Fred Connors Talks About his Exciting new Project: FRED. beauty

Fred Connors is a busy man. Besides being X-Weighted’s self esteem expert, he runs a successful salon, spa and gallery space in Halifax, NS, and is very active in his local community. His latest venture is one that aims to make beauty quick and easy for women everywhere, and he wanted to tell X-Weighted fans all about it…

I have always been fascinated with beauty. Growing up in a predominantly female household, I had many amazing women to look up to and from a very young age, I was amazed at how the simple application of lipstick and eye-liner could transform my mother from a housewife to a goddess.

I have worked in the beauty industry for over 25 years as a clothing designer, hairstylist, fashion photographer, make-up artist and entrepreneur. My start in the make-up industry happened as a result of photographing my own clothing line, Fritsa.

Being behind the lens, and being the creator of the clothing and hairstyles, it seemed natural for me to experiment with cosmetics to complete my own signature looks. After doing make-up for my own fashion photography for 2 years, I was asked to work with other cosmetic labels, such as Chanel, as a guest artist at their cosmetic counter.

Working in the beauty industry for 25 years, I have developed a keen understanding that beauty is not an outfit that you put on but how you feel and not just the image that you project.

Motivated to Create his own Products

Having worked with "X-Weighted" and traveling across Canada with the largest make-up kit one could imagine, I found myself using my favourite shades of bronzers, shadows and lipsticks on all of the women I worked with for the reveal. By using all of the shades in slightly different ways, I noticed I was using my favourite 10 products over and over again.

I then realized that by using such a small amount of make-up to make so many different women look beautiful, there was the possibility of developing a line of cosmetics that was simplified and uncomplicated, allowing women to look and feel beautiful using 4 products.

When I opened my flagship store, FRED., in 2004, I wanted to create a luxury beauty destination, able to respond to the needs of all of my clients by offering the best beauty products available. Unable to secure a luxury cosmetic brand for retail at FRED., I decided the time was right to develop my own collection of cosmetics.

Developed in NYC, FRED. beauty is based on the idea that beauty is uncomplicated, universal and available to everybody. By putting together a collection of limited shades that are more neutral allows for all FRED. beauty customers to visit the counter, experience the collection and not be daunted by the dozens of colours they would never wear.

Mineral Perfection

All of the products are mineral based, infused with vitamins and anti-oxidants, hypo-allergenic and nourishing for the skin. The formulations are light and easy to use with the promise that with 4 products in 3 minutes, you will be as beautiful as you always imagined. The product line includes:

- Tinted moisturizer with SPF
mineral powders and shimmering powders
bronzers
- 3 lipstick formulations offering long-lasting wear, beautiful colour and moisture to the lips
- Eyeshadows with matte and slight radiant textures
- Eyeliner, lipliner, lip glosses, concealers and more.

You can check out the full line of FRED. beauty products here.