Seasoned beauty industry professional Jules Cachia is on a mission to not only help women look beautiful but feel it too. As a makeup artist, beauty skin specialist, breath facilitator and all round beauty guru, she is the woman to seek out for a transformational approach through her holistic private and group beauty consultations.
Jules shares with us her tips for a refreshed approach to beauty in 2023…
What does the word beauty mean to you?
The dictionary will tell you, it is a combination of qualities that aesthetically pleases the eye. However personally I see beauty as not what you see with your eyes, but how you feel in your heart and about yourself. Beauty is everywhere and what captures me the most in my heart is another human truly being their authentic self.
‘To age gracefully’ – could you elaborate on this?
A lot of my clientele come to me in their mid to late 30's asking for 'help' with their skin and makeup routine. When I give them the basic tips, they often tell me 'this is so easy and I should have been doing this for years'. We get so busy in our day to day lives that all of a sudden we wake up and the level of 'work', 'money' and 'treatments' it takes for us to feel and/or look differently or how we feel we should at that particular age often feels quite drastic and overwhelming. My goal is to have clients 'care' for themselves a little each day so they are feeling beautiful and at peace with themselves. Along with not feeling like they have to take drastic measures in the future, it is all about maintenance. Just like exercising - slow and steady achieves maximum results!
Pic credit: Jules Cachia
You focus much of your work on mindset, tell us more about this?
Mindset is everything and beauty comes from within. As a society a lot of people spend so much time focusing on 'fixing' or 'managing' things about ourselves, meaning our physical appearance and what people see on the outside. Don’t get me wrong, I love a spray tan, a glam makeup look or a black smokey eye! However it does not matter how much of a 'mask' we wear, it will never fix how we are truly feeling on the inside.
I spend so much of my time with my clients in the most intimate of settings, generally in their homes or offices and the 'space' I create for them to feel 'calm' and truly 'themselves' is of the utmost importance to me. I am often there for the 'big' moments in their lives, not just the 'happy' times but often the most traumatic seasons. If they are feeling calm and at peace, or even in pure excitement whilst I am creating for them, then I have done my job!
After many years of creating this space, I realised that 'mindset' is far more important for me than just applying makeup on my clients faces or spray tanning them.
Makeup and skincare only touches the surface of what I create and teach. My wish is for my clients to not 'look beautiful' but to 'feel beautiful' and to believe in themselves like I and others do. I do not talk in the terms of 'good' or 'bad' and 'right' or 'wrong'. However if we feel 'authentic' and 'at peace' with ourselves then we are generally going to look 'beautiful'.
My own daily practices have increased with the older I become. I start my down day with a 3 minute breath exercise, a 10 minute stretch whilst listening to Jay Shetty on the Calm app along with a glass of water followed by a smoothie.
What is breath work and how does this weave into inner beauty?
Pic credit: Jules Cachia
Breathwork is the term for many different breathing practices where the conscious control of breathing can influence your emotional, mental and physical state of mind. Created in a safe environment, the power of your own breath can be beautifully therapeutic. This is all the scientific information on what I do as a Breathwork practitioner but what we can do together throughout this process is all up to you, what you feel into, what you need and how I can hold space for you as a human working through everyday challenges or something deeper.
Breathing is not optional, in fact we cannot live without breathing. Breathing sends a message back to your brain telling you that you are OK. Practicing different types of breath brings you back to you, a moment for yourself so that when you have challenges throughout the day, you can regulate with more ease.
You know when you see somebody who is just shining, walking through a crowd and they exuberate beauty? What goes through your mind when you see them? I am thinking, they are at peace with themselves, they have done the inner work on how to feel completely at peace. The breath and beauty weave in together! How your heart, mind and thoughts are existing will all affect how you look and feel about beauty.
I am not saying that we can feel like this all the time, we all have our moments, however if you feel beautiful, you look beautiful.
How does one navigate the overwhelm of the beauty world?
Keep it simple!
DO NOT trial more than one new product at a time. If you are trying a complete new range, ease into it, keep it simple to the cleanser and moisturiser first, then add serums a week later.
It is trial and error and your skin will react from time to time with new and different products, hormones, diet, weather changes and stress. Understand that there is no product, regime or treatment that will suit everyone!
If you are having multiple changes in your skin, body and life then hire a professional you trust to support you in finding the answers and solutions that align with you.
I know we live in an online world, however try not to google too much and see a skin specialist or a makeup artist for guidance or a lesson, this can eliminate the feeling of overwhelm and probably save you a lot of $$$!
Skincare….where does one begin?
Wash your face! Remove makeup before bed. Start with the basics, cleanser, moisturiser and include vitamin c and a Retinol. Always wear sunscreen! It is never too early for an eye cream. If you are constantly red, have dry patches that will not go away, are breaking out all the time or reacting to products then consult with a skin specialist or a dermatologist.
What are the foolproof makeup application tips for a natural/glowing look?
Hydrated skin is key as the 'natural/glowing’ look comes down to the quality of and preparation of your skin. Skin prep plays a huge role here. Exfoliate with an aha/bha serum twice a week - if it's in preparation for a special occasion or a big event, then do it the day before. Dry skin - if your skin is on the dry side - use a hydrating moisturiser on top of your daily moisturiser. If you still feel or look dry, then use a lighter foundation or even tinted sunscreen with a foundation brush pressing the product into your skin. This will stop your skin from looking patchy and give you the glow or natural finish you desire. To structure and give colour, use a cream bronzer where you need over your foundation, blending in with the same brush that you applied your foundation with. Finish with your favourite Mascara to open up your eyes and a tinted lip balm.
ALSO – drinking 3 litres of water every day, if you do not drink enough water on a daily basis but then all of a sudden drink 3 litres on the day you want to look or feel ‘hydrated’ it will not hydrate you. The amount of water you drank 3 months ago affects you TODAY!
What would your desert-island, can’t live without product be?
Sunscreen and lip balm.
If you or a group of friends would like to experience a masterclass with Jules, please get in contact with Jules.
