Latest / Skin Anarchy / Monika Blunder, Professional Makeup Artist and Founder of Monika Blunder Beauty

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Monika Blunder, Professional Makeup Artist and Founder of Monika Blunder Beauty · Skin Anarchy

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Hi guys, welcome back to Second Care Anarchy.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: This is your host, Ekta, and I have a phenomenal guest today.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm so excited to introduce you guys to Monica Blunder, who is a founder and makeup professional makeup artist.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: So, welcome to the show, Monica.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so excited you're here.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, welcome.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so excited to be here with you.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I would love to get started and learn about your journey as an artist and everything, you know, all the experiences and how you got started with makeup and just kind of set the stage to talk about the line.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, of course.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: So I am originally born and raised in Austria and I moved to America in my um early mid-20s.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_01: I was around 23 years old.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: And I really started my journey in in Europe before I came here.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: I knew uh at age 14, 15 that I wanted to be in the beauty business.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: And um, I come from a very small mountain region town in Austria.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Actually, Austria is my favorite place to go skiing.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm hoping I'm from the ski region, uh very close to Kitzbur, which is a very famous uh ski town, small town.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_01: And uh yeah, that's where I grew up.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: And I grew up surrounded by lots of nature and beauty and very natural upbringing, you know, uh skiing after school, that was my activity.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: And my family was really into um healthy living.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, they grew everything in their own garden and they uh made all their own foods, you know.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: So it was very special.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_01: My upbringing was super special.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: And then um my brother, uh who is a little bit older than me, uh is um is a director, and he was working at that time as a camera assistant in Munich, and Munich is only about uh one hour away per uh train ride from where I'm from in Austria.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_01: So I would always go and visit him on set, and and and and that's where really my love uh came uh from for for makeup because I was always super drawn to the makeup department and I really wanted to first do special effects.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, and uh because there is really no proper schooling or at that time, there was no proper schooling for special effects.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: That's sort of like how I fell into uh then doing fashion.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: I met um after I went to makeup school in Germany, I met a makeup artist in Munich who I assisted for quite a while.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and then my brother uh was living in Los Angeles.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: He started working as a director in Los Angeles, and um and uh something tragic happened.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: His his wife passed away at that time, and then he and they had a little child, and uh he asked me if I could come to LA for a little bit to help him.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_01: So I just literally finished school and I was assisting for like a couple of months in Munich, and I was like, you know what, right now I have nothing else.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: I would like to, you know, I'm gonna just come and help you.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: So that's how I ended up in in LA, but not thinking that I'm gonna live here for the rest of my life.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_01: I was just being here for a little bit.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: And uh because he was a director, um, he was working on like really amazing, you know, music videos at that time.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: And um and then he was working with a makeup artist called Paul Starr a lot at that time.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: That was his favorite makeup artist.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and then he um he sort of he asked him one time if I could assist him, and I assisted Dan Paul a few times, and then I got to meet other makeup artists and assisted in LA for like a year and a half, and and then I sort of just got stuck here and I'm still here.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean yeah.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: That's so awesome though.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, did you like you had no idea that you would fall into it this way?
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: So I I like that it was such an organic journey for you.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: It was very organic.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: The only thing I always say what I um I do uh regret a little bit is that I wasn't able to do the whole New York thing when I was young, because you know, obviously fashion was more prominent in New York at that time, and just uh assisting and and doing fashion shows and things like that, I wasn't able to do because I sort of, you know, really came here to help my brother uh first and foremost.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_01: So um I didn't get to do that part, but um but Los Angeles had so much other things to offer, and and that's sort of how I got into the whole celebrity world.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's amazing.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, just to speak on the New York experience, I think we all have this wish, you know, I I I know what you mean in that sense, but I it I think your work speaks for itself in you know in ways that is so global.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's like I think when you're able to come up with a product, you know, that is of like a makeup product that works so beautifully with different types of skin, that's a really big deal, you know.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I I really I love that you've had this journey and I love that it's been so, you know, just one thing after another, like almost inspired, you know?
