Hello, my name is Valerie (Val) Nusskern. I am a Cosmetic Junkie! It all started when I was thirteen and my mother was a cosmetic buyer for a drug store chain. She would bring home samples and I would play in them. My mother only wore lipstick but I became addicted.

I wouldn't wear make-up in public until I was sixteen and really found my passion for make-up and it's many uses.

I started out professionally doing make-up for Arizona Opera in 1978 as an assistant to the head artist. She was a guest artist and recommended me to the Santa Fe Opera company as an apprentice wig master and make-up artist. I apprenticed for two years and then began to travel the country representing her wig company.

As a result I was sent to many opera houses including San Diego Opera, St. Louis Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Dallas Opera Theater. I continued to travel and eventually went to Lake George Opera where I met my future husband, Randy. He was a volunteer on the make-up crew.

After fulfilling contracts I moved back to Glens Falls to be with him and start a family.

Randy and I moved to Round Rock, Texas (near Austin) in 1983 and returned to Glens Falls in 1997. While in Texas I pursued my aesthetician license and worked with small theater groups. I also received my nail license and cosmetology license.

After training as a color educator for Goldwell and traveling central Texas teaching, I found I had a real love of color in all aspects.

After we made the decision to move back to New York and re-establishing a salon in Glens Falls I wanted to get back to my passion for make-up. My eye for color has led me back to my first love, Make-up. I researched an area I felt many salons and department stores left open for the customer.

I finally found a company that met skin care needs as well as personal color needs. I invested and then went for training in Illinois.

I brought back what I feel to be the most innovative and cutting edge make-up any woman could find. I can blend the widest variety of cosmetics that suit a variety of needs. I hope you'll check out our selection or visit me in the boutique so I can show you how much fun you can have blending your own cosmetics. I recently have added custom blending for body and bath products.

How much fun can one woman have? As much as she wants!