Kiss N' Makeup

Karen Helton Powanda, an Austin native, began her career in Southern California and expanded abroad. Always passionate about the beauty industry, she went on to become a licensed esthetician (in Texas and California), and studied under two world renowned celebrity makeup artists. Karen continues to travel to Los Angeles and New York City to bring cutting edge beauty industry trends and techniques home to her Austin clientele.

Karen gathered her artist’s tools and opened Kiss N’ Makeup, LLC thirteen years ago. Kiss N’ Makeup is the only beauty studio/salon that focuses solely on makeup artistry and natural brow shaping. Karen has chosen to keep the integrity and purity of her craft by concentrating on what she does best, which makes her a prominent figure in the beauty industry in Austin and the greater Austin area. Her clients continue to come from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Los Angeles and New York, as well as overseas, for Kiss N’ Makeup services.

Karen’s unique training and technique establishes her as the original “hand tweezing” brow shaping artist in Austin. Statewide and locally, Karen has trained makeup artists in her specific technique of brow shaping and makeup artistry. She has been a guest speaker at various cosmetology schools in the Austin area and enjoys teaching and sharing her experience and knowledge with others. She makes guest appearances at salons and boutiques in the Austin and Dallas for special occasions. Karen is very “hands on” and involved with the artists that work at Kiss N’ Makeup. She collaborates daily with the artists to ensure quality and consistency of Kiss N’ Makeup’s unique services.

Karen’s work has been seen in Austin Woman Magazine and Tribeza magazine, just to name a few. She works extensively with KXAN’s anchors and reporters, providing them with the latest techniques in HD TV makeup. Karen has been featured on Studio 512 (KXAN), KXAN, KEYE and FOX News as well.

Karen’s goal is to provide a friendly, inviting atmosphere where client’s receive exceptional customer service. Her desire is to share her gifts of sculpting, knowledge of color and light, experience in the beauty industry to bring out the best in her clients. She is available for on location weddings, photo shoots, special occasions, film/HD TV productions or educational training.

Rachel Sanborn is a native Californian who moved to Austin in May of 2011. She is a licensed esthetician in California and Texas and has over 15 years of esthetic experience, which makes her a natural fit for Kiss N’ Makeup, Inc. Rachel has loved make up since she was a little girl, even practicing makeup on her mother and grandmother when she was very young. Having a skin care business in Southern California allowed her to help people look and feel their best. She has worked as a product educator teaching people about product ingredients and how it affects your skin and has worked with dermatologists to help people get the best results they can achieve.

Rachel has been mentored by Karen Helton Powanda in makeup artistry and natural brow shaping. Due to her experience in the esthetics field prior to working at Kiss N Makeup she was very quick to catch on to all the intricacies of brow shaping and the fine art of makeup application.

Being able to have a career in the beauty industry where things are changing and evolving is a passion that Rachel hopes to share with her clients. Rachel has a casual and easy going personality. She is a natural teacher which adds to her relationship with her clients.