Golden Girl - Reegyn McElligott

From watching her mum having her eyelashes tinted, to running a 21 times award winning clinic in Mt Isa, and now her own make up range Face by R, exclusive sponsor of this year’s Australian Makeup Industry Awards, there’s not much new mum Reegyn McElligott hasn’t done.

A shining beacon of positivity and female empowerment, Reegyn, alongside her partner Andrew Heyne, launches Face by R to the industry, with a high quality makeup range based around skin loving ingredients and formulations.

Reegyn shares with us her journey to where she is now, the conception of her new brand and how she has managed to conquer everything from remote North Western Queensland.

Tell us a little about yourself and where your passions lie?

My passion started at a young age, I would always wait with my Mum while she had her lashes tinted and her waxing done and would always have an interest in sitting in the salon with all the pretty smells and the soft music. I started studying Beauty Therapy and working at the age of 15 and opened my own salon at 19. My passion always comes back to the way we make people feel – when they feel great, I feel great and know that I have done my job. I could never imagine being in a different industry, even if the tough times I believe our industry will always remain strong – you may be able to buy all the products under the sun online, but a Beauty Therapist won’t be replaced with robots, it’s the caring and personal connection and the way we make people feel that people crave.

You live and work in a very remote town. How have you gone about growing a successful business in such an isolated place?

is one of my core values -is consistency. Like most business owners, there are always pros and cons. Living in a remote mining place has come with its challenges – freight costs, travel challenges, high living expenses but in return we have had many loyal clientele and staff. Being heavily involved in part of our community can make the return on business a warm place – you walk down the street in our remote town and know everyone - it’s lovely.

How have you gone about finding and training staff in such a remote location?

Like many of us, we have staff issues especially when it comes to hiring qualified staff – this has been a difficult task and we have had to source and train some of our girls from scratch. I think the key is to get your staff involved in the business = keeping the training consistent and the interest and latest trends afloat alongside with the latest trends in the industry. Motivation, passion and excitement in the team leading them with responsibility I feel is the key – no matter where you are located. I think training staff from scratch is also great because you in return can mold them directly how you want them to perform.

Tell us about Face by R. How did it come to be, how long has it taken to bring to life and what inspired you to create the range?

I love treating skin, like most of us and I was constantly finding that I was prescribing my clients high quality skin care and performing results driven treatments and then they were buying the skin care, having the treatments and then going home and putting toxic makeup all over their skin after their quality skin care and reversing the hard work. I think your makeup is a part of your skin routine – and a good quality one is essential. I couldn’t find a mineral one I loved – so therefore Face By R was born, a mineral based makeup that is breathable, lightweight and super healthy for your skin! Being so passionate about the industry and supporting other salon owners – FaceByR is available wholesale to salons.

What is the philosophy of the range and who is it for?

FACEBYR is an Australian made product designed to create a simple, healthy, and gorgeous finish on the skin – that is lightweight, protecting and hydrating.

1. FACEBYR was designed to create breathable make up which supports the skin & aligns with supporting what treatments a Beauty therapist performs on you– making you feel wonderful and giving you the results you deserve.

2. We are Australian owned, created & loved! Supporting our Australian economy and using TGA ingredients that are all safe & extremely protecting for any climate!

3. We follow the latest trends of makeup artists and the industry to ensure FACEBYR products give you exactly what you are after!!

4. Ingredients – we have worked closely to ensure that our ingredients are Australian made to maximize the health & performance of your skin!

5. Vegan – we ensure our products are vegan even our brushes.

What products are in the range?

Our range is simple but has everything your client wants and needs: A Glowy Skin Primer, Liquid foundation (fullest coverage), A Breathable Skin Powder, Easy Skin Tint (for everyday wear), a range of hydrating – non sticking glosses, to a range of hydrating no chapping lipsticks, our defined brow balm, bronzers, blushes and brushes. The range is effortless, simple, clean and super easy for your clients to use for any occasion and we have a colour for every skin type.

I have a lipstick named after your Mum. Have you named other products after women you know and how did you go about choosing which colours pair with each name?

The whole brand is so meaningful to me and what I do with my clients each day, so when it comes to names of products it was a no brainer for me that the lipstick colours are named after my Mum, her sisters, my Nan (who has passed) and my sister in law Rachael who are all family but the inspiring & supportive women in my life.

What is your favourite product in the range?

Awww.. tricky question.. I am going to say the Powder – it is so light weight and I apply it on all of my clients skin after their skin treatments and brow waxing etc. You can find the perfect colour for everyone and it’s durable, easy to apply, buildable and contains ingredients such as Zinc Oxide, Kakadu Plum Extract, Pomegranate Extract and Bilberry Extract. Finishing my clients skin or beauty treatments with a touch of Breathable Skin Powder completes the experience.

What do you love most about makeup?

I love that it makes people feel great, even if it’s the smallest amount to bring out someone’s confidence, that’s what I love. I will also add that a better way to love makeup, is when I know it’s healthy, breathable & protecting my skin.

What trends, tips and techniques do you see are trending right now for makeup both now and coming into spring summer?

Dewy skins – soft browns, mossy greens, nudes and the red lip are making another comeback for this year’s spring and summer trends. Massive trends are made up that are antibacterial and light weight – products that aren’t going to be a discomfort or inconvenience when wearing a face mask (thanks COVID) but thankfully FBR ticks all of those boxes!

How do you want your Face by R customers and clinic to look and feel when using your products?

I want them to not feel overwhelmed when it comes to make up, I want them to know that they can have confidence when applying it and when wearing it, there aren’t lots of steps. We are all time poor and if FBR can deliver that it is definitely made for the quick, easy and flawless application that is fuss free. PLUS I want them to know that when wearing the makeup – they have made the right choice in everything that ticks the boxes for their skin.

Is it available for ther clinics to purchase and sell?

Definitely for clinics, we can relate so much to salon owners, make up artists, skin clinics, beauty therapists, brow bars etc to what their clients needs and wants are – we are open to wholesale salons and offer great support to educate and train the therapist and team about how FBR will best support their salons and clients.

You’re a sponsor of this year’s AMIA’s. What does it feel like, to be a part of the awards in this way?

Completely honoured! I am looking forward to being a part of the AMIA’s as a sponsor this year and being in a different seat this year instead of the nominee seat. Except I want to give everyone an award not just the winner as everyone is so well-deserving of an award!! LOL

And Finally...

For the salons doing it tough – to know that the time will pass and that we are always here if anyone needs to reach out x