La Bella Donna: August 2011

About Me

"I never go out without my minerals," explains Kathy, who has always been in the public eye. The New York native, a former model, continued to work sporadically while raising her two children (son; David and daughter, La Bella Donna co-founder Nicole Tracy) in Los Angeles.

"I've always been involved in fashion. After David was born, I wanted to have flexibility, so I made the transition from modeling to wardrobe consulting, which evolved into image consulting. I worked for private clients and for corporations and I needed to look good - it was my business. But I started to have trouble with makeup. I have sensitive skin and I'm of Italian descent, which means that I have an unusual skin tone. Unfortunately, makeup would turn colour on me within an hour -it required constant touching up. Either it looked mask-like or it would fade away. I gave up on traditional foundations and became a sun-worshipper because I looked better with a suntan - it looked like makeup. Well, now we know what that does to the skin. I developed hyperpigmentation and excessive dryness, and because of my colouring was not a good candidate for a peel. I was very frustrated."

At the same time, Nicole, who was in college, was modeling and developed adult acne. Their personal makeup challenges led the mother-daughter team to develop a foundation to meet their own high standards: no known irritants; superior, long-lasting coverage; colour that stays true; appropriate and beneficial for all ages and skin types (Kathy and Nicole have very different skin complexions). The result, La Bella Donna Loose Mineral Foundation, launched in 1994, has made them pioneers in the mineral makeup movement.

La Bella Donna

Kathy and Nichole Tracy

Tuesday, August 23, 2011