Film and Photo Lighting Expert, Kelly Mondora teams up with Celebrity Makeup Artist, Mario Dedivanovic to Introduce a Revolutionary All-In-One Makeup Mirror and Ring Light – Professional Grade Makeup Mirror and Ring Light is the First to Mimic True Daylight – Ilios Lighting founder Kelly Mondora, is a 20-year veteran of the film and photography lighting industry. The Ilios Beauty Ring is the result of the collective efforts of the renowned lighting expert and makeup artist, promising to deliver the perfect lighting for makeup application, selfies, vlogging and video conferencing. Mondora has leveraged her decades of experience building lighting for the film and photography industry to offer a higher-quality alternative to the sub-standard makeup mirrors currently on the market. Wanting the well-respected perspective of a Hollywood makeup artist, she reached out to Dedivanovic and pitched the product to him. She also folded in famed photographer Jerry Ghionis to gain insight from the photographer perspective. “Over the 20 years I spent developing lighting for the photo and film industries, I was consistently shocked by the poor-quality lighting used in consumer makeup mirrors,” said Mondora. “I knew I could not only design the best makeup mirror, but integrate the best quality ring light as well. With Mario and Jerry’s invaluable expertise added to the process, we’re excited to introduce a new product that sets an elevated standard for makeup mirrors and ring lights.”
Dedivanovic is a well-known celebrity makeup artist, whose resume boasts high-profile clients including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Gabrielle Union. The revered makeup artist is a trusted educator in the industry, launching a Master Class 10 years ago featuring his celebrity approved techniques. Held across the globe, his sold-out events have attracted more than 25,000 – more – students to date. In 2020, Dedivanovic debuted his namesake beauty brand – MAKEUP BY MARIO – which was inspired by two decades of groundbreaking makeup artistry.
“When Kelly reached out to me to talk about lighting, I was excited about what she had to say,” said Dedivanovic. “Lighting is such a critical part of everything I do, from makeup application to content creation. I not only see a need for this product, but a need for a company that truly embraces our industry and understands it. The Ilios Beauty Ring is the closest thing I’ve experienced to natural sunlight. The quality is just perfect.” Together, the trio are set to make an even greater mark in their respective industries with the introduction of the Ilios Beauty Ring. Offering five levels of brightness to suit any need, including three color modes ranging from sunlight to candlelight, the mirror allows users to see every detail in true color. The Ilios Beauty Ring rates as the highest Color Rendering Index (CRI) available on the market, making it ideal for everything from makeup application to vlogging. It is 10 times brighter than competitive makeup mirrors, with a built-in metal smartphone holder revealed when the reversible mirror is detached. The reversible 1x and 5x mirror is constructed with distortion-free float glass and is oversized with hair styling and makeup in mind. The innovative smartphone arm incorporated into the design includes a magnetic pocket to store the adjustable holder. Leaving no feature out, the Ilios Beauty Ring also offers convenient mobile device charging with a built-in USB-A charging port. For even greater versatility, the tabletop base was designed at the ideal height for makeup application, selfies and video conferencing on small to mid-sized laptops – and can also be mounted onto a height-adjustable light stand. To learn more about Ilios Lighting and the Ilios Beauty Ring, visit them online at https://ilioslighting.co/
Celebrity Makeup Artist, Mario Dedivanovic and model.
FWM: You have spent 20-years in film and photography. Tell us about your background.
I took a job for a local photography lighting company right out of college as a data entry clerk hoping to stay there just until I found something better. I fell in love with the industry, stayed there for 20 years, and grew it to a highly awarded and recognized international brand. I got promoted year after year, working in almost every position within the company to eventually becoming President and shareholder. I sold my shares in 2016 with a desire to go off on my own and start something unique. I wanted to build something again one more time.
FWM: What led you to launch Ilios Lighting?
My daughter at the time was twelve, and she was starting to experiment with makeup. She asked me for a makeup mirror and a ring light because it’s what all the influencers had. When I began shopping for makeup mirrors. I was shocked that the lighting hadn’t changed much in 30 years and that the color and quality were really poor. Nothing was bright enough, and it all featured this nasty yellow light. I knew I could make a difference by introducing the consumer industry to professional lighting and combining a makeup mirror and ring light into one unique product. Years later you can see her all grown up and as a model in a lot of our posts!
FWM: You recently partnered with Celebrity Makeup Artist to introduce a Revolutionary All-In-One Makeup Mirror and Ring Light. Tell us about this partnership.
I was a lighting expert who knew nothing about makeup, so I knew I needed to find a makeup artist to help me create the best product possible. When I started doing research, a video came up with Mario and James Charles doing makeup on Kim Kardashian, and I instantly fell in love with Mario’s demeanor and talent. He was so humble too. After doing more research, I saw that he was very passionate about teaching, and I am a huge fan of that. I reached out to him and shared my story, and he was immediately interested since lighting for him was such a challenge. We worked together for a few years perfecting the Beauty Ring and we designed every single piece of it custom from the ground up.
FWM: What is unique about this product?
We are the first to make a makeup light using 98 CRI led chips, which simulate natural daylight. The product not only combines two commonly needed items in today’s social world but does it very well. It’s the best quality makeup mirror to get ready with and the best quality ring light for content creation and teleconferencing packaged in one beautiful product. You’ll improve makeup application and skincare, all while looking great on your zoom calls and social channels.
FWM: Share the features.
The mirror is ideal for styling hair and makeup with a standard 1x magnification and 5x magnification. It’s 10x brighter than competitive makeup mirrors with five dimming levels and three color modes. The mirror releases, exposing an all-metal built-in smartphone arm ideal for creating content. We even designed a receptacle on the bottom interior of the light that fits a webcam.
FWM: How important is CRI (Color Rendering Index)?
Have you ever put makeup on and then got in your car to discover how bad it looks in the rearview mirror? That’s because natural daylight is the most sought-after and color-accurate light, and most lights don’t even come close. CRI means Color Rendering Index, and perfect daylight has a value of 100. Our light has a value of 98 – which is the same quality lighting you would find on a Hollywood film set. Our competition comes in around 70, which results in color shifts. It’s hard to explain but once you use it, it’s hard to go back to other lights.
FWM: Tell us about the 10X Mirror.
I created the 10x mirror for myself to start. As I get older, my eyes aren’t what they used to be, and I need this type of magnification to put my contacts in every day and pluck my eyebrows. Now it’s our most popular accessory.
FWM: Who is this product for?
It’s really for everybody and a must-have for anyone who loves beauty and is either creating content or doing at-home teleconferencing and want their lighting to look professional.
FWM: What are people saying about this product?
This has to be the most rewarding part! Every day we find posts, YouTube videos, and TikToks not only from customers but from celebrities who have fallen in love with our light. Even Kim Kardashian described it as the best makeup light she used.
FWM: Share your vision for Ilios Lighting in 2022.
We’ve been listening to our customers every chance we get these last six months, and we are working on a few new product additions for 2022. We do everything custom and are big believers in user test groups, so new products are quite the process. We won’t release anything until it’s perfect.
