Today we’d like to introduce you to Tricia Wise.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tricia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Providence, RI then moved to Worcester, MA t study at Clark University. I graduated in 2016 with a BA in English and Communications. Although I really enjoy writing, I always had an interest in makeup, skincare, wellness, herbalism, and feminism, and knew I wanted to start a career in the wellness and beauty industry.
My first job out of college was salon manager at the Elizabeth Grady School of Massage and Esthetics. While working there, I took an Art of Makeup course, and became a certified makeup artist. From there I started freelancing, doing weddings, fashion shows, special effects, drag and glam makeup! I also got hired at Kryolan, a professional makeup line, with a location in Back Bay. I post all of my work on my Instagram pages: @wise.beauty_ (for clients) and @trashwise (personal and makeup).
After struggling with hormonal cystic acne for many years, I realized natural products were the way to go. While in college, I played around with natural products and made special teas to soothe my skin. I always knew I wanted to help others with similar experiences as mine. In October 2017, I began taking night classes for Esthetics at Elizabeth Grady, and will be graduating in November 2018. At the same time, I took an online course at the Herbal Academy, and really delved into herbal studies as well as skin studies.
I began blogging about skincare and makeup on my own site, WiseCraft. The name stems from my last name, Wise, and the Craft comes from witchcraft, but also DIY and crafting your own life/items/soul! The more I studied herbs and skin, the more necessary I felt it was to combine the two, and make products I felt would help myself and others.
After sampling my own products, I decided to open an Etsy shop for my skincare and female health products, WiseCraft Herbals. I make all of my products from scratch, with all natural and organic herbs. I sell everything from rosewater to salves to yoni steams to hex Trump witch bottles (because necessary?). I really like to focus on women’s health, because women wellness is something I feel very passionate about. In addition to my shop, I also post all of my products on my Instagram, @wisecraft.herbals.
I was recently hired by a Boston startup called JetSet (@jetset_co), a travel, natural beauty, and wellness brand. I will be working at their nontoxic mask bar, formulating unique, clean beauty masks for women!
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. After graduating from Clark, it was almost expected for me to work in the corporate world, but I knew that was not something for me…my tattoos and septum ring don’t really have a place in that kind of world…Like most other millennials, I have endless student loans, and living in Boston can be pretty expensive, so it would have just been easier to take a 9-5 job, but I knew that I would have been absolutely miserable. A career in wellness and beauty was really the only path I was interested in. I’ve definitely had to sacrifice a lot of time I could have spent hanging out with friends, because I had to work or spend time on my business, however this was definitely worth it.
Not only is it pretty tough to be successful in an alternative industry, but it is also very scary. There is much uncertainty when creating your own business. There is always the inherent fear of failure looming in the back of my mind constantly, but that also seems to be a great motivator for myself as well.
Other women who are starting a similar journey just need to make sure they stay motivated (nevertheless, she persisted!) and always have a plan–that plan will literally always change, but it’s always great to have an idea (I write everything down in a notebook!). I believe all women are inherently intuitive, and it’s super important to listen to your intuition, don’t do something unless it feels completely right! I also believe in the power of meditation, which can be very helpful in opening your eyes to what you truly want and allowing yourself to manifest those wants!
And most importantly, things time, and success does not happen overnight.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with WiseCraft Herbals – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
When I first began working in the beauty industry, makeup was all I wanted to do, I love the confidence and power it can give a women! Although I do all types of makeup, I am most known for my Goth, Victorian- inspired, theatrical makeup.
After learning more about skin, I became very invested in natural beauty skincare. I currently split my time doing freelance makeup, lash and brow tinting, and working on my herbal skincare business, WiseCraft Herbals. I am very proud to be able to create natural and organic products for women, because ironically the beauty industry can be very ugly. Cosmetic corporations unfortunately put many ingredients in their products that are actually very harmful to the human body, and I am happy that I can make easily accessible, natural products that are actually good for people!
When I graduate from Esthetics school this coming autumn, I will also be adding facials, waxing, spray tan, microdermabrasion, as well as lash extensions and lifts to my list of services. All of which will strictly remain under the all-natural realm and go hand in hand with a holistic and plant-based lifestyle which I am very excited about!
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I find the most important thing in life and career is to surround yourself with like-minded people. For me, this means hanging out with other women who feel passionate about herbalism, wellness, feminism, and beauty. I’ve found the best way to do this is reaching out to women on Instagram, or other social media sites. It might seem scary to reach out to people you have never met, but I’ve always received great responses!
Pricing:
- Yoni Steam- $15
- Herbal Beauty Oil- $15
- Bind Trump Witch Bottle- $18
- Muscle Salve- $15
- Facial Steam- $15
- Rosewater- $15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wisecraftblog.wordpress.com/
- Phone: 401-626-8637
- Email: wisecraftherbals@gmail.com
- Instagram: 1. https://www.instagram.com/trashwise/?hl=en 2. https://www.instagram.com/wisecraft.herbals/?hl=en 3. https://www.instagram.com/wise.beauty_/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tricia.wise.18
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WiseCraftHerbals?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Image Credit:
The wedding photo was shot by Kataram Studios. (@kataramstudios)
My profile picture was shot by my friend and colleague, Faith Kelnhofer (@faithkeln)
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