Feeling Good, Face-first
Cozy smells of freshly-baked cookies and warm cinnamon spice mingle with glistening lights on a tropical Christmas tree. Laughter erupts from a group of four women sitting amid piles of lipstick, eyeshadow, lotion, brushes ... the list goes on and on.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Archive | RSS
|
Cozy smells of freshly-baked cookies and warm cinnamon spice mingle with glistening lights on a tropical Christmas tree. Laughter erupts from a group of four women sitting amid piles of lipstick, eyeshadow, lotion, brushes ... the list goes on and on.
As their giggles subside, Kau’i Alapa turns and says with a serious tone, “It’s time to take care of our brethren ... our sister-en! I want women, especially the younger teenagers, to be empowered with their own security of how beautiful they look.
“The biggest bolster to a woman’s self-confidence is not a hairstyle, it’s not clothes or diamonds, it is makeup. When you feel great, you get on this roll and you want to continue being more productive. It is quite positively infectious.”
She emphasizes that, like diamonds, you have to work hard to bring out the sparkle.
To help other women find their inner gems, Kau’i, an executive receptionist for Gov. Linda Lingle, and her daughter China West developed Operation Beauty, a first-of-its-kind cosmetics donation drive for women and teens in homeless and transitional shelters. China first envisioned the project on Dec. 7 with a lofty deadline of getting gifts to the women by Christmas. Like any feel-good holiday story, miracles happen. In less than a week, they were able to gather surplus cosmetics and supplies from Ala Moana Center stores Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Lush Cosmetics and Sephora.
|
Cynthia Williams and Andrea McGarty, spokespersons and makeup artists with Aveda, as well as from the La Mercier counter in Neiman Marcus, have all volunteered their talents for Beauty 101 workshops to be held after the new year. At these classes, women will learn basic techniques and sanitation practices.
“Something that none of us can learn enough of or get enough of is self-care,” Andrea says. “I see makeup as part of a ritual you do to care about yourself. And as you care for yourself, you automatically project this image that you’re worth being cared for.”
A makeup pro herself, Kau’i throws in the idea of revealing what they each look like with a bare face. Excited agreements drown out Bing Crosby. Andrea and Cynthia add that at the clinics, they plan on enhancing the unique feature a woman may feel is her flaw. China firmly believes this word is a misnomer; rather, women should embrace their natural selves and “work with what you’ve got!”
At only 17, the MidPac senior and aspiring model says she has been lucky enough to grow up with a best friend and social environment that taught her not to conform to ever-changing norms. She first emphasized this mantra of self-belief at a fashion event she recently produced for Hurley and wants to continue inspiring others through her current project.
“People are so caught up with just making others happy when they can be unhappy themselves,” she states. “Makeup is something that you do for yourself. It’s about doing this to make yourself feel good instead of trying to impress people.”
Cynthia agrees, “It’s finding that one thing and enhancing that beautiful part of you. Everyone has it, you just need to find it and embrace it. Makeup always helps that!”
|
A large part of Operation Beauty will combat doubts many girls feel during their awkward teenage years or that women feel after being down on their luck. This holiday season they will be helping Next Step Shelter in Kaka’ako; Onewalu in Waianae, and Onelau’ena in Kalaeloa. As more volunteers get involved and as more donations come in, they hope to expand.
Operation Beauty is accepting donations of new, unused cosmetics and supplies from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Lincoln Elementary School parking lot (615 Auwaiolimu St.).
Once everything is tallied and distributed the following day, the sisterhood will begin plans for the beauty workshops.
“Everybody sometimes just needs a new start when they’re stuck in a hole,” China says. “I think this would just be a kick-butt start to a new year. Just come out looking hot, looking fresh, feeling good. Just like a smile, maybe it will start this chain and it will just keep going.”
Contact Kau’i Alapa at 342-3303 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions on donating or becoming a volunteer.
Page 1 of 1 pages for this story
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
