Mar 11

Mar 11 VIOLETS ARE BLUE BEAUTY

denise hooper

beauty & skincare

Brand Love ❥

VIOLETS ARE BLUE

FOUNDER & CEO ~CYNTHIA BESTEMAN

Cause driven Skincare ~Sunday Mornings

and the Art of Skin Fasting

Mantra to live by~

“Find humor in even the most harshest of things. That is what you'll remember when it's over. That you laughed and got through it.”

VIOLETS ARE BLUE~

1. LIFESTYLE~
Violets Are Blue was created because of a personal need for skincare that is natural and safe for the body as well as the environment. After completing a major in theatre Arts at the University of Oregon, I landed in NYC to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a Broadway Actress. I worked on Broadway for ten years before checking out the real estate scene and quickly became one of the top brokers in the city. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2011, my successful career in the cutthroat world of New York City real estate came to a skidding halt. While undergoing treatment, one of my first steps was to toss out all beauty products containing unsafe chemicals and synthetic fragrances, leaving my medicine cabinet bare. I was shocked by the mislabeling of many skincare and beauty products that were classified as "natural" while containing parabens, sulfates and chemicals known to work as endocrine disruptors linked to cancer and reproductive concerns. I then dove into the world of natural skincare, learning everything I could about essential oils and natural ingredients that work effectively to nourish, cleanse and hydrate without causing harm.

I drew upon this, along with a desire to give back, and established Violets Are Blue in 2015. Here I used my knowledge and passion for naturally-derived skincare ingredients to formulate a consciously-produced line of products, each one a true labor of love. In addition to developing new products for the Signature and Beloved lines, we provide patients at the Mt. Sinai Dubin Breast Center in NYC with a gifted package of Beloved products upon their first day of chemotherapy. Violets are Blue is a company that supports women helping women, with 10% of the purchase price of all products going toward skincare donations for cancer patients.

Since its inception, Violets Are Blue has been awarded Best In Show by the Indie Beauty Expo, Best Brand With a Mission by Sophie Uliano's Gorgeously Green Beauty Awards, Best Of from The Beauty Shortlist, Best Of from A Night For Green Beauty and Best Of From Organic Spa Magazine. Cynthia has been featured in top magazines such as Women's Day, Self, Vogue, Allure, Organic Spa and Health Magazine, to name a few~

2. SUNDAY MORNINGS?
Sunday is my favorite day! I start early with a latte and the NYT crossword puzzle (I am an addict); Late morning, I meet my girlfriends (of thirty years) for a Central Park walk followed by brunch and more caffeine at our favorite neighborhood diner. I’ll then head home to practice my guitar and settle in to catch up on a movie or tv show. I wish everyday was like that!!

3. BEAUTY SECRETS?
I do what I call 'skin fasting' where for a couple of days I literally don't touch my skin. I'll wash it, put on a little Ultra Violet serum and then let it be for 48hrs. No washing, no treatments..nothing. I feel like it lets my skin recalibrate and breathe, just letting it do what it wants to do. We can over use products which can freak out our skin a little so I always like to give it a rest period.

4. INSPIRATION?
I find a lot of inspiration from other women who are over 50 and particularly women who have been through any type of cancer. There is an immediIate sisterhood with these women. It's a club no one wants to join, but if forced into, you will not find a more supportive and understanding community. Knowing first hand what they have gone through, or are going through, and still rising up and shining everyday, this is what makes me want to be the best I can be, in anything I do. I also find when I go home to Seattle, where I grew up, I can really breathe and take in all the beauty that is around me. It helps clear my head to make room for good things to come in and inspire me.

5. BOOKSHELF?
Right now, it is school books!! I am back in Grad school to get my Masters of Social Work (as if I didn't have enough to do), so my reading only involves books having to do with social justice and personal trauma! For respite, I read books by Fiona Davis. They are historical fiction mysteries and I literally can't put them down! .

6. SCENT MEMORY?
There is a specific oil blend that I still have, that I wear on occasion, when I need a little extra luck, that immediately brings me back to being backstage when I was on Broadway. It has Frankincense, Palo Santo, Geranium, a hint of Rose and Vetiver. (very musky). I wore it everyday when I was on stage. Actors develop interesting superstitions and wearing that everyday was one of mine. I still love the scent and the 'luck' that it brings me!

7. BRAND LOVE women supporting women (and men) ~

SHOUTOUT~The first is Indie Lee. Not only are her products great, but she is a gem of a human. She has created a community that is more than just skincare focused. It's not just about marketing or pushing product, she truly wants to see people at their best and help them find their balance in life. The other, who I recently got to spend some time with is Josh Rosebrook. Sometimes when you meet the 'big brand' founders, you are nervous that they won't be as enthusiastic as you'd hope they'd be about those coming up behind them. He could not have been lovelier and gave me amazing advice and a big pick me up when I needed it. It’s always such a nice thing to discover the people you admire are as nice and wonderful as you would hope they'd be. It's not always the case. His vital balm and hydrating accelerator are made by magic, they are that good. I also can't live without Indie's Co Q10 toner. Shoutout ~ @indie_lee @joshrosebrook

8. WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL?
I think right after I am done with a good work out, a hike or a walk in nature. When I'm sweaty and gross. I feel strong and when I feel strong..I feel beautiful.

9. WORDS OF WISDOM?
This is something I am always working on but it's “don't sweat the small stuff” There are things I have worried about for years (I can be a catastrophic ruminator) and when I look back, I realized those things were totally insignificant, yet I spent a lot of energy on them worrying! What a waste. Also, laugh. Laugh when you want to cry, find humor in even the most harshest of things. That is what you'll remember when it's over. That you laughed and got through it.

10. CHARITY?
10% our purchase price is used to support packages that we donate to women going through breast cancer treatment. The first day of chemo can be more terrifying than the day of diagnosis and I want to give women something that not only feels, smells and looks beautiful but helps them feel like they are taking control of their health on a day where you feel powerless…

11. CURRENTLY DAYDREAMING?
Winning the lottery...does that count? Seriously, I would love to see my business grow in the coming years, creating a place for women to come to, feel cared for, heard & supported. That would be winning the lottery for me. (although, I still would like to win the billion dollar one!)