Troy-Ann shows the effect of a glitter lipstick on her hand. - Winston SillBarbara Ellington
MANY of our former national festival queens go on to become successful career women. Dahlia Harris, Jennifer Small, Karlene Kelly, Pamella Powell, Jacinth Hall and Andrea Tulloch, are just a few of them. The 1998 winner, Troy-Ann Davis, is a qualified aesthetician who received training in France.
And two months ago, she decided to put some of that training in practice and begin custom blending cosmetics under the brand name, Jade Ashley and so far, response has been positive, "..because I'm working with my clients," Troy-Ann told Flair in an interview last week.
"I decided to go this route because I've been doing a lot of makeup work and very often, the right blends are hard to find, especially when some shades are discontinued, so people can watch me blend a lipstick right before their eyes. I am a trained professional and know what a made-up woman looks like," she said.
Troy-Ann studied skin care, makeup artistry, body painting, massages and theatre makeup at E.T.E.C. and Giorgi - Ecole d'esthetique et de Coiffure in France for four and a half years. Since her return, she has worked extensively with local photographers like Brian Rosen.
Some of the products that she blends are: lipsticks, eyeliners, foundations, glosses, glaces, eyeshadows, powders and complexion toners. Main ingredients are, natural essences, bases, colourings and fragrances.
It takes roughly six minutes to make a new lipstick but about three days to custom make one for a client.
Ultimately, Troy-Ann would love to see a Jade Ashley counter in all major stores but the official launch will take place next month.
Blending cosmetics is an expensive venture. "Raw materials have to be bought in bulk and sourced out of France or the United States. Packaging is key; it must be trendy and match your target market," she said.
Troy-Ann is of the view that what she is now doing will prove beneficial for women who tend to mix several different colours together to find that right shade.
