Six Steps to Fabulous

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Ferndale 115 News, Feb 1, 2012 ed.)

The Ferndale Career Center holds classes to help job seekers and entrepreneurs gain skills they can use in their quests for more rewarding work.

 Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, formally an unemployed beauty industry executive turned successful entrepreneur, created and taught the Six Steps to Fabulous class. Cheryl is the co-owner and lead makeup artist at Rouge Salon (23341 Woodward).  Her Sister, Jeny Bulatovic is the lead manicurist and co-owner of their Ferndale studio.

Cheryl taught Tabatha Morris and about a dozen women, some in the job market, how to create workplace appropriate makeup looks.  Some of the women were make-up “skeptics” who generally avoid cosmetics.  Others attended because they had concerns that their make-up techniques might need a more modern approach.  Some just wanted makeup pointers.

 Six Steps to Fabulous gave tips on (1) skin care, (2) foundation, (3) eye shadow, (4) mascara, (5) cheeks, and (6) lips.  Cheryl also talked about the importance of educating oneself as to ingredients in makeup and skincare products, as some ingredients can be potentially harmful.  She then gave a short history lesson on make up through the modern era.

 HISTORY

 “My Grandmother always had coral lipstick and blue eyeshadow,” Tucker said, a memory which resonated with many of the women in the room.  “Before we can understand the makeup we use today, it helps to see how we got to this point.”

 She said that the 1950s and 60s, make-up was a way for women to go out into the work world, but still distinguish themselves as feminine. There weren’t many colors available in the 50s, but the 60s brought more color and experimentation.  “The sixties went two ways,” she said, “those who sought the extreme, like Twiggy with 20 pairs of false eyelashes or the natural, as in the hippy movement.”  As an example she showed a young hippie lady with a star drawn around one eye.

 In the 70s it was all about being shiny and sparkly.  “I remember gobs and gobs of sparkly blue eyeliner, and a babysitter trying to make my nose look really shiny because that’s what was popular,” Cheryl said.

 “My very first make-up item I was allowed to buy was one of those big roller ball lip glosses.  It smelled terrible.  It smelled so bad that my mom threw it away and you know I dug it back out again,” she said, sharing how for many young ladies make-up is something that we have a lot of memories and emotional attachments to.

 In the 80s it was all about colors and layers.  “If I didn’t have four colors of eye shadow on I felt underdressed,” Cheryl said.  “I meet a lot of women who learned how to put their make-up on in the 80s and it can be difficult to break free from what we learned.” She explained that some people never update their look, while others know now fear make up because of those over-done trends from their youth.  “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” she assured them.

 The 90’s gave us Grunge, Nude lipsticks and “Friends”. 

These days a variety of looks are accepted, but for a job interview most people are advised to stick with a look that is neat, clean and not distracting. So how can job-seeking individuals accomplish this? Well Cheryl’s class, “Six Steps to Fabulous” to gives everyone a great starting point.  She explained the steps to the class as she demonstrated on her model Tabatha Morris.

SIX STEPS

(1) Skin care  – Cheryl stressed that basic skin care is very important. She recommends using an organic, plant based moisturizer that your skin can easily absorb.   She also recommends applying moisture while your skin is damp, or else it can potentially will bead up on skin instead of being absorbed in.

 She also questioned the choice of cleanser some women use.  “When I was growing up, I thought that if it didn’t sting it wasn’t working,” she said.  “But you really want to be gentle on your skin and avoid harsh chemicals and alcohol.”

 (2) Foundation –  “I only have one thing that is a hard rule about make-up.  And that is to always use cream based products before powder.  Because, if you apply creams on top of powder, the effect can be streaky”.  “Using a great foundation is one of the best things that you can do to create a great makeup look.  If your skin doesn’t look even, then your makeup won’t look as good.”  She recommends testing foundation from the lower cheek down to the jawbone. Cheryl prefers using artificial brushes (made of taclon) because they hold their shape and won’t harbor bacterial the way a natural brush can.

 

(3) Eye shadow – This is a case where keeping it simple is a good idea.  It’s okay to have 1-3 colors, but they should be complimentary, and also complimentary with blush, lipstick and other make-up colors that you might have on.  You should feel free to experiment with colors that you feel comfortable with, however,   Coco Channel once  said that when you look in the mirror, you should take off the first thing that you see.  Make-up is like that.  If you look in the mirror and the first thing you notice is bright eye shadow, then you might want to tone it down,” Cheryl advised.

(4) Mascara – One thing about mascara many people don’t know is that it can harbor bacteria and cause an infection.  “Throw out mascara after six months at the latest,” she said.  Cheryl advises to keep it light, and beware clumpy mascara looks. 