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I know totally.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: And I I think uh just the whole inspiration for my product really uh comes from my that's why I wanted you to sort of know a little bit about my my my upbringing, my journey, because uh just growing up in Austria and in Europe was really uh uh was really um really inspired Monica Blunder Beauty and and really helped me in my journey because it is different growing up in Europe than here, and especially growing up uh surrounded by so much nature and surrounded by actually I I didn't even know what it meant.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: And now looking back, just having that kind of upbringing where your parents go and get their milk directly from the farm or buy their salads and their vegetable at the special, you know, uh farmer and and all these things which I didn't think um are cool, uh you know, is cool now, you know.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like Yeah, I mean it's it's like you normal for you when you're growing up, you know.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: It's even almost like a little bit embarrassing when you're a teenager, you're like, oh, my parents are so weird, they make everything on their own, you know, and now it's like cool in LA.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_01: Like like my favorite story is always um a very uh great example.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Is my parents always brought their own bags to the grocery store, right?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_01: Because first they were really into like environmental things and they were really into um you know, recycling was just a very like normal thing, not just for my family, for everyone I was surrounded with.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_00: So Europe in general, too, right?
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's like recycling, and these are just habits that people have, like, yeah.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_01: But what I always say is like, um, I don't know if you remember, but when for when I first moved to America, like, you know, going to the stores, like I was like everyone just you know, used the plastic bags, and and no one brought their own bags to the store.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: And and my dad helped me move, and I remember going to a grocery store and he brought his own bag with him, and everyone looked at us, they're like, Who are those weirdos?
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: And then, you know, and then it became really trendy, like it's really not that long ago, but it's really only what you would maybe 15 years ago or not even that all of a sudden people are going to Whole Foods and bringing their own bags and things like that.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: So um uh that was sort of like really uh I don't know where I'm going with this, but like no, but it's a good point, you know, because it makes me think of it, really does make me think of how the simplest things in life are what we're all coming down to wanting at the end of the day, even after our busy lifestyles and living that big life in New York City or LA.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, people are really coming to this point where they're realizing, wait a minute, what I really want is an open market with fresh produce or you know, uh just somewhere I can go that's like next door and bring my own bags, and you know what I mean?
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: Just go like simple things, almost village life, if you think about it.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: You know, when you were describing your opinion, your um your upbringing, that's how I was raised as well.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: I was raised in rural India, you know, for yeah, and and my grandmothers and my mother, like I saw the same thing.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like now we see it's all hip and cool, but you know, I think this is it's a great point.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's a great point.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: And it really actually I see it a lot in the beauty industry as well.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, and also life just is so quick now and fast, everything, right?
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: That I think um uh that it's like some sort of like normalcy is just so nice, the simplicity to, you know, because everything is moving so quickly.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: Like just look at TikTok or Instagram where you like for me as an influencer, like always that pressure of like coming out with new content and like one is not enough, like two videos are not enough, like everyone wants more, more, more, more, more.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: And it's just um so nice.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes I'm like, oh, just the simplicity is all I want in life right now.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, absolutely.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I completely agree with you.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that this message is so important because so many people forget that you know, it's not just about taking time for yourself, it's about simplifying your routines that you don't have to get to the point of like meltdown or you know, or or you know, just stressed out.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's important to simplify your life.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I actually want to um lead into a question I have for you because for me, um, you know, when growing up, when I was doing my makeup, I always used my hands, right?
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: I was never a brush girl.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: I I just I couldn't get into it.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: But for me, makeup was almost like exploring, you know, and and really like using my hands and using the colors.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: So when I first um used your line, it really took me back to that feeling of being a child that just really loves playing with makeup.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: And I loved using my hands to like blend in the, you know what I mean, blend it in like in my foundation.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: So I want to talk to you about that because I think the simplicity and the and just the the core of what we need in makeup is really there in your line.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: So can you talk about that and what your vision was?
