OMAHASTYLE
Story by: Sandy Lemke Photo by: minorwhitestudios.com
Brush with Fame Omahan Linda Shrier Launches National Product
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Shrier, Omaha inTHE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY ventor, has a beautiLinda Shrier has a beauty-full business ful idea. After seeing history. In 1978, Shrier opened a beauty store, how conventional makeup brushes can collect “Making Faces.” It was located in southwest dirt and impurities, Shrier came up with a Omaha and featured an array of European perfect solution and invented Klix cosmetic beauty and skin care lines such as Mary Quant brushes. It’s a simple idea. They are cosmetic and Payot in addition to fragrances and facials. brushes with replaceable brush heads. When Clients of Making Faces fondly remember the brush heads show dirt, you “click” on a the boutique, and liken it to a Sephora. Says fresh, clean new one. Mary Jo Pane, former client: “Making Faces Shrier’s Klix replaceable, recyclable brushes certainly was way ahead of its time, not only and heads are available nationwide. In Omaha, for the great scents and cosmetics that Linda boutique She.La carries the line as does online brought to Omaha but the level of service, it beauty superstore LovelySkin.com. was really exceptional. The only thing I can Three things led Shrier to the development compare it to at the time is Cosbar in Aspen. of Klix brushes: It is no surprise to me that the evolution of all that is Klix Brushes.” “1) My daughter had just returned from our dermatoloArmed with an idea and business sense, gist. She was having problems with her skin. It was a Shrier looked into production. “I designed the contact bacterial infection. I could not imagine what it Klix Brushes. I took my design to numerous would be and checked her makeup brushes. They were manufacturing companies to build my proextremely dirty. I tried unsuccessfully to clean them totypes. So I sought out a forward-thinking and subsequently threw them away. owner of a manufacturing company and 2) I was using my Swiffer Mop. When the Swiffer Mop located one in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Dave came out, I threw my conventional mop away. It Wood of New Age Prototypes thought it was a occurred to me that even after you rinsed them, they great idea and built my prototypes. The entire were probably still dirty. process -- design, prototype, to production 3) I was watching the Tyra Banks Show and she did an took over four years. We have launched Klix entire segment on dirty makeup brushes and dirty Brushes nationally and it is currently Patentmakeup. Pending.”
That is where I came up with the idea to invent a makeup brush that you do not have to clean. A full-size, professional style, quality makeup brush with a disposable head without giving up the quality of a conventional makeup brush. I ran the idea past my husband, Howard, and he encouraged me to pursue it.” Nationally recognized Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board certified dermatologist, has endorsed the brushes and has this to say about them. “THIS IDEA IS SIMPLY BRILLIANT! Whenever something seems so simple and obvious, it’s a sure thing that consumers will love it and this is just one of those things that has the potential to be a game changer.”
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Said Shrier, “I used white hair so that you can see just how dirty your brushes get and a reminder that it is time to have a clean brush ready to use by replacing your brush head. I also used cruelty-free hair so no animals are harmed in the name of beauty. The other item that is important to me is that the brush heads are recyclable so you can just throw them in your recycle bin.”
CLEAN… AND GREEN While Shrier was developing the Klix Brushes, she consulted with Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and the Past President of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Shrier said he was definitely supportive because of the bacteria, germs, acne, and even staph infections that occur as a result of dirty makeup brushes. “If your brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria it transfers to your makeup. It would be extremely expensive to replace your makeup once it has become compromised by bacteria and irritants,” said Shrier. www.omahapublications.com