Five minutes with...Joanna, founder of Shanghai Suzy (and a Giveaway)!

Hi lovelies!

If you've been keeping up with the blog, you'll know I promised you an interview a few weeks ago with the gorgeous Joanna from Shanghai Suzy lipsticks (read my review of the lipsticks here)! So, without further ado, let's kick this interview off and get to know the lovely owner/manager behind the sexy lipstick brand!

A former model, Jo came from a marketing background, specialising in cosmetics marketing, brand management and new product development. Often asked why she chose to found a lipstick-only brand, she explains that she really wanted a go-to lipstick brand where customers could find all the 'in' shades each season for an affordable price, a concept she felt was absent in the market. A big fan of communicating one message and focusing on one thing at a time, she structured her company along the same premise.

Jo from Shanghai Suzy.
(image taken from Shanghai Suzy)

Keep reading after the jump!

Five minutes with...Raylene Barton from 1 Skin Solution and a GIVEAWAY (Open Internationally)!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the latest post in my interview series, a little chat with the gorgeous Raylene Barton, owner of 1 Skin Solution! If you haven't heard of 1 Skin Solution before, Raylene makes the most gorgeous, natural bath and body products,including a lovely lip balm that is my current holy grail lip product (the only thing that helps my insanely dry lips, and comes in vanilla as well as a yummy mojito flavour). There are also tinted lip balms, body lotion, bath crystals and the most divine candles (a review will be forthcoming shortly)! Not only does she make the most gorgeous products, but she's also an amazing person I'm so proud to call a friend!

Raylene from 1 Skin Solution.

1) Hi Raylene, welcome to The Made Up Maiden and thank you for answering all my questions! Can you tell us a little about how you came up with the inspiration for starting your own business, and how you chose the products associated with 1Skin Solution?
Hello, and thank you so much for having me! I have actually been making my own products for years. It started when I was a Personal Trainer and one of my lovely clients gifted me a little pack from The Perfect Potion. It had a base cream and some essential oils so I could create my own scented body cream. I loved the idea and went into Perfect Potion to look around. I purchased a book called Do It Yourself Skincare and that’s how it all started. I was making skincare and soaps and selling them at markets and also giving them to friends. It was only a hobby, and I was not making any money (in fact, I was actually losing money), but that was not the point. Once I decided I wanted to make it my business, I started up the custom lip balms. It was a great way to generate income to finance my own skincare line. It is a slower process but very rewarding. That decision was made 2 years ago. 

2) Where are your products manufactured?
All of my products are made here in Australia. I personally make all the lip products, candles and the Bath & Shower Crystals. I have a contract manufacturer who makes the other body products.

Keep reading after the jump!

Five minutes with...Paul and Liz from Get Drenched (Official Stockists of Bomb Cosmetics) and a Discount Code!

Hi lovelies,

We all know how much I love Bomb Cosmetics (check out my last post here), so I thought we should sit down and have a quick chat with Paul and Liz, the faces (and personalities) behind Get Drenched, the official Australian stockists of Bomb Cosmetics!

Paul and Liz from Get Drenched.

1) Hi Paul and Liz, thanks so much for taking the time to sit down with us! Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourselves?
Paul: Although I’m from England and Liz is from Australia, we actually met in California, at an exhibition hosted by the US Postal Service in 2000. Liz was acting as a representative of Australia Post (they were exhibiting at the show), and I was representing my company, which represented the US Post in the UK. While we enjoyed each other's company, we went our own way at the end of the exhibition, and occasionally kept in touch via email over the next four years. In 2004, Liz took some long service leave; her plan was to spend a couple of weeks in England and then a few weeks in France – I still think to this day that she was hoping to meet a Frenchman! I invited her to stay with me while she was in England; plans changed, and we ended up travelling to Paris together for her birthday, after which she returned to England with me for the remaining weeks of her visit. We then engaged in a long distance relationship for 2 years, travelling back and forth whenever we could. We agreed that we’d make our home in Australia (Liz’s daughter was 16 at the time), and after I moved Down Under, we were married in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney on a very sunny day in April 2008. We ended up moving back to the UK for 2 years, living on the south coast of England. We returned to Australia in October 2010, and we were both fortunate in finding employment relatively quickly. It was in May 2011 that the Bomb Cosmetics contract was offered to us, so I left to start the business while we still had the security of Liz’s income. Liz then joined me in the spring of 2012, and we now work full time on the business together. It’s certainly long hours, but we love what we do. The reaction to the brand has been fabulous from those in Australia who have tried it.

