Niadele
“What I treasure about Boone is that I get to just come as I am,” the incredible Laura Kaufman of Niadele Makeup told boonies, “I feel that's what the mountains invite us to do is come as we are. I don't feel a pressure to always have a face on, there is love and permission here to just be.” Laura came to The High Country in 2001 from Sugar Creek, OH with her then boyfriend, now husband Doug, a composer and audio professional at Samaritan's Purse. “We wrote music together, I also have a passion for music. I’ve been singing and songwriting since 13. I would travel to sing wherever anyone would have me.” But eventually the exciting yet chaotic life of a traveling musician, got tricky when Laura and Doug had their two daughters. Then in 2012 Laura began to experience an influx of skin issues despite investing heavily in skincare, “I was allergic to most things so I decided to go off makeup for a year. But in the meantime, I was making my own oatmeal facials, coming up with my own routine and my mom just casually said “you like making your own lotion and face masks, why don't you try making your own makeup?” When she said that, it was like a lightbulb went off!” And from there, the rest is history. Laura began researching and experimenting with products until September of 2015, when she had the first official small batch of Niadele natural and handcrafted cosmetics. But this year, the entire cosmetics industry has encountered a unique dilemma, Covid-19. “I miss being able to go in and see Olivia at Be Natural Market or going to Bluebird Exchange and seeing my friends there. We usually get together and we can't so I'm missing that.” Luckily, “people are still ordering and I’m so touched,” Laura said, but it’s still not easy. Afterall, “I love touching people. I know that sounds weird but I’m a hugger, I’m a hand holder and I just love to love people. Putting someone's hair behind their ear, teaching people how to apply their makeup, listening to their stories and having that connection. Especially when it clicks for someone and they find “oh my goodness this will work for me”, that makes my heart so happy when I’m helping someone; it fills my tank.”