Getting her ‘girl’ back | Islander women find careers in cosmetics sales company

Published 6:00 am Thursday, July 16, 2015

Leslie Lewallen and Julie Larkin are two of about ten Islander residents who have made their splash into the direct sales market.

Just three years old, Younique is an international business that markets cosmetics and makeup almost exclusively through social media. Men and women over 18 are able to sign up as a presenter for $99 and are loaded up with $250 worth of products, along with all of the necessary support and access to kickstart their career.

The company’s most popular item is the 3D Fiber Mascara, but they also sell lip stains, eye cream, bronzers, makeup remover clothes, and brushes, to name a few.

Younique is a family-owned and operated business that has been surpassing sales records every month. The perks of having constant support and reasonable price points are what drew Lewallen and Larkin in. But the socially conscious company does more than just support its employees.

They will also be launching their own charity foundation later this year. The Younique Foundation, as it will be called, will provide a safe haven retreat home in the mountains for sexually and emotionally abused women to go to begin their healing process.

“For me, I feel like I’m able to contribute to that change. I believe, that I’m making a difference in the lives of others, my family and myself,” Leslie said. “We are far more than mascara, makeup and skincare.”

So how did these ladies get started with Younique?

Lewallen, a 1993 Mercer Island High School graduate now living in Illinois, was a stay-at-home mom after deciding to leave the legal field as an attorney. She was happy to raise her kids, but felt that something was missing.

She had heard of the company from a magazine, and after getting invited to a friend’s online mascara party through Facebook Lewallen decided to hop on board and join the company as a presenter.

She quickly rose to the very top, leading a team of over 2,000 women and men, in under a year. This “lash queen” says joining the company was a life-changing blessing.

“When I joined Younique, I got my ‘girl’ back. I got that sense of self worth, pride and my mojo back,” Lewallen said. “My husband and children are proud of me, and I am helping to change lives everyday. I love hearing from team members on how this company has changed their life, how it is given them financial freedom and the confidence to pursue their dreams.”

Larkin, who has lived on the Island for the last 18 years, has similar remarks about that financial freedom.

“It gives me the opportunity to have a home-based business where I can make money and work on a flexible schedule,” Larkin says. “I really like the products and I wouldn’t sell products I don’t believe in. That’s what makes it personal for me.”

Unlike Leslie, Younique is just a part-time gig for the mother of three who is also a Jazzercize instructor. Working for the company has given her a chance to grow and gain experience, she says.

“I did not think of myself as a salesperson,” Julie says. “It’s new for me and I’m learning all the time. But just because you haven’t done it doesn’t mean you can’t still learn.”

While Lewallen and Larkin are at different points in their Younique career, both of these stay-at-home moms have enjoyed the freedom of being able to take it as far as they please.

You can find Leslie at www.lesliesluxelashes.com and Julie at https://www.youniqueproducts.com/JulieLarkin.