Alumni

Julia Vinder Praises Rebecca Mason's New Skincare & Wellness Course

Hailing from Northern New Jersey where she attended Montville Township High School, Julia Vinder recently took FIDM Instructor Rebecca Mason’s new course, Fundamentals of Skincare & Wellness, which covered not only physical health, but spiritual and mental as well. With her degree in Merchandise Product Development, Julia is on track to graduate in 2023 with her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industry Studies, with a Beauty Marketing & Product Development core. We caught up with her to learn more about her journey.

Tell us about Rebecca Mason’s “Fundamentals of Skincare & Wellness” course: This course absolutely blew my mind. To have an instructor like Rebecca, so passionate and enthusiastic about teaching the importance of wellness, was refreshing and inspiring. It is not often that you get an instructor that is compassionate, open minded, and emphasizes self-care. Not only did we discuss the depths of skincare, but how to be sensitive and cater to different needs. It meant a lot to me to have a class that emphasized the importance of taking care of your physical, spiritual, and mental health. 

What was your favorite thing about the course? It was always fun explaining the concept of this class to others, as some days we were discussing the layers of the epidermis, and some days it was crystal healing. My favorite experience was creating the final project and seeing everyone's presentations. It was so refreshing, being able to stretch our creative minds in infinite ways. I walked out of the class feeling inspired by the creativity of my peers, as I really learned that the possibilities in this life are endless. 

What topics did this particular class open your eyes to in the industry that maybe you weren’t aware of before? Alternative healing modalities really expanded my idea of wellness. I never considered looking into the spa industry, but after this class I realized how many different types of spas there can be. Alongside taking care of your physical health, your mental and spiritual health is equally as important. There is a lot of room in this industry to take care of people and their different needs, and it’s evolving every day.  

Tell us what you love about the beauty program at FIDM: What I love about the beauty program is the authenticity and variety. Beauty is about looking good AND feeling good, and I feel like everyone has the same motive. We all just want to find ways to better others and make them feel beautiful. Whether that is the journey with a scent, skin, cosmetics etc. The beauty industry has so many moving parts and paths one could take. Also, sitting in class discussing the difference between shimmer and glitter never ceases to make me smile.  

What was your path to FIDM like? When it came time to apply to colleges, I had no clue what I wanted to do but I knew where I wanted to go. All I craved was to go to my favorite place since I was a kid, Los Angeles, and do something creative. I was impressed by fashion illustrations done by students from my high school who had gone to FIDM, and my wonderful art teacher suggested I investigate it. I recognized my passion for fashion and the industry while doing the entrance project, and eventually I was on my way to L.A. I graduated with my A.A in Merchandise Product Development and loved the program so much that I decided to move forward with Beauty Marketing & Product Development to learn the same side of another industry I’m passionate about. I have been infatuated ever since.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? I’m going to own a fashion/lifestyle brand as well as a beauty brand. I wanted to study these topics because it is very important for me to know the entire process to ensure that it is ethical, quality, and authentic. FIDM has taught me new ways to express my creativity and expand the potential of my capabilities.

Learn more about Julia Vinder online at juliavinder.myportfolio.com.

Attend our Online Lecture Series event: The Changing Landscape for Launching Beauty Products, on Thursday, September 23, 2021, from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PDT. Register for the free event here.

Categories:  Creative Industry Studies Merchandise Product Development Alumni Student