← Beauty with a Twist
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- [00:00]
A
3, 2, 1. Welcome, Renee. It's me, you guys. Oh, my gosh. Go ahead and introduce yourself. Yes.
- [00:10]
B
Hi, everyone. I'm Renee Rouleau. I'm a almost four decade celebrity esthetician. I'm the founder and CEO of Rene Rouleau professional skincare based in Austin. And you can find me at Rene Rouleau or at Renierilleau Skincare.
- [00:27]
A
Oh, my gosh. Just know I'm fangirling. I'm sitting in for. I'm like, first of all, let me just start off and say you're like a huge inspiration to all estheticians.
- [00:37]
B
Thank you.
- [00:38]
A
The goat. Okay, if you guys don't know what that means, it's greatest of all time, then this is. This is it right here. Okay. So thank you so much for your.
- [00:44]
B
How.
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A
How long was the drive? Just how long?
- [00:47]
B
Like, almost two and a half hours.
- [00:48]
A
Yeah. For Beauty with the Twist, you guys. So thank you so much for coming.
- [00:52]
B
Worth it. Worth it. Worth it.
- [00:53]
A
Go ahead and tell. If you guys don't know which, you guys should know who she is. Say a little bit about your brand yourself, how you started. Just a little. Yeah.
- [01:02]
B
So I started my career at age 19. It was late 1980s, I think it was 80, 88, 89, something like that. And you know, estheticians, there were few and far between, and so there wasn't a lot of opportunity for education and. But it was something I was passionate about. My grandmother was a hairstylist, and so I grew up kind of in that environment with her and. And almost four decades, and I'm so passionate about it. I've. I also, you know, branched out into creating a skincare line. So that's kind of a little bit every esthetician's dream. And yeah, we've been in business for 29 years. This year will be 30 years.
- [01:43]
A
That is insane.
- [01:44]
B
Yeah, I have.
- [01:45]
A
I have a lot of good, juicy questions for you guys. I want to start off with one. Okay. For. Can you share more about your grandmother that inspired your path?
- [01:56]
B
Yeah. So my grandmother was. I moved a lot growing up, and she lived in Wisconsin. And my grandmother was really funny and entertaining, and she owned her own hair salon called the Powder Puff Beauty Shop. The cutest.
- [02:12]
A
Thank you.
- [02:13]
B
And so. And then she also had like a little station. Hair station at home as well. And so I always. I have two other sisters and I have a brother, but I was the one that was like the beauty junkie. I was always the one hanging on every word she said, playing in all her hair nets and rollers and all her things. So I was, it was, it just came very natural. And my mom always saw that I had gravitated towards beauty. And so when it came time for me to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up, I knew that college wasn't my path. And my mom was like, Renee, you've always been into beauty. And so I, I actually started out as a hairstylist. So I went to school to do hair, thinking I was going to follow. Follow in the footsteps of my grandmother. Only quickly to realize that part of your apprentice or your apprenticeship is starting with toddlers. And there's nothing that will make you run away from the industry fast enough than trying to give a kid's cut to a two year old that's screaming on a mom's lap. And you're doing everything not to cut the kid's ear off. And I'm like, I'm out. I can't. This is boot camp. They. They challenged me and I'm like, I'm out.
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A
You do that now?
- [03:22]
B
Have no idea.
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A
I don't think so. That's insane.
- [03:24]
B
Well, I worked at a salon and you would start by shampooing. So I was a shampoo tech. And then while I'm kind of shampooing and doing all that, they're training you on kids, eventually to men, and then you eventually work on women. And. But yeah, it was just not my thing. And so luckily this salon that I worked at, they had an esthetician. And I was like, oh my God, like, what's this? And the whole time while I was assisting for hair, I was always hanging out with the esthetician. And she ended up becoming my business partner. We had a business for business skincare salon outside of Boston for five years. And then I moved to Dallas in 1996 and sold that half and started Renee Rouleau. But yeah, so if the salon hadn't had an esthetician working there, I may have just, you know, left the beauty industry. I mean, or left it because I, I wanted to get a hair. Wasn't my thing.
- [04:14]
A
Yeah.
- [04:14]
B
And. But I didn't really know about skin. And so I might have very well just dropped out of the industry because again, there weren't very many estheticians. So I didn't really, didn't really know what that was. But the hair salon had an esthetician in a facial room.
- [04:27]
A
Oh my gosh. So then after that you kind of just thought you never got your esthetician license.
