Tricia Cusden is a makeup expert for older women. In part two of our interview, Trisha tells us what makeup means to her, and the unexpected role makeup played for women around the world in lockdown.
Find part one here.
Women started to post photos of themselves on our Facebook page wearing makeup, even though they were in lockdown.
YouTube tutorials help you use makeup
Everyone’s face is unique, so what does that mean for older women choosing makeup?
“Well, yes, every face is unique but there are common characteristics and features. The approach that we’ve taken is to make a lot of video content, so we’ve always had a very strong presence on YouTube. What we’re doing is educating our customers.
“We’ll say, “here’s how to do a five minute quick makeup look”. “Here’s how to do a glamorous evening look.” “Here’s how to work with hooded eyes.” Or anything and everything!
“What do you do if you wear glasses? What do you do if you’ve got a problem of blemishes or age spots? We show you how to overcome those specific issues.”
Makeup is an expression of the person that I am.
No apologies for makeup
What’s your favourite makeup look for yourself?
“I wear makeup every day and I put it on fairly carefully, so I wouldn’t say that I have a sort of “no makeup” makeup look at all!
“I play around a bit with my eyes. I don’t always do the same eye treatment – sometimes I put less on, sometimes I put more on. But I really enjoy eye makeup; I think eye makeup is really essential for me now. Especially my eyebrows which have more or less disappeared.
“I also love a strong lipstick. So I’d say that my overall makeup look is quite a punchy look if you like. People know that I’m wearing makeup, and I make no apologies for that.”
I think it makes me look more sophisticated, more polished and more finished when I’ve got my face on.
“I think it makes me look more sophisticated, more polished and more finished when I’ve got my face on. And I when I get up in the morning, I don’t feel like me until I put my makeup on.
“It’s an expression of the person that I am.”
Makeup supports thousands in lockdown
The UK went into lockdown for three months in March 2020. How did that affect your business?
“We thought our business would fall off a cliff. We thought it would die. But in fact it didn’t. And it didn’t because I did a lot of social media.
We thought our business would fall off a cliff. We thought it would die.
“I did a daily video for five days a week for three months. I did sixty videos. We call them ‘Tea Time at the Ritz with Trisha’, and I talk about anything and everything. Some of the videos were about makeup, some of them were about hair, and all sorts of things. It was quite good fun, and we got huge engagement.
“Women started to post photographs of themselves on our Facebook page wearing their makeup, even though they were in lockdown. We did competitions like ‘show us your favourite lipstick’. And instead of falling off a cliff, our business actually grew during lockdown. We sold more makeup, not less. And I think it was because we were doing so much to help.
We sold more makeup, not less. I think it was because we were doing so much to help.
“I kept saying if you get up every morning, and you have the same routine as you would have if you’re going out, you’ll feel better. Get up a bit, put something nice on to wear, do your hair, do your makeup. And all day, you’re only going to take the dog out for a walk (you’re only allowed out once in the day), but even so you will feel more normal.
“The fact that I was doing all this social content, really kept our customers engaged. We’ve got a special closed Facebook page, which has got six and a half thousand members on it. Every day, they’re posting stuff. They’re doing a whole load of before and after pictures of themselves at the moment and encouraging each other like crazy.”
See part one of our interview here.
In part three, find out why it’s important to keep taking risks – with your style, and with your life.
Alex is a journalist and freelance writer who loves bringing you inspiring stories. Have an idea for a story? Let her know at adevylder@iinet.net.au