptions of clean beauty?

That clean products are expensive – clean, healthy products don’t need to be expensive. 

What are some of your favorite Raw Sugar Living products to integrate into your daily routine?

Personally, my top three products that we’ve created include our Body Washes, Sugar Scrubs, and sustainable Deodorants. They are crafted with functional ingredients without the bad stuff.

What do you love most about your job and why? Does the reality of your career match up to your expectations? Why or why not?

My work is my life and my passion. My vision was to create a brand that had meaning beyond the retail self, stood for good, continues to give back, and makes clean healthy living affordable to everyone–Raw Sugar Living has exceeded my expectations.

My greatest tool is the ability to understand our consumers. Raw sugar has become a brand that speaks to everyone. This is what we wanted and are excited to continue growing. I’ve seen hundreds of brands come and go, and although Raw Sugar Living was born only 7 short years ago, it has truly been a lifetime in the making. 

We always say we’re only as beautiful as we feel, and you can’t feel beautiful if you don’t feel clean.

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?

With pure grit, hard work and determination, we can become anything that we want. I’m the youngest of 5 girls with a strong southern mother who survived and thrived through constant tragedy and adversity. I became a human sponge for all of their mishaps and lessons. Love, positive thinking and reward for hard work was the core of our upbringing. I was brought up with retail in my blood beginning with my mother, and my biggest inspiration, who is a self taught, hard working and determined role model who carved out a new retail niche within a male-dominated industry and was way ahead of her time. Whether you think you can, or you cannot - you are right! Confidence is fearless repetition–and like most things in life, I believe it is learned.

It's these life experiences that helped create my vision for the company and the lesson learned–the brand pillars of raw sugar’s values.

You have to get through the ‘raw’ and difficult journey to get to the sweet ‘sugar’ destination–hence Raw Sugar Living

With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?

Our customers are our driving force. seeing how our products can inspire and make others happy is truly what keeps us going! 

Also, being supported by an amazing internal team that champions our success is very important to our inspiration and motivation.

You are constantly innovating—What category of beauty would you love to see Raw Sugar Living disrupt next?

I’m really excited about our latest launch – a collection of planet-friendly and aluminum-free deodorants. Not only is the collection wrapped in 100% biodegradable and recyclable, plastic-free packaging, but it is made with naturally derived ingredients, clinically and allergy tested, cruelty-free and vegan.

Raw Sugar Deodorants are free of aluminum, baking soda, talc, parabens and propylene glycol. They are also infused with odor-fighting essential oils and feel-fresh fragrances. These formulas are designed to detox and balance the natural skin barrier while reducing body odor-causing bacterial growth, helping you live clean and move free.

Share your best advice, in two words or less.

“Kindly Relentless”

— Donda Mullis, Co-Founder & CMO, Raw Sugar Living

---

SHOP THE FOUNDER’S FAVORITES

RAW SUGAR LIVING

Green Tea + Cucumber + Aloe Vera Body Wash

$9.99

RAW SUGAR LIVING

Watermelon + Fresh Mint
Sugar Scrub

$15.39

RAW SUGAR LIVING

Vanilla Bean + Charcoal
Deodorant

$8.24

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Courtney Adeleye

Courtney Adeleye is a BAWSE. Literally.

The self-made mogul is the CEO of The Mane Choice, Foolproof Body, executive producer of Who’s The Bawse (coming summer ‘19!), and CEO of The Bawse Conference. She launched The Mane Choice hair empire with $500 of her own money and business acumen from growing up with scarce resources in Detroit and putting herself through college. Her entrepreneurship paired with her unique perspective on the beauty industry has made her a force to be reckoned with.

Oh, and that $500 investment in herself scaled to $25 million in sales for The Mane Choice in just four years.

She is the definition of a hustler, but with the spirit of a community leader. Because she didn’t have a mentor as she launched her career, she’s passionate about providing professional counsel to a new generation of entrepreneurial women. Whether it’s through her weekly “Pay My Bill” initiative on Instagram wherein she pays one follower’s bills each week, granting female-driven startups seed capital through Who’s The Bawse, or sharing motivational realness on her Instagram, Courtney has an intimate relationship with her community of aspiring BAWSE babes.

How did the idea for The Mane Choice come about? What made you want to start a hair care line?

After a hair coloring experience went terribly wrong, I went on a rampage to find the best way to fix it, but I wanted a more natural solution. I started to research ingredients and hair products to help with the journey. So, I decided to make my own deep conditioner by blending natural ingredients together. I started a YouTube channel to document my journey to healthy, waist-length hair. Eventually, I shared my deep conditioning recipe with my subscribers, and most of them didn’t want to make it. They preferred for me to make it and sell it to them. The light bulb came on, and that’s when The Mane Choice was born. My husband, Wale, and I started the business with $500. That same deep conditioner was the very first product sold under The Mane Choice name, and the rest is history!

A lot of people have asked you to be their mentor. What’s one piece of advice you would give everyone if you could?

Everyone has a gift! Ultimately, it’s up to you to learn what it is and hone it. Be open minded and receptive to learning and growing—ALWAYS. If you’re not teachable, there’s no way you can evolve. Condition your mind and your body every day. Take it upon yourself to learn something new and exercise, daily. Be introspective; always evaluate yourself—polish your current skills, develop new ones, and expand your limitations.

You have such a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

I’ve been able to build some new relationships and nurture existing ones. Social media has been instrumental in helping me to touch people that I may not have had access to before.

What can the beauty industry be doing better?

By not only recognizing that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and colors, but by being intentional and inclusive. All people should see themselves represented in a positive light in the beauty industry. We need to see more variations of beauty. EVERYONE should be represented, as representation matters.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

You must be bold, creative, and resilient! The beauty industry is ever-changing, and you must be adaptable, or you’ll be stagnant. Stagnation eventually causes you to become extinct or invisible (at least in the eyes of the consumer).

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

It takes innovation and the guts to take risks. Find your target demographic and shower her with love and attention! You MUST listen to your consumer and be open to not nailing it 100% in the beginning. That creates opportunities to learn and evolve.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I’m fulfilled knowing that my way of creating solutions to problems in the beauty industry has simultaneously enabled me to offer livelihoods to some amazing people.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

Try not to rush the process, yet don’t be afraid to take chances. Enjoy each phase of growth. Learn as much as you can in each “season” of building your business so that you can scale in the best way possible. Many business owners want to grow large, and quickly! Believe it or not, it’s possible to be unprepared for rapid growth, so pace yourself.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

My biggest highlight, so far, really has little to do with business. It has been the effect that my giving back has on people. What comes second nature to me, can be monumental to others. Recently, my husband and I wanted to do something special for our daughters’ teacher. She works so hard, and when I found out that she was taking multiple buses to get to work, I thought something was grossly wrong with that. It bothered me terribly; it was only natural for me to want her to have reliable transportation, so I bought her a car. It was so fulfilling to just GIVE! The response I received from everyone caught me completely off guard! It was and still is an overwhelming highlight in my life.

“Try not to rush the process, yet don’t be afraid to take chances. Enjoy each phase of growth.”

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I’m heavily driven by my family. Mostly my husband and my children. They’re my ”why!”

What are the common challenges you've seen among female hairstylists?

Typically, I’ve seen them have challenges with adaptability. When times change, and hair styles and techniques evolve, some of them either refuse to just go with it or they wait as long as they can to learn new techniques or polish up the ones they have.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

Just like in life, you deal with it. In the beginning, it may knock the wind out of you, but you assess the situation, learn from it and use it as a catalyst to grow. Sometimes the solution won’t be obvious, so you may have to really dig deep and request the help of your support system, and/or mentor.

Whose career really inspires you?

Right now, the owner of Amazon, Jeff Bezos. He’s a beast! I truly admire his work ethic and business savvy!

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

For 2019, my mission is to be on all hair care aisles, not just the ethnic/multicultural section…I am most excited about the possibilities. They are infinite!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Huda Kattan

Huda Kattan is living proof that when one door closes, another opens. Within days of getting laid off from her finance job, the lifelong makeup lover was on a plane to Los Angeles to study at the Joe Blasco Makeup Artistry School. This passion for self-expression, paired with her charismatic energy, translated to her beauty blog and YouTube tutorials, and by 2013, she launched Huda Beauty along with her sisters Mona and Alya. Cut to 2018, and Huda Beauty is an empire with millions of brand-loyal followers. Seriously. The brand has over 30 million followers. Casual.

