Ep. 35 | From Union Makeup Artist to Beauty Blender Founder, Rea Ann Silva
rea ann"IF YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, YOU NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. "
Rea Ann is a brilliant makeup artist and the innovative creator of the iconic Beautyblender, a tool that revolutionized the way makeup is applied worldwide. You’ll hear us talk about creativity, innovation and how a simple idea can change the face of beauty forever.
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In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Rea Ann Silva, the visionary behind the game-changing Beautyblender brand. “Cutting sponges is nothing new, but what I did was build a business from it.” Rea Ann shares her incredible story, from her early days doing makeup for music videos in the MTV era to becoming the Founder and CEO of Beautyblender.
We explore her creative process, experimenting with sponge shapes, stumbling upon the now-iconic neon pink color, and turning it into a pivotal marketing strategy. Rea Ann gets real about the raw moments of entrepreneurship: working with the one person who believed in her, the nerve-wracking decision to mortgage her house to launch Beautyblender, and the realities of building a brand from scratch.
Join us as we unpack how Rea Ann navigated the beauty industry, developed Beautyblender’s influencer marketing strategy, refocused during COVID, and faced the most challenging parts of entrepreneurship: managing a team. This is an honest, inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation and the lessons learned along the adventurous journey of Beautyblender.
Show Topics:
Rea Ann’s early career: from union makeup artist to MTV music videos
The creative process behind the original Beautyblender
Discovering the neon pink color and its marketing magic
The leap of faith: mortgaging her house to start Beautyblender
Building a brand and influencer marketing
Navigating entrepreneurship’s toughest challenges
Refocusing and adapting during COVID
Leadership, team management, and lessons learned
What’s next for Beautyblender: new products and innovations
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
03:13 Rea Ann’'s Journey in the Makeup Industry
05:22 Music Video Beginnings
08:11 Breaking Into the Union and Navigating Industry Bias
13:19 Challenges and Innovations in High Definition Makeup
15:39 The Origin Story of Beauty Blender
23:48 The Iconic Pink Sponge and Business Growth
27:51 Self-Funding and Business Expansion
35:42 A Conversation with Alison Hahn
36:50 Building the Beauty Blender Team
37:39 Navigating the Complexion Category
40:55 Impact of COVID-19 on Business
48:52 Family and Business Dynamics
53:56 The Evolution of Beauty Blender
01:01:43 Balancing Work and Personal Life
01:09:04 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
ABOUT rea ann silva
Rea Ann Silva is the Founder, CEO, Inventor, and Celebrity Makeup Artist behind Beautyblender. With nearly 30 years as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after makeup artists, Rea Ann changed the beauty game with her innovative approach. The concept for Beautyblender came while working as Department Head on one of the first TV shows shot in hi-definition, where she used hand-cut, edgeless sponges to create a flawless, airbrushed look. Her signature sponge quickly became a backstage secret, beloved by celebrities and pros alike.
Today, Beautyblender is an award-winning, category-creating brand known for making makeup applications easy and effective for everyone. In 2020, Rea Ann and the Original Beautyblender were honored by the Smithsonian’s “Only One in The Room” exhibit, celebrating trailblazing women.
Follow Rea Ann on Instagram at @reaannsilva
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