Leslie is the founder and creative force behind CARA Cosmetics International. As a native of San Francisco who was raised in Spain, Leslie developed a great interest and appreciation for the Arts at an early age, as well as strong influence from European culture. Once she returned to the U.S., she became a licensed cosmetologist and began her career as a makeup artist in her early 20s.

Leslie worked on many television shows and feature films allowing her to collaborate with some of this country's most celebrated actors, models and stars. It was Leslie's experience in the film, television, video and print media that allowed her to learn the ins and outs of the cosmetics industry, which cultivated an interest in the "business" of cosmetics.

Tapping into her entrepreneurial spirit, Leslie began attending various aesthetic and salon industry trade shows. She soon realized that there was very little education with regard to makeup artistry among largescale manufacturers of cosmetics and skin-care related businesses.

Leslie had an opportunity to capture a neglected segment of the market, not only by implementing a complete product line but also by backing it with her signature style of strong education and personable service. It was then that the idea of "Cara" (“face” in Spanish) Cosmetics was born.

Education is the key to Leslie’s success. She still works in the film and television industry, and is now able to pair her extensive talents with her own line of personally developed products. Leslie created and founded CARA Cosmetics in 1995 and Studio CARA in 1997.

By training her staff and hundreds of new makeup artists, Leslie is able to bring the education factor to all of her clients. Her passion is to “show women how to rediscover their own beauty.”

Another aspect of Leslie’s makeup artistry involves her work with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients and trauma victims. She is also a contributing writer for trade magazines such as “Dermascope” and “Les Nouvelles Esthetiques”.

She has shaped CARA Cosmetics into an exceptional line, where product quality meets the demands of today's ethnically diverse market, fulfilling the CARA philosophy of “Beauty Everywhere for Everyone at Every Age”.