My love for beauty developed around the age of 5 years old. My late grandmother introduced me to makeup, fashion, tea parties and all of the things that most little girls love. I have included two photos of her, in the gallery below. As you can see, she was quite fancy and elegant with a presence, smile and personality that could light up any room. She was always such a joy to be around and she was always extremely loving and nurturing. I remember her picking me up to sit me on the bench at the end of her bed. She would dab my face with her powder puff and spritz me with her favorite perfume. I can still remember the smell to this day. She had a dresser full of everything a woman could ever dream of. Makeup, jewelry, perfume, hair tools, skin care products- You name it! She had it! Including closets full of clothing and shoes. I can still remember walking around in shoes that were 5x my size- almost tripping down the steps- as my only goal was to feel pretty (I Am Laughing Out Loud As I Am Typing This). 

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Needless to say, from age 5 and beyond- I continued on with the trend of beautifying myself. I have always enjoyed the art of re-creating things. Whether it was coloring my hair, trying new hairstyles, trying new makeup looks, wearing the most unique clothing- I have always taken a liking to embracing my femininity. I struggled in my early teenage years with horrible acne prone skin and unwanted facial hair, so sometimes it made me feel better to cover it up. Now that I am much older, I have learned to embrace my flaws and be less judgmental regarding my personal appearance. Applying makeup to my face isn't so much about covering my flaws anymore- as it is more about just loving the artistic aspect of it and creating new looks. now i can freely do that with my clients.

 

I was dying to teach others how to apply makeup, and wanted to make them feel good about themselves after my personal experiences- so i have always made over my friends and family, showing them different fashionable styles. at the age 18, I sought out to find my first beauty advisor/advocate endeavor and I began selling Avon. I always enjoyed going to peoples homes, or having them to come to mine and making them feel wonderful. It was never about the sale for me- It was about making them smile and showing them how to use products- or recommending the best looks and products for them. What most people don't understand is that Makeup Artistry isn't just about applying makeup to someone's face. There is much more involved.

 

Everyone has different skin types- so the same cosmetic, or skincare products are not good for everyone. It is so very important to nurture our skin, and be conscious of what we are putting on it. Different types of skin (oily, dry, acne prone, sensitivity, etc...) call for different measures! Different skin tones require the right color choices. Different bone structures and face shapes call for different techniques. Makeup looks vary depending on the type of event you are attending, the lighting regarding photos being taken or the lighting inside and outside, the time of day you will be wearing the look, and so much MORE!

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I learned about all of these things not only while working as a Beauty Consultant for Avon, but during my time of working as a beauty advisor for Estee Lauder and other well known cosmetic brands in our local mall, and also working as Business Manager for Edge Beauty and Aveda. I learned a lot not only from the hands-on experiences, but from the initial training classes at the beginning of my employment, and the ongoing training classes throughout my employment. I also had the pleasure of working around very skilled Cosmetologists and Estheticians which allowed me to learn beyond what was required for my role. I have planned, led and organized makeup master classes to teach makeup application, and I have worked on individuals of all races/ethnicities, ages and genders. It has been a truly wonderful journey!

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It was during the time of working with my clients over the years, in these roles that I decided this is what I wanted to do indefinitely. I have worked with various skin types and skin tones, and bone structures. It was extremely rewarding to make someone feel better. I met many clients suffering from terminal illnesses who wanted to be pampered, or learn some things new. Perhaps their skin was scarred or bruised, or they had no brows. Some clients had never worn makeup before, and they wanted to learn how to apply it with my teaching, or they simply wanted to watch in the mirror while I transformed them. I built many long lasting, meaningful relationships. Makeup and pampering services don't make a person beautiful, but let's face it- they make us feel good. RéflexionS day spa, esthetics & Portrait studio will certainly be the place where you will feel good. I feel privileged to carry on my grandmother's legacy, and pay it forward. To give others the same feelings of joy and happiness as she did with me. they say it is easy to forget what someone did- but you will never forget how someone made you feel. when clients indulge in our services, and we are able to nourish and care for them- it makes for a beautiful day. We cannot wait to share in these experiences with you!

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Sincerely, 

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RéflexionS day spa, esthetics & Portrait studio