The sister-owned and operated company is poised to dominate the beauty game in 2019 by expanding their makeup empire to include fragrance and skincare. Listening to Huda talk about her success, you can feel how genuine her love of this business is. Without a doubt, you’ll see more of Huda in the headlines for a long time to come.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Our success comes down to listening to our social family and reminding them that they have the power to define beauty for themselves. I am constantly inspired by the comments and requests we see on Instagram. When it comes to creating new products, we always consider what they are looking for and we never create anything unless we recognize that there is a need for it.

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

As cliché as it might sound it has to start with passion and that goes for any brand, not just beauty brands. For beauty brands specifically, I think you need to be open, authentic and inclusive to continue to garner the right type of community that will follow you and support you through and through.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

My team and I spend so many months developing the most amazing products so when I see people using these products every day it’s the most incredible feeling. Seeing the effect my product has on the community is so fulfilling. Seriously, every video tutorial that I see of people inspired by our products or every person that stops to tell me how much they love our brand reminds me why I love what I do.

What have you learned the most about today’s beauty consumer? What do people want from beauty brands?

They want honesty and authenticity which really isn’t much to ask for when you think about it. They just want product that delivers, and they want to trust the source it’s coming from. They also want to be heard, which is something we always keep in mind when we are developing new products. We want to give them what they want, so why not ask them? Our social family has influenced every single product launch in more ways than they’ll ever know.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

One of my mentors from University always told me, "It’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” That statement has replayed in my head over and over again and every time I’m about to make decisions, I remind myself of this. I really think this is what has made me as bold as I am today. I really live by this.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Sephora stocking our lashes for the first time was a really surreal moment for me – I literally had to pinch myself! If anyone knew how many times I emailed them to schedule a meeting to give my business pitch, they’d think I was crazy. But I was so determined, and I wasn’t giving up until that meeting was secured. When it was, I told myself, “Go in there and give the best business pitch you know how to give.” And I did.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

Ever since I knew what makeup was, I loved it. When I understood how powerful makeup was and how it could alter your feelings and confidence, I wanted to share that power with the world. My passion really comes from the feeling that makeup can give you, no matter how much or little you choose to use and apply. It’s really a vehicle for confidence and creativity and with confidence, you can conquer anything.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

In my experience, it’s getting the right people to take you seriously. In the beginning, getting anyone to take me and my business ideas was so difficult—it was really upsetting and challenging. It’s kind of sad and backwards, but it takes succeeding first in order for people to then take you seriously as an entrepreneur. I really wish that weren’t the case!

“When I understood how powerful makeup was and how it could alter your feelings and confidence, I wanted to share that power with the world. ”

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

It’s really all about where you apply your focus. If you focus on the bump or hurdle, it will start to consume you and won’t benefit you. You just have to learn from your mistakes and apply those learnings to future situations and remain positive. No one is perfect, and problems will always arise. It just takes being solution oriented and positive to get through it all.

Whose career really inspires you?

I’d probably have to say Oprah. I mean, she is major goals. She’s honest and authentic, and she’s challenged so many norms and broken so many rules in all of the right ways. She’s gotten to where she is by never taking no for an answer, believing in her vision and relentlessly chasing her dreams. I think if you use her journey as guidance, you can’t go wrong.

What’s next for Huda Beauty in 2019? What are you most excited for?

We ended 2018 really strongly with the introduction of KAYALI and the announcement that we’d not only be diving into fragrance but also into skincare come 2019. We’re super excited to be challenged by something new and to work as a team to continue to make the magic happen. We’re working on so many fun and innovative things right now and we can’t wait to share with everyone soon!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Tess Holliday

There's a quote that’s been wheat pasted across cityscapes and permeated the depths of Pinterest that goes a little something like this:

"In a society that profits from your self doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act."

For women, joining the rebellion is that much harder. First they must dismantle years of internalized beauty standards reinforced by the patriarchy, challenge retail sizing standards, and take on a general culture of misogyny. Women really can have it all!

But the pervasive and intimate nature of social media has allowed for people to become their own TV networks, individuals to start movements, and communities to form. Tess Holliday became the face of such a body-positive rebellion—an inclusivity movement prompted by the model demonstrating self-love on social media and clapping back at trolls with the hashtag #EffYourBeautyStandards. Now, the hashtag has been used over 3.5 million times by women embracing their bodies and fighting to make space for them in a society that narrowly (and ignorantly) equates thinness with health.

The plus-size model and published author is refreshingly honest and uses her platform to say what many can’t: the “one-size-fits-all” narrative is toxic. She’s wielded her influence to fuel a much larger discussion about women's autonomy, size inclusivity, and how the male gaze has impacted beauty standards and expectations.

Her message of self-love, empowerment, and self-worth has filtered all the way up to the bigwigs in media and fashion. Inclusion is no longer optional—it’s mandatory. And while mainstream retailers are starting to change their ways, Tess Holliday has one message for high-fashion labels: She’s coming for you with curves and confidence.

How did you originally get into modeling?

From the age of 13, I wanted to be a model. When I was 15, I went to a casting call in Atlanta. They told me that I was too short and too fat and could only hope to be a catalog model and would never be an actual model.

I put my dreams on the back burner and moved to Seattle to pursue becoming a makeup artist. I ended up working as a makeup artist for a few years before moving to Los Angeles, where within 6 months, a casting director reached out to me because they saw photos of me online. I was asked to come in for an audition. It ended up being my first job: A nationwide ad campaign for a TV series where I was on billboards across America.

You’re known for your confidence and ability to brush off the haters. We’ve been in your comments, and while there’s so much love and support, there are also ones that are cruel and heart-wrenching. Do you have any advice for anyone who receives criticism online, whether it be on their parenting, their appearance, their career choice, etc.?

My best advice would be to ignore the bad and sometimes the praise, because it's awesome when people say nice things and are so supportive, but I try not to let too much of the good or the bad seep in—it derails me from what I’m trying to do. I just take it all in stride and ignore the criticism as much as possible, unless it’s constructive criticism and coming from a place of love. If someone is just being rude for no reason, I brush it off and go about my day because I’m not doing my work for the people that don’t like me, I’m doing it for the people that need to see someone like me and understand that they’re not alone.

Can you tell us a little bit about Eff Your Beauty Standards and how it came about?

I started #EffYourBeautyStandards because I was tired of being told what I could and could not wear by the mainstream media. I decided that I wanted to wear what I liked and what I felt comfortable in. Being told to cover up and not show my body by the media was a turning point for me and I just decided “Eff” that. I created this brand for a safe place, a platform for others to feel a sense of belonging and a sense of community.

You were recently on the cover of Cosmopolitan and it broke the internet. How has this milestone affected your career?

It helped open the doors for a lot of opportunities that were already in the works. There’s definitely credibility that comes along with being on a mainstream fashion cover. I think the cover woke people up and showed them that, “Hey, she’s serious.” It lends credibility not just to my career, but to plus-size modeling in general.

What characteristics make you successful in the modeling industry?

I think my stubbornness, the fact that I don’t take no for an answer, my work ethic, and my sense of humor help in my success.

What does it take to build your personal brand from the ground up?

It takes being able to take criticism from people and the willingness to be able to grow, learn, adapt, and change while accepting help, which is still badass. You can’t do it alone; I think so many people try to do it alone and you just can’t. Not having people around you that are ‘yes people’ because you need people you trust who will say, “Hey, that’s a dumb idea.” You need people who will call you out and help you out.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I think it’s knowing that I’m able to provide for my family by doing what I love. It’s also knowing that I’m able to help so many people that don’t know their worth because I used to be like that and it’s really lonely. So that’s why I do what I do, because I’m helping other people.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

Jeff Kurpuis, who owns Orchard Corset, told me in the beginning of my modeling career that there are two types of people in this world: People who love people and people who love money—and you have to decide which person you are. It made me realize that I’ve been so focused on money, asking myself, “Oh, am I going to make this much, am I going to be able to do this, will my life be easier?” You have to choose who you are. I had to ask myself, “Why are you doing this?” The answer is that I’m doing this for people, I’m doing this to help others, and I’m not doing it for the money. I always remember this when I take on a new job because it’s not about the money; I genuinely love who I work with and not what they’re paying me.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Definitely being on the cover of Cosmo UK. Also, being on the cover of SELF’s first digital issue was a highlight and a surprise because it’s a fitness magazine...and I never thought I would see myself on a fitness magazine.

