!!!!!!I’m excited about this. Can you tell? I exclaimed even before I started writing. The third #bethefair interview I have to share with you is with Jennifer Ziliotto of Naked Eye Beauty. In case you don’t know, NEB is my favorite line of skin and hair products out there. They are vegan and earth based and they work magic. Read more on NEB here!
I follow Naked Eye Beauty on Instagram and based on the photos that she posts and the products that she makes, I had to know more about what inspires her through life. So, I asked her if I could interview her with the ol’ HTHG interview questions and was delighted when she obliged.
Then, to make matters even greater, she offered to make the interview a GIVEAWAY, Instagram style! She will be giving away a Natural Hair Powder and a Natural Deodorent creme( 2 of my top 5 products ever!!!!) to a lucky HTHG reader! Here is how to enter…….Follow Nakedeyebeauty and Howtohairgirl on Instagram. Repost the product giveaway post, and tag it #bethefair.
Now, on with the interview
Naked Eye Beauty’s Jen Ziliotto
1. what do you call yourself? Example……..Wilderbabe, hairdresser mama, Jewelry designer, an asshole with a sour grimace. WTF.
I am a makeup and hair artist, entrepreneur, student and constant seeker of all that life has to offer. Work-in-progress artist!
2. Why Naked Eye Beauty? what inspired you to create this line and how did you learn the ropes of running your own Natural beauty product company?
I was in a funk a few years ago with my makeup artist career and wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue pursuing it actually. I was just not inspired anymore although I had been working in the industry for some years already. Then I read the book Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel and it literally changed my life. I had never considered how important it was to use simple and natural ingredients in beauty products. Because of that book I cleaned out my personal stash of makeup and hair products and then moved on to my professional makeup kit. I continued to read more books and also discovered websites and blogs dedicated to the green beauty movement and found so many people felt the same way I did. It really inspired me enough to experiment with making my own products. It started out innocently, just making lip balms for friends to give them on their birthdays or at Christmas. I got so many compliments on what I was creating that it gave me that extra push to start creating my own line to start selling. I taught myself how to make soap which I got a huge rush from! I’ve always been a big DIY and hands-on person, I love just love to create things. I got the name for the brand from the Who song “Naked Eye”…I just thought it sounded cool. I am a big Who fan so thats my homage to them.
3. where do you go to get inspired to create?
I get my inspiration from so many different sources…art, music, nature, friends. I read alot of books on aromatherapy, herbal medicine and beauty ingredients so I pull inspiration from those. I experiment alot too. I test things on myself and my friends. Getting their input helps me immensely. Mostly I just create what I personally like to use and scents I love.
4. where do you get free. (at the river, in the mountains, at the beach)
I feel the most free when I don’t have plans for the day! That rarely ever happens to me lately so when I have a day to myself to watch movies, have lunch with friends, have a glass of wine in the middle of the day or if can get outside and go for a hike, I am in heaven. I also enjoy a good road trip. Nothing like being on the open road with killer music and good snacks!
5. What is your go-to creative project this year?
I am currently working with my friend Casey on creating new labels for Naked Eye Beauty. Im hoping by the end of the year we will have something new to present. Right now we are just throwing around ideas and getting things going. Im also really stoked on all the makeup jobs I have been doing lately. It seems like every day I am getting asked to be a part of some cool projects. I’ll be doing makeup for the next Queens of the Stone Age video that my friend Kii is directing, I am so beyond excited! So thankful for all the good that has come my way.
6. What are your 3 favorite NEB products.
My 3 favorites are the Rose Tinted Lip Balm for its versatility and simplicity, the Organic Detox Facial Cleaner with Activated Charcoal for its gentle deep cleansing and the Herbal Deodorant Cream. Can’t go a single day without these 3 items!
7. Zombie apocalypse, you can take 5 things with you. What do you bring?
Oh this is my worst nightmare! Definitely my fiancé Ian, my 3 kitties, Joni Neil and Dust, and lip balm. Water would be nice too 🙂
8. What is your hair MO or philosophy?
I believe in not overdoing things. Keeping it simple. I love natural hair color, simple cuts, updos that don’t take too long to create, natural and touchable hair products. Preserving the integrity of the hair is a big one for me. Although it can be fun to change your color from blonde to pink to black, to me there is nothing more beautiful than embracing what you have.
9. What woman in history do you most admire?
When I was growing up, most of my idols were male musicians so all I ever wanted to be was a badass rock n roller. I didn’t really want to be feminine at all. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how amazing it is to be a woman. I don’t necessarily have one woman in history that I admire, its more like the women I surround myself with and have influenced the choices I’ve made with my career and the way I live my life. My mother is my angel, I admire her so much for her strength and acceptance of all the things life has thrown at her. My grandmother is also a huge influence. She passed away a few months ago but I am so thankful I got to spend so much time with her during her last year of life. She showed me how to handle life with grace and dignity, and to not be afraid to say how you feel. I am forever grateful for having her in my life.
10. Who are some of your female mentors or inspirations in the beauty/fashion industry?
I have so many! For beauty inspiration, I always go back to either the 1920’s or the 1960’s. To me, both those eras represent the same thing: beauty revolution! Women were changing their hairstyles drastically along with their fashion to adapt to what they want and not what society was telling them to do. I can imagine it was an exciting time to experiment and break the rules.
11. If you could manifest your destiny, what would your life look like in 3 years.
I would love to have a family. I am getting married next year and feel so enamored by the idea of having a husband! I really don’t have any elaborate dreams, I just want to live a simple life. I don’t really care about being famous or having lots of money. I feel at ease and happiest when I don’t have alot. I just want to continue what I’m doing, learn as much as I can and hopefully create some happiness in other peoples lives.
And there she is in all her loveliness 🙂 Now go check out her shop and pamper your body and hair. And don’t forget to tell your friends.
Who would you like to see interviewed on HTHG?
