Makeup artist Haley Allen loves making people feel good about themselves. Doing people’s makeup is one way she accomplishes this. She also loves connecting with people while she’s doing a facial or massage. Photo by Morgan Fouce Photography.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “I love making people feel beautiful in their own skin,” stated Haley Allen, Warsaw. “When I was 13 and in middle school, I did a makeup demonstration on one of my friends for English class. I remember how beautiful she looked. And I’ve come a long way over the years.” Allen is a makeup artist with a shop in Warsaw.

Allen attended Rudae’s School of Beauty Culture, Fort Wayne. “I got my esthetician license, which allows me to also do facials and massage therapy. I’ve always loved putting people at ease, helping them relax and feel special. That’s why I enjoy doing makeup. It helps a person feel good about themselves.”

She began doing clients’ makeup in her home bedroom in 2018. “My clients were school seniors getting their class pictures taken and brides and bridesmaids in weddings. I loved hosting them.”

Allen started her business out of her studio in 2020. “I was still safely working a day job at Zimmer Biomet and doing clients on my off hours. My schedule was getting quite heavy.”

This past September, Allen quit her job at Biomet and now devotes her full time to her business. “That was a scary step for me. I worked at Biomet for 11 years. It’s a great company. But I knew I had to try my wings … devoting my time to my clients exclusively.”

Those who come to her studio are given a warm welcome. “My favorite part of the job is connecting with the people who come through my doors. I have a sitting area in front and the makeup area in back. I also sell my own products in the studio and online.”

One of the things Allen enjoys about selling her own makeup is that she can govern what goes into the products. “The private label makeup company I work with is based in Florida. They are cruelty-free, and the products are produced in the U.S.”

Since she’s a people-person, Allen loves greeting new clients. “When I connect with the people coming to my studio, we go from being complete strangers to forever friends. It’s magic when that happens.”

She’s certified to do Swedish and hot stone massage. “My massages help people relax and relieve stiff muscles. During my hot stone massage, heated limestones are placed on specific parts of the client’s body. Heat therapy eases tense muscles and repairs damaged soft tissues throughout the body.”

While she is giving facials and doing massage therapy, clients come to know they are relaxing in a safe place. “They open up to me and tell me personal things they may not share with anyone else. It’s a comfortable feeling with a lot of positive energy flowing.”

Allen offers makeup lessons in-studio. “I might be showing someone how to contour their makeup if they have a long nose or how to apply eye shadow to bring out the shape and color of their eyes.”

Allen brings her makeup to “The Night to Shine” each year. “It’s great helping those who are challenged look beautiful for their Warsaw prom night.”

One of the high points of this past year was when Allen traveled with her sister to Paris and Italy in July. “We visited art museums, Venice and saw the Eiffel Tower. It was a dream come true.”