- [04:32]
B
Oh, no, I did, yes. Oh. I actually left the salon, went to school and got my license, came back to work at the salon, mentored under my friend who became my business partner. Then we started, yeah, Skin Carrot. We left about a year later. You know, people do sometimes, you know, you take your clients and you open up your own place. And had that for five years. And then I really wanted to get out of the east coast, so I sold my half to her. And we're still super close friends. And that was really heartbreaking to kind of leave a great business and a great partnership. But I just, I didn't want to be in the east coast anymore, personally. And so I started a new life in Dallas. And Rene Rouleau skin care in 1996. I had two skincare spas there for 22 years. So I was a practicing esthetician. And then about 10 years ago, me and my now late husband, we wanted a change of scenery. So we really relocated the company's headquarters to Austin. And I would go back and forth and take clients. And then, and then I was living in Austin and the spas needed to be remodeled. And as everyone knows, like, you know, you're trying to give your clients relaxing experience and next thing you know, there's a jackhammer and everything else that needs to go into remodeling. And so I was like, well, we'll probably have to just move them and get new spaces. And I just said, you know, I've been in the services side in Dallas for 22 years. I was like, what if I just be a product company? And so we decided to wind down the leases and we ended up closing, luckily, right before COVID And so since since then, I've only been a product company. So about a year and a half ago, so again, selling online as we have for many years, and I really felt like something was missing. And I was like, and what was missing was I was no longer around estheticians. So I had, because I had always employed estheticians, I was still working a little bit hands on clients. But here in LA, like, that's only 1% of my time that I'm hands are on faces. And I was missing being around my people. So I was like, well, okay, do I open up another skincare spa in Austin? I was like, no, I've done that. And so I finally said, how can I be around estheticians? So a year and a half ago, I said yes to the question that I had said no to for years, which is, Renee, I'm an, I'm an esthetician. Can I sell Your line. And I finally said yes. And so now we have about almost 70 pro partners. So we have estheticians around the US that are selling our products. And I get to be with my people again, Our people. And I just literally could not be happier.
- [07:04]
A
You're living, like, every decision stream right now.
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B
I kind of done it all.
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A
Oh, really?
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B
I mean, I own spas, I have celebrities, created a product line. I mean, it's everything. Yeah. Done a lot.
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A
I want to ask, how is it working with celebrities? Like, are they especially with skin? I feel like when I've talked to so many guests, you know, they do nails and their hair, but, like, how's the skin when it comes to slobbering?
- [07:29]
B
So, you know, they have a lot of pressure on them because every is their face and cameras, you see everything. So, you know, they get very, very self conscious about it. And as we know, like, all the makeup in the world can cover that. Exactly. Those large pores. And so I do incredible pore work. Like, that is my thing. Like, no pore is left unturned. I mean, if you want a smooth texture, you need to extract and clean those pores. And that's what estheticians do do, so. Well, dermatologists don't do extractions.
- [08:03]
A
Oh, no.
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B
You know, this is what we do. But if you want that smooth texture, it's all about trying to get all those block pores removed.
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A
So, yeah, I feel like a lot of estheticians don't like to extract, though. They're scared.
- [08:15]
B
Yeah, they're going to hurt them. And, yeah, there's a right way to extract. A wrong way. I mean, there's definitely a methodology to doing it the right way. But I always say every clogged pore is a future breakout waiting to happen because there's congestion in that pore, there's a blockage, and eventually a breakout is going to happen. So clean pores are a must as far as working, you know, with celebrities. So Sabrina Carpenter's been my client for 11 years. Uses, you know, she's a skin type 4, uses all my products. Demi Lovato as well, has been my client for coming up on, I think, 17 years. Wow. Uses all my products. Kiki Palmer, all the Riverdale girls. But, you know, they. I'm really thorough in my work and really just helping them feel confident in their skin and not having to hide under makeup. You know, they deal with a lot of clog pores and adult acne now. They're more in the healthy aging kind of phase. So that's been fun to kind of transition them into that. But no, working with celebrities, it's the ultimate trust, you know? Exactly. They're so loyal to me and, you know, they hang on every word I say. They absolutely have had incredible results with the Renee Rouleau line. And I have a no diva rule and meaning I only work with celebrities that I feel respect me and we have a great relationship. And so, you know, I had a fire, Bella Thorne, and
- [09:41]
A
so.
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B
But, you know, sometimes you have to. Sometimes you have to fire clients. I mean, this is what it is. Like, our time is valuable. We need to be honored and respected. And sometimes you have to say, sorry, this isn't a fit anymore.
