Welcome back to The Confidence Lounge and welcome to the return of something powerful.

Last year, I released a raw experiment of an idea.

A special edition podcast series that put the spotlight on the real women that power the Beauty Industry.

This wasn't about celebrities, influencers, or glam press headlines but instead spotlighted the women who actually make beauty happen.

No filters. No fluff. Just real careers. Real confidence.

Real women who build the products, movements, communities, and brands we all love.

That little experiment took off.

It traveled to 40+ countries, became one of our top podcast series of all time, and to this day, it’s still being shared by women saying: “This is what we needed.”

So we’re bringing Faces Behind Beauty back and this year, it is bigger, deeper, realer, and raw-er.

In this series - we’re spotlighting women who:

💄build movements, not just products

💋 turn community into brand loyalty

⚡innovate without the spotlight

🧠face emotional & professional hurdles nobody talks about publicly

We’re talking:

🧠 founders who dared to dream…and lost it all

💼 corporate leaders who paved unseen paths

📈 pivots, reinventions, layoffs, comebacks

💄artistry, manufacturing, innovation, creation

🎨brand storytelling + creative direction

🤝diversity, inclusion, advocacy, representation

💼entrepreneurship and growth inside billion-dollar brands

(and yes… maybe some faces tied to Beauty Career Lab LIVE 👀)

👉 And even if you’re not in beauty?

These episodes will hit you. Because they’re not just career stories — they’re stories about ambition, identity, burnout, reinvention, and building a life + career you’re proud of.

This series is for any woman who’s ever wanted more.

Today, we’re kicking off Season 2 with a surprising firstguest.

In a world where women build billion-dollar beautyempires and rarely get credit…

One woman decided the most powerful thing we could build isn’t a product…but ourselves.

From corporate labs to confidence coaching…

From launching lipsticks to launching leaders…

From product development to personal development…

This is the story of a woman who quit the meeting room…to build a movement.

🎬 Spoiler: it’s me.

Let’s talk about how I became the confidence behind the beauty industry.

Press play to hear how I went from developing products to developing people and how I walked away from my dream job doing Product Development at Estee Lauder to lead a confidence revolution.

LINKS:

Want to Grow Your Beauty Career with Me? Join the Beauty Career Accelerator - the only group program designed to advance women's careers in beauty.

Join the waitlist here to learn more about our upcoming enrollment: https://www.soulmakeup.com/bcawaitlist

Want to meet in person to do career development live? That is exactly what we are doing on January 24th at Beauty Career Lab LIVE.

Coach With Me — Transform how you lead, speak, and succeed: https://www.soulmakeup.com/coaching
Book Me to Speak — Give your team confidence they can feel: https://www.soulmakeup.com/speaking
Get to Know My World — The woman behind the movement: https://www.soulmakeup.com/aboutelyse

And make sure to connect with me on LinkedIn HERE for daily confidence building tips to help you advance your beauty career without burning out.

🎧 If This Episode Moves You - Rate + Review the Podcast

It helps amplify women’s voices and brings visibility to the ones who build beauty.
💬 Share with Your Network

If this conversation speaks to you, send it to women in your life beauty industry or not.

The more we share, the more we rise, together.

Because confidence isn’t curated. It’s claimed.

Tell me if this sounds like you...

You’ve been rehearsing what to say all day for this event.

You’re in the shower thinking, “Okay… if she says this, I’ll reply with that.”

You’re in the car worrying, “Please don’t let it be awkward.”

You walk in hoping no one can see how nervous you feel.

You smile too hard.

You grip your drink too tight.

You pray you don’t say anything cringe.

You wonder if everyone else already knows each other.

You start overthinking EVERY word that comes out of your mouth.

And the whole time you’re thinking…

Why does this feel so icky?

Why can’t I just be myself here?

Why does everyone else look so confident?”

If this is you -

I want you to exhale.

Because nothing is wrong with you.

You’re not socially awkward.

You’re not bad at networking.

You’re not “too quiet” or “too much.”

You’ve just never been taught how to network in a way that feels safe, authentic, and REAL.

And that is exactly why I created this episode.

To teach you how to walk into any room without dimming yourself, without forcing conversation, and without giving yourself the emotional ick.

Inside this episode, I’m breaking down:

⚡️ Why networking feels so unnatural for so many women

⚡️ What your brain + body are doing that make it feel awkward

⚡️ How to instantly shift your energy so connection feels EASY

⚡️ Body language cues that build trust (without trying hard)

⚡️ 5 science-backed tips to network without being fake

⚡️ How to leave a room feeling expanded, not drained

If you’ve ever left a networking event replaying everything you said…
If you’ve ever stood in a corner pretending to text…
If you’ve ever felt invisible OR like you were “performing”…

This episode is for YOU.

You’re going to feel SO seen, SO understood, and SO much more confident by the time it’s over.

