Millburn-Short Hills Magazine May 2020 | Page 26

beauty private use only, but after employees and clients told her they thought there would be demand for it as a retail product, Williams started making it for public consumption. KEEPING COMMUNITY CLOSE Williams created a Facebook group for Erin’s Faces, and actively answers questions posed on it. “We have ahuge network ofwomen, and they’re so connected in the Facebook group and help each other so much,” she says. Lea Blackburn, of Maplewood, says she loves Erin’s Faces, not only because of its clean products but because of Williams. Some of Blackburn’s favorite products are the radiant firming concealer, the rose quench serum and the mosquito/tick repellent “Erin is unrelentingly authentic, completely accessible and refreshingly transparent with her customers about every decision she makes,” Blackburn says, adding that she’s learned a lot on the Facebook page. Josephine Rose Roberst, of South Orange says she hasn’t forgotten what her first-ever purchase from Erin’s Faces was —Rose Water Tonic — and uses Williams’ products exclusively. Wiliams’ Tamanu Oil has helped heal her adult acne and she keeps the tinted lip balms in all kinds of places. “I love all things roses but find most other rose products are just rose fragrance,” Roberts says. “Erin’s Rose Water is the real deal and every spritz gives me the most luxurious feeling inside.” After receiving an overwhelming response to a blog post she made on her website asking “Am Itoo heavy to run a beauty company?”, Williams decided to launch a podcast in the future called Beauty Full Stories with Erin’s Faces. She points out that many of the people who sell beauty products to people are models or celebrities. “[I’m a] curvy redhead from Texas, and I don’t look like those people,” Williams says. “Is that OK? Isthat not OK, and why do ONE WITH NATURE (Top) Erin Williams, owner of Erin’s Faces in Millburn, enjoys some time outdoors; (above) Peptide Eye Cream is one of the many all-natural beauty products the company offers. I feel that way? What’s my baggage that makes me feel like I’m not worthy of that?” In the post, Williams spoke about her weight and problems with acneprone skin, but said she wasn’t going to let that stop her. “In the end, I’m choosing not to listen to those voices anymore that are saying I should look, should say, should sound a certain way,” she says. “I am choosing to want to always be better, but to embrace who Iamand where Iam now. And that’s enough.” The podcast will feature her clients’ stories and discuss weight, race, hyper-pigmentation, acne, having children, losing them and other realworld topics. “I like shining a light on someone else, because I think everyone’s story will resonate on a different level,” Williams says. “The hope is to show we are not alone interms of beauty or self-image.” ■ COURTESY OF RIN’S FACES 24 MAY 2020 MILLBURN &SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE