It has been her lifelong passion to bring out a glimpse of the the true beauty of anyone who crosses her path. Joanne first embarked on this journey as a young writer. Any free moment was spent sketching pictures or writing poems and short stories about the special people in her life. With a large family of artists she learned to appreciate the gift of creativity. Her greatest joy has been in doing freelance makeup for the past fourteen years.
Her drive to illustrate beauty gained momentum when she lost one of the most vibrant and influential forces in her life, her grandmother. After her passing her diaries were uncovered and in them her grandmother described feelings of not being 'pretty enough'. Yet, throughout her life her grandmother's presence always lit up a room. That is true beauty...so exquisite it is timeless.
Joanne's life experiences have led her to believe that feminine charm is not only in the outward appearance; it is in the way one discreetly pleases the soul. hâut, meaning 'skin' in German, has been created in a divine quest to redefine 'pretty' as being a colourful reflection of the inner details.
She walks tall but inwardly feels a little self-conscious. She feels like people will be so focused on the 'imperfections' on her face that they’ll not see the deeper beauty of who she is. She was told, "Just forget about your skin problems and don’t let them get you down." This is easier said than done for those who know what it’s like to battle those little imperfections on your skin we call acne! There’s something about acne that makes us want to cake on makeup to try to hide it instead of getting to the source of the problem and trying to counteract its' effects on our skin and on our spirit.
Amy grew up watching her sister apply her makeup and then asking her if she could do her makeup at the young age of five. Amy realized one morning two years ago she was still watching her sister apply her makeup…and asking her if she could do her makeup. However, Joanne was now using her own mineral line and applying Amy's makeup for her wedding!
After assisting Joanne here and there in busy times, it now seems only natural that she is becoming fully immersed in Hâut as it grows and expands to all parts of the world. After her own personal struggle, Amy is passionate about giving people who are dealing with skin problems a way to manage them, not cover them up. She enjoys taking the time to explain to clients why it makes sense to wear organic products that will soothe their skin instead of chemicals that are irritating or a product that clogs pores. "I feel like I’m doing my skin a favor by wearing Hâut because I am protecting it from the outside elements with the minerals and at the same time giving it that natural and healthy look I have always wanted to achieve."
Amy completely relates with those who explain how their acne or rosasea is not just a physical problem but long term it affects them psychologically. It could be the teenager going through hormonal changes, the stay-at-home mom who is not getting enough sleep and needs just a touch of brightening around her eyes to feel 'bright eyed', or the business woman who only has time to check her makeup in the rearview mirror as she heads home from work. "We want to meet the needs of people in all walks of life all around the world. I couldn’t be more excited to promote something natural that has the lasting benefits that Hâut does, not just outwardly but inwardly."
hâut talent
Do you remember that woman you saw walking down the street with that flawless skin we are all trying to achieve? Or maybe it was the woman with the perfect color of eye shadow and lipstick for her stunning blue eyes, or Angelina Jolie lips… well chances are, that woman had a haut minerals custom-blend session with Executive makeup artist Melissa Nkomo!
Known to her friends as “the walking fashion show” Melissa’s passion for fashion (and everything under its umbrella including; shoes, wardrobe, accessories and so on…) has pooled over into a love affair with makeup and makeup artistry. This Vancouver based makeup artist has done makeup for all occasions including weddings, fashion shows, TV and film and of course her loyal and dedicated beauty clients.
For people who knew Melissa growing up, finding out now that she followed a career in the fashion and beauty industry would be a shock to most of them. Growing up, Melissa’s focus was on sports, school and her future in university. Little did they know what she had a secret…
“I never told anyone this until recently when it was brought up with a client of mine…” says Melissa, “she was wearing this beautiful bangle that she had had made for her by a famous artist. In a conversation with the artist, he had asked my client what her earliest memory in life was. When you discover it, he said, you then realize that that memory was actually a pointer to your destiny. I took this question home with me. I laughed when I realized what it was… My earliest memory was sneaking into my mom’s bathroom, grabbing Q-tips and dipping them into her eye shadow containers. I would then put all the Q-tips under my pillow in a neat little row and once she had said goodnight to me, I pulled out my flashlight... brought out the mirror… and put my makeup on! Every morning I would wake up with eye shadow melted all over my face. My mother, the wonderful person she is, would turn to me and say… ‘Good morning...you look beautiful... don’t forget to wash your face.’”
Melissa gained her education from the prestigious Blanche Macdonald School for Makeup Artistry. Before working with Haut Minerals, she paid her dues working behind department store beauty counters. Melissa says, “One of my favourite makeup artists Sam Fine said it best when he fondly referred to department store beauty counters as ‘the school of true beauty…’” It was behind these counters where Melissa received the opportunity to meet real woman from every walk of life. However different these women were, they were always looking to answer the same question… “How can I look my Best?” Melissa has always made it a personal goal to show women how to achieve a natural beauty in a custom regime using colors and shades to accentuate their complexion. Most importantly she helps bestow empowerment through the knowledge given to them and the ability to create (or recreate) a look for themselves.
Melissa’s drive and determination has taken her beyond the makeup counters to bring her not only to haut, but also making her one of the most sought after makeup artists in Vancouver. Melissa jumped at the chance to work with Joanne and haut minerals; feeling that the opportunities to custom create cosmetics for every individual’s need is the crucial ingredient in flawless makeup for the everyday woman. This allows the woman with the piercing blue eyes who never wears makeup, or the woman battling with adult acne to achieve flawless beauty day to day.
“As a woman of color, the most important thing to me is that people see my face, not my makeup”
So with years behind her and many more ahead, look for Melissa, her work, and haut minerals gracing the covers of magazines, on TV or simply look to the stunning woman next to you on the street.
