The Flower Makeup Academy's Blainjenne Team teaches Blainjenne Makeup both in-person and online, helping participants learn to apply makeup independently, regardless of visual impairment.

Ms. Misuzu Hojo, who is visually impaired herself, developed Blainjenne Makeup under the supervision of Ms. Miwako Eguchi, a makeup therapist who is the director of Flower Makeup Academy. The name of the technique is a combination of "blind" which is used to describe people with visual impairments, and "Parisienne" (a Parisian woman or girl) to reflect her vision for increasing your own sophistication, like Parisians. Characteristically and uniquely, people with visual impairments teach others who are visually impaired the technique from their perspective, and there are also supporters who provide visual information.

Ms. Hojo's left eye was removed due to pediatric cancer. Her right eye is only able to perceive objects and colors vaguely. She fully began to put on makeup at the age of 18 when she started looking for a job. At first, she applied too much foundation and made many other errors, but she regularly practiced putting on makeup while being checked by her friends who were able to see. She did not give up because she liked fashion and makeup. Once she became able to put on makeup by herself, her friends with visual impairments asked her to teach them how to do it. Having learned how to apply makeup in her own way, Ms. Hojo became eager to obtain correct makeup knowledge if she was to teach people. She joined a makeup course in 2019 thanks to a completely blind friend who introduced her to Flower Makeup Academy, which is led by Ms. Eguchi. The makeup course was paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Ms. Hojo felt that teaching makeup was rewarding and contacted Ms. Eguchi again to tell her this. At that time, Ms. Eguchi decided to develop makeup methods for people with visual impairments together with her, thinking that she should be thoroughly involved in the effort.

Ms. Hojo started retaking makeup courses by Ms. Eguchi in October 2021 to learn things that would be necessary for teaching makeup. Ms. Hojo and Ms. Eguchi then started to teach the Flower Makeup Blainjenne makeup technique while repeatedly experimenting with it. They provided one and a half-hour once a month in-person lessons for women with visual impairments in Kitakyushu and Fukuoka from January to December 2023 when the pandemic situation began to settle.

The lessons mainly consist of a skincare section for practicing face washing and massaging and a makeup section for learning makeup basics, including methods for applying makeup. The lessons emphasize the importance of touching your skin with your own fingers and palms with an attitude of self-love.

In the lessons, the names of several acupressure points on the face are used. It is believed that acupressure points can help convey what they want to say more accurately than just mentioning the parts of the face in their explanations because many people with visual impairments have knowledge of acupuncture. Another benefit of using acupressure points is its possible beauty and health effectiveness. The lesson uses accessible products without depending on expensive cosmetics or tools. They think that it is important to enable participants to enjoy wearing makeup by first ensuring that it is easy to start.

After taking lessons, participants have said that they feel confident about themselves and they have received many compliments from their family. Mastering makeup increases confidence and happiness, increasing motivation and self-expression.

Their other activities include lessons for students of the Fukuoka National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Visual Disabilities, local facilities, and the introduction to the Blainjenne Makeup on video sharing platform YouTube.

The team seeks to empower visually impaired individuals to apply makeup just like anyone else. To increase the number of teachers with visual impairments like Ms. Hojo across Japan, they started activities as the Blainjenne Team, incorporating their organization as Flower Makeup Academy. "We would like to hold a fashion show featuring people with visual impairments who put on makeup themselves and enable people with visual impairments to understand and enjoy it someday," said Ms. Hojo, telling her bigger dream.

The makeup methods for people with visual impairments taught by people with visual impairments from their perspective are unique. We value their efforts greatly because they have developed their methods into a practical makeup technique. Something that Ms. Hojo said that was really impressive was, "Just wearing makeup helps me be motivated and be myself." They say that makeup makes you feel confident and courageous so that yo can take a first step. It is very significant that they have delved into what makeup means to people with visual impairments and shared this with society.