BeautyView: Jennifer Mapp Bressan, Brand Manager, Cibu

They say what happens in Vegas, stays (or should stay!) in Vegas. My initial meeting with Jennifer Mapp Bressan, Cibu Brand Manager, is an exception to this wise rule. We met in Vegas, at Cosmoprof North America during the summer of 2007. We were at the same beauty panel, and realized we were neighbors – me in DC, her in Northern Virginia. The rest is history, as they say. Fast forward almost 7 years, Jenn and I have become fast friends, and while we continue to meet annually for a reunion cocktail in Vegas, we meet much more often in DC, to chat about the industry, beauty, hair and skin care tips, and more. I recently caught up with her for this interview…

AP: What city were you born in? JMB: Chicago, IL.

AP: What city to do you live in? JMB: Falls Church, VA.

AP: What is your middle name? JMB: Mapp.

AP: What is your astrological sign? JMB: Scorpio.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? JMB: I am more conservative than I seem.

AP: What is your most prized possession? JMB: My 2 year old wild child, AJ. I tried to think of a material answer and I couldn’t come up with anything. It is fruitless to prize any possession in the wake of a toddler.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? JMB: J Crew creative director Jenna Lyons.

AP: Describe your fashion style in three words maximum. JMB: Classic, quirky, accessorized.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? JMB: Not yet but our 5 year wedding anniversary is right around the corner. Tick tock, Matt. Tick tock.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? JMB: Diamonds.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? JMB: SPF 30+.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? JMB: Bond #9 New York, Nuits de Noho.

AP: Botox or not? JMB: Botox or bangs, depending on the haircut.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? JMB: All over Aveda color with balayage highlights by Chris Houser at Salon Cielo Connecticut Ave, naturally.

AP: What are your special diet tips, if any? JMB: At least one serving of olive oil and red wine, daily.

AP: What do you do for exercise? JMB: Dancing Mind Hot Yoga, Falls Church, VA.

AP: What are three things that you always have in your fridge? JMB: San Pellegrino, Fresh Crunch Pickles, seasonal produce.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? JMB: Pinot Noir.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? JMB: Tenure. Over-communication. Yoga. 495 Hot Lanes.

AP: How many miles do you fly per year on average? JMB: Not nearly as many as I’d like.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? JMB: Narrow it down to 3 pairs of shoes, metallic is a neutral; center your travel wardrobe around a versatile, printed wrap; Sephora VIB points = air friendly toiletries.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. JMB: Pompeii, Bastille; Mas Que Nada, Sergio Mendes + Brasil 66; Shook Ones, Mob Deep.

AP: What book are you reading right now? JMB: Does a 2 month backlog of WWD count?

AP: Quote to live by. JMB: “Comparison is the thief of joy” –Teddy Roosevelt.

AP: What is your worst pet peeve? JMB: Passive aggression.

AP: What time do you usually wake up in the morning, and how many hours of sleep do you usually get? JMB:  7:15; 7 – 8 hours.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? JMB: Frivolity.

AP: Least favorite thing. JMB: Frivolity.

AP: Who is your mentor? JMB: Ann Ratner, co-founder of Ratner Companies, parent company of Hair Cuttery, Bubbles Hair Salons, Salon Cielo and Cibu.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. JMB: Your time is valuable. Negotiate as solid a salary as you can earn early on, this is the launch pad for the rest of your career. Instagram wisely.