Women In Wellness: Renata Helfman Of Lipstick Angels On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Wanda Malhotra

…It’s clear that battling an illness like cancer can push self-care to the sidelines, making it feel less like a priority and more like a luxury you can’t afford. That’s where the essence of what we do at Lipstick Angels truly shines. Imagine us as your personal cheerleading squad, standing by not just to encourage you but to provide the support and inspiration you need during such trying times. We firmly believe in the power of a supportive community — because, let’s face it, overcoming such obstacles requires more than just individual effort; it takes a village…

Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Renata Helfman.

Renata Helfman, a celebrity makeup artist for 15 years, founded Lipstick Angels in 2012, aiming to provide beauty and compassion to cancer patients. As its Founder, she utilizes her experience to offer support services that alleviate the emotional and physical toll of cancer treatment. Her extensive background encompasses entrepreneurship, clean beauty advocacy, and strategic leadership in brand and volunteer management, underscoring her commitment to enhancing wellness through clean beauty and supportive care.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I first started my career as a freelance makeup artist in Hollywood. When my grandmother had cancer, I was one of her caregivers. The support and love as a granddaughter were most important but it didn’t hurt that I

had the expertise to help her with the physical side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. When my grandma passed, I really wanted to extend my gift to others going through treatment and went on the hunt

for an organization I could join. I could not find one, so with that Lipstick Angels was born.

Lipstick Angels is a nationwide nonprofit committed to delivering personalized, oncology-sensitive beauty, skincare, and wellness services to those battling cancer. We aim to carve out a moment of pampering for every individual, fostering empowerment and happiness through vital self-care rituals. Our services are provided in participating hospitals and clinics during treatment sessions, or remotely, allowing patients to experience them from the comfort and privacy of their homes. In the last decade, we’ve reached over 25,000 patients and have introduced our programs in numerous hospitals and cancer support centers throughout the U.S. Our mission is to continue growing and bring the unique support Lipstick Angels offers to even more hospitals and cancer centers nationwide.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

I go back to a patient I was working with many years ago. She was deep into her treatment and had lost all

her hair, eyebrows, etc. It took me a bit of time for her to allow me to take care of her. This is very common

and understandable. When she was finally ready to do full treatment — makeup, color, brows etc. — she looked in the mirror in tears and said,“Today I will go into my son’s school and get him instead of hiding in my car.” I learned in that moment that what Lipstick Angels does trickles down to the whole family. I have always held a mental picture of that little boy’s face and what it must have felt like to see his mom proudly and bravely walk into school and get him.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t really use the word ‘mistake’ anymore. I see everything as a lesson, part of the journey. It might sound a bit like a cliché, but it truly is one of my guiding thoughts. When I was new at starting a nonprofit, I had a hard time choosing the right people for my board of directors because I was trying to do too much at once. The big lesson for me was to always choose people who really care about what we’re doing and aren’t there for other reasons. This helped me focus on what truly matters, making our mission stronger.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

It’s clear that battling an illness like cancer can push self-care to the sidelines, making it feel less like a priority and more like a luxury you can’t afford. That’s where the essence of what we do at Lipstick Angels truly shines. Imagine us as your personal cheerleading squad, standing by not just to encourage you but to provide the support and inspiration you need during such trying times. We firmly believe in the power of a supportive community — because, let’s face it, overcoming such obstacles requires more than just individual effort; it takes a village.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?

1. Clean beauty — Embracing clean beauty means eliminating harmful toxins from products we use daily. It has been a healthier choice for myself but also for the environment.
2. Exercise — The key is to find a form of exercise that brings you joy rather than feeling like an obligation.
3. Nature — Connecting with the earth is so grounding. My personal escape is gardening. With each seed planted, I find peace and a connection to the earth that is incredibly grounding. Watching something grow because of your care and effort is a joyful and fulfilling experience that reminds me of life’s simple pleasures.
4. Having a pet or loving a friend — There’s nothing like the unconditional love of an animal, and they need us too. Pets remind us we’re never alone, and the bond shared is a source of healing and comfort.
5. LOVE — Embracing love in all its forms, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or self-love, is crucial. Each type of love enriches our lives in unique ways.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Education and support around food in our country is so vital. Obesity, mental health and of course food insecurity happening right in our back yard is a travesty.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Looking back, it’s not so much about what I wish I’d been told, but more about the advice I received and didn’t follow. We often need to experience things for ourselves to really learn from them. Here are a few key insights I overlooked at first:

• You’re going to have to fire people and it is not easy.
• Nobody will care as much as you do and you can’t expect them to.
• Not everyone has the best intentions, even in the world of charitable causes.
• Without change, business cannot evolve.
• People will constantly let you down and that is ok. It’s your job to get back up.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

As an animal lover and vegetarian, the issue that resonates with me the most is the fight against factory farming and the overall treatment of animals. The lack of education about, and the inhumane treatment of animals are, in my view, among the greatest tragedies facing mankind.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

You can visit our website at lipstickangels.org or follow us on Instagram at @lipstickangels.

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.