Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeri Guyette.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jeri. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a licensed Master Cosmetologist, Paramedical Aesthetician, Certified Medical and Clinical Electrologist with a Bachelor of Science major in Biology. I’ve always been fascinated with makeup, fashion, Hollywood glamour, and science! My Grandma Weisy used to let me put on her rouge and lipsticks. She would have these wonderful little silver mirrored trays and decorative cloisonné compacts and pillboxes on her dresser, and every time I watched old movies with her, I’d play dress up with those items. I aspired to become a high fashion runway model but at the height of 5’6” that quickly became an obstacle. And so, when I graduated from A.E. Beach High School in Savannah, Ga., I moved to New York at the age of 17 and enrolled in Wilfred Beauty Academy to become a theatrical and cinematic makeup artist. I planned to pursue my passion in this manner and still work in the fashion and movie industries. It was my goal to have my cosmetic line by the age of 25.
However, my path took a turn when I realized that I loved skincare just as passionately and that I was great at preventing and correcting acne, hyperpigmented and aging skin. Those became my most requested services, especially among women of color because there weren’t many Aestheticians in the 80’s and 90’s who were well versed in the proper treatment of the Fitzpatrick classification of skin IV, V and VI. (Tan-Dark) I’ve worked in and helped open premiere luxury spas, medical spas and cosmetic and plastic surgery centers around the world. In my 34 years of experience, regardless of my client’s age, their ethnicities, countries, etc., they all wanted the same thing: beautiful, youthful skin. I wanted to provide not only skincare products to help them achieve their skincare goals but to incorporate cosmetics that would work synergistically with those goals as well.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t know of any success stories that did not encounter obstacles, whether personally, financially, or secularly. So, I count myself among those future success stories that have yet to reach fruition. As a female entrepreneur starting rather later than the average societal norms for a businesswoman, (I just reached my half century milestone of 50 this past August 2019) I’ve experienced a lot of negativity along this journey. I’ve had comments as to why I would enter an oversaturated market such as cosmetics so late in life or why I chose to represent women 35 and “Finer” in an era of young, Instagram models. I’ve also had manufacturers close their doors to me due to my company’s small size or present me with astronomical MQO’s (Minimal Quantity Orders) and R & D fees (Research & Development). Thankfully, despite these obstacles, I’ve received some encouraging support from my family and close friends. I’ve also been fortunate enough to find companies that were willing to work with me regarding my vision. I believe that we’re all going to encounter a lot of “No’s” along the way. But, you only need one “Yes”. The key is to not give up until you either receive that “Yes” or create it.
We’d love to hear more about your company.
Vintage Vixen Cosmetics ™, LLC, is a luxury cosmetics company offering high quality, bold, vibrant color for the “Alpha” in you. Our brand is ProGenerative ™ in the formulation to enhance the skin’s renewal process. Our products are specially created with botanicals to help boost collagen production, maintain moisture levels, provide antioxidant protection against free-radicals and defense against harmful UVA and UVB rays. We’re paraben-free, cruelty-free, and vegan friendly.
What sets us apart from other companies is that we are specially formulated for women who have been blessed with the ‘Gift of Longevity’: ages 35 and “Finer.” Being a scientist and skincare advocate, as well as a woman of that “Finer” age group, our products needed to target this demographic. As we intrinsically age, our skin’s needs change. Our collagen depletes, our elasticity diminishes, causing excessive dryness, wrinkles and other signs of skin maturity. And let’s not forget menopause! Lol! Our lipsticks are infused with avocado, castor seed and coconut oils, shea butter, vitamin E and other sumptuous ingredients that deliver amazing nourishing benefits. We strive to be inclusive of more mature women who are not only in stages in their lives where they may feel irrelevant in society but who are also pioneering a new renaissance in their second and third chapters. These women are boldly opening businesses, non-profits, becoming more involved in their communities, etc. and they deserve to be represented in the beauty industry as well. Too many are absent in social media and in product advertisements that claim to be geared towards us but do not resemble us. So, we are happy to be able to empower these women and give them a voice and platform to embrace beauty at whatever age and stage in life they are in. It gives me great pleasure to hear the positive feedback from our ‘Alpha Vixens’ who are embracing aging in a whole new light and I am so excited and honored that Vintage Vixen Cosmetics ™ can be a part of that!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Wow! There have been some wonderful and amazing things that have happened since our launch, June 15, 2019, that it’s tough to pinpoint. But, to be able to speak about our company at the 1 Million Cups event in Brunswick, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, was one of them! Thanks to Skip Mounts and Bill Garner of the College of Coastal Georgia, I was selected as a presenter to empower other entrepreneurs about my journey. I received my first “Corporate Swag” as a company. Recently, we were able to secure our very first Red Carpet Sponsorship at The Moody Gala in Atlanta (produced by CEO and Founder Mr. Germaine Moody) in which our logo was proudly emblazoned on the backdrop’s step and repeat. That was emotional for me to walk in and see! That moment has led to some pretty exciting upcoming ventures for Vintage Vixen Cosmetics ™ so stay tuned!
Pricing:
- “The Vixen Collection” $18 (Creamy Matte and Satin Lipsticks)
- “The Soundstage Collection” $18 (Creamy, Matte Lipsticks)
- “The GlamDram™ Faux Lashes Collection” $15 (Synthetic, 100% handmade lashes)
- “Brand That Glam Collection” $25 (Glam T-shirt Line)
Contact Info:
- Address: Vintage Vixen Cosmetics, LLC
PMB #256, 1601 HWY 40 E Suite M
Kingsland, GA. 31548 - Website: https://www.vintagevixencosmetics.com/
- Email: info@vintagevixencosmetics.com
- Instagram: @vintagevixencosmetics
- Facebook: facebook.com/vintagevixencosmeticsllc
- Twitter: @VintageVixenCos
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_t5XAKtbyAv1O8mZSXkesA
Image Credit:
Photo 1 – Photographer, Arin Guyette
Photo 2 – Photographer, Adrienne Stearns-Price
Photo 3 – Photographer, Arin Guyette
Photo 4 – Brand Ambassador, Adrienne Stearns-Price. Photographer, Jeri Guyette
Photo 5 – Created by Arin and Jeri Guyette
Photo 6 – Brand Ambassador, Colleen Knight. Photographer, Mermaid Beauty Creations
Photo 7 – Created by Arin and Jeri Guyette
Photo 8 – Photographer, Jeri Guyette
Photo 9 – Created by Arin and Jeri Guyette
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