“You learn more from the failures than you do from your successes, and oftentimes I have to remind myself that if something doesn’t work out, then it’s not the right time in my life and that maybe there’s something better on the horizon. ”

You have a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

Having a large presence on social media has given me a career. I wouldn’t have a career if it weren’t for social media and having a fan base that believes in me and what I’m doing.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I think it comes from my mom. My mom always told me that I could do whatever I wanted to, regardless of my size and what I looked like. Having a kid at a young age pushed and helped me as well.

What are the common challenges you've seen among curve models?

Definitely lack of opportunities. There are fewer opportunities and a lot of people frown upon using bigger models. Things are definitely changing now—you see several plus-size models in beauty and fashion campaigns—but it still very much feels like an afterthought instead of something people actually give a shit about.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

You learn more from the failures than you do from your successes, and oftentimes I have to remind myself that if something doesn’t work out, then it's not the right time in my life and that maybe there’s something better on the horizon.

Whose career really inspires you?

I would say, Chrissy Teigen! She was a model, then, through sharing her love for cooking on social media with her fans in a genuine way, she was able to turn that into a multimillion-dollar brand. I also think that Chrissy is respected in the industry because she’s completely herself. She has been a great example of showing that it’s okay to be yourself and she is always showing that she’s not only a model—she’s so much more. And it's okay to not be perfect, to laugh at yourself, and have fun with life. I really admire her for that and people like her who can do that.

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

Furthering the conversation of diversity and inclusivity! Also, breaking into the high-end fashion world for all sizes.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Nikki Lee & Riawna Capri

If you’re someone who screenshots celeb haircuts to bring to your own hairstylist, chances are you’re already familiar with Nikki Lee & Riawna Capri’s work without even knowing it.

The dynamic duo co-founded the esteemed Nine Zero One salon in West Hollywood almost a decade ago, where they quickly made a name for themselves as two of the go-to stylists for the Hollywood elite. In keeping with the town’s tabloid tradition, they even have a BFF pseudonym: Caprilee. The two BFFs-turned-business-partners have steadily been growing their business portfolio with the launch of their luxury hair care treatment brand, In Common. The brand is all about ingredient transparency and confidence-building beauty. “We couldn’t do what we do without each other,” they say of their business, and their close relationship is evident in everything that they do. They also build community wherever they go. Want to take a workshop with them? Sign up for the 901 Academy. Want access to hundreds or tutorials, tips, and tricks? Sign up for their editorial platform, The Beauty Coach. Want to shower your hair with some love? Check out Raindrops, their water filtration system. These boss babes are building a seriously multidisciplinary beauty brand and you’ll want to follow their inspiring journey.

You guys have several business ventures together. How did you know you were the perfect match as business partners?

Nikki: We didn’t! It took starting our own business together to see how well we clicked and how we balance each other out.

Riawna: We learned early on to respect each other’s strengths and allow us to focus on strengths instead of trying to do everything together.

Nine Zero One is now an LA hotspot, with a roster of celebrity clients. What characteristics make you successful in the hair industry?

Riawna: We treat everyone the same! When we started Nine Zero One, we wanted to create a friendlier environment, where people actually smile at you. In L.A., there’s a pretentiousness that surrounds the area, and I feel like I don't belong half the time. That's why we created our home of good people, good energy, and good vibes.

What does it take to build a beauty business from the ground up in today’s world?

Riawna: Dedication and determination. Being fearless… not paying attention to everyone else, staying true to what you are good at.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Riawna: Making people look and feel beautiful. When they come into the salon and leave deciding that they want to go out that night, it makes you feel great! I love the happiness they leave with.

Nikki: We love that we’re not only giving them a cut or color, we’re giving them the feeling of confidence when they leave the salon!

How has social media impacted the growth of your businesses?

Riawna: It has helped build our careers and Nine Zero One. If you're an artist — be it a painter, chef, hair stylist, or makeup artist — social media can be used as your portfolio. No one is going go to www.com and look at your work as much as they would if it's on Instagram. It's the best way to be able to showcase what you can do. It's free advertising.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

Nikki: Always do it for the passion and the money will come.

Riawna: I had a mentor say to me once that hair is 80% personality, 20% talent. I don’t think those numbers are completely correct, but you have someone in your chair for four to five hours and you want to make sure they have a wonderful experience. Even if you give them the best cut in the world, if you don’t connect with them, they won’t come back.

Because of social media and being able to see what other people are doing, it’s easy to become sidetracked or discouraged. Instead, you should just be focused on what you’re good at and what’s best for your brand.

Tweet this

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Riawna: Nine Zero One!

Nikki: Never in our wildest dreams did we think Nine Zero One would become what it has. We started it simply because we wanted a happy, fun work environment. It blossomed into an amazing brand that we could not be more proud of.

We believe people go to salons to look a certain way. People come to Nine Zero One to feel a certain way.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

Riawna: Our hearts. We love doing hair!

Nikki: We both had similar upbringings, we didn’t come from much so we always knew if we wanted anything we had to work very hard for it!

What are the common challenges you've seen among female hairdressers and beauty moguls?

Nikki: Because of social media and being able to see what other people are doing, it’s easy to become sidetracked or discouraged. Instead, you should just be focused on what you’re good at and what’s best for your brand. In the more recent years, it’s been nice to see women coming together and supporting each other because there’s enough to go around.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

Nikki: We’ve always been problem-solvers. When we hit a bump, we often create the solution. Take [our shower filtration system] Raindrops for example—our clients kept on getting brassy hair, so we created a water filter to prevent it!

What’s next for you two in 2019? What are you most excited for?

Riawna: The Launch of In Common Beauty, our hair care treatment line.

Nikki: BeYOUtiful days. The BeYOUtiful Foundation is our passion project we launched in July of 2018. The BeYOUtiful Foundation is a foundation designed to provide hope, love and a path to feeling BeYOUtiful, created for women of all ages defying the odds against cancer. We’re excited to onboard more salons so we can help more women in 2019!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Felicia Leatherwood

Felicia “Hair Whisperer” Leatherwood has over 26 years of experience as a world-renowned celebrity hairstylist and natural hair expert. Her work and industry veteran status is rooted in the idea of holistic health and fundamentally loving yourself, which is a true inside-out approach to haircare. That’s why it’s no surprise that her work has been featured in Vogue, Variety, Essence, Elle, and Ebony.

You might know Leatherwood as the hairstyle hitmaker behind all of Issa Rae’s character’s hairstyles on Insecure, but Felicia has been building her empire for much longer than the hit HBO series has been on air. She’s also the go-to hairstylist for several other leading actors in Hollywood, including Ava Duvernay, Will Smith, Jill Scott, and Viola Davis (...not to namedrop or anything, but damn).

Leatherwood has developed groundbreaking products, solutions, and techniques for natural hair care over the past several decades, and she also conducts hair care workshops for audiences around the globe under the brand and slogan “Loving Your Hair with Natural Care.” For women with kinky or curly hair, her work is a godsend.

As 2019 comes into full view, the cultural dialogue around representation and inclusion continues to underscore all aspects of business. For Felicia, Hollywood’s embracement of natural hair and natural styles is a way to promote self-love and connect with a new generation through her art.

How did you get you originally step into the hairstyling world?

My mother didn’t know how to do my hair as a child, so at 9 years old, I took matters into my own hands and taught myself. The rest is history.

You also created a product, the FL Detangler Brush. What inspired you to launch your own product and business outside of hairstyling?

I needed something that could continue to support the hairstyling community with the proper tools. There just aren’t enough tools to support the health of our hair, so the product was to keep healthy hair/tresses. The product I created helps men and women maintain the health of their hair.

Working with celebrities sounds like it can put a lot of pressure on you. What’s been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward in having a famous roster of clients?

The biggest challenge is when award season comes around and I get requested for multiple people on the same day, which means I’d have to come up with multiple hairstyles that are completely different from each other. The biggest reward is at the end when I sit down and see everyone on the red carpet looking phenomenal, and the next day hearing of all the compliments they received on their hair.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

I think my sense of humour, my knowledge of naturally-textured hair, and the fact that I am a hair nerd have all contributed to my success. I probably care about your hair more than you do :)

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

It takes really being open to learning more about social media and social media marketing. Being aware of where the future of marketing is going, what kind of content will keep you relevant, and what consumers are looking for as it relates to the business.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I feel the most fulfilled when people leave me feeling more knowledgeable and empowered about their hair.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

“Don’t look at anything as a failure, but as an opportunity to learn how to do it better the next time.”

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

The highlight has been working on Insecure with Issa Rae and being able to create so many hairstyles that viewers feel empowered by and proud to see on the screen.

“Sometimes the challenge, at least for me, has been getting women to change the way they feel about their hair and embracing the beauty that they were born with.”

