Daily Inspiration: Meet Shakyra Simpson-Thomas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakyra Simpson-Thomas.

Hi Shakyra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Greetings. My name is Shakyra Simpson-Thomas and I am the Owner of LoveAngel Cosmetics, LLC and the Co-owner of Snatch and Contour Body Wear, LLC. I am also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and a chartering member of Gamma Alpha Chi Zeta Chapter. After relocating to Texas from New Jersey, I took an interest in makeup and began to teach myself how to properly apply the products, which I had plenty of time to do since I did not know anyone other than my mother in Texas. As I adapted to my new home, I continued to grow in my craft, I but did not take it seriously. As I began to establish roots, I slowly started teaching friends how to apply makeup and worked as a makeup artist upon request. Soon after, I began my corporate career and pushed my love for makeup to the backburner. My career in healthcare compliance became my focus.

As I accelerated in my career, I maintained a passion for not only cosmetics but for skincare. Working in the corporate space, I wore makeup daily to the office. In an effort to ensure that my skin remained healthy, I invested in facials and other healthy skin care practices. As I became more invested in my skincare routine and cosmetic application, I started to review and research the ingredients in some of the products that I used and realized that my actions were counterproductive. While my skincare routine consisted of healthy ingredients, my cosmetic products did not. As a result, I began to reevaluate the products that I used on a daily basis.

One morning, I woke up and had an epiphany. It felt as if someone tapped me on the shoulder and said this is the day that you start your own business. It felt awkward and the idea came out of nowhere, so I pushed the thought aside and went about my day. Upon arriving at the office that day, I went about my usual day, or so I thought, and completed the tasks in the office. While on my lunch break, I started doing some research on starting a cosmetic line made solely from healthy ingredients, as the thought was still heavy on my mind. The search was almost too easy. It felt as if the stars were aligning in my favor. Before the end of the workday, I had not only identified a cosmetics lab, but the ingredients were everything that I was looking for in cosmetic products. All of the ingredients were vegan or vegetarian, cruelty-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic, and sulfate-free. A majority of the products were even gluten-free. I was ecstatic. That day, I contacted the lab and a business was formed. My epiphany had come to fruition.

In May 2019, LoveAngel Cosmetics was formed. Today, LoveAngel Cosmetics offers a full cosmetic line and has released skincare products as well. Our promise to our customers is that all products will be healthy. Each customer will be treating their skin while they wear their glam. Our motto is: Because you’re pulchritudinous. We mean each word. Each customer is beautiful in their own way. We started out as an online-only business, but in October 2021, LoveAngel Cosmetics and its sister company Snatch and Contour Body Wear will be in a brick-and-mortar in Hutto, Texas. Our customers will now have the ability to shop online or to stop in and shop with us in person. We cannot wait to meet as many of our customers and members of our community as possible.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road, but every bump in the road has been worth it. Just as LoveAngel Cosmetics began to gain traction and interact with the community through various vending events, the pandemic hit. In-person events were a great way for us to showcase our products and allow people to touch products prior to purchase. We had an opportunity to interact and understand our customers’ needs. The personalization of each interaction was lost when we could no longer meet members of the community. Additionally, everyone wore masks and started staying home, which reduced the need for makeup, especially from a brand that they have barely heard of. It has been a struggle to get back in front of our ideal customer.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For the last 11 years, I have worked in the healthcare compliance field. I have worked for large health plans supporting the Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial lines of business. I have worked in various areas of the healthcare insurance field such as vision, mental health, and acute care. I have lead in the implementation of compliance, privacy, and fraud, waste, and abuse departments, as well in the development and implementation of full compliance programs. I currently work as a healthcare compliance consultant for an international organization. I am proud of my growth in my career and how quickly I was able to accelerate in my roles. I have led some of the best teams of compliance professionals and successfully supported each organization that I have worked for to ensure compliance not only for the organization but for the members of the health plans.

I’m proud of not only my success in my career, but in my education. While working full-time in the corporate world, I also established LoveAngel Cosmetics, completed my second master’s degree, established Snatch and Contour, and I am nearing the end of my doctoral journey.

What sets me apart from others in my career field is that I have in-depth knowledge of the various lines of business. I have been able to lead organizations in regulatory compliance, corporate compliance, maintain the privacy office, and establish and maintain the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Department. I not only have the working experience in my career field, but the education to support it.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Since moving to the Austin area, I have continuously grown. I love the doors and opportunities that have opened for me since I’ve been here. What I like the least about the city is not having the opportunity to meet more people. I get out to socialize as often as possible, but still not enough time in the day to mingle with everyone.

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@loveangelcosmetics.com
• Website: www.loveangelcosmetics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveangelcosmetics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveAngelCosmetics
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoveAngelMakeUp