BELLEAIR BLUFFS - After surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her face, Carol Cherry was left with a 4-inch scar on her right cheek and wondered what she was going to do about it.
"I was happy to be alive, but I wanted to find a way to cover the scar," she said.
"One afternoon, I was standing at the cosmetic counter at Neiman Marcus and a girl there gave me a card with the name Kelly Machbitz and said this woman does camouflage makeup."
"I went to her, and she taught me how to hide the scar with just a little bit of makeup," Cherry said. "It was wonderful."
Cherry, a 65-year-old grandmother and Tampa resident, said it has been a year now and, although the scar has become less distinct, she still uses the concealer.
Machbitz, who lives in Clearwater, has expanded her skin care specialties to include the Merle Norman studio in the Plaza shopping center in Belleair Bluffs. She bought the business earlier this year and has enlarged the 1,000-square-foot studio to include a variety of facials that range from $40 to $150, microdermabrasion for $150, eyebrow and eyelash tinting for $20 and professional makeup for models, brides, television and photographs starting at $35. The treatment room is equipped with an ErgoWave massage table that uses motorized rollers on the back.
The store carries all the Merle Norman products, as well as a selection of gifts, ranging from travel bags to crystal perfume bottles. The purchase and expansion of the business took an investment of $250,000.
Before taking on the beauty business full-time, Machbitz was a national sales account manager for a medical packaging company and a principal in a consulting business that specialized in national and international mergers, acquisitions and consolidations in the health care marketplace. She also has modeled and served as fashion coordinator for Doncaster Fashions, a national women's wear design, manufacturer and retail chain.
As a certified image consultant Machbitz does color analysis, figure evaluation, wardrobe and style assessment, personal shopping, etiquette and deportment. Color analysis and digital figure evaluation are each $150. Wardrobe/style assessment is $250 and coaching, personal shopping, interview coaching and business and social etiquette coaching start at $95 an hour.
For her work with Carol Cherry, Machbitz had special training in camouflage and paramedical makeup for surgical scars, birthmarks, pigment loss, varicose veins and other skin problems.
Erin Heiden of Clearwater went to Machbitz for advice about her appearance.
A 34-year-old financial adviser, she wanted Machbitz' services as an image consultant to help her look and dress more professionally.
"I crunch numbers for a living, and I don't want to have to spend a lot of time on myself - I'm not interested in hair and makeup as a full-time job," Heiden said.
After assessing Heiden's colors and wardrobe, the women went shopping for new outfits.
"I definitely look more professional," Heiden said. "My clothes are appropriate and match how I feel about myself and my job. Now I stay away from certain colors and select skirt lengths and jackets that are better for me.
"I'm so glad there is somebody out there that could help handle this part of my life."
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio
100 N Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs
Image consulting and skin care services
One full-time esthetician and three part-time beauty advisers
Color analysis and digital figure evaluation are each $150. Wardrobe/style assessment is $250 and coaching, personal shopping, interview coaching and business and social etiquette coaching start at $95 an hour.