(5) Cheeks – “There is no need to be afraid of blush,” Cheryl said. “A lot of us remember the thick sticks of rouge that women used to wear back in the 50s and 60s.  In fact, that’s what my makeup studio is named after, the memory of my grandmother and that big stick of rouge she’d paint on my cheeks and rub in on special occasions.” 

 These days a little bit of blush, applied on the apple of the cheek, goes a long way.  But going without can deprive your face of a healthy rosy glow, so some is necessary. She advised “harmonizing” your cheek color with your eye color, and Rouge salon offers gift packs with colors already selected to do just that.

(6) Lips –  Lip color should not be too bright, and should complement the other colors used.  Her main concern with lipstick isn’t so much the look, as what is in it.  In fact, all make-up raises concerns about chemical additives, which is another thing Cheryl talked about in her presentation.

 WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR FACE?

Cheryl started ROUGE MakeUp and Nail Studio with a mission to provide her clients with products that are healthy and have a non-toxic ingredient list.  They Organic, Vegan (whenever possible) and exclusive plant based products at ROUGE. 

“When thinking about products that put on your lips you should to be careful to make sure it’s not petroleum based, as it’s a known carcinogen.   Whatever you put on your lips, you end up eating, so you don’t want to have anything that is made of mineral oil.”

Cheryl also pointed out that “fragrance” can mean any number of chemical combinations that cosmetic companies do not have to reveal.  They fall under “trade secrets”.   She said that companies can and often do change the ingredient list of their makeup and skincare products without alerting customers.  “Women have a break out or reaction and they always think it is them, but a lot of times it is something in their products that is different. 

 Some ingredients that consumers may want to consider are listed as part of Eve Organic’s Dirty Dozen.  Phthalates is listed as DEP, DEHP or Fragrance on containers, and it’s been linked to organ damage and reproductive defects.  Fragrance, which can be any number of things hidden from view as a trade secret, has been linked to MS, CFS, and Fibromyalgia.  Parabens have been found in breast tumors. DEA/TEA can cause chemical reactions with other ingredients that become carcinogens; Petrochemicals (paraffin, Petroolatum, and Mineral Oil) are carcinogen’s already banned in Europe as a cosmetic.  Urea is a formaldehyde releaser. Sulfates can mutate cells and denature protein.  Dyes can cause cancer and may contain arsenic or lead.  Lanolin can contain DDT which is a neurotoxin.  Propylene Glycol can cause liver and kidney damage.  Talc has fibers similar to asbestos which are linked to lung and ovarian cancer.  And in general make-up can contain contaminants, including extracting solvents, which are not included on the labels.

 The Eve Organics line that Rouge uses is made with plants and minerals found in nature, organic when possible.  Cheryl’s model, Tabatha, said the makeup felt lighter on her face than other makeup that she had tried. “I don’t feel like I have make-up on,” she said, adding that Cheryl made her feel very comfortable while getting it done too.

 Eve Organics is a locally-made cosmetic line owned by Sharon Pinheiro.  The two entrepreneurs met when Cheryl was researching brands to work with and sell in her Ferndale studio, and became fast friends. When Cheryl opened Rouge she insisted on having products in her store that wouldn’t potentially hurt people, Eve Organics has proven to be the perfect fit.

 SPECIAL VISITOR

 Eve Organics founder Sharon Pinheiro was sitting in on the class at FCC, and was able to answer questions that women in the audience had about the products and the techniques used to apply them.

 She also shared her independent spirit success story with the women in the room, who were able to learn not just how to look beautiful, but how following one’s passion can also be a beautiful thing.

 “Ever since I was a kid I’ve been a pleaser,” Pinheiro said.  “I’m always the one worried about everyone else’s condition.  I worked as a paralegal, then a secretary, and as I evolved I went into massage and aromatherapy.  I started making aromatherapy mixes for customers and they’d come back and say it helped them.  I started to learn more about that, and I also learned more about products that many people don’t know can hurt them.  The more I read, the more it fueled me.

 ‘I started making skin care products and it went down a road to make-up.  If I had to share anything it’s that if you have a passion, follow it.  Even if it takes you five years you will wake up every day with a motivation.” 

ABOUT THE FCC

Classes at the Ferndale Career Center focus on all the aspects that a person needs in order to have a successful job search.  From basic resume-creating and interviewing skills, to less-obvious tools like social media, to personal-growth skills like The Passion Test and Six Steps to Fabulous, the FCC is ready to help.  There are also other resources as well, including career counselors, and the Michigan Talent Bank.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/ferndalecareercenter for the latest info.

For more information on Rouge Salon go to http://www.rougemakeupandnails.com.  For more on Eve Organics go to www.eveorganics.net.