We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolyn Q. Barber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolyn Q., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Elena and I always wanted to have our own makeup brand. Back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, we had a successful beauty boutique (Elena was the owner and I was the store manager), that carried indie/”hard to find” brands. Those “indie” brands back then are now huge multi-million dollar companies.

Our lives changed, and our priorities shifted, but our passion for beauty never wavered. As our kids have gotten older, and became more independent, we had time to reflect on ourselves. . When “we” get to a certain age/period in our lives, we feel invisible. For a long time, fashion magazines, social media and society perpetuate the mentality that youth equals beauty. (It is getting better, but we have a long way to go.)

We want to help change that narrative, and empower women to feel better about themselves at any age. We can no longer wear high shimmer or frosty shades we once wore. As our skin evolves, product formulations, textures, color and finishes need to be considered. We developed a beautiful color line to help address the different concerns that our changing skin needs. This is how Flyte.70 was born.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Elena and I met over 20+ years ago in the cosmetics department at Saks 5th Ave in Boston. She had just graduated from BU with a Masters in Fine Art and I was in a transitional period in my life after studying Fashion Marketing for a couple of years at UMASS. We bonded through our shared passions for makeup, shopping at Bebe and delicious food. We also both inherited strong work ethics from our respective parents.

We have collectively worked for Clinique, Estée Lauder, Lancome, Prescriptives, Dior, and Bobbi Brown prior to opening up our nationally renown beauty boutique, E6 apothecary on Newbury Street. We were great merchants and had an eye for up and coming brands and voted Best of Boston for the 5 years we were in business.

We took time off to focus on our growing families, taking care of aging parents, other aspects of life and had less time to focus on ourselves.

Wanting to get back into the beauty industry, I then worked for 8 years as a selling supervisor for a luxury retailer with my primary focuses on Armani Beauty, Serge Lutes Beaute, 111 Skin, and Westman Atelier. I work closely with my clients to find products best suited for their needs. 95% of my clients wanted to look like an elevated version themselves. Revitalized and refreshed.

What sets us apart from the other brands is that we are real women with real concerns. We are not influencers, beauty insiders, or celebrities. We didn’t grow up with social media, but we do understand the importance of it. We will continue to use it to share our message.

At Flyte.70 we believe the visible changes that come with age reflect a woman’s beauty evolution. We are on a mission against ‘age dysmorphia’-that little voice in our heads, that tells us we’re not good enough.

Flyte.70 celebrates you, whatever stage of life you’re in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Adventures with my friends usually involve food, walking and shopping. Boston is a pedestrian friendly city, we can easily get 20,000+ steps by the end of day. Charles Street in Beacon Hill is a favorite starting point. This location is close to all things we love to do. We’re within walking distance to the North End for great Italian food and pastries, Newbury street for cute boutiques and cafes, and the Charles River for its natural beauty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The shoutouts would be to: – My friend and business partner Elena for having a shared vision and passion for beauty.
– The 80’s and 90’s for having such great music and reminding me of my youth when times were more carefree.
– Most importantly, my family, friends and the amazing people I’ve met on my journey of life.

Website: Flyte70.com

Instagram: @flyte.70

Image Credits
Ian Adam Bull- photographer

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