You have a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

What social media gives you is more of a platform to get more exposure. So I have been able to reach more women and give more people an understanding of their hair, and for that I am grateful.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

What keeps me going is watching so many women emerge into confidence about their hair.

What are the common challenges you've seen among female hairstylists?

Sometimes the challenge, at least for me, has been getting women to change the way they feel about their hair and embracing the beauty that they were born with.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

When ants are on a mission to get to a destination and you put something in their path, they will always find a way or an opening around whatever is blocking their path. They will always continue to push along until they find that opening. I’ve adapted to this lifestyle and however you block my path I will always keep pushing to find that opening or way around to reach my intended goal.

Whose career really inspires you?

Issa Rae, because she knows how to stay focused, she’s driven, and she really uses her success to support and give opportunity to those around her.

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

I have three companies that I am running and I’m really excited to watch them grow, so that I can give opportunities to more people and support their growth.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Frederique Harrel

"Beauty should not be acquired at someone else's expense."

These are the words Freddie Harrel lives by. The UK-based Parisian fashion blogger and self-proclaimed confidence coach turned a frustration within the hair care industry into a booming, ethical business of its own. Freddie was on the hunt for synthetic extensions for her own big, bold, beautiful hair, but was disappointed by the quality of the products available. She started experimenting by making her own synthetic extensions and a few years later, Big Hair No Care was born.

Since beginning her foray into the business side of hair, Freddie has used her platform to advocate for women’s empowerment with SHE Unleashed, a workshop series where women of all ages come together to discuss the issues that impact the female experience, including the feeling of otherness, identity politics, unconscious bias, racism, and sexism. She was also the Cosmopolitan Influencer of the Year in 2018 and is a renowned TEDx Talk speaker.

Harrel’s brand is so much more than ethically-sourced hair products—it’s evolved into a community of women who want to take back the confidence that the patriarchy robbed from them. At the helm of this movement, Harrel is a fierce force who wants to inspire a generation of women to embrace their true selves.

When did you realize you could make a business out of your presence online?

It took me a while and each time it was accidental. I had had my blog for just under a year when I left my career as a digital strategist to be a personal stylist for ASOS. There we were basically full-time bloggers; there was no job like it. It taught me to take blogging seriously and showed me the financial side of things. When they let me go, I knew I didn’t want to go back to digital marketing—the exposure I got online really made me want to work with women on confidence, so I knew that after that job I would need to create the next steps myself. I trained as a coach and launched the SHE Unleashed workshops the following year, in 2016. I wasn’t making a lot of money from the blog at this point, so I really had to build everything up, whatever I was going to be. Around this same time, my husband got offered a job out of the blue in Geneva, and it was such a good opportunity we had to seize it! But I was very worried it would put a stop to my career, as there was nothing going on in Switzerland for me. So I launched Big Hair No Care! I had already developed the product years before, when I got grossed out by human hair and tired of the horrific synthetic alternatives you find on the high street. I found this lady in China, we created this style, and that’s what I was wearing when I launched the blog. It was never my goal to launch a beauty brand, let alone a hair one, but with such a short notice, BHNC was the quickest business idea to set up.

What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards you’ve faced by displaying your life online?

I’ll start with the rewards because they outweigh the rest by far! The biggest reward is the community! All these like-minded ladies who follow me online and share their stories and journeys with me. By making myself vulnerable, I’ve found people who’ve been through the same things as me, and it has been extremely cathartic in some occasions. As for challenges, they’re mostly around people sharing their unsolicited opinion.

How do you decide which brands you do and don’t work with?

I mostly work with fashion brands, but also services and tech brands. When it comes to fashion brands, I try to stays away from super fast fashion retailers with very low prices, because you know they’re probably taking shortcuts when it comes to their workforce of the environmental consequences. But I realize that this is now a privilege I have, to be able to turn down offers from brand I don’t agree with. I also decide based on the message of the campaign, be it around self-love or supporting young entrepreneurs.

Tell us about Big Hair No Care. What was the inspiration behind it?

Big Hair No Care started because I absolutely love a huge Afro. My hair has so much less volume, so I add extensions to it. I used to use human hair but wasn’t a huge fan, so I starting doing a bit of research in to synthetic options on the high street—none fit my criteria, so I found a supplier and designed the the extensions I wanted. When people kept asking me about my hair and I would tell them they were extensions, they kept asking where from and I had nowhere to direct them to. I eventually launched it as a brand when we moved to Geneva, and extended the range with another texture. Everything happened so quickly—I had never planned to have a hair business.

My line offers clip-in extensions, which are made to match your texture. You don’t need to wash, condition, or detangle them, so they are really great for people who don’t have much time or experience. The aim is to make the natural hair experience faster, easier, and more inclusive. This idea that black women are “extra” and spend senselessly on beauty needs to stop, and hair care needs to be made easier. I wanted a brand that would allow us to save this time and money for things that uplift and empower us so we can put this time and money towards therapy, travelling, a mortgage, evening courses, etc.

Big Hair No Care is a hair business, but it’s also a self-confidence business, a self-love business, and a business by and for black women. I’m hoping to help change the culture of black beauty and make it so much easier, be a culturally-aware brand striving to be ethical, equal, and social, ensuring more and more black people make money from this industry.

“I was born as a black woman for a reason, and I just want to make sure I don’t miss it. ”

What characteristics make you successful as an influencer?

I think my vulnerability. I’m very positive as a person, but positive doesn’t mean happy. Happiness is a full time job, and I share a lot of my lows with my audience. In an age where social media gives us the impression that everyone else is living their best lives, it’s nice to be able to come across people who make vulnerability comfortable, and I hope to be one of these people.

What does it take to build your personal brand from the ground up?

I wouldn’t really know to be honest. I still don’t understand how I got there, but you can’t really compare circumstances. Working as a personal stylist definitely helped in the early days, and having big hair too, ahah! But I’d say consistency is key! That’s why I’m so honest online, because I would have given up a long time ago if I was portraying an ideal I couldn’t keep up with. I guess if you’re doing you, you’ll always find inspiration on what to share (eventually, there are moments I wonder what this is all about). Engaging with your followers, listening and talking with them—I’ve made great virtual friends since this IG journey! Then there are all of these specific tips you can find on how to grow your brand, but I wouldn’t really know—I hate myself for worrying so much about these things sometimes, so I’m just doing me. At some point they said videos are the future, I tried and beat myself for it, but YouTube isn’t for me, and that’s okay.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

Speaking with other women, and entrepreneurs, getting together with them! I’m also having so much fun (and panic!!) dreaming of the future of BHNC and putting things in motion. As mentioned earlier, I really intend to change the culture. There’s no OPI or Essie when it comes to black hair, there’s no big sister like Glossier. Who’s talking to young girls? Our hair is one of the things that sets us the most apart, especially when growing up and trying to find your spot. Who tells them they’re enough? Who says their hair is beautiful and fun to play with? I want to be on their side for the rest of the journey. 63% of black women wear protective styles—what brand is honing the conversation around that? I want to be that brand.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

You are what makes your business different! It always boils down to you. No one can copy who you are, how you think, how you see and perceive things. You have to be your very best friend through it all, because you’ll hit the floor countless times.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

So many! Being featured in most of the printed press, being awarded Influencer of the Year by Cosmopolitan this year, being at a stage where other brands share my vision of BHNC and want to help, so so many highlights!

You have a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

Well, it’s been the best marketing tool to build BHNC, without my own personal brand it would have been impossible! It allowed me to meet and/or befriend people I would not have had access to had I not been popular online. It opened so many doors for me.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I’m intense!! I speak too much, I’m loud, my laugh is loud, I get super excited, I don’t rest easy, I don’t know—I’m just intense! But I LOVE to feel helpful. I still can’t believe that a lot of people look up to me, you ought to have seen me growing up! I was never a cool girl! So now that I have these people rooting for me, I don’t want to disappoint. I want to create things they’ll be excited about. I was born as a black woman for a reason, and I just want to make sure I don’t miss it.

What are the common misconceptions you’ve heard about influencers?

Easy money. To a certain extent, absolutely! But you also pay with both your sanity and self-esteem.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

My dad would always tell me whenever I’d tell him I was hitting rock bottom, that it was actually exciting because it’s when I fall that I find all my resources. When I go low, I go really low, and it’s very painful. I think it’s my survival mode that kicks in. I usually grant myself a small pity-party then I rush to the drawing board. I just have to, I can’t afford to sink (Did I tell you I was intense?)

Who’s career really inspires you?