2) Can you tell us what led to you starting your amazing business at Get Drenched?
Paul: Liz and I had always harboured ambitions to run our own business and work together, and we’d been looking for the right opportunity for a number of years. We’d come up with all sorts of weird and wonderful ideas but never acted upon them – thankfully! I suppose it all stemmed from the desire to be masters of our own destiny, although it was still a huge decision to move away from the relevant comfort of salaried jobs to jump into the unknown. Looking back now, we never really knew what we were letting ourselves in for in terms of the sheer number of working hours needed! Having said that, we wouldn't change a thing – when you love what you do, it never really feels like work.

3) We've all fallen head over heels for Bomb Cosmetics! How did you discover/decide on carrying the Bomb Cosmetics line?
Paul: It was very late one night in February 2011 that we stumbled across the opportunity to be Distributors for the UK brand of Bomb Cosmetics on the internet – very much by accident. It only took a few minutes of research into the brand and the products and we were already in love with the bath blasters (bath bombs), bath creamers and handmade soaps. It took several months of communications with the UK before the contract was offered to us. As you can imagine, we were over the moon and that’s when the hard work really began. One of our very first challenges was to come up with a business name. After much deliberation, we opted for Get Drenched, which we felt was quite appropriate – after all a big part of our business was to encourage people to take more baths and showers! Subsequently, we found out that ‘Drenched’ also had something to do with sheep-dipping(!), but by then it was too late. Most people like the name, thankfully!

4) Can you tell us a little bit about the manufacturing process?
Paul: We haven’t yet seen the manufacturing process ourselves, but one of the key points of difference of Bomb Cosmetics is that every product is handmade. Even now, we look at some of them and think “how do they do that?!”. The Rose Creamers are almost a work of art – the mixture of real rose petals, cocoa butter, and essential oils is simply stunning….and that’s before the Creamer is used in the bath! We think it’s very important to state that not only is every single item handmade, but products are never tested on animals and recycled packaging is used whenever possible. We really like those philosophies, and it means we can speak about the products with complete confidence.

5) You have some fantastic bath and home products in the Bomb Cosmetics line. If you each absolutely had to pick three favourites from your extensive range, which would you pick?
Paul: Firstly, I can’t go past the Rose Bath Creamer, although the Flower Bazaar Bath Creamer runs it close. To see real rose petals floating on the water as you bathe in the moisturising cocoa butter? – I defy any man or woman not to enjoy such a relaxing, indulgent experience! Secondly, I’d opt for the Dead Sea Salt Handmade Soap – it’s quite a ‘manly’ fragrance compared to most of the other products! Thirdly, I’ll choose the Chocolate Orange Tin Candle as it smells good enough to eat – just like the Terry’s Chocolate Orange.
Liz: My number one product would have to be the Skin Therapy Hanging Shower Butter. To be able to come out of the shower already moisturised and smelling gorgeous is now a bit of an addiction. Secondly, I’d opt for the Cranberry and Lime Body Scrub as this is a beautifully fragrant body scrub which leaves the skin feeling so soft and smooth. Lastly, it would have to be the Vintage Rosehip Bath Blaster. I love the immediate fizz of the bath blasters, and this one smells divine. It also has a touch of cocoa butter in it to moisturise the skin.

6) Your products are free of parabens and preservatives, does that mean it's safe for children to use?
Paul - We've certainly had rave reviews from children who have used Bomb Cosmetics products, although adults tend to keep them for themselves! There are even 3 Lucky Dip Bath Blasters aimed specifically at children aged 3 and above. Each Blaster contains a little toy in the middle - very much like a Kinder Surprise. While the products are certainly as natural as possible and very gentle on the skin, and while we've never heard of any adverse reactions, every child is different. And of course, some children may be allergic to certain ‘natural’ products as well, so if a parent has any doubts they can check the ingredients list which is listed on each product.