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, my mother, it's so funny growing up again, going back to my mom as an example, um, wore very simple makeup.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think in general, European women wear lesser makeup.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: That we have a more like uh undone look.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_01: That's how I like to describe it.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: And my mom would just always, you know, wear a little bit of makeup underneath her eyes, maybe in her T-stone, but leave her skin supernatural.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_01: And that was sort of my inspiration behind this product.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: I really wanted uh something where you like a hybrid where you can use your fingers or a brush, you can use it just underneath your eyes if you want to.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_01: But if you have some sort of like skin issues like um pigmentation or breakouts or acne or hand damage, like you can also target those areas.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I wanted it to be um very skin-like.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: So it was really hard for me to find a product A that is clean because it was again because of my upbringing, and now it's really trendy to come out with clean products, but it was just a no-brainer for me to do a product that has beautiful ingredients and that is you know free of you know some harmful ingredients.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, and so I just wanted to create something that that really looks like your own skin, but it also targets certain areas and it can just make you look like your best version of yourself, and it doesn't look like oh my god, she's wearing a ton of foundation, right?
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: I wanted it to still look like your own skin.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: And that was sort of my my inspiration behind Blender Cover.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: I love that, and you know, honestly, it's everything you described, and for all the listeners out there, I just want to tell you guys like basically if I don't know if you have it or not, but if you don't have it, the the feeling is it's almost like a concealer.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Like it reminds me of um there used to be those pot concealers, and it reminds me of that, but it's like a much better texture.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: And so when you put it on, it's almost like you're it's pliable, it it can meld with your skin in a way that it's like obviously giving you great coverage, but it's really fun to play with.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: And it's it's just you know, I've never I haven't really needed uh powder or anything either with it.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: That's what I I love it.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I want to talk about the formula, Monica.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Like, can you go into like what are what were some of the things that kind of stood out for you when you were for you know trying to formulate this?
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I so the the main really uh ingredient is castor seed oil.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_01: And um it it's like castor seed oil sounds almost like a little scary, and it sounds like oh my, that's something maybe you would put in a car or something.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_01: I was always like first when I learned about that ingredient, uh my my chemist was really explaining to me that it's it's a wonderful ingredient, and I think that is really what makes you know the magic in this formula is cast seed oil because it allows it to blend out and glide over your skin without without it looking patchy, and it it really helps to create a perfect level of coverage uh you know in a selected area of your face.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_01: And what I love about it, it really doesn't settle into your pores or into fine lines, and it gives you that natural looking finish, what every woman wants.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: And no, absolutely, it doesn't it doesn't f uh fill in, and it also like um for me, like as I'm aging, I'm noticing my skin's getting drier, right?
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: So, like a lot of like cream foundations I can't use because when I use them, they it would just like make me look like the dry patches almost come out.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: But with this, I don't have that problem.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I'm just like I was so um impressed, you know, like the first time I used it, and then as you wear it through the day, what I've noticed is that it does, you know how foundations get like dewy, but then they get oily.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Your foundation just gets dewy.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: It never oil, like I never get oily.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's crazy good.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_01: No, it's it's really the formula is really, really beautiful.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I really wanted what was really important to me is I did not want any silicone in this in this product.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_01: And not that silicone, what I've learned is that silicone is actually not as bad as everyone thinks it is.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_01: But what I've learned from my chemist is uh what I don't like about silicone, that is it's not biodegradable.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_01: So silicone was for me just a pro uh an ingredient I wanted to uh leave out, and instead of using silicones, you know, I needed something.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I, you know, I opted for like functional powerhouse materials, such as you know, botanical oils, such as the cast seed oil and the safflower um oil and soybean oil, and and those are all these gorgeous, rich, fatty vitamin E acids.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and then I also opted for botanical extracts such as Arnica and Edelweiss, and then we also have um Aloe Vera in it and chamomile, and and the the the the um inspiration behind the Arnica and Edelweiss are really the the two superheroes in the in the ingredient, and those again come from my upbringing in Austria, and and I want to tell you a little bit of a story behind those two ingredients is because they're botanicals and we have botanicals growing in Austria, and especially the Edelweiss is what a lot of people don't know because you just know it from the movie, the sound of music.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, edelweiss is a gorgeous, gorgeous uh botanical that actually grows really high uh on like a 2000-meter mountain, and and it's it's super high in antioxidants.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_01: And and Arnica is another, like I call it my superhero ingredient because it's great for inflammation.