Sophia Amoruso! Talking about someone who’s hit bumps and turned them into successes! I love her attitude!

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

Expanding BHNC, moving to NYC as result. New life in a new place, I absolutely can’t wait!!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Justine Marjan

Justine Marjan met her mentors on Instagram.

She moved to LA with the talent and tenacity to build her own hair and beauty empire. She also had a calculated digital strategy that has established her as one of the industry’s most sought-after artists.

In the early days, Justine published a personal blog and maintained a curated Instagram presence that showcased her work and demonstrated tutorials. This digital portfolio allowed her to create a consumer-facing brand and to act as her own agent, manager, cheerleader, and publicist all at once. New to Los Angeles, sans representation, she drove across the city to salons she loved to drop off resumes every weekend. She blindly reached out to two of the industry’s biggest icons on Instagram - (both C&C100 alum!) - Jen Atkin and Kristen Ess. The best part? They replied.

Years have passed since those initial Instagram interactions, and Justine’s career has been skyrocketing ever since. Her client roster reads like the guest list of a legendary party at the Chateau Marmont. Think Ashley Graham, Olivia Culpo, Shay Mitchell, and America’s royal family, the Kardashians.

She’s also the global stylist for TRESemme (no biggie), the former editorial director of Mane Addicts (which, if you know, you know), and co-parent to Cashew, a mini goldendoodle who loves a strong fashion moment.

How did you get your foot in the door and make your mark in the hairstyling business?

I had been working in a salon in my hometown for eight years when I realized I needed to move to a larger city to meet my goals and continue to grow in my field. I started reaching out to hairstylists I admired in Los Angeles through social media and replied to a few social media ads. I would drive to LA every weekend to drop off resumes and check in to salons I loved. Eventually Kristin Ess and Jen Atkin replied and I worked part-time for both of them until the workload with Jen picked up so much that I ended up working with her full-time. I was one of two employees at the time, so my duties included helping launch Mane Addicts and OUAI. I had experience blogging, so I spearheaded Mane Addicts as editorial director while also acting as a personal assistant and assisting Jen with hair, all while taking my own clients on the side. I felt like I had 5 jobs and was easily working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. When Jen launched OUAI and her empire started to build, she had less time for her clients and, at this point, her clients knew and trusted me, so I would do their hair when she wasn’t available. Eventually things picked up through referrals and word of mouth, and I was able to branch off on my own.

You have such a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

I attribute my entire career to social media. When I first started in LA, I connected with people through social media and they used my social pages like a digital portfolio to verify my credibility. I also had a personal blog I promoted through social, so when Jen was starting Mane Addicts, she knew I had experience not only in hair, but also with writing and photography. I realized early on how powerful social media is in marketing and branding yourself. You no longer need an agent to get your name out there, so I used my Instagram to promote my work and skills and didn’t have an agent for the first couple years of my career as a freelancer. I am constantly using my Instagram to post tutorials, connect with my followers, share my knowledge, build relationships with my peers, colleagues, editors, brands, and find potential new clients. I can easily say that 70% of my job is social media.

Working with celebrities sounds like it can involve a lot of pressure. What’s been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward in having a famous roster of clients?

The biggest challenge is the continuous artist struggle, or the freelance blues. As an artist, our business comes in ebbs and flows, sometimes it’s abundant and sometimes it’s quiet.

When working with high profile clients, it’s important to remember not to take it personally when they work with someone else or when they are having a bad day. It’s imperative that your ego is put aside and you remember that we work in the service industry, and that before anything else, our most important job is taking care of our clients.

The biggest reward is seeing my work make a best beauty list or seeing the finished photos in a campaign or on the red carpet. I love seeing everything come together from head to toe and it feels so good to collaborate with other creatives.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Working with celebrities means there is no room for ego. It’s so important to have an adaptable personality and not to take things personally. More than talent, making sure you are of service to your client and make them feel great will go a long way. There are a lot of wild personalities in the industry and we’re all artists so it’s hard not to get competitive or take things personally, but you have to remind yourself that you will attract clients who are like you, so think about what you are projecting into the world.

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

Consumers are more educated than ever and want to be involved in the process of what beauty means. It’s no longer about a pro telling you what to do or buy, instead consumers want to feel like they are a part of the conversation. We’re seeing so many amazing social-first beauty brands pop up and it’s created for great communities of conscientious consumers who feel connected to something larger. I love that founders can have a direct form of communication with their audience and address what real people actually want and need. I’m so impressed with how Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores have launched Summer Fridays as a social-first company that now is available in major stores like Sephora.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love partnering with brands and creating something amazing! One of my biggest accomplishments in 2018 was creating a line of hair accessories with Kitsch. It was such a career bucket list moment to be able to design beautiful pieces and see them come to life. I love watching people wear them and getting feedback from real people wearing them!

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

There’s enough work to go around for everyone. Don’t be threatened by your peers, be inspired by them. There’s always going to be enough work for us all to be successful.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

My amazing partnership with Tresemme which has allowed me to lead the hair backstage for shows like Jonathan Simkhai, Cushnie et Ochs, and Alice and Olivia during New York Fashion Week. I’ve always looked up to the legends who key shows like Guido Palau and Odile Gilbert so being in their company is such an honor.

Where does your passion/drive come from?

I didn’t grow up with a lot of money and I always had to work for what I wanted. My father was an immigrant and worked so hard to support our family. I saw my parents struggle to support 2 daughters and a son with a disability that I’ve always really pushed myself to be my best and accomplish something. I hated hearing ‘we can’t afford that’ or negative connotations around money and success that in my late teens and throughout my 20’s I worked so hard to change my conditioning and mindset. I am constantly pushing myself to be better and grow to build the life I want.

“It’s important to remember that every experience in your life serves a purpose. Although it may seem like one door is closing, another one will always open and we have to be prepared to make space for that in our lives. ”

What are the common challenges you've seen among female hairstylists?

Even in a female-centric industry like the beauty industry, it is still male-led. Among the top tier of talent, there are few women and the boards of many of the major brands are still majority male. The industry can feel like a “boys’ club,” where men look out for each other and the women have to work twice as hard to get noticed and be twice as careful about their actions and appearance. High-profile women can often be threatened by women around them, so they prefer to have male glam squads. Women also have to worry about the impact having children will have on a freelance career. As the breadwinner, it’s hard to think about taking time off to have a child and how that will impact crazy work hours and travel schedule. Overall we’re still working for gender equality in the beauty industry, just as we are in all industries.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

It’s important to remember that every experience in your life serves a purpose. Although it may seem like one door is closing, another one will always open and we have to be prepared to make space for that in our lives. It’s hard to let go of what we are attached to, but sometimes our attachments can limit us and we need to make space for growth. I heard a great quote about how worrying about something before it happens only means you worry twice. I try to keep an open mind while taking each roadblock and setback one step at a time.

Whose career really inspires you?

Jen Atkin’s career inspires everyone. I worked for her for years when I first moved to LA and she has been the most significant mentor and influence in my life. I admire her humble beginnings, how hard she works, what a big heart she has, her sense of humor, energy, and confidence! She has been able to expand out of just hair and make a name for herself as a businesswoman, pioneer, innovator, and influencer. I am honored to have her in my corner and will always look at her accomplishments as inspiration!

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

I am stepping into the unknown in 2019. I will be with a new agency January 2019 and it’s a big unexpected change in my life so I am trying to keep an open mind and be ready for what is to come. I also have an exciting TV opportunity that will air in the spring, more hair accessory drops with Kitsch, and hopefully a lot more travel, clients, and surprises in store!

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Lauryn Evarts

Kale in one hand, champagne in the other.

This is the ethos behind The Skinny Confidential, the lifestyle site Lauryn Evarts built in 2009, while she was a student at San Diego State University. She wanted a place where all the women on campus could come together to share tips and tricks for wellness. What she didn’t expect was that her blog would end up reaching women around the world, amassing a cult following.

Lauryn parlayed the success of her blog into an influential IG account (with more than 700k followers!), a namesake fitness book, a YouTube channel, and now, a podcast with more than 25 million downloads. But amid her success, Lauryn humbly reminds us—this empire took work, and she’s not done yet. Read on to hear her thoughts on branding, over-sharing, and the art of execution.

Tell us what prompted you to start The Skinny Confidential.

There was A LOT of untapped white space in the online world. There were a lot of bloggers out there talking about their life, but I didn’t see a lot of sites connecting like-minded women. I was interested in that, you know? I was interested in other people from around the world, what made them tick, what they were doing and what their tips & tricks were too—whether it was a model, an actress, or an everyday girl, I had this desire to connect and talk with other people. Having this sort of resource full of women’s tips & tricks didn’t exist at the time, so I set out to create a brand and blog that was pretty, pink & cheeky.