Because here’s the truth: Being a good networker isn’t a personality trait - it’s a skill.

And once you learn the right way to do it?

It becomes one of your biggest success superpowers.

Let's get into it...

LINKS:

Connect with on LinkedIn me ⁠HERE⁠

Get your Beauty Career Lab LIVE tickets ⁠HERE⁠

Visit my website HERE

Most women in don’t realize this…
💡 Your company is already budgeting for YOUR growth.
Coaching, workshops, conferences - YES, they can be covered.

If you’ve ever held yourself back because of cost - I want you to hear this:

📌 There is money on the table for your development.
📌 It’s in most cases a tax-deductible investment for your employer.
📌 There are group rates to bring your whole team.
📌 You just need to know how to ask.

Inside this episode, I break down:
✨ Why companies WANT to invest in you
✨ The hidden budget most people don’t know about
✨ How to position your request to get a YES
✨ Exact language to use with your manager
✨ Why it’s more powerful to grow as a team
Because when women get access to the right support →
confidence rises, careers accelerate, and companies evolve.

If you’ve been waiting for “permission”…Here it is.

Your next level is already funded.

⚡️You just have to claim it⚡️

Tune in & make sure to send this to a friend who needs to hear it.

LINKS:

Get resources to get your career development costs covered by sending me a message on LinkedIn - Connect with me HERE

Get your Beauty Career Lab LIVE tickets HERE

Message me the word "DEVELOPMENT" on LinkedIn to get an exclusive group rate to sponsor your team to attend Beauty Career Lab LIVE

This week inside The Confidence Lounge, I’m introducing you to something I call The Readiness Trap.

It’s that quiet belief that one day, there’s going to be a magical moment when you finally feel ready to...

• Launch the thing...
• 
  

• Ask for the promotion...
• Speak up in the meeting...
• Take the leap you’ve been dreaming about.

But here’s the truth…
That feeling of readiness you’re waiting for?

It rarely comes.

And believing you need to feel ready first might actually be the biggest thing holding you back in your career.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

⚡️ What the Readiness Trap is (and how it shows up in your thoughts)

⚡️ Why this mindset quietly limits your success

⚡️ A simple formula to help you break free so you can finally move, even when you don’t feel ready

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect moment” to take your next step…

This episode is your moment.

LINKS:

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Get your tickets to Beauty Career Lab LIVE on 1/24

It seems like something small.

Something you think is helping you.

Something sitting right in front of you every single day…

That’s the very thing that’s quietly triggering your overwhelm.

• It’s why your brain is foggy.
• Why you feel scattered.
• Why you keep spinning your wheels even when you’re “doing all the things.”

But what exactly is this sneaky little thing fueling your overwhelm?

I am about to tell you.

In this quick-power episode, I’m breaking down:⚡️ The sneaky trigger that’s keeping ambitious women stuck

⚡️ The science behind why it sends your nervous system into overdrive

⚡️ The simple shift that helps you feel calm, clear, and wildly productive again.

🎧 Listen now and find out what’s really behind that mountain of overwhelm and how to take your power back.

LINKS:

⁠Connect with me on LinkedIn⁠

⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠

⁠Visit my website⁠

Have you ever hit a major milestone and immediately downplayed it?

Got praised at work and brushed it off like it was nothing?

Or scrolled through LinkedIn and thought, “I’m so behind,” even when you’re actually crushing it?

That, my friend, is career dysmorphia - a powerful cognitive distortion that makes even the most accomplished women minimize their wins and doubt their worth.

In this episode I’m breaking down:

⚡ What career dysmorphia is and how it quietly erodes your confidence

🧠 How cognitive distortions exaggerate the negatives and shrink your wins

📱 Why comparison culture fuels feelings of “I’m behind”

💬 The subtle signs (like rejecting praise or chronic self-doubt) you might be missing

🚀 And the strategies to finally see your success clearly again

Because when you start seeing yourself accurately, everything changes - your confidence, your energy, and your opportunities.

Chapters:

00:00 — Understanding Career Dysmorphia

09:34 — Signs and Symptoms of Career Dysmorphia

20:29 — Overcoming Career Dysmorphia

LINKS:

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Have you ever walked into a room and felt everyone’s energy shift? The air changes. People sit up straighter. Heads turn.

That’s not luck. That’s not charisma you’re born with.
That’s presence and it’s 100% learnable.

Every week, my clients ask me, “Elyse, what do I do when the nerves hit before an interview or presentation?”
Their voice shakes, their heart races, their mind goes blank and they end up shrinking in moments that are supposed to define them.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it actually means to command a room and how the world’s most magnetic women (think Beyoncé, Oprah, Michelle Obama) use intention, energy, and science-backed strategies to turn nerves into authority.

If you’ve ever wished you could walk into any room and have people feel your presence before you even speak - this episode is your guide.

