Rising Stars: Meet Anna Warner-Mayes of ROCHESTER HILLS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Warner-Mayes.

Hi Anna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Every woman’s life takes a different path; mother, daughter, sister, friend. I am all of these, plus I have cancer. This has been my journey for over 10 years, and the fight is real. I am a fighter.

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A lot has changed for me in the past decade, but what has not is my relationship with lipstick. I have always loved it, and because of my theater experience I learned about the transformative power of color at a young age.
Cancer has always colored my moods and lipstick has helped me communicate them.

For years I have dreamed of creating a great product that would connect people not only to my story, but to the power of their own. Part of that dream has been to find a way to give back in a tangible way to cancer fighters and survivors. I discovered that beauty comes from story and that lipstick can be your expression. Each color I’ve chosen communicates a mood or a feeling – no words necessary. I started The Lipstick Journey after my 4th diagnosis with cancer, this time being Stage 4 metastatic and it has brought me great joy and brings me life.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Since I had no background in entrepreneurship or even the cosmetic industry (except for buying many lipsticks from retail stores), it was and still is a steep learning curve. I had to find a cosmetic chemist and manufacturer without knowing where to start. Thankfully, Google sent me on a path and helped me find both. The first year of business was a whirlwind; I said yes to every pop up, every networking group, and money flowed out on branding and branded items as well as social media awareness. Now in my 3rd year, I changed manufacturers, created a new color with a new cosmetic chemist, and had to find new suppliers of tubes, boxes, etc. There has definitely NOT been a time that things have run smoothly but I’ve loved learning and meeting all the cancer thrivers and connections along the way.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently maintain my full time job in the pharmaceutical industry as well as running The Lipstick Journey, which has slowly become my evening and weekend full time job although I do have help with branding and web content. I am best known for being a Stage 4 cancer fighter that stays vulnerable and gives back. I am most proud of being able to bring joy to other cancer thrivers through my company. In 2020 because of the pandemic, I set a goal of giving away 2020 lipsticks through my buy one/give one program a well as monetary and physical donations and I achieved that goal in only my 2nd year of business.

What sets me apart from others is my mission while fighting cancer myself. For every lipstick purchased, one gets donated and when someone purchases, I allow them to choose the recipient. This has been extremely rewarding and heartfelt as some of the recipients send me personal notes. In my mission to help thrivers know they don’t fight alone, I get the support from them knowing I also do not fight alone.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me means not only do I sell a quality product that I would buy myself, but also knowing I’m making a difference in the lives of others.

Pricing:

• Lipstick $22
• Book $12

Contact Info:

• Email: anna@thelipstickjourney.com
• Website: www.TheLipstickJourney.com
• Instagram: @thelipstickjourney

Image Credits
@aprilwashereblog (photo of me with lipstick) @alyssalefflerphoto (photo of me holding lipstick) Kayla Borgen -all other photos (@thecrimsonfoxcreative)