Chatting with The Experts with Paula Okonneh

Jenifer Hester, a makeup artist and licensed esthetician, discusses makeup for mature skin, emphasizing that skin prep and hydration are key. Jenifer explains hydrating from the inside out by drinking water and "eating your water" (leafy greens, cucumbers, melons, fruits), adding omega fatty acids (fish, walnuts, avocado), and choosing foods that support collagen and overall health. For makeup, she recommends avoiding heavy matte foundations and using sheer options like skin tints, BB/CC creams, and tinted serums to prevent a cakey look. She advises soft matte eyeshadows over frosty shimmer for crepey or hooded lids and offers shading guidance for sunken eyes. Jenifer suggests dewy setting sprays, minimal powder, gentle under-eye concealer application with ring fingers, color-correcting darkness, and using lifting placement for blush/bronzer plus shading to create a more defined jawline. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:23 Skin Prep & Hydration 07:11 Foundation & Coverage 10:17 Eye Makeup 14:01 Setting Sprays & Powder 24:01 Lifting Techniques 28:37 Wrap-Up & Resources Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

Demetria Cox-Thomas, a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist and CEO of Dee Veggie Nutrition, discusses practical, accessible healthy eating. Demetria explains her work in hybrid group nutrition counseling, plant-based presentations, and cultural cooking classes (Ethiopian, Jamaican Ital, and Indian) that emphasize spices, flexibility, and making food enjoyable rather than stressful. She addresses food deserts/food apartheid by tailoring guidance to each client and recommending canned or frozen vegetables when fresh options aren't available. Demetria focuses on increasing vegetable intake without demonizing meat, sharing flavor and technique tips such as smoked paprika, curry blends, cumin, berbere, herbs, coconut milk, beans for fiber/protein, citrus finishing, roasting vegetables, and improving tofu and mushroom texture by drawing out water. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 Meet Demetria Cox-Thomas, RDN 03:18 Food Access & Food Deserts 05:22 Cultural Cooking Classes 14:21 Spice Tips & Pantry Essentials 18:43 Cooking Techniques Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Demetria Cox-Thomas, you can reach her via her website (https://www.deeveggierd.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deeveggierd?igsh=bTlpYXlvOWNvZHAz), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/demetrialcoxthomas). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

Jenifer Hester is a licensed esthetician with over six years of experience and certifications in chemical peels, oncology skincare, acne care, and holistic nutrition health. Jenifer explains that estheticians are state-licensed skincare professionals with over 600 hours of training who provide non-medical, non-invasive treatments, skin analysis, and product guidance, and refer clients to dermatologists when issues are out of scope. She contrasts estheticians with dermatologists, who are medical doctors who can diagnose and treat diseases such as skin cancer and perform surgery. Jenifer discusses chemical peels as controlled exfoliation that promotes collagen and improves acne, pores, and glow, cautioning against at-home peels without proper training. She shares her background in pharmaceutical quality work and her focus on restoring clients' confidence. The conversation highlights oncology skincare, including prepping skin before radiation and adapting care during and after cancer treatments. Jenifer recommends preventative visits about every 30–45 days. Transcripts: 00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 01:27 What Is an Esthetician? 02:40 Esthetician vs. Dermatologist 04:28 Chemical Peels 07:48 Jenifer's Career Journey 10:15 Oncology Skincare 17:56 How Often Should You See an Esthetician? 23:06 Skincare for the Whole Body 23:58 TikTok vs. Professional Advice 26:04 How to Find Jenifer & Outro Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Jenifer Hester, you can reach her via her website (http://www.glowtheorynj.com ), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/glowtheorynj/), via Facebook(https://web.facebook.com/Glowtheorynj), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenifer-hester-18b1755/ ). For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

Esther Wokoma, founder of EvolveLumina, a confidence amplifier coach and strategic engineering and operations leader with 18+ years in the energy sector, argues many people don't lack clarity but lack alignment and self-trust, and explains how identity shapes decisions because people act in alignment with who they believe they are. She shares how she helps teens and women overcome fear, external expectations, hesitation, and self-doubt by reinforcing their uniqueness and value, and teaches her 3C framework—clarity, confidence, courage—supported by a RISE process (review, identify, step forward, expand). She emphasizes consistency, small repeated actions, and not waiting to feel ready, and highlights her 31-day confidence journal inspired by conversations with her teen daughter. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 01:47 Meet Esther Wokoma 02:17 Clarity vs Alignment 03:31 Identity Drives Action 04:52 Coaching Teen Identity 06:41 Helping Women Self Trust 07:58 Three C Framework 09:28 From Corporate to Coaching 14:20 Teens Sweet Spot 17:40 Stop Overthinking Start Acting 18:53 Consistency Builds Confidence 21:32 Confidence Journal and Joy 25:24 Connect and Wrap Up Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Esther Wokoma, you can reach her via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/evolvelumina), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/esther.wokoma), or via her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-wokoma/). Her LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/estherwokoma For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.

Dr. Lisa Santiago McNeil—publisher, strategist, coach, transformational leader, and founder of Empowerment Publishing and Multimedia— has helped guide over 200 books into the world, many becoming bestsellers and platforms for impact, income, and influence. Lisa shares her desire to reintroduce herself and refocus on women "after a certain age," discussing how women can shrink into the background and experience an identity crisis as they evolve through life stages. She emphasizes the need for "girls talk" at any age, the value of seasoned women's lived experience, and showing up as one's undiluted self even within a partnership. She connects inner healing, faith, and self-care—skin, hair, and heart—highlighting learning to depend on God, refilling from overflow, and embracing new seasons of purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:35 Meet Dr Lisa Santiago 02:10 Reintroducing After Midlife 04:55 Why Girls Talk Matters 07:13 Teamwork and Sisterhood 09:07 Identity Crisis and Healing 11:07 Metamorphosis Mindset Shift 13:12 Beauty as Inner Work 17:52 Faith Leaning vs Depending 24:52 Refilling the Overflow 27:10 Connect and Closing Get In Touch: If you're interested in connecting with Dr. Lisa Santiago McNeil, you can reach her via her website(https://www.epublishyou.com/), via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thereallisasantiago/), via Facebook(https://www.facebook.com/thereallisasantiago), or via her LinkTree (https://linktr.ee/lisasantiagomcneill). Her YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_fqO_gJLEsLek_t8u1ZCQA For those interested in sharing their own stories on "Chatting with the Experts," reach out to Paula Okonneh through her website at chattingwiththeexperts.com or connect via LinkedIn.