Penton&Co - Together Journal

A new kind of Beauty Company

Introducing Penton&Co, a pioneering collaborative beauty company led by the visionary Alex Penton. This innovative hub of artists and stylists bridges a market gap, providing clients with unparalleled wedding and occasion beauty services and assurance for life’s most significant moments. We’re so impressed that we’ve chosen to use them ourseleves for both editorial and personal event beauty here at Together Journal.

Alex, tell us about your background.

I’m Canadian-born, grew up in NZ and have been living in Sydney for the past 15 years. I just moved back to Auckland in December 2024 and am really so excited to be a part of the wedding industry here – NZ weddings are some of the most beautiful in the world! I initially worked in television, editorial and advertising over my career, but I’ve always been super creative and generally a kind and friendly person, so the wedding niche just fits me perfectly as I love being around other happy and excited brides on their most special day.

Tell us how the concept for Penton&Co came about?

I had my own unofficial hair and makeup team in Sydney and knew I wanted to recreate that in Auckland but have an official brand – I just didn’t know when the right timing would be or what the industry would be like here. Turns out everyone has been so incredibly welcoming and when I reached out to curate my team, the response was incredibly positive. It has just all felt right from the start here, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have such highly renowned and professional hair and makeup artists in the team.

Tell us about the Penton&Co unique points of difference and why using a group like Penton&Co can be an advantage?

We are a new team, but by all means not new to our industry. When you book with Penton&Co, you’re securing highly experienced artists with over 10-20 years of experience. You know you’ll be in safe hands, and all hair and makeup for your day will be managed and executed to perfection without the need to be in contact with multiple vendors. We also love working together and so bring a happy and positive upbeat atmosphere to your wedding morning.

Tell us about your key team members?

Every single member has been hand-picked by myself to be able to deliver high-quality, professional services that reflect my own values. Robyn, our most experienced hairstylist, is famous within the hair and makeup circle in NZ and brings a level of experience that is unmatched – I have so much to learn from this woman myself! Blair has an incredible reputation for high-end, editorial style makeup that brings out your inner beauty, Tash is incredibly personable and has over 18 years of experience and delivers glowing, yourself-but-better makeup using only top quality brands and Sherrie is newer to the industry in NZ, but in just 4 years of working as a bridal hairstylist (15 years as a hairdresser), she has risen to be one of the most renowned hairstylists in Auckland. I’m extremely lucky to have them all! The team is growing in the near future, too, so watch this space!

Can you tell us about one or two of your favourite weddings you have worked on recently?

I have absolutely loved being back in NZ and travelling around to the stunning wedding venues here. I travelled over to Waiheke Island in February this year with Robyn and Tash and we created hair and makeup for Ella Botherway’s wedding day – it was a stunning day, captured by Keryn Sweeney. My travels over the summer also took me to Hahei for Emma, she was just so lovely and we had a beautiful morning getting ready overlooking the beach and she was married at Arua Beach House, photographed by Erica Jane.

What advice would you give to brides about hair and makeup for their big day?

Be true to yourself and your aesthetic – do you usually wear a lot of makeup or wear your hair up? If not, consider an elevated version of yourself for your day that truly reflects you, and just let us listen to what you want and take it to the next level to compliment your dress and florals. And, of course, only hire professionals that you can trust have the experience in the industry to deliver the result you want and will last all day – that’s us!

What trends are you noticing in hair and MU that you are really loving at the moment and for the coming season?

I absolutely love the trend of everyone looking after their skin at the moment! Your makeup will only look as good as the skin underneath – so it makes it even easier for me to create that flawless skin-like glow that is highly requested at the moment. I spend most of my time during a makeup application on the skin – it’s the most important part of the finished look. Hair trends are chic, effortless and complimentary to elongating jaw lines and elegance. I’m absolutely loving the hair and makeup trends at the moment, as I feel they are more timeless than ever before.

You worked on the latest Flora Fashion TJ Hair + MU looks for issue 35. Tell us about your vision for this and the outcome.

Our vision for the shoot was pared back effortless elegance – Robyn’s hairstyling was understated French chic with curls rolling towards the face and effortless low buns, and makeup was monotone cool tone bronze shades with a pop of berry colour stain on the cheeks and lips to compliment the stunning florals by @floralstylistco.