When launching, I knew that the blog would be the foundation of the brand. How I rolled it out was very thoughtful and strategic—I didn’t just throw up a site without planning. I like a plan.

Being broke (lucky if I had $80 in my bank account to be honest), bartending, teaching Pure Barre & Pilates classes, living at my godparents’ for free & attending San Diego State full time, I knew that if I did this I had to do it right. ​The Skinny Confidential​ needed to come out with a bang.

I found a web designer and made a huge poster board with the design I had in my head. The best way was to draw out what I wanted instead of telling him. I had this pink Trapper Keeper (which I still have today) full of ideas and clippings and research that I wanted to share with the world. Lots of questions too.

Talking with doctors & experts and tweeting with models helped me to really get started in creating a space for women to share tips & tricks when it came to health & fitness. Niching down was a no-brainer because I didn’t want to overwhelm the audience.

Also, you should know the name ​The Skinny Confidential ​has nothing to do with being skinny. I was writing down all these cheeky words when I was thinking of a name and skinny & confidential kept coming up. It was everything that I wanted because it means “get the skinny.” You know, “get the juice.”

You can pretty much get anyone to buy anything. How did you build that trust with your audience?

When I find something I like, I cannot shut the F up. There’s something in me where I just have to get other people involved, like a natural over-sharer. If I find a great shirt at Forever 21 for $13.99 I have to tell everyone and their mom. TSC readers need to know where it’s from and WHY THEY NEED IT—very specific over here. I’m very much about details & specifics.

If someone is telling me about why I need a Hydro Flask, I want to know what color to get, what to put in it, if it’s for warm or cold drinks, how it’s cleaned, the proper straw to use—every detail is essential. Every single detail has always been important and interesting to me, so I do that with my audience when I talk about products too. It’s just very important to the overall brand.

When I talk about something that I think my readers will love, I want to take them from A-Z. If A-B is talking about something and a reader decides to buy it, then A-Z just goes so much further. Is my reader going to buy it and absolutely love it? Are they going to use it every day? Is that person going to recommend it to 10 of their friends, then those friends are going to recommend it to 10 of their friends? I think of my audience very inclusively—everyone's an influencer no matter how many followers they have.

When I feel that kind of correlation with a product, that’s when I feel comfortable selling something.

When did you realize you could make a business out of your presence online?

Immediately.

The second I had the idea I knew it could be a business. My whole life I’ve known that I’d work for myself. There was no other option. I’m such a horrible employee—the worst of the worst. I like to do things my own way, on my time, so this was always the path I knew I’d take. I like and thrive off being an entrepreneur. There’s never been a plan B. I try to find that confidence from within, because no one else is going to give it to you.

Focusing on propelling forward and 100% believing in yourself is so important. That mentality comes from my childhood. I always had to make things happen for myself because there was no other option. Getting creative and finding angles to get things I wanted was just part of my life. That’s something that has fueled my entrepreneurial side. I believe anyone can do anything they put their mind to with proper execution, patience, consistency, & focus.

Your branding is so on point. Everyone has an image that comes to mind when they hear the words “The Skinny Confidential.” How have you built and maintained your brand so well over the years?

I hope that the image is pink clouds and pink nails and pink cotton candy—LOL but really I like to keep it pink. Every single thing I do is an opportunity to brand. From Instagram captions and the upper and lower-case format I use, to the colors & fonts of Instagram stories, to the “&” that I use in my blog posts—every single opportunity is a branding opportunity. If anything ever went wrong with ​The Skinny Confidential, I​'d probably be a branding consultant. Branding is one of my favorite parts of this career. Nothing is too little to brand.

Keeping the same fonts and colors is crucial (C & C is genius at this by the way!). You also really need to commit and write the way you speak in person. Like I want my readers to feel like we are drinking spicy margaritas at happy hour.

Sometimes that’s hard because you’ll see something someone else is doing and you’ll want to shift your formula, but I think you need to stay true to the brand you’ve built and not stray too much.

To me, a brand should evoke a feeling in the audience. What I want people to feel when they’re on the site is that it’s this cheeky resource where they can get all the juice in this really pretty, pink way. When they leave, I want them to take what they like, leave what they don’t—but ultimately apply anything they like to their own life and feel they had a valuable experience that was worth their time. That’s my goal with everything from the blog to Snapchat and Instagram.

Respecting the audience’s time and making their visit fun, flirty & girly is the goal.

What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards you’ve faced by displaying your life online?

It’s difficult to know when to shut it off. Anyone who works for themselves can tell you that it’s hard to know what to share and what not to share. You gotta know when to put the phone away. I try to do that when I’m at dinner with family and friends. I’m an over-sharer by nature but still, letting people in on your private life feels...bizarre sometimes. I’ve talked about everything from my sister’s heroin addiction to my mom’s suicide and the death of my grandma—which all really affected me. Putting that out there is really scary but I hope it is helpful to the readers.

I’ve rolled out these personal posts over the last 8 years though, over time. I’ve been careful with my content so my audience has gotten to know me gradually and I’ve gotten to know them too. When I decided to share these things, I felt I was in a very comfortable spot. It’s still intimidating though.

The rewards are incredible. When a girl comes up to me on the street, says she was working 9-5 pm and quit her job to start her own business because she was inspired by our podcast, it gets me off. Also, it makes me so happy when I go into TSC secret Facebook group and all these like-minded women are connecting, planning meetups and doing things without me. They’re all hanging out in this non-judgmental space and it’s so fulfilling because that’s why I started ​The Skinny Confidential​ in the first place.

How do you decide which brands you do and don’t work with?

Well actually liking the brand is a must. I have to use the product or brand for at least a month and preferably I will have already used it. I think a lot of people don’t talk about the brands they truly use because they don’t want to give out free publicity. What’s worked for me is the opposite. I’m super transparent with what I use, and the best partnerships have come from me finding a product, loving it, talking about it, then being approached by the brand to collaborate. I’ll tag the brand, talk about the product on all my channels first, then some really purposeful, meaningful partnerships come out of it. The best collaboration for me is one that happens very organically.

As far as brands that I haven’t tried that come to me, it really needs to fit with my audience and The Skinny Confidential.​ Everything I do is for the long-term, not the short-term, so working with a brand I don’t absolutely love, and don’t think my audience will love, isn’t worth it. We all know those brands that can feel “sell out-y.”

“To me, being successful means you’re waking up and creating your own future on your own terms.”

What characteristics make you successful as an influencer?

To me, being successful means you’re waking up and creating your own future on your own terms. It’s liberating to wake up feeling like that and know that you’re in charge of your day. You really are the creator of your own future and once that clicked, I realized that’s what success is for me. ​The Skinny Confidential​ has been successful so far because what you see is what you get. We talk about every single subject, there’s no judgement, everyone is just doing them, and the reader is so focused on ideas & growth.

Readers come for the taboo subjects, to hear from experts we bring on the podcast, and the valuable & honest takeaways. It’s not about me. The community is key.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

That I can design my own future and the sky's the limit. There are so many different angles that The Skinny Confidential​ can go and the community that’s come together is now doing things with each other all over the world.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

Gary Vee told me: “You have one fucking life do something about it.”

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Nothing has really been a surprise. My growth has been slow and strategic and everything that’s happened has happened because I planned it out carefully.

Some cool highlights have been ​The Skinny Confidential Book​ launch, the podcast hitting 23 million downloads, the people I’ve had access to & sharing them with the audience, the meetups of 500+ women & meeting the community in person. The Victoria’s Secret fashion shows have been really fun, and the secret Facebook group has been very rewarding as well.

You have a large presence on social media. How has it impacted your career?

Social media has been everything for ​The Skinny Confidential.​ It’s given me access to women all over the world from Japan to Australia to Finland. It has and continues to bring so many people together in a way that we’ve never been able to do before. Without social media I wouldn’t have been able to gain access to a lot of the people I’ve had access to. It’s badass.

“When a door closes or something doesn’t work out, I find another door to go through. If one way doesn’t work, I find another way. Passion is great, but for me, it’s always been about strategy and execution.”

Where does your passion/drive come from?

It definitely comes from when I was little. I grew up in a very wealthy community where kids were getting Ferraris for their birthday and that’s just not where my family was at. We were regular class and not on the same level as the families around us. If I wanted something my parents would say, “go figure it out.” I had to get creative with bargain shopping and finding ways to make it work—whatever it was. I had to do the work, find tips & tricks and creative angles to get what I wanted.

