Meet Sade’ Allen

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sade’ Allen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sade’, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

This is funny because I remember in my 20s. I would always ask myself. What is my purpose? I experienced the death of friends at a very early age. As early as 15 years old, one of my classmates was gunned down, tragically. I remember going to the funeral, sad and confused, wondering what if this were me?
As life progressed, and I made it to college this question was highlighted in my mind, once again. I was 19 joining the corporate world and going to school full-time. I was a product of a single-mother household and simply had to work because my mom couldn’t afford to take care of my college expenses. My peers were graduating with their college degrees and I was simply still trying to figure it out, what is my purpose? I ended up getting my associates degree and took a break from school and worked. However I would quickly get bored with the roles moved around jobs and different departments. I would talks with God and say “this is boring. This can’t be my life. What is my purpose?”

I started doing my makeup when I was in high school modeling for Denise Carol Models and Talent agency. My mom made me learn how to do my makeup in case I was ever at a job or shoot and didn’t have an artist there to help me. Funny thing is I hated makeup when I was in high school and only wore it for a job. Now in college, I was asked to do my friends makeup for various things like outings or special events. I played around with it not taking it serious for years. People always told me “You should do make-up.” “ You’re really good and passionate about it”, but I always brushed it off.

It wasn’t until I was pregnant at 26, I realized, working 60 hours in corporate America to provide for my son only to hardly see him, and miss school functions and sports events wasn’t an option for me. I decided to pursue makeup since it was something I enjoyed doing and it could create the schedule for me to be a present mom.

I remember having a very intimate conversation with God and saying to God, “if this is your will for me to open doors for me that only you can open so I know that it’s you and not me that’s controlling this thing”. Since then, God has been blowing my mind.

I am celebrating my 10th birthday in business next month, October.
In these last 10 years, I have taken some losses, but many wins. I received my aesthetic license, opened two storefront businesses, completed dozens of weddings, and built a solid clientele.

When I first started this journey, I thought that I would be doing makeup to make people feel pretty, to have fun, and to have the flexibility of raising my son. But the last few years have taught me that this is a ministry. Not only for others but for myself. My job has gotten me through many times and situations. I would be going through it and still pour into my clients while I’m hurting on the inside. I allow God to use me as a vessel minister to his people by just being myself.

I have been told I’m so easy to talk to, relatable, and transparent, and that my light shines bright. Even though I don’t know how long I’m going to be in the beauty industry I do know whatever my next business will be I will continue creating safe spaces for people.

I am grateful and blessed to find my purpose through life experiences, trial and error, self-patience, and building an intimate relationship with GOD.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a mom of three beautiful, respectful, intelligent kids. One of my main reasons for being an entrepreneur was the freedom of time that I would have to spend with them. In a sense it allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and just run the business. I entered in the industry only doing makeup. However, I decided to become an aesthetician so I could increase my revenue. I wanted to open a spa, offering all the services that I provided and bringing in other stylist to form a dream team. I was successful in doing this from 2021 to 2023. But then we hit a bit of an economic crisis and business declined. I kept hearing God say, “Jack of trades and master of none”. In January 2024 ,I decided, to rebrand my business and solely focus on bridal makeup.

I realized last year that I was suffering from impostor syndrome and wanted to overcome it. Because I am the first person in my family to be an entrepreneur and business owner. I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. I did not have an immediate resource to help me and guide me along the way a lot of it was trial and error. Even though everything I say that I wanted to do I accomplish once I accomplished it. I still did not believe that I deserved it. So last year I have been working Internally and healing.

I am excited for the pivot in my business to solely focus on bridal and special event makeup. I look forward to future speaking engagements and mentoring women.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three important areas of knowledge that I feel have been the most impactful, all my journey all the following.

Having a relationship with God or a higher power. This helps establish your core principles, values, and guidelines. It keeps you grounded, and motivated. When you are walking with God, you have crazy faith and that Is needed to run a business.

Set boundaries! In business, sometimes you have people that don’t respect your time, business, rules, or prices. We have to learn to believe in ourselves enough to stand on our boundaries. Not all customers will be for us and it’s OK not be everybody’s cup of tea.

Always be a student. This is important because things are changing every day and the beauty industry and it’s important to keep up with the times and trends. I had to realize that just because I didn’t know something and needed to get additional training that doesn’t make me credible for the job.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

The biggest area of growth or improvement that I have had in the past 12 months it’s getting over imposter syndrome.
Getting over the fact that even though I was the first entrepreneur/business owner in my family with no help, I am successful l
I was getting so consumed by social media and everyone’s glorified successes that I competed with myself to try to achieve those things. However, I had an epiphany that no matter what my bank account looks like I’m still living my dream. I’m fully present in my kids lives and activities and, that was my original reason for going into the entrepreneur role 10 years ago.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: LuvLooksBeauty_Jax
• Facebook: Luv Looks Beauty Spa

Image Credits

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