CEO/Founder Alyson Howard-Hoag

ALYSON HOWARD-HOAG works with celebrities, CEOs and thousands of real women helping them unearth their Authentic Beauty. Spanning more than 25 years in the beauty industry, her career includes working with leading cosmetic giants of the likes of Aveda, Borghese, Lancome, Revlon, and Sebastian.

As an educator and trainer, Alyson has instructed hundreds of makeup artists at salons throughout the Southeast in makeup application and techniques as well as business development.

After years working within the makeup industry, Authentic Beauty was born from the idea that inner beauty, self-acceptance and learning how to express one’s Authentic Self creates outer beauty.  Garnering inspiration from best selling author Sarah Ban Breathnach, Alyson invented the Image Journey and opened the Authentic Beauty Makeup Salon and Hair Studio in 2008.

Alyson was named one of Atlanta’s Most Powerful and Influential Women by The Atlantan, Most Creative by Common Creativ, and Over 40 and Fabulous by Best Self Magazine. She is Laura Turner-Seydel’s personal makeup artist and her work can be seen in a bevy of Atlanta magazines such as Jezebel Magazine (winner of Best Makeup Artist 2010 and Best of What’s New 2009), and Best Self Magazine. She is also recognized as one of the best brow experts in the country and is affectionately known as the “brow guru” of Atlanta receiving the label “Best of the Best” by Allure Magazine 4 years in a row. In addition, she was voted best brow artist by Best Self Magazine for 2013!

Armed with a philosophy that “a woman should never be told how she should look,” Alyson has honed her true talent: inspiring women to have their external image be a reflection of their Authentic Self. It is her passion to help women make peace with and fall in love with what they see when they look in the mirror. She and her talented team of artists aim to empower women and to teach her clients how to express their Authentic Image while acquiring simple and refined makeup techniques that they can do themselves.