Nouveau Contour World Conference in Amsterdam - Inspiration for all involved!

It was an honor to be invited to present at The Nouveau Contour World Conference in Amsterdam, last month, hosted by Armand Hoes. Practitioners, distributors and trainers from Twenty-five different countries attended and Armand graciously welcomed them in each of their native language.

Each presenter demonstrated their unique approach and application to procedures. Those attending the classes left with new techniques and renewed inspiration, myself included. There's nothing like getting to watch your peers work. This happens so infrequently and is such a gift. Karen Betts did eyebrows on a young, Alopecia girl that were breathtaking. I did an areola tattoo on a breast cancer survivor that turned out to be a Reiki Master. She had a spellbinding effect on the audience and did incredibly interesting work in hospice. It seemed as though every model in every case had some inspirational quality that permeated the room.

There was such a beautiful exchange amidst the attendees. Nothing was sold, pitched or purchased. This conference was pure education.

Armand was definitely the Host with the Most! He saw to every detail and arranged evenings for us global distributors to exchange ideas and share marketing strategies, etc. It is also so interesting to hear our business benefits and challenges from around the world, first hand.

Amsterdam is the sweetest city, filled with the bustle of bicycles and canal boats. I always feel so at home there. It is super friendly, compact and completely accessible and filled with extraordinary scenery. Romantically lit bridges over the countless canals make Amsterdam such a great walking city. Its rich history is intriguing and the art galleries are breathtaking. This was my third trip there for Nouveau Contour and I look forward to going back. We will keep you posted on the dates for 2014 and if at all possible, try to make it and become inspired.

The Beau National Day of Hope-The Reward of a Lifetime!

There is no greater reward than helping to restore the confidence in someone's appearance and I found this great reward along with tremendous inspiration working with breast cancer survivors.

For years I repeatedly heard from women that they couldn''t do one more thing or go through one more surgery or procedure, not even the tattooing, following their mastectomy. The duress of facing their mortality and often the debilitation of chemotherapy, was all they could bear.

These clients would painfully explain how they avoided both mirrors and their husband's or significant other's eyes from viewing this unfinished canvas. Then, once the dimensional areola complex was tattooed, the naked breast mound took on a new life of realism and familiarity, thus producing confidence.

The issue these women have is they find difficulty in getting their health insurance to cover the tattooing procedure after they are years away from their breast reconstruction. So, I began to offer The Beau Day of Hope, twice each year, (October and May) where I volunteer my services for these women.

Other practitioners offered to come and work with me and we were able to accommodate many more women. It was then, I realized, collectively, permanent makeup practitioners can make this a national volunteer program and reach hundreds of women in need of areola tattooing. I launched the concept at the Naturalook Conference in California, in August, and the excitement was infectious.

To be a part of this process is exhilarating and I am hoping that 100 practitioners across the country will participate in our first year, as a national effort for the October 29, 2013, Beau National Day of Hope.

NaturaLook Conference in Disneyland

WOW! It was truly inspirational! After spending five days with fellow practitioners and trainers, I came away so inspired. As an instructor and practitioner, I always say,"when you teach you learn!"

It was a honor to be among so many great speakers and amazing women. A beautiful tapestry of work and friendship was continuously woven through our 84 attendees over the two days. As I watched new friendships being born and listened to their exchange of commonalities, approaches and ultimately questions to each other regarding procedures. The absence of a personal agenda and focus on sharing ones' experience and knowledge helped to create the magical atmosphere. Given this, the focus remained on education and that was our goal. I was in awe. I am deeply appreciative of the graciousness of all of our attendees and the way in which my presentations were received. I also am thankful for the insightful comments.

A very special thank you and gratitude to Jeanne Lusby and her staff for putting together a wonderful conference that allowed us to create a community of sharing and learning which helps us all to grow and make positive advances in the field of permanent cosmetics. I am looking forward to the next one; until then stay beautiful, grow and continue to be inspired!

We are ALL in this together - Breast Cancer does not discriminate

We must continue to be brave, courage and support all women who are faced with breast cancer.

As an instructor that specializes in teaching 3-dimensional areola tattooing following a mastectomy, I have had the privilege of working with many brave women that have been faced with the same difficult choice made recently by Angelina Jolie. I commend her for sharing her plight with the world. I believe her bravery and generosity will reach far and wide in giving many woman the courage to choose the same.

So often, women are not given the opportunity to choose a prophylactic mastectomy. The presence of a cancer made this choice for them. Although, it may be understood that this is a life-saving surgery, this knowledge does not make it any less traumatic for a woman to be faced with losing her breasts. Electing this surgery is yet, another story.

Angelina's sharing this can impact women in several ways. First, it reminds us that cancer does not discriminate. Money and fame do not make you any less exempt. Also, young women facing cancer can relate to Jolie. She is a busy mom, a career woman and wife and admittedly a magnificent representation of feminine beauty, even if you are not a fan. Yet, she appears to feel no less feminine as she recently strutted the red carpet.

The rich and famous celebrities have proven to be as vulnerable as ever other woman have provided us with great role models who have chosen various modalities of breast cancer treatment. Christina Applegate barely missed a beat, rising like a phoenix following a bilateral mastectomy. We also have Suzanne Sommers who inspired many by taking the naturopathic route and appears to be in robust health. We thank them all for sharing.

In reality, we, as women are all in this together. Breast cancer appears to be at epidemic proportions. Having the privilege of teaching in cancer institutes such as Memorial Sloan Kettering and Stephanie Spielman Cancer Center, countless more and in my own practice, I have met many breast cancer survivors that have become my heroes and role models. I am in awe at the bravery and healthy attitudes of these women. There is much to be said about the camaraderie and the support that these women extend to one another and I am grateful to be invited to join hands with them and womankind until we find the cure.

