Meet Charis Michelsen | Fashion and Beauty Icon & Innovator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charis Michelsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charis, what do you want people to remember about you?

I hope my legacy will be that I’ve helped all people feel more confident and live their best life by providing products and tools that maximize their physical appeal and health. I created an artificial intelligence (AI) personal stylist that uses a science-based methodology to choose fashion and cosmetic products that are ideal for each individual and styles one better than a celebrity personal stylist, without making personal stylists obsolete. Additionally, I’ve written and self-illustrated the most comprehensive books on makeup application and personal grooming to date: Hollywood Beauty: The Art of Star Makeup and Grooming for Men: Dirty to Polished. They include original user-friendly beauty techniques, an A through Z all-life stage education, and individualized prescriptive solutions, so readers can effectively choose and use products to look their best. I’m also working on creating a luxury skincare line that’s effective in keeping skin beautiful without using any toxic or irritating ingredients.

I also hope to leave an example of kindness, integrity, fearlessness, and championing others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I have a passion for functional art or creativity with practical applications that enhances life or contributes to the world in a positive way. As a professional actress, which I’ve been since I was a teenager, I love stepping into another’s shoes, and empathizing with their life circumstances and making their goals mine, as I feel it’s important to understand others and exercise seeing life from another’s vantage point. I especially love being a part of productions with a positive purpose or that tell an important story that can expand one’s perspective. While on set to act in such award-winning films as Martin Scorsese’s Bringing out the Dead, Wonder Boys, High Art, and others, I loved watching makeup artists and stylists work, as it was akin to painting and sculpting, which I have a background in. I became inspired to get my professional makeup artist certification, and upon receiving it, I was offered a spokesperson position with one of the world’s top five luxury cosmetic lines. While speaking with people nationally and internationally, I discovered that most people didn’t know how to use cosmetic products to maximize their appearance, and wanted to know what they could do to look their best. I went to work to answer this question for everyone, using science, and created the Universal Beauty Standard System™. Using this system, I created my books Hollywood Beauty: The Art of Star Makeup and Grooming for Men: Dirty to Polished, so all can use cosmetics and easy-to-follow techniques to look their best. I also offer cosmetic consultation via my website. Not stopping there, I used the Universal Beauty Standard System™ to create an AI personal stylist, so each individual can be connected to fashion items that best suit them and be personally styled to always look their best. My AI Stylist also includes a Pro feature to make a professional personal stylist’s job exponentially easier. My AI Stylist will be housed on an online platform titled Fashion Style Beauty Network.

Having attended Parsons School of Design/The New School to become a fashion designer, which was interrupted by me being scouted by a photographer for Harper’s BAZAAR magazine to model, which led to my professional acting career, I was inspired to return to my roots. I created a patented signature pattern in twenty patented colors that includes a unique color technology that causes each color to operate like a neutral, to aid in compatibly with other fashion products. My pattern will be used with a line of conscious fashion products I’ve designed. I’ve also created a TV show, that I’ll host, titled Fashion Style Beauty, have written several screenplays, am producing a project that includes A-list talent, that I’ll be a featured actress in, and am the proud Co-Editor of the luxury publication EGW Global Magazine, where I’m greatly pleased to share helpful beauty and fashion tips.

What sets me apart from others is that I’ve created solutions to problems that have the capability of changing an individual’s life for the better and can help vendors of beauty and fashion products be more successful.

I’m extremely honored that much of my work has been acknowledged. I’ve been ranked number five out of the world’s top makeup artists and named the new face of the industry by L’amour Magazine, Vigour Magazine, and Roidx Magazine. I’ve been qualified as a beauty and fashion “icon” by Edith Mode Magazine and Pump Magazine, the “Martha Stewart of makeup” by Entrepreneurs Herald Magazine, a “Rising Star” by VoyageLA, a beauty & fashion “superstar” by Dolce Magazine, and “queen of all things beauty” by Hollyway Magazine. I’ve also been deemed one of the “Top 30 Most Inspiring Women to Look out for in 2022” by Disruptor’s Magazine, and “One of the 10 Most Empowering Women to Watch Out for in 2022” and “Leader of the Year” by Tycoon Success Magazine. Additionally, I’ve been qualified as “One of the Top 30 Personalities Disrupting the Fashion Industry in 2022” by The NYC Journal, one of “The 10 Most Empowering Women CEOs Making a Difference, 2022” by Success Pitchers Magazine, one of the “World’s Most Valuable Brands in 2023” by World’s Leaders Magazine, one of the “Top 30 Inspiring Women to Look Out For in 2023” by Digivanced, one of “The Top 10 Entrepreneurs of 2023” by L.A. Weekly, “One of Top 10 Influencers to Follow on Instagram” by BuzzFeed, a “Notable Social Media Star of 2023” by Entreprenuer’s Diaries, and one of “The Most Admired Divas of 2023” by Debonair Magazine. I was also awarded the “Most Promising & Admirable Beauty Expert of The Year 2022” by CIO Today Magazine, and a Bemy Influencer Award for “Makeup Influencer of the Year 2023.”

Some quotes I’m deeply grateful for are as follows:

“Her contributions to the beauty and fashion industry are commendable.”—Forbes

“The new face of the industry.”—Roidx Magazine

“One of the world’s most valuable brands.”—World’s Leaders Magazine

“Beauty and fashion icon and queen of all things beauty.”—Hollyway Magazine

“Most Promising and admirable beauty expert of the year 2022.”—CIO Today Magazine

“Charis Michelsen is a beauty and fashion icon.”—Debonair Magazine

“With global recognition and numerous accolades, Charis Michelsen is a true icon in the beauty and fashion industry.”—Entreprenuer’s Diaries Magazine

“Charis Michelsen is an award-winning beauty expert, author, inventor, actress, TV show host, and Hollywood royalty.”—L.A. Weekly

“Charis Michelsen is a renowned actress, model, and beauty and fashion expert who has worked with acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese and graced over twenty magazine covers.”—Musical States Magazine

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is to believe in yourself and never give up. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to and work hard to accomplish. Don’t wait to be a part of others’ projects. Lead and create your own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

There are so many incredible and memorable places to visit when in Los Angeles! An ideal itinerary for a friend visiting Los Angeles would be as follows:

Day 1: A scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, to walk along its gorgeous beaches! While in Malibu, we would enjoy a tea or lunch overlooking the ocean at Geoffrey’s, shopping at Malibu Village, and dinner at Nobu.

Day 2: A shopping expedition in Beverly Hills! We would start the day with breakfast at the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel. We would then visit the boutiques of world-famous luxury brands such as Hermes, Goyard, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, and Beverly Hills’ exceptional local luxury brands within the city’s Golden Triangle. We would then enjoy lunch at The Maybourne Beverly Hills and take in the incredible collection of historical TV and radio programs at Paley Center for Media and art at the ACCA Gallery of Beverly Hills. To visit the ACCA Gallery, call to schedule a viewing (accaart.com). Dinner would be at Spago Beverly Hills.

Day 3: An art tour! We would choose to visit one or more of the following: The Broad, LACMA, or The Getty, which also includes exceptional views of Los Angeles. Lunch or dinner would be at Otium at The Broad, Ray’s Stark Bar at LACMA, or the Restaurant at the Getty Center at The Getty.

Day 4: Shopping L.A.’s best vintage or pre-owned designer fashion! We would visit Fashiophile in Beverly Hills, The RealReal on Melrose Avenue, Decades on Melrose Avenue, or any of the Crossroads Trading Company shops, located throughout Los Angeles. In-between treasure hunting, we would enjoy lunch at The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard and dinner at Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose Avenue. After dinner, we would take in a Los Angeles Philharmonic concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Day 5: Unwind and recharge! We would get a private spa session with Christine Reed (platinumimageservices.com) that includes relaxing in a healing infrared sauna, an energizing hyperbaric chamber, and an antiaging laser facial that doesn’t require downtime. Or enjoy Los Angeles’ only natural hot springs that supermodels flock to, Beverly Hot Springs Spa. And if desired, we would refresh or update our look by visiting one of L.A.’s top celebrity hairstylists, Sylvie Marshall, at Brighton Salon of Beverly Hills. In-between the pampering, we would nosh of delicious and healthy spa-fare at Veggie Grill, Kreation at Melrose Place, an area that includes more great shopping, or Zinc Cafe on Melrose Avenue, which has a beautiful, private back patio and the best happy hour deals in Los Angeles.

Day 6: A day trip to Santa Barbara! For an unforgettable day trip, we would start the day with breakfast at The Restaurant at Hotel Bel Air and then take a scenic drive to Santa Barbara. On our way, we would enjoy lunch at Caruso’s at The Rosewood Miramar Beach, which includes delicious plant-based fare, and a beautiful stretch of beach that’s perfect for an after-meal stroll.

Day 7: A glamorous desert getaway! We would visit Palm Springs and stay at Korakia Pensione, a chic, luxury bed-and-breakfast boutique hotel that The New York Times called “One of the sexiest hotels in America.” There’s an airport in Palm Springs, so a visitor could travel home from there if needed or be back in L.A. in time to catch a flight in the evening.

This itinerary guarantees a luxurious and unforgettable experience, showcasing the best of Los Angeles and its surroundings.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many wonderful and talented entities have inspired me on my journey. I owe much to Parsons School of Design/The New School, in New York City, the top design school in the world, which I attended to study fashion design. I was named a Parsons School of Design notable alumnus amongst such graduates as Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, and Anna Sui. And The New School identified me as a “legend,” “groundbreaker,” and “notable New Schooler” amongst such talents as Bradley Cooper, Marlon Brando, and Richard Avedon. Genius makeup artist Kevin Aucoin and how he transformed others using makeup in his book Making Faces, continues to inspire me. My understanding of fashion was tremendously enhanced by my former mother-in-law, actress and fashion icon Ali MacGraw, and my appreciation for the entertainment industry was greatly increased by my former father-in-law, legendary film producer and former head of production for Paramount Pictures Robert Evans. I also owe much to former Universal Pictures President Thom Mount, who generously mentored my screenwriting and my former acting instructor Janet Mouser, her husband Gordon, and my former manager, Bebe Buell, who encouraged me in my work as an actress. And I’m continuously inspired by the founder of the luxury magazine Elle Global Woman (egwglobalmagazine.com), Monica Lofstrom, as she is a wonderful example of a great champion of others.

Website: https://charismichelsen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charismichelsen_official

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/official.charismichelsen

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvKd5y9iouImG8RhH0ymplw

Image Credits
Daniel Weber, Stephen Shadrach