Los Angeles Makeup Artist - Belle Face

PRESENT:

In September of 2011 Annah embarked on another journey to the Amazon, this time with an arsenal of supplies. Over 100lbs of makeup, nail and hair products generously donated by *friends of Yantaló.

This trip was pre-organized by a couple of locals to welcome Annah with over two dozen students eager to learn about beauty. Ranging from late teens to late forties, the women of Yantaló dove right into the basics of hygiene, makeup tools and techniques, hair cutting, manicures/pedicures and party styles.

At the end of their 5 day intensive course, those who diligently attended all classes received certificates of completion.

Based on the enthusiasm of the group and the lack of communal space for the women to socialize in, Annah's next goal was to establish a women's community center. This goal was accomplished on September 21st.

The next goal is to establish a foundation/charity in order to sustain the BelleFace Women's Community Center of Yantaló. This will provide a space for the women to utilize as a learning facility, salon, socializing area and storefront amongst other programs intended for the Empowerment Through Beauty campaign.

For questions, comments, wishes or donations, please contact Annah directly at annah@yantalo.org

Proceeds go towards rent ($36 per month!), furniture, hygienic supplies, cleaning supplies and computer/s.

Stay tuned for a mini documentary film about Annah's trip with a special thanks to Milani Cosmetics.

Viva Belleza!

PAST:

In September of 2010 Annah embarked on an adventure into the depths of the Amazon jungles in Peru to a remote community by the name of Yantaló.

Her comrades were two filmmakers, Josh Gibson and Angela Snow, who have been recording a documentary about the building of the first and only all-green hospital in South America powered by volunteer doctor teams from around the world.

A week prior to this journey, Annah received word from the organization's director, Luis Vasquez, who heard through a little birdie of her craft and requested she bring tools of her trade to educate women of the community on beauty and hygiene. Having just a few days and a very limited budget, she was able to scrounge a few bags of essentials to bring with her.

Living conditions in Yantaló are rough: electricity is sparse and [cold] water may not be turned on until night time. Large families live in small huts of mud and bamboo, cement if they are lucky. Chickens, cows, dogs and cats running wild. Kids running around barefoot and covered in their last meals. No proper medicine. Struggling education. Dust. Bacteria. The list goes on.

There are no televisions. There are no cell phones. There is one land line phone in a private shoppe that charges the locals when a call comes in. The community comes together through announcements over a loud speaker in the center square. This is how women of Yantaló heard about makeup/hair/nail lessons by Annah.

Gathered inside a dusty cemented living room with an open door, ladies flowed in to get pampered and learn. Even through a language barrier, the final outcome of their looks was universally understood. They smiled, laughed, touched each other's hair and admired their reflections.

Annah is now the West Coast Donations Liason for the organization and will be coming back to Peru as early as September of 2011. She has been reaching out to anyone willing to donate cosmetics, hair products, hygiene packages, skin care and the like to bring back to the community in order to further education and self esteem of Yantaló's beautiful women.

*FRIENDS OF YANTALÓ:

For a list of accepted donations please contact annah@yantalo.org