Last month we popped by a beauty event and got up and close and personal with celebrity makeup artist, Kelley Quan, who is also the founder of the Pocket Spa - a must have beauty device that keeps you refreshed and cool that's great from pre-makeup, makeup, and after you take it all off.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background as a makeup artist.
KELLEY QUAN: My beginnings as a pro artist were not your typical journey as I started as a painter and as fate would have it, makeup found me rather than the other way around! That said, once I saw the capacity for what was possible to create on a body, well, there was no going back to canvas for me!
I have been a makeup artist now for 20-plus years working mainly in the fashion and beauty, and advertising areas and still love everything about the industry. To be able to travel the world and work on some of the most beautiful people on our planet has been a true gift. It's also so gratifying to work with other creatives and be part of a team. The business is all about collaborative efforts and I love how we can come together to produce images that are really dynamic.
As an artist, I have always been known as a “skin” girl, meaning that while I use loads of foundations, powders, primers etc.. I want the skin to look like I didn’t - “that she just woke up that way” perfection. There is an inner glow and sheen the skin has when it’s in peak condition, it is so unmistakably gorgeous and I aim to achieve this with every single job. There are so many ways to produce this, and depending on my subject I’ll switch up the application and products that help me achieve the look I’m after.
All of what I do as an artist has an emotional connection. Essentially, my mission is to get my subject to shift the perception she has of herself. It’s an incredible feeling when she can see what I see, and feels all the more beautiful because of it. I have found over the years that when I can get my models to feel an inner beauty, that it makes everything that I do on the outside even more impactful. Think of it as a Mind, Body, Spirit makeup application!
AM: With all the time that you spend on set, how did that assist in creating the Pocket Spa?
KQ: One of the things I have done since the beginning of my career was to use mineral waters or floral mists as a prep for the skin. It was effective before any makeup was applied, but you had to be very careful if used afterwards. It could destroy all the hard work I’d put into the makeup application in one spritz! I tried to find a fine mister or atomizer that would allow me to hydrate the skin, but just wasn't anything that was fine enough. It got me thinking about what I wanted and what technology was available that would help me to create the right vapor-mist. After many trial and errors, the first Pocket Spa was born. From the beginning, I knew that this was a much more effective way to hydrate and the extra benefit of helping maintain the makeup was just icing on the cake! All of my subjects were very receptive to all the experimentation with various prototypes and were critical to the development of the final product you see today. I thank them all for all the zany test drives they have had to endure!
AM: Tell us about the Pocket Spa and why it's essential within our beauty and daily routine?
KQ: The Pocket Spa is a compact, refillable and rechargeable personal humidifier that uses nano-technology to turn plain water into a moisturizing-mist of tiny water droplets that are small enough to penetrate deeper levels of the skin and replace moisture that is constantly being leached from skin by natural and environmental factors such as soaps, detergents, dry air, heating systems, air-conditioning, air travel and UV from the sun. I think it's an essential part of a beauty routine because it instantly delivers much-needed hydration to the skin where it needs it most, not just to the surface and helps to maintain the skin’s overall quality.
There are a ton of benefits to using it daily— After cleansing and moisturizing: the Pocket Spa is a more effective way to hydrate and not only adds moisture deeper into the epidermis but also helps skincare to perform even better. For a daily routine, I recommend using the Pocket Spa in the morning, during the day and in the evening. There isn’t such a thing as over use because the device only uses water to use it whenever your skin is crying out for some attention!
AM: In addition to being able to use water, tell us about the fragrances that you created that can also be used and will there be additions?
KQ: In addition to using plain water, I also recommend using my Aquasol ™ waters which were specifically created for use in the Pocket Spa. Each are small batch distilled and chemical and oil free. Re:Fresh is a bright, fresh fragrant water. It stimulates the skin and wakens it up, preparing it for a skincare/makeup application. Ingredients are: Hydrosol of Organic Melissa for inflammation and calming as well as antibacterial qualities, Lime to address congestive and anti-inflammatory issues and organic Rosemary improves mood, helps to clear the mind, and relieves stress and is also has anti natural antibacterial qualities.
Re:Generate is a heady blend of ingredients that are super regenerators which prepares the skin for replenishment during the sleep hours and encourages a general calm as well. Ingredients are: Hydrosol of Rose, Neroli, Frankincense, and Melissa. This combination will not only assist in reducing inflammation and promote health tissue and cell regeneration, it will calm and relax you as well which is why I recommend it for evening use or when you need to reduce stress. The combination of each of these ingredients was carefully crafted to promote a deep sense of calm, while also promoting regeneration of the skin.
AM: Do you see more devices being included within the Pocket Spa?
KQ: I have plans to expand the line of product to include a few more beauty devices to target cleansing and also a broad market version of the Pocket Spa.
AM: Where can we get the Pocket Spa and do you have any dream locations/sites that you would like to see the Pocket Spa on?
KQ: Currently, the Pocket Spa is available at AHALife, Open Sky, Nigel’s Beauty Emporium in Los Angeles and Blur Beauty in Toronto, Canada. I am in the midst of a distribution deal for North America and the UAE. I would LOVE to be in Sephora of course, especially in their new brand discovery area, but I also love Blue Mercury stores as well. I have a special spot for New London Pharmacy too as I am a New Yorker and over the years as an artist have bought some of my favorite brands from this little apothecary. It would be fantastic to be part of that family!
AM: What are the benefits of using Pocket Spa?
KQ: There are several advantages of using the Pocket Spa. First of all, while I have talked about it mainly as beauty device, it is also an amazing product to use for dry eyes or sinuses - even the hair. The micro vapor soothes those delicate areas to add instant hydration and relief. In addition to this, the Pocket Spa is a great traveling companion. It will help to keep your skin in great condition even at 30,000 feet. And don’t be surprised if your seat mate asks you to borrow it!
AM: Please share anything else that you would like us to know about you and/or the Pocket Spa?
KQ: As an artist, I have always taken great care to understand each of my clients needs. For every product I develop, I consider the consumer and have a singular mission in mind. It is to have highly effective products that create a memorable user experience. Whether it be from my hand crafted vegan beauty brushes , or the Aquasol, or the Pocket Spa, each work toward the goal of helping my clients look and feel amazing with ease.