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_01: And what I love about Arnica is that it really helps with like redness and and puffiness um in your skin.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_01: So um, and I think when you have like most women suffer from a little bit of rosacea or redness, and I do have a lot of redness in my skin, so I wanted to have this ingredient, and I don't understand why uh not a lot of other you know formulas do have Arnica because Arnica is just such a great ingredient, and so it was like a no-brainer for me to incorporate that as well into Blender Cover.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I love that.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I I love the skincare aspect of this because you've really approached it in a way where it's like, yeah, it's amazing, phenomenal makeup, but your skin is not being compromised in any way, you know, it's it's not gonna, it's not gonna take anything away from your natural skin barrier, it's not gonna take anything away from your hydration and you know, all that.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: And I really appreciate that because for me, good makeup has always been very hard to find in terms of foundations.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_00: And so when I find it, I'm like obsessed.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: But sometimes that me leads to me having drier skin or like breakouts, but but I just can't let go of that foundation because it's like my perfect shade, you know.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: So I really, really appreciate, like from a consumer standpoint, what you've done in terms of the skincare.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's really great.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: Like, also I wanted to mention for everyone listening, like, one trick I love to do with um Monica's makeup is I I put my SPF on first, and that's my primer.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: And then I put on the makeup and it's beautiful.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, it works so nice.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I've been using uh like one of my favorite SPFs is like Tatcha's SPF, you know what I mean?
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll use that as my primer and then I'll put your makeup on, and it's that's it's perfect.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, as as you can see, I I I specifically didn't put SPF into Blender cover because um, you know, I'm coming from like in a makeup artist experience, and I've you know worked obviously over like two decades in this in this industry, and and I think a lot of time honestly, SPF is also like a big marketing push in products because I'm like, why don't you just put your SBF on and then you put your foundation on?
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I think like for me, it's always like I don't really need to have SBF in my foundation.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_01: And when I work as a makeup artist for red carpet events and things like that, I usually always opt for foundations without SBF because they just the consistency is better, you know.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_01: You can say whatever you want to say, but SBF in foundations, it changes the texture, the formulation.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_01: So for me, I obviously I'm a big fan of SBF, but I think you can do it by itself, it doesn't need to be in every single product.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, absolutely, and I completely agree with you.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I want you to actually, Monica, give us some tips.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to give our listeners some tips on how they can use um, you know, your products for just an everyday look, something easy, like you know, how should they apply it?
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: Because I know a lot of people have actually reached out to me and said, please have a makeup artist explain to me how to just do a normal, like everyday look without looking cakey.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think uh for me, skincare and makeup goes one-in-one.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_01: I think that um, you know, a lot of women like sometimes forget about skincare and they, you know, go right into makeup.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_01: And I, when I work as a makeup artist on set, or if I do a celebrity client, I always spend like five minutes on skincare.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: And I, you know, I usually, you know, wash if if you are out there and you're at home and you do your makeup, just you know, wash your face, put on a nice serum, uh, maybe give yourself like a one-minute little lymphatic massage if you have the time, or use one of those rollers and then put on a nice moisturizer.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: And then I think your makeup application you will find is just it's just a different experience.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_01: And also with blunder cover, like it will just glide onto your face.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_01: If you use blunder cover on dry skin, it'll be a different experience because it won't have that slip, you know.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_01: Like you said, you put on your toucher beforehand, and it just um, I think that it's it's a different experience.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_01: So don't forget to really give yourself a little bit of love and use some good moisturizers beforehand.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: I love that so much.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much, Monica, and everyone listening.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, honestly, you guys, you have to check out Monica Blunder's Monica Blunder Beauty and every product she has on there.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, the the colors are, I think, just beautifully done.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you haven't gone overboard.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's you know, that's one thing I I want to talk to you about because right now I think um it's very, very like trendy to have like 60 shades, you know what I mean, if you're a makeup brand or like you know, 50s, but your products are I feel like so inclusive.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you yeah, the the coloring and the shades, like I want to I want to go into that, how you crafted those because I'm not gonna lie, when I first saw it, I was like, oh, uh you know, I don't know if this is gonna look good, but then my skin just adapts and it just it's like a second skin.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_01: So um, so yeah, so we launched in December, and uh I we launched with seven shades, which you know, it's my Monica Blunder Beauty, it's just me and my partner Sandy.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: I have a partner and we're self-funded and we don't have any investment money.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_01: So just for you to understand to come out with a line of seven, it's not one product, it's seven products.