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It's All About You & Your BEAUty, Inside & Out. Commit Today to Filling Your Bucket

It's that time of year again - to show off your skin (whether you want to or not).

Take the time to evaluate your skin to put your best face forward.

Start this summer with a clean, fresh face and a commitment to a daily sunscreen.  We are excited to introduce a new light weight foundation with at SP15 that is perfect for summer and all year long.

Does your face have residual damage from last summer's sun exposure? This is the perfect time to schedule your skin care treatments, whether it is: IPL Treatments (Intense Pulse Light), Microdermabrasion or a more serious peel to remove any telltale sun spots or hyper-pigmentation.

 

Photo-damage is accumulative, so don't allow discolorations to build up or darken before seeing your aesthetician or doctor for removal.

Don't forget about your legs. Many of us suffer from unsightly leg veins. Don't let it keep you from wearing, shorts, skirts and capris this summer. Consider Sclerotherapy for leg veins. Please consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor today. There may be some residual bruising or multiple sessions, so don't wait.

My commitment to writing this blog to remind you, each and every one of you how important you are and share my personal favorite lessons learned.
Feel free to share how you are going to fill your cup with your beauty plans, this month, on our FaceBook page. We will look forward to hearing from you. Remember, we love video and pictures too! 

If we do not take care of ourselves, our cups feel empty. No one, not even our loving significant others or our children will come to us and say "you look a bit tired, you seem to do everything for everyone so I made you an appointment for your eyebrows to be touched up". Its not happening! You will be considered fortunate if your significant other scheduled you a manicure. We must go off and fill our own cups and ultimately, I always find I have more to give when I have taken care of myself.

 

ITS ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT, COMMIT TODAY TO FILLING YOUR BUCKET!

Spring into Action with BEAU BEAUTY PLAN!

The trend for eyebrows this year are full and paramount. These fuller and more lush eyebrows give women a beautiful look and are reminiscent of the sexy, glamorous looks of the forties!!! They frame the eyes with color, show expression, and bring every other facial feature into balance, when shaped properly.

Here, at Beau, we specialize in custom design just for your face utilizing hair simulation in permanent eyebrows. It is the most fabulous and realistic effect and we can restore the gorgeous brows you may have once had or wish to have, now. So, you can eliminate an eyebrow pencil from your Spring makeup shopping list.

For Permanent Lip Color, you may want to request the Gloss and Go effect. This consists of a lip liner that is shaded into the lip interior utilizing the natural lip color for a natural, earthier effect. Gloss and Go can be done in any range of colors from very soft and neutral shades to a more dramatic choice of color.

 

Very often, our lips need to be reshaped or the color brought back out to the vermillion border to where it once was. When this is done, the effect is amazing!!! A millimeter on a lip appears to be more like a mile in the dramatic way it improves the fullness as well as denoting youth. I am a big fan of lip shaping and color because I have watched for the past 23 years how it makes women feel, including myself. The effect of permanent lip color is sexy and youthful and confidence building to have definition and color every waking moment.

Tinted lip glosses with a slight shimmer really add the appearance of fullness to lips. Also, any color you choose can be placed over your permanent lip color and you will also find that both lipsticks and glosses will wear longer once your lips are tattooed. I like to have a wardrobe of lip glosses ranging from very light and nude to deeper and hotter pinks and reds.

You can also choose a peachy nude, a more vibrant apricot and a deeper coppery shade for a warm colored wardrobe of lip shades. Have fun shopping for them but do not forget to make your appointment for your Gloss and Go lip procedure.

How about the myriad of colors in eye shadows and eyeliner pencils they are showing? What's a girl to do? Simply select a neutral shade for your permanent eyeliner and add any of the shadows and colored pencils for extra drama.

Permanent double color is also an option as well as a smudge effect on the bottom liner. Plan your summer with smear-proof eyeliner that frames your eyes and keeps them dancing with color 24/7. Go ahead and shop for all of those great shadows and colored pencils but first, make your appointment for your permanent eyeliner, today!

Fight the winter blues by focusing on YOU!

Fight the winter blues by focusing on YOU!

Winter doldrums and complacency often set in following the holiday season. We shopped for family and friends, cooked and baked with great purpose and then comes the lull. The perfect way to avoid the lull is to put the focus back on YOU!!!

Are you in need of a touch-up on your permanent makeup? It may be time to fall in love, again, with your permanent eyebrows, fabulous non-smearing eyeliner or sensuous lips. Schedule your touch-ups and be ready for summer. Is there a new permanent makeup procedure you have been putting off? Do it now!

Does your face have residual damage from last summer's sun exposure? This is the perfect time to schedule your skin care treatments, whether it is: IPL, Microdermabrasion or a serious peel to remove any telltale sun spots or hyperpigmentation. Photo-damage is accumulative, so don't allow discolorations to build up or darken before seeing your aesthetician or doctor for removal. Start this summer with a clean, fresh face and a commitment to a daily sunscreen.

Well, I hope this reminded you how important you are and I will share something I learned a while back. When we don't take care of ourselves, our cups feel empty. No one, not even our loving significant others or our children will come to us and saying you look a bit tired, you seem to do everything for everyone so I made you an appointment for your eyebrows to be touched up. It's not happening! You will be considered fortunate if your significant other scheduled you a manicure. We must go off and fill our own cups and ultimately, I always find I have more to give when I have taken care of myself. Feel free to share how you are going to fill your cup with your beauty plans, this month, on our Facebook page. We will look forward to hearing from you.