Today we’d like to introduce you to Elana Foster.
Hi Elana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my makeup journey as a senior in high school, wanting to save money for a custom dress for my prom. In 2009, I didn’t know I could go to MAC or Sephora and get my makeup done; I got a job working retail the summer before my senior year to save up for my dress and shoes. I took it upon myself to learn how to do my makeup for my prom; so I went on my home computer, used broadband internet, and searched ‘makeup for black girls’ on Youtube. The first makeup artist I found was BeatFaceHoney, from her YouTube channel I found a look that coordinated with my Canary Yellow prom dress with Teal and Turquoise accents. I practiced my prom makeup look every day, from the first day of volleyball season until the regionals of track season (I was a 2 sport athlete at the time). Doing makeup became a habit for me; go to school, go to practice, come home and do homework, then practice makeup.
By the Spring time of 2009, I had graduated from Youtube University with a degree in prom makeup application. Prom arrived and I had everything; my dress was perfect, I loved my shoes, my hair was done, and I was so proud of my makeup. After high school, I enrolled in college in Charlotte, NC and made sure to bring my new passion for makeup with me. I practiced on my friends, my roommate, and my volleyball teammates; basically anyone I could convince.
By 2011, I saw my new skill as a trade and charged people for my services; everybody had a hustle in college. In 2017, I made the first major investment in my business as a makeup artist and purchased a ticket to be in attendance at a makeup masterclass taught by Tiyana Robinson. That day changed my life and my artistry forever; when I walked in that masterclass, I was a girl that enjoyed doing makeup, but when I took pictures of my polished and revamped work I saw myself as a makeup artist.
When people ask me, I tell them I have been doing makeup for 12 years but six years professionally. Right before the pandemic, I stumbled into bridal and I never looked back. After getting my dream job at MAC, one of my coworkers referred a bride-to-be to me for her wedding; I had no idea what to expect! After my first wedding, I was hooked. I love everything bridal, the months of planning for that one special day; the dress, the flowers, the hair, the makeup! I am enchanted by how various elements can create such a beautiful and well put together masterpiece.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an entrepreneur is not smooth nor easy, if that was the case it wouldn’t be worth it and everyone would do it. There are months when I have four clients, and then some other months I am booked every weekend with weddings and my non-bridal beauties. Entrepreneurship looks different for everyone; my title includes a licensed esthetician and bridal makeup specialist, there was a time where I was in school from 8am-3pm, worked a regular 40-hour job from 4pm-10pm, and still worked weddings Friday through Sunday. I recently was released from having a job, and now I am solely working as a member of my business. Bridal makeup is seasonal from April until June, there is a small pause in July and August, and then it resumes from September through December. During the months of January through March, I focus more on my non-bridal services; there is a demand influx for intimate hair removal for Valentine’s Day, prom makeup and graduation requests start in April, and I can always count on my birthday beauties wanting my services.
I don’t mind the struggles that come with entrepreneurship, mistakes are opportunities of growth and learning. I have surrounded myself with an amazing tribe of business owners that support my success; I can ask for advice, resources, and learned experiences to better equip myself for this journey of business ownership.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bare Beauty Experience is designed for those that appreciate and celebrate their natural, bare beauty. I specialize in bridal makeup experiences for the individual that desires a luxury, customized, and personalized wedding experience; I service cis and trans-gendered women, binary individuals, and men. As a member of the LGBTQIA community, I am bringing new meaning to the traditional term of the bride. I also specialize in eyebrow threading, hair removal, and skin care. As bridal beauty, skincare and hair removal services may be included in bridal packages in preparing for their wedding day.
I pride myself on making the bride feel like the most beautiful person in the world on their wedding day. I provide an intimate, customized, and professional bridal experience for all my bridal clients. As a beauty specialist, I am most proud of the moment I give my bride the mirror and they gasp in excitement and satisfaction of their makeup; I take my brides’ makeup vision and I adjust it to their personality, face shape, and skin type, and bring it to fruition.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory was spending time with my grandma “MaDear”; my grandmother is a natural beauty but she definitely had a few items of makeup in her arsenal. I remember going into her bathroom at age 5 or 6 and sneaking to put on her cover curl mascara that came in the pink tube with the green top and playing in her brick red colored lipstick. Even as a child, I was fascinated by makeup and the power of applying a few products and feeling like the most powerful five year old in the world.
Pricing:
- Signature Beauty Experience (in studio); $128
- Barezilian Brazilian Wax; $60
- Bare Bridal Package; $574.99
- Opulent Bridal Package; $927.99
- Brow threading; $21
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barebeautyexperience.com
- Instagram: @barebeautyexperience
- Facebook: Bare Beauty Experience
- Other: barebeautybridal.my.canva.site/bridal-packages
Image Credits
headshot- Gavin Boulware Photography white jumpsuit- HerHues Photography loc’d bride- HerHues Photography bouquet bride- Casey Photos wedding couple- Joy Davis Photography