Hit play to learn:

⚡Why presence matters more than perfection

⚡What science reveals about the body-confidence connection

⚡How small shifts in energy can change how every room receives you

Because presence isn’t about doing more - it’s about being more intentional.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of Presence

07:09 Science Behind Commanding a Room

14:42 Practical Tips for Presence

You’ve made it to Day 3 of the Beauty Career Lab Primer Series and this is where everything comes together.

(and remember - even if you don't work in beauty, this still applies to you)

Now that you’ve learned how to spot your limiting beliefs and upgrade them, it’s time to put it all into action.

Today’s episode is all about momentum - how to move your career forward with clarity, confidence, and a mindset that actually supports the results you’ve been waiting for.

I’ll walk you through:
⚡️ Why success is determined more by your mindset than your strategy
⚡️ How to identify the version of yourself you’re becoming (and step into her now)
⚡️ The role fear plays in your growth and how to confront it with confidence
⚡️ How to set a “mental GPS” to guide your career in the direction you want
⚡️ Why future-focused thoughts are the secret to unlocking opportunities

This episode is your turning point - the moment you stop waiting to feel ready and start choosing the identity, thoughts, and mindset that move you toward the career you truly want.

🎧 Let’s lock in your mental GPS and move forward with unstoppable clarity and confidence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mindset for Career Advancement

01:36 The Importance of Identity in Career Success

05:27 Shifting Your Mindset: From Fear to Confidence

09:47 Programming Your Mental GPS for Success

LINKS:

⁠JOIN US FOR BEAUTY CAREER LAB LIVE ON 1/24⁠

⁠WATCH THE FULL PRIMER ON LINKEDIN⁠

⁠MESSAGE ME ON LINKEDIN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS⁠

Welcome to day 2 of our Beauty Career Lab Primer series where I am teaching you how to think like you are already qualified.

I had to bring this episode to you because this concept was a game-changer for so many women in who I have worked with over the years.

Today, I’m breaking down The Thought Closet Effect - a way of thinking that limits your career growth without you even realizing it.

We’ll talk about how your brain is like a “thought closet,” packed with thoughts that don't feel good to wear and how to finally clean it out.

Even if you’re not in beauty, this one is for you because if you’ve ever rejected yourself before someone else could, doubted your qualifications, or convinced yourself you “aren’t ready”… you’ll hear yourself in this episode.

Here’s what you’ll take away today:

⚡️ Why mindset shifts are essential for career growth
⚡️ How to spot self-rejection when it sneaks in
⚡️ The “red, yellow, green light” thought model to reframe your thinking
⚡️ How ChatGPT can act as your "thought stylist" to help you rewrite limiting beliefs into empowering ones
⚡️ Why readiness is a decision, not a feeling

Think of this as a closet clean-out for your mind because the thoughts you choose to wear every day determine the career you create.

🎧 Let’s dig into your thought closet and start trying on some better beliefs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mindset Shifts

01:35 Understanding Red, Yellow, and Green Light Thoughts

03:22 Self-Rejection and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

04:40 The Thought Closet Effect Concept

08:09 Using ChatGPT for as your "Thought Stylist"

10:05 Action from Empowering Thoughts

LINKS:

⁠JOIN US FOR BEAUTY CAREER LAB LIVE ON 1/24⁠

⁠WATCH THE FULL PRIMER ON LINKEDIN⁠

⁠MESSAGE ME ON LINKEDIN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS⁠

Welcome to a special 3-day Beauty Career Lab Primer Series here on The Confidence Lounge!

Over the next three episodes, I’m giving you the exact tools I use with my clients to shift their mindset, unlock confidence, and move their careers forward.

I had to share this with you because it was so powerful.

Even if you’re not in the beauty industry - don’t sleep on this series.

These lessons apply to any ambitious woman who’s ready to stop letting self-doubt and limiting beliefs run the show.

In Day 1, we’re talking about the beliefs that are holding you back from landing the roles, promotions, and opportunities you deserve.

Here’s what you’ll take away from today’s episode:
⚡️ Your mindset is 80% of the battle in your career
⚡️ How your brain actually works (and how it’s been blocking you)
⚡️ Why negative thoughts are like mental stop signs—and how to rewire them
⚡️ How to shift your beliefs so you can create new results with confidence

This is about taking back control of your thoughts so you can move forward with power, clarity, and purpose.

🎧 Press play and let’s get started.

Chapters

01:22 Understanding Mindset and how it relates to your Career

03:32 The Science of the Brain and Why You Are NOT Wired For Success

05:14 The Reticular Activating System Explained (and why you need to know how to use this filter)

09:49 Identifying and Overcoming Mental Blocks

12:35 The Power of Green Light Thoughts

16:30 Mindset Study and Action Steps

LINKS:

JOIN US FOR BEAUTY CAREER LAB LIVE ON 1/24

WATCH THE FULL PRIMER ON LINKEDIN

MESSAGE ME ON LINKEDIN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS