EVENT DETAILS:

Venue:

JOEY Downtown Los Angeles
700 W 7th St, Suite S430
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Parking is available at The Bloc.

JOEY validates for three hours. After that, you’ll receive a reduced rate with validation.

How Check-In Will Work:

When you arrive at JOEY and walk up the stairs, make an immediate left.

There will be a check-in table waiting for you.

Please show this email - it will serve as your ticket into the event. 

At check-in you’ll receive:

• Your drink ticket
• Your name tag
• Direction to grab your swag bag inside the event space

Appetizers will be waiting for you upon arrival.

If you’d like to order additional food or beverages beyond what’s included, that will be available for purchase with our servers. 

NETWORKING TIPS:

I want to talk about what actually happens once you walk into the room.

Because networking isn’t about doing it right.

It’s about what you do when your body tightens, your thoughts speed up, and you suddenly feel very aware of yourself.

Before we get into the tips, let’s name something honestly.

Networking is just meeting & talking to people.

But it doesn’t feel that way when you walk into a room full of strangers.

It can bring up fears we don’t usually say out loud - being judged, saying the wrong thing, not being liked, feeling out of place.

Your nervous system doesn’t call that “career growth.”

It calls it unsafe.

New room.
New people.
New eyes.

For a long time, I told myself I hated beauty industry events.

But that wasn’t true.

What I hated was walking in alone.

Not knowing anyone.

Feeling awkward and exposed.

I’d head straight for the cheese and crackers.

Have a drink to take the edge off.

Put so much pressure on myself to “network well” that I wasn’t actually present with anyone.

And none of that did what I hoped it would.

It wasn’t until I understood why networking felt so intense and learned how to work with my nervous system instead of fighting it - that everything shifted.

Networking stopped being about performance.

And started being about connection.

And when it’s rooted in connection, the rules get simpler.

You don’t need to do more.

You just need to do what works for you. 

So instead of trying to network perfectly, let’s talk about how to network intentionally.

Here are my power networking tips to support you at Beauty Career Lab LIVE or any room you walk into in 2026.

DO THIS (15 POWER MOVES)

1. Arrive regulated, not rushed.

Eat, hydrate, breathe, and give yourself a moment before you walk in.

Regulation creates presence and presence creates confidence.

2. Ask questions that create dopamine.

Try: “What’s something you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?”

When people talk about what excites them, dopamine (the feel-good hormone) is released.

When someone feels good in your presence, they remember you.

3. Speak your desires out loud.

Big rooms require big asks.

Opportunities don’t respond to vagueness or hiding. 

4. Make it easy for people to refer you.

If someone can’t explain what you do in one clear sentence, they won’t remember how to refer you.

People can only refer what they can clearly repeat.

If your role isn’t clear, your referral won’t be either.

Your clarity determines your visibility.

5. Bring other women into conversations.

Include, don’t compete. That’s how trust is built.

When you open the circle, people remember who made space.

6. Choose depth over quantity.

One meaningful connection beats twenty hollow ones - every time.

7. Make yourself memorable on purpose.

Decide the one thing you want people to remember about you.

Example: “the product developer obsessed with clean formulations,” “the marketer who scales indie brands,” “the founder building inclusive shade ranges.”

8. Trust that if you met one aligned person that you connected with, the room worked.

One meaningful conversation can shift everything.

9. Have a signature introduction ready.

Not a pitch - a grounded statement of who you are now & what you want next. 

Example: “I’m a [title] in beauty. I was recently laid off and I’m exploring [specific role/level] where I can [key outcome you deliver].”

10. Know your “why I’m here” sentence before you arrive.

Clarity creates confidence & opportunities faster than charm ever will.

11. Ask for help when you need it.

Strong women don’t do it alone - they do it connected.

Asking for help is NOT weak. 

Lead with courage - get what you need. 

12. Have panel questions prepared.

Panelists are there because they want to help you.

Clear questions make it easy for the right people to support you and point you in the direction you’re trying to go.

(More on this coming in Primer #5 - we’ll get clear on exactly what to ask.)

13. Let joy be your strategy.

This is one of my core success philosophies: the more fun I have, the more success I create.

Fun isn’t unprofessional - it’s regulating, magnetic, and opens doors.

14. Take micro breaks to reset.

Step outside. Breathe. Come back in more powerful.

15. Follow up within 48 hours.

Momentum lives after the room, not just inside it.

The 48-hour window is when connection is still warm and recall is highest - that’s where conversation turns into opportunity.

DON’T DO THIS (15 ENERGY LEAKS)

1. Don’t get on your phone when you feel awkward.

I am going to keep reminding you of this one because that urge to grab your phone is you at the edge of growth - stay with it.

2. Don’t try to meet everyone.

Connection isn’t a numbers game.

3. Don’t wait to feel confident before engaging.

Courage goes first. Confidence follows.

4. Don’t stay in conversations that drain you or feel misaligned. 

You’re allowed to exit gracefully.

5. Don’t perform, pitch, or impress.

Presence does more for your career than perfection.

6. Don’t empower gossip.

Gossip doesn't get people hired. It kills trust and momentum instantly. Plus its a massive waste of time and energy. 

7. Don’t treat awkwardness like danger.

It’s unfamiliarity outside of your comfort zone - not a threat.

8. Don’t minimize what you want.

Own what you want without apologizing.

Name your direction and let support meet you there.

9. Don’t ignore your body’s needs.

Eat. Hydrate. Breathe. Regulation comes first.

10. Don’t assume nothing is happening if it’s quiet.

Some of the biggest shifts are invisible at first.

11. Don’t collect contacts without context.

Document the moment: photo, LinkedIn add, specific follow-up.

12. Don’t over-explain yourself.

You don’t need to convince anyone or prove anything. 

The right people will feel you. 

You are safe to be yourself. 

13. You don’t need to be loud to be remembered.

Calm, grounded presence leaves a stronger impression.

14. Don’t skip the follow-up.

Most opportunities open after the room.

15. Don’t leave without acknowledging and celebrating yourself.

Celebration tells your nervous system this experience was safe and successful. Showing up counts - especially when it felt uncomfortable.

Be proud of yourself.

 WANT EXTRA NETWORKING SUPPORT?

If you want to go deeper into networking and really anchor everything we’ve talked about in this series, I have two podcast episodes I made specifically to support you.

“How to Network Without Being Fake.” 

"3 Networking Mistakes That Secretly Kill Your Confidence"

These episodes reinforce everything we’ve covered today and in the previous two emails and will help you walk into Beauty Career Lab LIVE (or any networking room you step into this year) feeling more grounded, confident, and like yourself.

This work isn’t about perfect networking.

It’s about staying present long enough for the magic to meet you.

 This is networking reimagined.

You’ll experience dedicated networking periods, plus organic connection moments woven throughout the day - so connection doesn’t feel forced, rushed, or transactional.

And the room itself matters.

Inside Beauty Career Lab LIVE, you’ll find women from the biggest beauty brands, manufacturers, and labs, alongside consultants of every kind, founders, CEOs, and emerging leaders. Every layer of the beauty industry is represented - which means no matter where you sit, you belong.

This is a room where:

• you’re held and supported

• the cringe is welcomed (and celebrated)

• awkward moments are normalized

• and fun becomes the bridge to confidence

When you’re not trying to get it “right,” you relax faster.

When you feel safe, you connect deeper.

And when you’re having fun, confidence follows naturally.

You don’t have to be polished.

You don’t have to know everyone.

You just have to show up.

WHAT TO WEAR: 

