Everyone wants their big day to go smoothly and not too stressful. Flawless makeup, beautiful skin, captivating dress, and stunning hair. This article features the person who assists in making the bride feel like the most beautiful woman in the world on her big day! She’s responsible for all things “BEAUTY”!
From the time Christy Ann was a young girl, she
Christy Ann realized quickly that she had a special gift for helping women to feel better about themselves with just a simple touch of her own makeup brush. Christy Ann truly enjoyed interacting with clients
‘’I continued on my path to fulfill my passion of working in the cosmetics industry as this was where I was destined to be.’’
Christy Ann always had a mission to become her own boss someday. She recalls times in the past when she has worked for other companies and thought to herself, “I can do better than this.” For Christy Ann, empowering women plays such a key role in what she want to do with her business and her brand. It was necessary for her to create an outlet where she could uplift other women while boosting their self-confidence.
‘’My drive to build a brand based on a desirable service to women–that also serves to empower those same clients–has proven itself a successful and fulfilling business venture.’’
Tell us about your first entrepreneurial experience as a kid?
I’ve possessed an entrepreneurial spirit since I can remember. As a child, I’d bring trading cards to school and price them according to popularity. From my first $5 earned on Day 1, I’ve always known I have a special knack for sales.
How do you compete with so many other Cosmetic companies?
This industry is a highly competitive and dynamic market defined by social trends and demands of consumers. But, thanks to social media and its undeniable power, makeup artists now have a free platform to showcase their best work and advertise their services. For me, professionalism must coincide with talent. We strive to remain genuine while passionate about our craft. I’m still very much involved in the everyday ins and outs of my business and aim to provide my client base with a level of satisfaction far beyond their expectations.
Any great stories from working with a client?
Some of my fondest memories with Christy Ann Cosmetics has been working with clients in those precious bonding moments, sharing laughs and tears. My cosmetics career has awarded me the opportunity to meet some truly amazing women and get to know them on a more personal level. I’ve been grateful to have opportunities where I’ve been inspired by women around me or been able to inspire them.
I have my bad days just like anyone else, but being constantly surrounded by amazing women helps to enrich my soul and allows me see the positive in all things. There have been several occasions when clients and I have leaned on each other for laughs, smiles, and even a good girl cry. Women in this world are so much stronger when they take the time to uplift each other, and not break each other down like society sometimes pits us towards each other to do.
What are your goals currently?
It is our mission to create a lasting impression one face at a time. Our ultimate goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment for our clients where they can look and feel their absolute best.
How did you make sure anyone can find you as a makeup artist?
Advertising your brand to your target audience is not only necessary, but crucial for the success of your business. The vast majority of our client base comes to us for bridal and special event services. Our central focus caters to the New York bridal market, with a smaller scale secondary focus on worldwide services. The Christy Ann Cosmetics brand is active on all major social media platforms, geared towards our bridal and special events client base. Understanding our market, our audience and their wants/desires is key to our success as a brand.
How do you get unstuck creatively?
The cosmetics industry is an ever-changing market. It’s in our best interest as a company to keep our fingers to the pulse on the latest trends so that we can show our clients we’re a progressive and versatile brand. When you stop learning you stop growing, and I strive to keep this in mind for myself as well as my team.
What is unique about your work with customers?
We stand out as unique not only for our extraordinary talents and services, but that we make an effort to make our clients just like they are a close friend. Brides/weddings fill up the vast majority of our services, and we value our ladies for trusting us to make them feel beautiful on one of the most important days of their lives. We show them our appreciation by giving them a memorable experience from start to finish.
As an entrepreneur you’ll always have to make some sacrifices.
As a business owner, mother, and wife it is a constant effort on my part to maintain an equal balance to both my business and my family. There have been times I’ve found it difficult to juggle myself and my duties as a successful business owner, nurturing mother, and wife. Finding the perfect harmony in all roles can be done, but I’ve learned that allowing to rely on others can help to better serve myself, my business , and my home life. Without the consistent love and support from my immediate family my daily goals would be unattainable, I’m beyond grateful to have a loving and supportive husband by my side.
How would you describe your work style while running your business?
I find it most important to establish a fun yet professional atmosphere for your team. It’s essential for me to inspire my team and to always show them that their commitment to the team is appreciated, both with praise and monetarily speaking. I encourage them to keep an open line of communication and come to me with any questions so that I can offer them guidance. My team and I have a mutual respect for one another, and we know that both of our roles are vital to the success of Christy Ann Cosmetics.
Do you believe in destiny or do you think you can control your fate?
Destiny is something that I’ve always believed in. So many times throughout my life I’ve worked tirelessly to control a situation, but I’ve come to learn that when I surrender myself and allow situations to unfold as they should, destiny has always prevailed. In business, I’ve sometimes found myself overextending to maintain relationships that weren’t beneficial to me. As time progressed and I learned from my mistakes, I was rewarded with greater achievements once I gravitated towards like-minded individuals.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
To date, my proudest achievement is continuing to build s successful company in a competitive market. I know that without a doubt, my years of hard work and persistence have led me to where I am today. I will continue to inspire and uplift other women while helping them to feel beautiful–from the inside out–because that is what I do best.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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