What is an inspiring quote you live by?
“Create the thing you wish existed.”
“Reinventing the way YOU wear lipstick” is what Aleah Rae is doing for women trying to find that perfect lip color. I had the pleasure of interviewing this gem about her amazing beauty line “Lipp Beautifully“. From being a make-up artist to creating shades in each category that would compliment all skin tones, to now having over 90 lipstick to choose from, she is definitely making her stamp in the beauty world. Check out Aleah Rae inspiring story on how she got her start to where she is going!
SCDC: How many years have you been in business?
AR: We expanded to launch our online store in May of 2016, but had been operating an Etsy shop since April of 2015.
SCDC: What inspired to become apart of the beauty industry?
AR: Honestly, I FELL into the beauty industry. I studied French in college and worked for six years as a middle school French teacher. A change in location (from NJ to NC) left me looking for a new job, and in the interim, I started working as a front desk girl at a luxury salon. The first time I picked up a makeup brush to do a quick touch up on a client? I was HOOKED. Front touch ups, to makeup for tv and film, to now my own lipstick brand, I’ve been working in the beauty industry ever since.
SCDC: How do you come up with the concepts of your shades and the name behind them?
AR: We currently have over 90 LIPPstick colors — and creating them was no easy task! As a rule, most lipsticks on the market fall into one of seven different color categories: Pink, Rosewood, Red, Coral, Brown, Beige and Plum. My goal was to create shades in each category that would compliment all skin tones. As to the names? Believe it or not, each color name is a French/English cognate! A cognate is a word that is spelled the same in one language as it is in another, and has the exact same meaning. The only difference is the PRONUNCIATION. For example, one of my favorite reds is named “Sacrifice”. That word means the same in English and French — only pronounced differently!
SCDC: What beauty products can you not live without?
AR: I’m obsessed with Rodial skincare. It is a British line, and though effective at fighting lines and wrinkles, it doesn’t bother my sensitive skin. As a curly girl, Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner is my go-to. And Smashbox makes a felt tip eyeliner that doesn’t move until I want it to!
SCDC: Where do you see the Lipp Beautifully brand in the next 5 years?
Everywhere. I have so many plans for the line, sometimes they keep me up at night! We just launched our LIPP GOES NUDE campaign, which is helping women of ALL colors find the perfect nude lipstick for their unique hair, eye and skin color. Definitely planning on expanding that franchise (“LIPP SEES RED” anyone???)
SCDC: What do you love most about being located in DC?
AR: The energy and diversity of this city is amazing. No one would EVER think a political town like this would have such a vibrant arts and fashion scene, but it does! And it’s growing everyday. So, to be able to be a part of that and this community of creatives is awesome to me and oh so inspiring.
SCDC: Do you have any beauty tips and/or any event updates you’d like for our readers to know about?
AR: Beauty tips: Don’t skip the scrub! This time of year I know your lips are dry and chapped — everyones’ are! Lip scrub can fix that. We currently make an organic and paragon free scrub that works wonders to exfoliate your lips while hydrating them. Once you get the dead skin off, it’s so much easier for your lip balm to penetrate and work its magic.
Be sure to follow Aleah Rae beauty line Lipp Beautifully on Instagram and Twitter!