When a door closes or something doesn’t work out, I find another door to go through. If one way doesn’t work, I find another way. Passion is great but for me it’s always been about strategy and execution. I like to go “do” instead of talk about the things I’m going to do.

What are the common misconceptions you’ve heard about influencers?

There’s so many—I feel like it’s a scroll. A lot of people think bloggers just take a picture, write a little post and that’s it. People think we don’t have to do a lot work but it really is like baking a cake. You have all these different elements that you need to make things happen. There’s photos, writing, editing, distribution, execution, promotion, the emails, the organizing, the meetings—there are so many things that go into it to make right.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

I’m OBSESSED with bumps and hurdles. People ask me what my failures are and I really don’t look at it like that. You have to go through hurdles to maintain success in any industry—it’s part of the game, and life. I feel like you have to get uncomfortable to get comfortable. I switch gears by going through a different door. If I can’t get in through the front, back or side door then I’m skydiving in through the ceiling. Finding different ways to make things happen is one of my favorite parts of the job. It’s sort of creative if you think about it.

What’s next for you in 2019? What are you most excited for?

Writing another book that really makes sense for my community—something that’s really useful for my audience and it’s not going to be a replica of the blog. It will provide a ton of value that is also entertaining. We’ve also been working on product for the last 2 years so definitely more on the product side.

Hopefully a lot of in-person meetups, maybe a podcast tour, more interesting podcast guests and continued valuable takeaways on all of ​The Skinny Confidential​ platforms is what’s coming up in 2019.

Photography by Annie McElwain Photography

Photoshoot skincare provided by Dermalogica 

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate: Beauty: Rita Hazan

Rita Hazan doesn’t have bad hair days. She’s also never taken a sick day or missed a day in her namesake salon.

She describes herself as “equal parts colorist, artist, and innovator,” and for good reason. The industry veteran is known for creating a product so genius, it’s hard to imagine life before it: root concealer. As an expert colorist entrusted by the likes of Beyonce, Katy Perry, J-Lo, and Jessica Simpson, Rita is familiar with the agony of visible roots between salon visits. Enter her root concealer—AKA the easy-to-use solution to your root woes (you can thank us later).

The hair guru first made her mark on the industry in the 90s, establishing herself as an authority on colors and trends amidst a male-dominated beauty field (queue eye rolls at the patriarchy). Her first major client was Mariah Carey, everyone’s favorite songstress, diva, and MTV Cribs subject. Word of mouth travels fast: If you’re Mariah’s go-to, you must have some sort of special sauce.

Fast forward to 2018, and Hazan is still on her hair hustle, but with widespread brand recognition. Between her innovative products, A-list client roster, and illustrious 5th Avenue salon, consider Rita Hazan one of your hair fairy godmothers and always take her advice.

Your client roster includes the likes of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna. Tell us a little about your journey in the beauty industry. What was your big break?

I was an assistant at Oribe for around 6 years, then I got a promotion to colorist. At the time, my work was a little different from everyone else’s and it caught the eye of one of my stylist friends that happened to be working with Mariah Carey. It was 1997; Mariah had gotten a divorce and was putting out a new album; she needed a new look. My friend referred me to work with her on her new image and the rest was history. Anyone looking for a new look after that would call me.

How do you build trust with such high-profile clients?

First, you have to have confidence and know your craft; you need skills and a vision, which takes time. You must be able to deliver a look that works on stage or in print and also in everyday life. It's important to be precise, and execute what you say you’re going to do. Consistency is key. Another tenet that I’ve always lived by is to be discrete. Discretion is very important, when I work, I say I am deaf and mute; I hear nothing and say nothing.

What’s your number-one essential to keeping color looking healthy?

Well, it has to actually be healthy—looking healthy is not enough. It can look healthy with a simple blow dry. You must know how to use hair color in a responsible way. I know how to manipulate colors and products to give me the result I want. It's taken years of learning, trial and error, to fully understand my craft. I also do tons of research before I do any product in my own line and before every job I get, even today.

What advice would you give to young aspiring colorists?

LEARN. You can’t learn anything about color in one year. It takes years of studying and practicing. You can't learn a vocation like this by watching videos on YouTube or Instagram; it's not real. Everyone has to develop their own style. It seems to me that everyone is doing the same thing these days. You need to get out there, assist, get your hands dirty, and be creative. That's the only way to develop and grow your own color aesthetics, but to do that, you need to be skilled. A lot of people don't realize that hair color is chemicals—it’s chemistry.

What other women in your industry do you admire? Why?

When I was starting out, there were not many women doing what I wanted to do, if any. It was an industry of men. I was one of the first female colorists to open my own salon and to have a product line. I see so many talented women doing it today and it makes me happy because as women, we know our hair, the emotion, and reality that comes with it. When I see women like Marie Robinson, Tracey Cunningham, Riawna Capri, and Nikki Lee doing their thing, it makes me so proud.

“It’s important to be precise, and execute what you say you’re going to do. Consistency is key. ”

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

It has to be creating an entire new category in color care: my root concealer. There was no product like it on the market for covering gray roots before mine. Now, of course, several big companies have copied my idea (within an inch of my patent). It's both immensely flattering and annoying at the same time.

If you weren’t a colorist, what career path would you choose and why?

There was no plan B. From the time I was 17, I knew this was what I wanted to do and I wasn't going to stop pushing and working for it until I did.

Where does your passion and drive come from?

Honestly, I’m not sure. I think it comes from my soul. I think I was born this way. I was raised with a really strong work ethic. I’ve never called out sick a day in my life, cancelled a job or day in the salon. I know it’s not normal, but that’s just me.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads + switch gears to find success?

It happens to everyone! In this social media-driven era, it can look like everyone's life is perfect, but really it’s just a highlight reel. My advice is to never look at what other people are doing. It’s not your path and it's not your vision. Most people never understand my vision until it's done or in progress. My journey is at my own pace. I don't feel the need to be in the same gear as others; when I need time, I take it. I pause, I breathe, I obsess a little and then I take a break. I listen to my soul and then the answer always hits me—I trust my gut!

What are you most excited for in 2019?

I’m working on a new line of styling products for color-treated hair. It’s an innovative way to use ingredients that are protective & nourishing for color-treated hair but are effective at styling. The development process is always a really exciting time; picking colors, designing packing, finding fragrances and testing, testing, testing! I love all that stuff. If I’m putting my name on something it has to work and be the best!

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Create & Cultivate 100: Beauty: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

From acclaimed fashion model to actor, designer to businesswoman, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has done it all. The multi-hyphenate mogul’s latest venture, Rose Inc., offers an insider peek at some of Rosie’s favorite beauty products, makeup tutorials, skincare tips, and interviews with some of your favorite beauty gurus. Rosie takes a hands-on approach to her site, with a “Memo From Rosie” section dedicated to personal notes from the founder herself.

In addition to everything she’s working on for Rose Inc., Rosie will be our keynote speaker at Create & Cultivate New York! Check out her interview below, then join us in the city to get all the advice she’s learned from launching her namesake brand.

You’ve become a household name after years of putting in hard work as a model, and some acting work. What prompted you to venture off into beauty?

Beauty has always been a passion of mine and a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting as a passion and ending up in a career.  Growing up I would sit and watch my mother in awe while she would get ready for work or a night out. I loved seeing how she could transform into this striking, confident woman.  It was then that I began to understand the way makeup could alter a person’s demeanor or mood. As a teenager, I always enjoyed experimenting with makeup and trying out the newest products.

Over the last 16 years as a model, I’ve spent countless hours in the hair and makeup chair learning from all the incredible artists I’ve been lucky enough to work with.  Every time I’m in the chair I find I learn something new and creative and have made special friendships and memories along the way.

Rose Inc. for me is a place where I could bring my passion to light and hopefully create an inspiring online destination where I can highlight my favorite artists, peek inside the bathrooms of some of our favorite influencers, tastemakers and professionals, and where we could explore, interview and discuss new products, tips and tricks with the top experts in the industry.  

What was the inspiration behind Rose Inc. & its aesthetic?

In looking at the landscape of beauty websites, I thought it was important to create a space that was curated by someone who has been in the industry, sat in the makeup chair, and had firsthand experience of the impact that these products and routines can have on your life both physically and emotionally.

We have features and stories that cater to every type of woman, whether you want to know more about your favorite beauty icon or you’re in search of some serious advice for your next must-have product.  We want to reach women all around the world and hear what they have to say about the beauty space.