7) Fragranced products can be tough to choose as we all have such diverse preferences...how do we find out if there's a local stockist in our area so we can go in and have a sniff for ourselves?
Paul: That’s a very good point – fragrance is certainly a personal choice. Our stockists in Australia are increasing and there’s nothing like being able to smell the products ‘live’. If any of your readers would like to find out if there’s a stockist nearby, then they can drop an email to enquiries@getdrenched.com.au and we’ll be happy to help. We always encourage consumers to support their local store whenever possible, and even encourage them to stock more of the range! Equally, our website is aimed at those consumers who don’t yet have a store nearby, or those who have a store with a limited range – after all, we do have over 500 product lines! And of course, it’s also aimed at the increasing number of people who like the convenience of shopping on line these days. Whichever avenue consumers use to locate Bomb Cosmetics products, we hope they never look back – once tried, never forgotten! We like to think of Bomb Cosmetics in Australia as a growing family, and we’re massive fans of the brand too…as you can probably tell!

Sending a great big thank you to Paul and Liz for taking the time to sit down with us here at The Made Up Maiden. They've also generously provided us with a discount code which will allow you 10% off your order at Get Drenched, simply enter code 'MAIDEN' at checkout to receive your discount! This code is exclusively for my readers, and only valid until the 8th of October, lovelies, so don't dawdle (I won't be receiving any benefit from this promotion aside from the joy of seeing my beloved readers try out a new brand that I love)!

I hope you enjoyed this interview, lovelies! What products are you lusting after from Get Drenched?

Much love,
MM.
x

Five minutes with...Kath and Kerry, founders of Her Fashion Box (and a Giveaway)!

Hi lovelies!

Happy Sunday! I hope you've all had a great weekend! I've got a new interview for you to read today, with the lovely beauties behind the Her Fashion Box brand! Please forgive me for being a bit tardy with my interview series, I actually already have four more lined up to go, I've just been a bit amiss about sending them live! Please stay tuned as they are all very fascinating reads!

If you aren't familiar with Her Fashion Box, it's a monthly subscription box containing both beauty and fashion products. You can choose to subscribe to the full monthly box for $39.95, or alternatively, pick the boxette, which is the mini version of the full box and retails for $24.95. Click here for more information!

Image provided by Her Fashion Box.

Keep reading after the jump!

Five minutes with...Tre Dallas.

Hello lovelies!

Happy Sunday! Today I'm bringing you a new interview with makeup artist/stylist/fashion expert and BYS cosmetics ambassador, Tre Dallas!

Tre and I at the BYS event a couple of months ago.

In case you haven't heard of him before, Tre is a man of many talents. Of Thai descent, Tre has lived in Australia for about 26 years, out of which, 17 years have been spent working in the beauty and fashion industry. Tre started off living in Perth, Western Australia, where he studied fashion, makeup application and art (painting) before he decided to take the next step in his career by moving to Melbourne, which had more interesting opportunities to offer, career-wise.

1) Hi Tre, welcome to The Made Up Maiden blog, thanks so much for taking the time to sit down and answer a few questions for us! You wear quite a few hats, what's your favourite role, and why? Makeup artist, hair stylist or fashion stylist?
Hmm, tough one but I think I'd have to go with Makeup Artist. It's always been my first love, career wise, and it's also the area that I have the longest experience in!

2) Have you got any 'signature Tre' makeup tips for us?
I love beautiful, flawless skin, that's such an important step to take, your base really has to be flawless as it's the foundation of your makeup. Remember the 80s? It was a decade for caked up makeup! I'd say that I spend 60% of the time perfecting the base for every makeup look. I always suggest using a good moisturiser, following with a primer, and finally finishing with a good quality foundation.