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_01: So it's It was what we were able to do at that point, but I really wanted to uh be very inclusive.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I was like, I want to come out with seven more shades right away, as soon as we can afford it.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_01: So we just launched seven more, so we're at 14, and I'm so proud of the colors.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_01: They're so beautiful.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we will have seven more by the end of the year, and then I think I'm done because I feel like blunder cover is very sheer and adaptable.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_01: And um, the you the the colors, like as an example, I can use shade three and four, and like someone like Jessica Alba, who is Latino, is like a perfect shade four.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_01: So it just shows you that the shades are super adaptable on the skin.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel like this uh particular formulation will not need 50 shades.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_01: And I think sometimes, you know, it's a whole it's a whole thing, also now.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's a very political thing to come out with 50 shades.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I am not gonna lie with you, I was a little bit attacked at the beginning when I first launched.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, like, you know, there were a few women, they were like, How can you only come out with seven colors?
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_01: Where, you know, um, and and those were women that haven't even tried the formulation, they don't know how sheer it is and everything.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_01: I think that 50 colors, you know, a lot of times, you know, I have to tell you, if I go to Sephora and I see a line with 50 colors, I get overwhelmed.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_01: And it's a lot of the times the shades are all the same, you know, a lot of times from the same family.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_01: So, and a lot of times those colors are not created by makeup artists, you know.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_01: So I wanted to be really, I was so proud of the colors and the shades, and I think that they're very user-friendly.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_01: Every shade has a place for a certain skin undertone.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I'm I yeah, I think that they came out beautiful, and uh, and I think sometimes 50 shades are is a lot.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_01: I think a lot of it will end up being on the shelves, will not be sold out of those 50 colors.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_01: I I don't believe that every single one is going to be used.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_01: So then we go back to the environment, you know what I mean, and going to uh production of so much being produced, and a lot of it, you know, uh will end up on the landfill not being used.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_01: So I want to be very mindful of that too, of what I produce, what I bring out.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, and I think that's really important too.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I think, you know, I want to just make the point, you know, as a woman of color, I'm very sensitive about like, you know, making sure that a brand is like inclusive and really um not just for me, like obviously, but for like, you know, some of my friends who have very, very deep shades, you know, it's skin color.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: And it's almost like, you know, with your line, I can genuinely say I would recommend it to anyone because it's like you said, not only is it sheer the product, but it genuinely does like meld into your skin in a way where it does not look like it's not your color.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it's, you know, and if you think about what kind of makeup you're trying to do, I think as a consumer, you also have to understand like what is the makeup look look I'm going for?
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: You know, is it the is it the classic look where it's like you know, everyday makeup, which is what I want personally, you know what I mean?
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: And like just figure out how much makeup you want to use because I think a product like yours, like you said, it's you know, like your mom barely did her makeup like in her, you know what I mean, most of her skin.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a lot of us are like that.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like I'm like that, you know, I barely put makeup on, but when I do put it on, whatever I'm putting on, like for me, concerns are like under eye circles or like spot coverage or you know, that kind of stuff.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: So for me, it's like perfect.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: And as as consumers, we have to be mindful that every brand can't be held accountable for like these ridiculous things, even though they're doing it.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: Like they're it's like you're being inclusive, but if someone goes onto your site and is looking for 60 shades, they need to understand why you don't have 60 shades.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_00: Like what the reasoning is, and I think you know, that's why I wanted to ask you that.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_01: That's such a good point because a lot of times people don't do their homework, and it's so easy these days to just be, you know, attacked and uh and and everyone has an opinion about everything.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_01: But it's uh I think my goal and my mission with with my brand is just to be um, you know, uh transparent and be honest and really uh put everything out there.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: Like when you go on my Instagram, like I explain every ingredient, there's no hidden agenda, and I think now the consumers are so much savvier, they're so smart, they do their homework, they look at the ingredients, and um, and I think that's the beauty now that like you can really be more open about things.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've worked in this business for so many years, and you know, you know, obviously I'm not gonna name names, but like sometimes you look at some of the the the companies and you're like, oh my god, like a lot of is just so much bullshit, you know.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_01: I and I honestly wanted to, I wanted to just be, you know, be an open book and and and have no have no lies.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's that's that's important to me.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, I really love that.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: No, and I really appreciate that, you know, that is at the core of your business because you know, in this industry, it's very hard to tell real versus fake.
