It's not uncommon to find Ottawa's Heather Boswell engrossed in the shopping channel at three in the morning, but the 41-year-old isn't curled up on the couch channel surfing.
As the "face" of Fusion Beauty, Heather makes regular appearances live on air at all hours of the day and night discussing everything from lip gloss and bronzer to wrinkle reduction and skin care. A make-up artist since the mid 80s, Heather has a packed schedule that includes filming for The Shopping Channel and Home Shopping Network, plus product launches across North America for Fusion Beauty.
The company stormed the cosmetics industry two years ago with LipFusion, a lip plumper that made women realize they could attain a perfect pout through its use of marine collagen. The award-winning product soon became all the rage for Hollywood's hottest actresses, from Jessica Alba to Kate Walsh, and Fusion Beauty has since added more make-up and skin care collections.
As a result, Heather, the co-founder of Ottawa Make-up Artists and mother of two young boys, is always on the move, but she balances her schedule with a down-to-earth attitude, regular stops at Tim Hortons and a fresh approach to beauty advice.
GREAT FOUNDATION
"In 2006, I was doing the make-up for Randi Shinder (Fusion Beauty founder and Ottawa entrepreneur) for a video shoot and she told me she wanted me to be the ‘face' of Fusion. Luckily, I don't get nervous on camera, especially after being the intermission host for the Ottawa Senators for two years. Randi is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration because when she decides to do something she just does it and I try to apply that philosohy in my everyday life."
BEAUTY ESSENTIALS
"Less is more, especially as we age. It's about being naturally radiant, not trying too hard or applying too much. I think it's the combination of clear skin, confidence and happiness that make women so beautiful."
THAT'S HOT
"Right now we're seeing a bit of a trend towards fantasy make-up, with bright on-purpose colours that are dazzling. It's great for events or going to clubs, but I really love the trend of understated make-up, especially for women who are 30- and 40-plus. It's the no make-up look that Hollywood is really embracing and it starts with good skin. Instead of covering up your skin, you're fixing your flaws by using products that help your complexion using anti-oxidants and bio-active minerals and peptides."
DEMAND MORE
"I think in 2008 women who are buying make-up and skin products at a higher price tag recognize that it needs to do more - it should treat your skin as well. Nowadays women are smart about what they put on their skin and they're demanding results."
GOING GREEN
"It's great that many natural lines that have been around since the 80s and before, like Burt's Bees, are very popular now. Consumers don't want a lot of chemicals on their skin and that's why I'm proud to work with known ingredients that aren't harmful to you. Plus everything is tested on scientists, not animals."
MUST-HAVE SHADE
"My favourite LipFusion colour is Summer (a sheer natural shimmering rose), and I also really like Sweet, which is a sheer pink."
PET PEEVE
"I can't stand the ‘wingy' eye make-up you see on people like Amy Winehouse. It's just too much and so dated."
DRUGSTORE FINDS
"I really love Cetaphil skin cleanser, Neutrogena wipes and Glysomed hand cream. Plus I always have a small bottle of hand sanitizer with me when I travel- I become a bit of a germaphobe when I'm flying."
TRAVEL BASICS
"In 2007 I went on 27 business trips for Fusion, so I got good at packing my essentials in my carry-on. I fit everything, from skin care, make-up and hair serum, into a small zip-lock baggie. People always comment on it when I pull it out at the security counter, but it's really easy to do."
MEMORIES OF HOME
"Besides missing my kids and husband desperately, I really miss my gym when I'm on the road. Some hotels have decent gyms, but some are awful and nothing throws me off like being able to get a good workout in. I also miss not being able to get my Tim Hortons fix and eating out at MKH Sushi on Merivale Road. My other favourite restaurants include Feleena's (in the Glebe) for great authentic Mexican and Vittoria Trattoria on Riverside for their amazing wines."
PARTRIDGE SIGHTING
"I've met most of the celebs who have lines on the shopping channels, like Leeza Gibbons and (hair stylist to the stars) Oscar Blandi, but the person I was the most excited to meet was David Cassidy. I've been in love with him since I was eight years old and he was starring as Keith on The Partridge Family. I was so star struck, but he was great and we posed for photos. It turns out he keeps horses in the Toronto area and he and his wife come to Canada all the time."
