At the office and studio, ground floor of a beautiful, old Bastion Square building, I meet Melodie to chat a bit about life and style but mostly about a new kind of makeup company. A company based on clean, vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable cosmetics; one that uses inclusivity and positive messages rather than the fear and shame-based marketing that the majority of the beauty industry relies on.
Working in the beauty industry for over 20 years, Melodie has worn many hats, as a makeup artist and for an international cosmetics company. It was during this period that Melodie decided to make some major changes in her life.
害羞草研究所淚 got to travel all over the world, it was really really fun but I realized my life wasn害羞草研究所檛 very healthy. I started looking around at the impact that I was having on the world and the impact that those things were having on me. I decided to stop using beauty products that were unhealthy, stopped eating processed food, stopped buying clothes in the same way and decided to leave the cosmetics company I was working for as it wasn害羞草研究所檛 in line with what I wanted for my life.害羞草研究所�
Melodie had always wanted to start her own business and during her healthful transformation she learned to make skincare products and then makeup. About seven years ago she began making her own products, testing them out on people she knew and eventually launched Elate Cosmetics almost four years ago.
What aspect of the business gets her fired up?
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 always been about the people for me, not just the makeup. I love creating new products and doing our photoshoots but the big thing for me is building community and bringing people into the vision and our mission of trying to make the world a better place. That害羞草研究所檚 what gets me out of bed in the morning.害羞草研究所�
And what innate quality has led to her success? 害羞草研究所淚 never stop. I害羞草研究所檒l never stop learning, growing and I害羞草研究所檓 incredibly adaptable, whatever happens I just go with it. Over time we害羞草研究所檝e had what one might consider a failure or setback but I never look at it that way. I think, 害羞草研究所極kay, that sucks, how are we going to get past it and move on?害羞草研究所� because you can害羞草研究所檛 predict what害羞草研究所檚 going to happen and you can害羞草研究所檛 dwell on what happened before, you just have to keep moving forward.害羞草研究所�
With the company now selling in about 130 stores worldwide and a growing online presence, I ask what害羞草研究所檚 on the horizon for Elate?
害羞草研究所淥ur goal is to be the world害羞草研究所檚 first waste-free cosmetics company, and we害羞草研究所檙e about 75 per cent right now. Our mission is to change the beauty industry and if we do this then other companies have to do it too. I don害羞草研究所檛 know where we害羞草研究所檒l end up but we害羞草研究所檙e here at the beginning of a revolution of companies becoming more ethical.害羞草研究所�
FASHION
Uniform: Jeans, blouse, my thrift-store-found black Smythe jacket, worn-in boots.
All-time favourite piece: Black linen jumpsuit from .
Currently Coveting: The Quince Tuxedo Jumpsuit by 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing.害羞草研究所�
Favourite pair of shoes: Mule.
Favourite Day bag: tote in 害羞草研究所淗orizon.害羞草研究所�
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: The 害羞草研究所淔emme Power害羞草研究所� ring by
.
Fashion Obsession: Jeans. 害羞草研究所淎lways searching for the perfect pair.害羞草研究所�
Accessory you spend the most money on: Rings.
BEAUTY
Necessary indulgence: Facials every four weeks.
Moisturizer: Jojoba oil.
Must-have hair product: by Kevin Murphy.
Three favourite makeup products: Black mascara, 害羞草研究所淪uede害羞草研究所� brow balm and 害羞草研究所淏laze害羞草研究所� lipstick, all from , of course.
Beauty secret: Sweat, smile and drink four litres of water a day.
STYLE INSPIRATIONS
Style Icon: 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚 adore her!害羞草研究所�
Favourite Artist: Van Gogh, or my sister-in-law, . 害羞草研究所淪he is fab!害羞草研究所�
Piece of art: I love his painting The Potato Eaters and her Columbia 2.(害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 hanging over my fireplace害羞草研究所�).
Favourite Fashion Designer: Stella McCartney. Favourite Musician: David Bowie.
Era of Time that inspires your style: The 害羞草研究所�70s.
LIFE
Favourite local restaurant: .
Favourite Cocktail/Wine: Old Fashioned.
Album on current rotation: High as Hope, Florence and the Machine.
Favourite Flower: Tiger lilies.
Favourite city to visit: Bordeaux, France.
Favourite App: Asana project management.
Favourite place in the whole world: The top of Mt. Finlayson.
READING MATERIAL
What do you read Online for style: Vogue online.
Fave Print magazine: Darling Magazine.
Fave style Blog: and .
Current favourite coffee table Book: Kindred Home.
Book currently reading: Truth: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality by Hector MacDonald and The Stand by Stephen King.
Favourite book of all time: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.
-Story and Photography by Lia Crowe
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on