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_00: And I think for me, that's a huge like you know, drive behind my podcast is like to hear the real stories of entrepreneurs that are doing it right, you know, like you.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I want to get that out there because I think consumers, like we are so inclined to blindly just follow trends.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: And unfortunately, you have to realize, like, you know, you have to do your makeup and you like or not your makeup, sorry, your homework, and you have to figure out what you like and and really kind of dive in.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I'm I'm glad that you've shared your story and I love it and I love everything that you're doing.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, I but I do have one last question for you um about the business end, because I know that as a makeup artist, I mean, as an artist, how was it like, you know, transitioning to being an entrepreneur and dealing with all that business stuff?
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my God, that's such a great question.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_01: Well, yeah, that's all I've known really all my life is you know, going on set and doing makeup and you know, uh, you know, taking care of my clients.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_01: And but honestly, it's always been a dream of mine to have my own product.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's just I knew like many years ago, I was always talking about it.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_01: One day I'm gonna have a product.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_01: It was just never the right time.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, you know, I had children and you know, I was raising my kids and then working a lot.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_01: And so it was just about a couple of years ago where I had this idea that I want to do this, this, this product, and I knew it's I I knew I wanted to do a complexion product, and then I met my amazing partner Sandy, who is doing this with me, and uh I also knew that you know, getting older and me having done this now for so many years, being on set, I knew that there's more out there for me, and I I wanted to have something for myself and for maybe my daughter one day, and create a business that is you know my own and not being dependent on you know um a client to book me because it's a very you know fickle business, makeup artists.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, and and and when I started, there was so much work, and now with COVID and everything, you know, there's so much little work out there, the rates have changed so much.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_01: And um, and I just you know wanted to have something for myself, not being dependent and and build a business.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_01: And I was really um, it was just so fascinating to me to start this business and like working with the lab and learning the like the business side of it, and um it's just been the greatest um you know accomplishment I think I've ever done to come out with this product and uh learning so much about it as well, and just having you know something on my own is just amazing.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_01: So um I love that.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I love that.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so glad.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_00: And and you know, honestly, I think you know, when you've had such a wonderful career and so much experience, it's almost like you have to give us back something, you know what I mean?
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_00: So I think this is your present to us.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's how I look at it as a consumer.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I, you know, and I hope everyone listening out there, you guys have got to go try Monica Blunder Beauty.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_00: Where I'm gonna tag um the I'm gonna tag the company in the in the art, but also it's monicablunderbeauty.com.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_00: So go check out the site, leave us some comments, some feedback.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_00: If you have questions for Monica's team, leave them in the comment section.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I hope you enjoyed the episode.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_00: And thank you so much, Monica.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_00: This was amazing.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_01: This was so much fun.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, one more question.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_01: What is what shade number are you on blender cover?
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_01: I'm down.
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_01: I'm 4.5 actually.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's such a beautiful shade.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_01: It is perfect.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_01: It has like a little olive y undertone.
• 31:18
  SPEAKER_01: So you must have some olive in your skin.
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I do, and it's it just it makes it look perfect.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: Like it's like I have I'm told um, you know, neutral undertones, but it's it's really olive, I guess, because it it just looks like my second skin, honestly.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, well, whenever you need more, let me know.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I'll be back next time.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, bye.
• 31:45
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• 31:48
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• 31:53
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• 32:52
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