3) What's the one product that you think all women should have in their makeup collections, and why?
Eyeliner! Just a basic black, kohl pencil works wonders, you can use it to create endless varieties of looks!

4) What are some of your favourite brands?
For makeup, I'd choose NARS, BYS, of course, and Smashbox.
When it comes to fashion, I'd suggest Bonds, Basic and Dior!

5) What are some of the current fashion trends you think are completely workable in real life?
I really love sixties fashion, think statement jackets, in a gorgeous emerald or black, teamed with lots of liquid liner in a sexy cats eye flick.

6) Name three products you think deserve 'Holy Grail' status and why?
Three products, that's tough. I'd go with the NARS Sheer Glow foundation, it gives you that luminous finish. I'd also suggest Stila All Day Liquid Eyeliner, it really lasts, and BYS glitter nail polish for a touch of glam.

7) What's a common makeup/fashion mistake you see many women making (you can choose which you'd prefer to address)?
Ladies, always check your foundation shades with the change in seasons. We are naturally paler in winter and more tanned in summer, so what suits you in summer won't necessarily fit you in winter, and vice versa. I'd really recommend going to a makeup counter and getting colour matched, be sure to communicate your preferences (do you like matte, luminous, powder, liquid, etc) so you're sure to get something that you really enjoy using and suits your skin well. When it comes to fashion, always make sure that your clothes are fitted, even if your weight fluctuates a little either way. Baggy clothes are not flattering on anyone!

8) Who are some of the celebrities that you really enjoyed working with?
I've been fortunate enough to work with so many lovely celebrities. If I really had to choose just one person, I'd suggest Lindy Klim, she's an amazing and very talented woman! I absolutely love her style, she's a mum and she's very healthy and relaxed. She's also amazingly versatile, she looks gorgeous in anything from Converse runners to the most glamorous high heels!

I asked Tre if he had any advice to offer anyone who wanted to get started in the industry, and his advice was to go to a good school to pick up the basics, after which, it was good to apprentice with a skilled makeup artist to build up training and skills. Tre himself draws inspiration from Henry Matisse, the artist, and credits working with some very talented makeup artists like Napolean Perdis, as well as artists from MAC and NARS in his earlier years in the industry.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Tre, and picked up some great makeup and fashion tips from him!

You can follow Tre on Instagram, Twitter and on his new website, which launches soon!

Much love,
MM.
x


PS- Google Reader closes today so be sure to follow me on Bloglovin, or you can sign up to follow me by email!

Five minutes with...Dean Nixon from Master Makeup (and a Giveaway)!

Hello lovelies,

Happy Thursday! The weekend is just one short day away, woot! To kick things off, I have a great interview with Dean Nixon from Master Makeup to share with you today (and a chance to win one of his brushes, valued at $40, but more on that later)!

Dean Nixon from Master Makeup.

In case you haven't heard of him, he's a wonderful makeup artist with extensive experience in the industry (having worked all over the world, including the US, London, Europe, and Asia), with his recent role being appointed as the Dr Lewinns Skin Perfect Brand Ambassador. Dean has also had a long history of working with fashion superstore David Jones, having directed the makeup for the store's seasonal shows for the past fifteen seasons! He writes a 'how-to' column for the Herald Sun and has his own line of personally designed makeup brushes, called Master Makeup. I own his entire set of brushes (review to follow shortly) and let me assure you, lovelies, they are like a cloud on a handle! Perfect for applying makeup with, and oh-so-soft!

1) Hi Dean, welcome to The Made Up Maiden Blog. Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us. You have an amazing history in the makeup and fashion world. When did you first realise your passion for makeup, and what started it?

It was pure accident getting into makeup. I had just moved home to Melbourne from Sydney, and wanted a career change after working in retail fashion. I was lucky enough that someone decided to take a chance on me. I had never done makeup before but always loved the idea of being a makeup artist. With 4 days of intense training, I was unleashed onto the world! The rest, I guess, is history.

2) Have you got any 'signature' Dean Nixon makeup tips to share with us?