Now let’s talk about something that quietly influences all of it. Your outfit. “When you look good, you feel good” isn’t fluff. It’s real. Psychology even has a name for it: enclothed cognition. What you wear changes how you think, feel, and show up. One study found 96% of women say their confidence is affected by what they wear. That’s not vanity. That’s data. Style doesn’t just change how others see you. It changes how you see yourself. And when your style is aligned? You’re present. Grounded. Connected. When it’s not? You’re distracted. Adjusting. Performing. Presence is what creates connection. So this email is about setting you up for Beauty Career Lab LIVE and for every room you walk into in 2026. This guide will help you: choose what to wear avoid what distracts you feel good in your own skin So your outfit feels like you, supports your confidence & makes you memorable for the right reasons. And because we’re in the beauty industry, let’s be clear... If you want full glam, level-10, drag-queen energy - do the damn thing. If you want yoga pants and not a stitch of makeup - perfect. This is beauty. Self-expression is the point. Feeling like your true self is the point.  You are safe to show up exactly as you are. However you arrive is already right. Now let’s talk style - the kind that actually works for you. Beauty Career Lab Style Guide: What to Wear (and What Not to Wear) to a Beauty Networking Event What you wear to a networking event isn’t about trends. It’s about presence, comfort, and self-expression. The goal isn’t to impress. It’s to feel like yourself - so you can actually connect. Here’s 4 ways to do that.  Wear something comfortable (non-negotiable) The fastest way to get pulled out of presence is physical discomfort. That means: Shoes that hurt your feet Pants you can’t sit or breathe in Tops you’re worried will show sweat marks Buttons that might pop Fabrics that itch, tug, or need constant adjusting If you’re thinking about your outfit, you’re not in the conversation. Comfort creates confidence. Confidence creates connection.  Wear something that starts the conversation Your outfit can do the ice-breaking for you. Before you say a word. For me? Hot-pink, bold lipstick. It opens doors instantly. Pink is magnetic. It signals warmth. People feel comfortable approaching me. Your outfit can say “come talk to me.” Other ways to do that: A bold color or pattern. Eyes land. Conversations follow. A statement accessory. Instant opener. Zero effort. Texture, shine, or sequins. Memorable beats muted. Something visually unexpected. People remember what surprises them. One of my favorite examples? I wore iridescent oil-slick sequin pants to Cosmoprof Las Vegas. To this day - people still bring them up. Hundreds of conversations started because of those pants. I didn’t introduce myself. My outfit did. The right piece tells people who you are without you saying a word. (It’s also why I use a fuchsia sparkly background on Zoom. People feel my energy before I speak.) Style is communication. Use it strategically.                        Wear something that feels like you Let me ask you this... What are you wearing when you feel most like yourself? Whatever just popped into your head - wear that. For me? Sparkle. Always. My style vibe is bold, chic, glam. When I live there, I feel like me. Now you might not want to look like a sparkle-covered game show host (fair). So what makes you feel most like you? Here’s why this is important: Networking events are not the place to randomly audition a brand-new identity. Unless it’s intentional. If you live in black and suddenly show up in hot-pink polka dots, your nervous system might panic. Am I too much? What will they think? That discomfort turns into doubt. And doubt kills presence. But if you’re consciously stepping into an elevated version of yourself? Go for it. Be bold. Try it on. Learn from it. Just do it on purpose. When in doubt?  Stay on brand for yourself. That’s confidence. every room you walk into in 2026.  Decide ahead of time Confidence loves preparation. The easiest way to eliminate day-of stress: Choose your outfit in advance Try it on (don’t trust the hanger) Sit, walk, move, breathe in it Make sure your body feels good Then hang it in your closet with your bag packed and ready. Why this matters: When you wait to decide, your brain stays in decision-making mode which quietly drains your energy before the day even starts. Indecision creates stress because your nervous system reads it as uncertainty. And uncertainty = vigilance. That means: more second-guessing more rushing less presence less energy for connection By the time you arrive, you’re already depleted. When you decide ahead of time, your body relaxes. The choice is made. The energy is saved. You walk in grounded instead of frazzled. Calm instead of rushed. And that calm? It carries into every conversation. Ease isn’t lazy. It’s strategic. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay…but how do I actually figure out what feels like me?” - I’ve got you. I created a Confident Style Workbook that I use with the women I coach to help them align how they show up on the outside with who they are on the inside. Inside, you’ll be guided through: defining your signature style vibe (in 3 words) identifying what kills your confidence (and what makes you feel like a million bucks) building outfits that feel like you - comfortable, effortless, and memorable I’m including it here as a bonus resource to support you as you walk into Beauty Career Lab LIVE or any networking room you step into this year.  Download the Confident Style Workbook here: Download now My Final Thought: The goal is to walk into the room feeling: Comfortable Grounded Like yourself When your outfit supports you instead of distracting you, connection becomes effortless. You don’t need the “perfect” outfit. You just need one that lets you shine. XO - Elyse PS: If you want to experience this kind of confidence in real time - where you don’t have to perform, overthink, or dress for anyone but yourself - Beauty Career Lab LIVE is the room we’ve created. This is where style, confidence, and connection come together and where you get to show up exactly as you are. Come as glam or as grounded as you want. You belong either way. → Join us live here: https://www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlablive            DOWNLOAD YOUR CONFIDENT STYLE WORKBOOK HERE

 

WHAT'S NEXT: