Ingrid Kent and Julie Phaxay. Photos: Chris Emeott
Beauty studio co-founders give tips on how to revamp your look.
Spring is upon us and with it comes a chance to freshen up our look for upcoming graduations, holidays, weddings and other social events. We turned to Haven Beauty Collective co-founders Julie Phaxay and Ingrid Kent for tips on how to spruce up our skin.
The beauty veterans recommend skipping heavier foundation and keeping makeup very light and sheer. “After a heavy winter, we want to let the skin breathe and make your face really dewy and soft looking. Try using a tinted moisturizer instead,” Phaxay says.
One of their favorite spring products is the Tower28 Beauty SuperDew Highlighter Balm, which can be used on cheeks or the nose bridge to keep skin looking glowy and fresh. The pair reveals that, for upcoming warmer months, we will see plenty of pastel tone eyeshadows and bright orangey-red lip colors.
Products: Ilia Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment – Stutter; Tower 28 Beauty SuperDew Highlighter Balm; Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15 percent Vitamin C Brightening Serum; Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick
An important lesson from the beauty gurus: Make sure to toss out all makeup that is beyond its expiration date. Using items beyond that date comes with a higher risk for makeup to harbor bacteria and cause skin irritation. Kent says, “If the texture, color or smell of the makeup is unusual,” then it may be time to toss it. And as a rule of thumb, “Your lipstick should absolutely not smell like crayons,” she says. That is the biggest telltale sign that your product isn’t usable.
The co-founders have much more in their arsenal of beauty expertise. They advise people to use cleansing oil rather than makeup wipes. “The alcohol on those wipes dry out your skin and can leave a residue on your face. If you have to use a makeup wipe, make sure to rinse it first,” Kent says. Phaxay and Kent also recommend daily applications of vitamin C serum and SPF. This will help brighten up skin and protect it from free radicals throughout the day.
Phaxay says, “We love giving advice on how to make people’s lives a bit easier beauty-wise because we are exposed to so many new brands and trends so frequently. Just deciphering that for people, so they can implement it into their own lives, is so fun.”
Besides makeup services, Haven Beauty Collective also offers microblading, spray tanning, lash extensions and teeth whitening. Kent and Phaxay, with over two decades of combined professional experience, have made it their mission to empower and give confidence to clients. They articulate that “all of our guests are beautiful as they are, and our services are simply highlighting that beauty,” Kent says. Phaxay and Kent have worked with celebrities, including Kylie Jenner and Julianne Hough, as well as with big brands, such as Target, Evereve and General Mills. “One of our favorite parts of our job is being able to meet so many amazing and diverse individuals. It has really rounded out what we can bring to the table for people,” Phaxay says.
Haven Beauty Collective
14729 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka; 612.440.8568
Instagram: @havenbeautycollective