The one thing I'm becoming known for is the one-shadow smoky eye. All you need is a good blending brush, a mid-tone eyeshadow, and concealer! Start with the concealer to even out the pigment of the eyelid. The trick is, this application of concealer becomes your light shadow shade. Then, blend the mid-tone eyeshadow, starting at the darkest point and blending to the lightest. Repeat the application process until you have the right amount of depth. You can then blend your eyeliner in to give more depth and open the eye up.

3) What's the one product that you think all women should have in their makeup collections, and why?

If I had to choose just one, it would have to be a bronzing powder. Bronzers are a great multi-purpose product as they can be used to give definition to the cheekbones, add a little colour to the face when you're feeling a little flat, and also help even out the skin tone a little. It's also been known to washed across the eyelid as a quick alternative to eye shadow and patted onto the lip.

4) What are some of the makeup brands you think deserve more attention?

There are so many makeup brands entering the market nowadays. I have always been guilty of favouring the more prestigious ones, however, what I'm finding now is that the budget brands are getting better and better! There is even a $2 range at Big W, called Boe, that has some great products. Don't get me wrong, I still love the luxury of the high-end brands, but I'm finding that nearly every brand has at least one great product.

5) What are three products that you ALWAYS have in your professional makeup kit?

This one is easy; Dr Lewinn's Skin Perfect Anti-Aging Primer, MAC Face and Body Foundation and my Master Makeup By Dean Nixon Brushes.

6) I love the name of your brush line, Master Makeup! How did you come up with the name and inspiration for your line?

Master Makeup was born as a masterclass business where women come to learn how to better apply their makeup in a simple, 3 hour, hands-on class. The name was a result of weeks of playing around with different name combinations until I finally settled on simply - Master Makeup. After holding a few classes and realising that woman really struggled with their applications due to a lack of good "tools", I set about creating a range of "must have", multi-purpose brushes that were all a woman needed to apply professional-looking makeup. Master Makeup By Dean Nixon was launched after two and a half years of development. 

7) You have three face brushes (Kabuki, Foundation and Concealer) and three eye brushes (Eyeshadow, Blending and Eyeliner) currently in your line. What made you choose these six to start off with?

When I was developing them, I looked to what I used most in my day-to-day makeup application, and started there. I then set about creating my own shapes and bristles, what I considered to be my perfect brushes. My plan was to keep it simple. 6 brushes is really all you need. I set myself the challenge of designing a range of brushes that I could do my entire job with. The idea behind this was that if I could do it, then it would be definitely all a woman would need to apply all her makeup.

8) For a bit of a stickybeak, what other brushes are you working on and how soon will they be available? I, for one, can't wait to see a blush brush!

Although I have made the Kabuki brush so it could be used for all powders, bronzers and blush application, I am definitely looking at adding a blush brush into the range, together with a brow brush. I believe this would finish off the range, and is expected to be ready early next year. My next product launch will be the brush cleaners I have been working on, and I'm looking at a May/June launch. I've developed a hygiene spray, and my favourite, a brush shampoo. 

I hoped you enjoyed getting to know Dean Nixon, lovelies!

I'd like to thank Dean for sparing some time to sit down with me and answer my questions. Don't forget to check out his website, where you can also buy his brush collection (hint, it would make a lovely Mother's Day gift)! He has also kindly provided my readers with a chance to win one of his amazing kabuki brushes. 

To enter, all you have to do is follow the prompts on the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is only open to Australian residents (sorry, international readers, I promise that another exciting giveaway will be available soon)! Remember, you must be a GFC follower of my blog, and you must leave a comment on why you'd like to win this brush! I will be checking, lovelies, and I'd hate to disqualify anyone because they hadn't followed the rules! Please also include your GFC name and email address with your comment. You can also tweet once a day to increase your chances of winning!

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Much love,

MM.

x

Note: This giveaway was generously sponsored by Dean Nixon from Master Makeup and is only open to Australian residents. Please note that the winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of the giveaway ending. If the winner does not respond within 24 hours, a new winner will be selected. The winner's details will be provided to Master Makeup, who will be responsible for mailing out the prize. Please refer to the terms and conditions of this giveaway for more details.