Iridis Cosmetics - 'Makeup Made Simple'

One minute they’re sitting in your makeup chair getting ready for their school formal… and the next they’re popping back into the studio as confident, capable young women.

This beautiful human is Cady, and we’ve had the absolute joy of glamming her for several school formals over the years. Formal season has officially kicked off again and we are HERE FOR IT!

But here’s the thing…

Like everything we do at Iridis, school formals have never just been about gorgeous hair and makeup.

They’re about helping young women walk into one of the biggest nights of their teenage years feeling like the very best version of themselves.

We don’t do “make me look older.” We don’t do overdone. We don’t make you look like someone you’re not.

We make you look like YOU… just with a little Iridis magic.

We’ll pore over your Pinterest boards, TikToks and inspiration pics. We’ll study your dress, jewellery and dream look. But most importantly, we’ll study you—your features, your colouring, your personality and everything that already makes you beautiful. Then we enhance the heck out of it.

Because in twenty years, we want you to look back at your formal photos and think…

“I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Not…

“What on earth was I thinking?” 😂

One of my favourite parts of this job is when clients come back years later. Maybe it’s for a Uni Ball, a makeup lesson before their first professional job, their wedding… or they’re bringing in their little sister. Watching these gorgeous young women grow into incredible adults is one of the greatest privileges of what I do.

Seeing Cady pop into the studio recently absolutely made my day. Thank you for trusting us with so many special milestones. And yes… we’ve also looked after your sister twice and your beautiful mum too! Your family are definitely part of the Iridis family.

Here’s to another formal season…

We’ll bring the hair and makeup. You bring that gorgeous smile. Together, we’ll take care of the confidence.

🎤 PG CONFESSION: I think I may have found one of my new favourite things… (no surprise to anyone who knows me!)

It’s…..🥁.. being a Mistress of Ceremonies.

(Yes, yes, I know. The jokes write themselves.)

Last month I had the absolute privilege of MC-ing the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West Women of the West Charity Fashion Show, and what an extraordinary night it was.

A room full of incredible women. Stories of courage, resilience and community. Fabulous fashion on a runway with real Women of the West struttin’ their stuff. There was laughter. A few tears. And a whole lot of women supporting women.

Oh… and the whole point of the night—fundraising! Last year we raised $6,000. I boldly predicted we’d crack $10,000 ( )… and together we raised $10,429!

Iridis proudly donated our time and $3,200 in prizes, and knowing that money will help women and girls in our community makes me ridiculously happy.

If you haven’t heard of Zonta, they’re a global organisation advancing the status of women and girls through advocacy, education and practical support. Here in Melbourne’s west they support women recovering from family violence through financial counselling, home starter kits, scholarships, breast cancer support, food relief and so much more.

As much as I loved having a microphone in my hand again, my favourite part wasn’t standing on the stage.

IT WAS CREATING CONNECTION.

Making people laugh. Helping nervous first-time models feel like superstars. Keeping the energy flowing (yes, the sequin jacket made another appearance). Creating moments people will remember.

After 30 years of teaching, presenting, training and coaching women, standing at the podium felt strangely familiar. Just with a runway, a crapload more makeup on my face, and significantly more sequins than my lawyer days.

A huge thank you to the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West for trusting me with your beautiful event again. Being invited back was an absolute honour.

And if you’re looking for a speaker, MC, panel moderator or podcast guest who can hold a room while wearing exactly the right amount (too much) makeup and sequins… let’s chat. 🎤

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🏳️‍🌈 A very belated Happy Pride Month from Australia's only q***r-owned rainbow makeup brand. 🏳️‍🌈

As we see out another Pride Month, it may have officially finished, but around here, Pride isn't something we pack away on 1 July. *It's who we are.*

At Iridis, we're proudly q***r-owned and q***r-led. I'm a pansexual woman. Vanessa is a proud trans woman and le***an. Together, we've built a business where people don't just come for makeup—they come to feel safe, celebrated, understood and accepted exactly for who they are – regardless of gender or sexuality.

But to be honest... this year's Pride has felt different.

It's been a hard time for our trans community. The fear, misinformation, exclusion and hostility we've seen directed towards some of the most vulnerable members of our rainbow family has been heartbreaking. We know many of our clients are carrying that weight every single day.
So this is our little reminder...

🌈 We are still here. 🌈We'll keep doing the work. 🌈We'll keep creating safe spaces. 🌈We'll keep teaching, encouraging, celebrating and lifting people up.

We'll keep helping women, teens, trans women, non-binary people, gender-diverse people, drag artists, crossdressers and every beautiful person who walks through our doors discover just how extraordinary they already are. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🦄

It’s what we've been doing for over 17 years at Iridis.

To us, Pride has never *just* been about parades and glitter (although we're definitely not saying no to either of those). It's about 🌈 visibility 💄, 🌈 belonging💄, 🌈 courage💄, 🌈 community💄. It's about being able to exist safely and authentically exactly as you are.

It's about making sure every single person knows they deserve joy, confidence, kindness, the correct makeup for them, and fabulous eyebrows. At Iridis, we happen to do all of that with the power of makeup.

Every lesson is about helping someone look in the mirror and think, "There you are... I've been looking for you."

No matter your age, race, size, gender identity, sexuality, neurodivergence, disability, culture, faith, background or where life has taken you, our chair has a place for you.

We're incredibly proud to be part of Australia's rainbow community, and we'll continue to celebrate the entire rainbow—all of it. Not just the parts that are convenient. Not just the people others think deserve acceptance. ALL OF US.

Because every rainbow colour matters, every story matters, every person matters.

HAPPY PRIDE! Keep shining. Keep loving. Keep taking up space.

We'll be here, rainbow brushes in hand, cheering you on every step of the way. 🏳️‍🌈🥂🏳️‍⚧️

🛍️THE IRIDIS HQ 3.0 ANNIVERSARY SALE IS HERE 🛍️

Can you believe it’s been ONE WHOLE YEAR since we opened the doors to Iridis HQ 3.0 in Newport?!

After one of the hardest seasons our business has ever faced, this studio became our fresh start. A rebuild, a reset, our new home filled with our community, creativity, laughter, tears, courage, and so much love.

But we can safely say that we wouldn’t still be here without *YOU*.

You lot are bloody amazing! Every booking, every product order, every time you’ve tagged us in a post for someone looking for an artist, or a lesson, or a product to change their life. Every awesome one of you who want to support Peta-Gai’s dream to change how women feel about themselves and in supporting this q***r owned and run small business in the inner west. Especially so in this economic climate. We love that you choose us over those huge stores that have huge amounts of makeup brands in them – but feel really overwhelming. We are so glad you don’t feel that with us. Your support of us has kept the doors open and continue to do so.

It was YOU who helped us rebuild Iridis. A WHOLE YEAR IN MELBOURNE ROAD!?! HOW?!

So now it’s time to celebrate properly 💋

For 10 DAYS ONLY, we’re throwing a giant sparkly thank you party online with special savings across your favourite Iridis and Janssen goodies.

🌈 Supporting a small business has never looked so fabulous.
This isn’t just a sale for us - it’s a celebration of community, resilience, reinvention and you incredible lot who continue to believe in what we do.

Thank you for helping Iridis HQ 3.0 become a home.

Now go grab yourself something fabulous before the Makeup Fairy Godmother changes her mind.

🛍 Shop now: iridis.com.au
💫 Ends midnight 1 June 2026
🚨 Limited time only

Some days at Iridis are just extra loved up. 💕

Vanessa had finished for the day and was heading off to her “other home” (the one where she technically lives 😂)… but not before turning around for one last kiss goodbye before walking out the door.💋

One of the nicest things about expanding Iridis 3.0 together is that we genuinely like spending time with each other. We laugh a lot, we flirt constantly, there’s bum taps, we’re ridiculous together, and somehow after all this time we still get excited to see each other every day. (Sorry, it’s sickening, we know.)

But it’s also pretty bloody lovely. Finding love again late in life is actually a real joy and it was unexpected for both of us.
And yes… there are usually at least another three goodbye kisses before she *actually* leaves. 🫦

’s a sucker for a pucker. 💋

✨ Iridis Questions You’re Too Polite To Ask – EPISODE 2

“What’s your favourite part of your job?”

You’d think after 30+ years as a makeup artist I’d have a clear answer to that!

But the truth is….
It’s all of it.

And I don’t say that lightly.

I love the quiet, personal moments in 1:1 lessons where something just clicks and a woman sees herself differently for the first time.

I love the energy of Glamtorials®, where the room is buzzing and everyone is learning, laughing and building confidence together.

I love the transformation work — not just how someone looks, but how they feel when they sit a little taller, smile a little brighter, and walk out the door differently.

I love working with our trans sisters and being part of such important, affirming moments in their journey.

I love the weddings, the events, the chaos, the glam, the “we need to be ready in five minutes” vibe.

I even love the behind-the-scenes bits — the products, the systems, the building of something that didn’t exist before Iridis came into being.

Because every single part of it comes back to the same thing…
Helping women feel confident, seen, and like themselves. THERES NOTHING BETTER!

This is Episode 2 of our series: “Iridis Questions You’re Too Polite To Ask.”
�And apparently… I’m incapable of picking just one favourite.
More coming soon. 💫

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“What are YOU doing, Tristan?”
“Doing YOUR work.” 😂🤩😜

School holidays at Iridis look a little like this — clean hands, disposable containers, singing while he works and taking his role *very* seriously.

Watching him potter around the studio takes me straight back to my own childhood, growing up in my mum’s florist shop. I spent my days emptying slimy buckets (10c a pop, thank you very much), wrapping flowers, making little creations and running around the old 1879 building like I owned the place… convinced I was chatting to ghosts half the time.

I come from a long line of entrepreneurial women — my grandma ran her own dressmaking and antique business, Mum built one of the most successful florists in Western Sydney, and now here we are at Iridis.

And it seems business might just be in Tristan’s blood too. At least on school holidays!

My little helper. My heart. 💕

Apparently we’re doing a “fit check”… who even am I? 😂

For those playing along at home — I never wear skirts and heels. Like… ever.

But for Karen & Phil’s Seppeltsfield wedding, we went FULL Glam Iridis.

✨ PG’s “fit” (still sounds like activewear to me but ok):

Rainbow glitter skirt with tulle drama, fitted lace top, sparkle belt snatching the waist, woollen bolero, vintage curls, pink + purple glitter eyes, signature pink lip, and wings sharp enough to cause emotional damage 💅

✨ Vanessa’s “fit”:
Her iconic zebra skirt, the legendary “purplem” peplum, frilly black jacket, heels… and serving effortless cool as always.

Fun fact: I only learnt what a “fit” was thanks to Cherie Clonan at a teen workshop — when a bunch of teens kept complimenting my “fit” and I was like… “my what now?” 😅

Cue education. Cue laughter. And now… here we are.

Look at us.
Doing a fit check.
In heels.
For a wedding.

We had the BEST time, felt amazing, and it was the perfect start to celebrating two absolute legends getting married 💜