The brand launched in May and is taking off swiftly. How did you build that bond with your audience?

I think with any brand it’s all about authenticity and honesty. I hope that it’s clear when people come to the site or spend time with me that they can see I have a true affinity for everything beauty related. Building a bond with your audience is an ongoing process, it’s a two way street. We love to hear what our readers have to say, what they want to read or watch and then we try to deliver what it is they are asking for.

What characteristics make you successful in the beauty industry?

Passion, drive, and a clear vision.  When you embody those characteristics everything else will fall into place.

What does it take to build a beauty brand from the ground up in today’s world?

When I look at what’s happening in the beauty industry right now and see what’s working and what’s not, I see that it’s about having a clear point of view for your brand and believing in something bigger than the product itself.  Creating a sense of authenticity and dialogue with your consumer while exploring innovative and exciting products that make people feel their very best selves.

What about your job makes you feel the most fulfilled?

I love meeting new people who inspire me both creatively and mentally, as this has been an ongoing learning process for me.  Seeing each of our initiatives through to completion, and hearing positive feedback from our readers, makes this all incredibly worthwhile and gives me an immense sense of pride!

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

I feel lucky I get to talk to so many brilliant people across this industry. I think the best thing I have heard lately was about the importance of delivering something that is unique and infused with your own personal style.

What’s been the biggest surprise or highlight of your career to date?

Without a doubt, launching Rose Inc.  It certainly feels like a new chapter in my life and while it feels like an organic next step for me because it’s my passion, becoming a founder is quite the departure from modelling, I do feel some days that I’m learning a lot on the go!

Where does your passion/drive come from?

This is a question I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to articulate properly because a passion for this industry is something that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.  An appreciation for and fascination with all things beauty related is something that struck me from a very young age.

I often find that as women, we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I try to remember that while I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

Tweet this

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

I often find that as women we tend to attribute a lot of our success to a fluke.  I am sometimes inclined to feel this way about my own life and career, and while I try to remember that I absolutely would not be where I am today without a lot of help, and certainly some luck, it really comes down to my own determination and dedication.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find a new road and switch gears to find success?

I think that becoming a mother has given me a completely different perspective on the ups and downs that I face in my career.  My personal life is a priority for me, so when I hit a bump in my career, I am reassured by the fact that that is not the be all, end all.  I truly believe in visualizing what you want for your future, and eventually, you can get there.

Whose career really inspires you?

Any woman who has accomplished her dreams, through hard work and determination, while remaining true to herself and a good person.

What’s next for Rose Inc. in 2019? What are you most excited for?

I’m excited to work with even more unique and inspirational people from across our industry, and share their stories with our readers.  The beauty world is constantly evolving and in order to deliver the most thoughtful, and hopefully helpful, content, we will continue to seek out exciting new products, ideas, and innovators.

VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 BEAUTY LIST HERE.

---

Our Go-To App to go From Boss to Best Dressed Guest This Season

As working women, we all know that convenience comes first when it comes to most things. In the beauty department, that rule of thumb applies as well. Think about it, who has the time to dedicate an hour to styling and perfecting an everyday makeup or hair look? We bet the answer is slim to none. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that we should sacrifice feeling our best for dedicating more time to our work schedules. Not now, not ever. 

What if we told you that amping up your beauty look could be made a whole lot easier and you won’t have to do a thing? If you don’t believe that it’s true, then you’re wrong. Yes, you can get an A-list look in the comfort of your own home, without breaking the bank, and without worrying about strict time constraints. And if you’re wondering why allow us to explain how you can get your hair and makeup did while catching up on emails, conference calls, etc.  

Meet the Glam App

The Glam App is beauty on demand--literally. If you need the help of experts when it comes to your own glam, then this trusty app has got you covered and right from the palms of your hands. Glam App offers services from full red carpet-style makeup to everyday blowouts and simple nail polish changes. Seriously, whatever is on your beauty radar can be done via Glam App, especially when you don’t have the time to handle it for yourself. However, that’s not all. 

We’ve partnered with Glam App because it’s embodied in the convenience that we’ve been looking for. The prices are budget-friendly because looking and feeling your best shouldn’t burn a hole in your wallet. On the other hand, it’s beneficial for anyone who’s looking to work as a stylist or makeup artist on the app. If you’re a beauty aficionado and have the skills to share with the world, the Glam App gives you that work-life balance that is so important. Glam App allows stylists to act as freelance artists, which means setting their own hours, building clientele and managing schedules and appointments. 

Oh, and did we mention that you can book a service immediately? Yes, you read that right. For those days where you have little to no time on your plate to worry about beauty, you can still pencil in a quick service. Stop waiting on everyone else’s schedules when you don’t have the time!

If you’re looking to upgrade your glam this season in and out of the office, consider trying Glam App for all of your needs. It’s fast, affordable, and filled with a roster of professionals in the beauty industry, so what are you waiting for?

We could all use a little beauty TLC, and Glam App has got us covered. 

MORE FROM THE BLOG

We Asked 8 Women What Makes Them Feel the Most Confident

Confidence. A word that’s thrown around in discussions with your friends, colleagues, fitness instructors -- seemingly everywhere. While the dictionary defines confidence as, “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities, ”I argue that we each have unique definitions of the word. For me, confidence means being authentically myself in all facets of my life. For my best friend, it’s feeling comfortable in her own skin. Confidence is different for everyone — but the common thread? We can all benefit from a little bit more of it.

Confidence is crucial in so many areas of our lives. Feeling confident in the workplace is complicated. We can get so entrenched in the day-to-day that we forget to acknowledge our efforts and  value. Acknowledging your achievements can help you boost your attitude, get you that raise and so much more! If that sounds impossible, you can make a small step today with the help of IT Cosmetics.

We recently hosted an intimate brunch to celebrate women that Show IT Off. Jamie Kern Lima, Founder & CEO of IT Cosmetics, has poured her “heart and soul into creating truly innovative and effective problem-solving products that make you look and feel your most beautiful.” Developed with plastic surgeons, IT Cosmetics creates clinically-tested, makeup and skincare products that provide life-changing results. The  product that gives all women an instant confidence boost? Their award-winning Your Skin But Better  CC+ Cream with SPF 50.  It’s your all-in-one extra dose of confidence that is not only full coverage and color-correcting, but also features broad-spectrum physical sunscreen, anti-aging ingredients and all the hydration you need!  Hyperpigmentation? Dark circles? Other skin concerns? Don’t worry, it really does it all, and comes in a range of shades and three finishes, including original, illumination and oil-free matte to complement every skin tone!

Want to hear other ways to feel confident? These women Show IT Off and share their wisdom below.

Daniela Ramirez

“I feel the most confident when I’m at home with my baby, and I just take all my makeup off and put my favorite moisturizer on.”

Emilie Sobel

“My cat eye eyeliner is what makes me feel most confident every single day.”

Natasha Lee-Duhaney

“The thing that makes me most confident is probably a bold lip, I don’t have one on right now, but when I have a red bold lip, I’m the most confident.”

Carolina Lindo

“What makes me feel more confident is having good skin. I’m obsessed with skincare, so I never sleep with makeup and I always wear sunblock.

Kelly Saks

“A bold lip makes me feel the most confident because, even if I don’t have any other makeup on, it just draws attention to my smile and it makes me feel really glamorous.”

Stacie Diamantides

“My sense of humor.”

So tell us — what makes you feel the most confident?

MORE ON THE BLOG

Create & Cultivate's Good Hair Day with Paul Mitchell

Photo by #createcultivateCHI attendee @wayfaringrachel

There was great hair a-plenty bouncing around #createcultivateCHI. From perfectly tousled waves (as Instagrammed above by @wayfaringrachel) to heat-wave friendly braids, and we followed the trail right back to our very own Beauty Lounge where Paul Mitchell was serving up some really, really good hair days. Along with envy-inducing hair, our attendees left with a bevy of Paul Mitchell products (one of our favorites is their Extra Body hairspray) to keep up the look at home. The Paul Mitchell crew also did hair for some of our panelists, so be sure to check out Rachel Parcell’s flowing locks and Nadia Aboulhosn’s high-pony for even more inspiration!

Thanks to skincare from Simple, technology from Nu Face, Venice Collection manis from OPI, makeup by The Glam App, and of course, Paul Mitchell on hair, we hope everyone left feeling confident inside and out, Instagram-ready, and primed to take on the world!

Tag your best beauty moments with #createcultivateCHI and #paulmitchellus so we can follow along!