- [09:53]
A
Yeah, no. I feel like when, especially as, you know, service providers, we get that client and we're like, okay, but she's going to bring us more clientele. Right. But like, I feel like. Exactly. Our respect is 10 times more valuable than having that client.
- [10:09]
B
Yeah. No, it's not worth it. It's not worth it. So, yeah.
- [10:12]
A
I want to ask you, what are some big lessons that you learn running a business from time you open your
- [10:18]
B
first lawn to now?
- [10:19]
A
I know, it's so different.
- [10:20]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'm an esthetician first and founder second. So I'll speak to the esthetician part first and then founder of a company. So. And this is even for people who, you know, you know, don't own a business. Right. But for estheticians, I think it's really important for anyone going into this industry of being an esthetician or, or the beauty industry in. There's a lot of sacrifices you have to make. And a big part of that sacrifice is your social life. Meaning the times we work around our clients schedules, they don't work around our schedules. And so the times that when everyone's out partying and having fun and doing, you know, things. Fun things, we have to be working. And I think it's really important that estheticians are aware going into this that you're going to have to give up a lot. And I think that's really hard. You know, like, you have to, you know, hey, you want to come to this? We're going girls weekend. And you're like, no, I have to work. And, and, and to really be successful in this industry, you can't always be, you know, canceling your clients because some social activity comes up that you want to go to. Right. I mean, if you're always canceling your clients because, yeah, you're gonna. And so I think that's the important business or that's what I've learned that being an esthetician is you have to be you really, you're always accommodating their schedule and you have to miss a lot. And I think that's a big sacrifice. You know, all through my 20s, when everyone out was. When everyone was having fun, like you were building. Yeah. And I mean, you know, and I, you know, most of the start of my career was through the 90s, late 80s. I mean, I never once saw Friends because it was on at night and I worked at nights. I never saw Seinfeld, any live episode when it was on because I always worked Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday nights. Always was working till 9 o'. Clock. By the time you clean up, you don't get home till 10. So, you know, I mean, these are the things you're working evenings and weekends. And so I just think that that's something that I learned long ago. And Friends will. Oh, come on. But it's like, hey, I have a job. And so, you know, that's a big sacrifice that we give up. As a founder, there's also sacrifices as well. And I think not everyone will understand what you do. And you, you know, you're, you have so many responsibilities. And, you know, as a founder, you don't just have a 9 to 5 job where you're punching the clock like it never ends. And so again, going back to relationships and friendships, like, you know, there's a lot of people that it was hard to maintain a relationship because I'm working a lot, you know, I'm building. And so I think that that's important. But then one other big thing I, I've also really learned is a lot of estheticians and people in the beauty business. A lot of us didn't go to college. Right. Me included. And I have had advisors in my company throughout the years that went to college. They also worked in corporate America. They also have, you know, an mba. And somehow I put them on a pedestal. Like, my gosh, they, they're smarter than me. They know more. They work for some big company or whatever. And so, you know, I, I'd hire some of these advisors to advise on certain things and, and I eventually realized, like, I know it, like, what am I putting all this faith into, into them because they have a college degree and, and I, when I kind of know it all the time. I mean, yes, when it comes to finances, certain things that I'm. Yeah, that's, you know, important. But I almost kind of have a rule now. In my company that. Oh, I'm sorry. You went to college. I'm not interested in talking to you because, you know, we. We. We create things organically. We feel it. It's intuition. We didn't learn it in a textbook.
- [14:16]
A
Right.
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B
And so I think that's so powerful. You know, we. We feel things. We know humans. We kind of have that. Those street smarts.
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A
And that's important is the street smart, you kind of just learn. Exactly.
- [14:29]
B
Yeah. And so I think, you know, I. When I think about some of the advisors that have come in to my company as consultants or whatever, like, there's no flexibility. There's. You know, they're just like, this is the way it's done. And. Yeah. So I've just really realized that. What I've really learned is, like, I really am smart, even though I didn't go to college. And, you know, I figured it out. And, yes, it's not the traditional way, but, you know, I'm. I have that. That's street smart.
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A
That.
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B
That of building a business, you know, brick by brick, And. And a lot of people haven't built anything. Yeah.
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A
And I feel like having that street smart in you. Just me. For me, for example, like, again, I didn't go to college either. I actually dropped out. Same thing.
- [15:11]
B
Okay.
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A
But I learned, like, by lessons. Like, I. When I was opening up my salon, like, I don't know anything about permits. I don't know anything about, you know, like, I didn't know anything about taxes. Like.
- [15:21]
B
Right.
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A
I didn't know anything.
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B
Exactly.
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A
But I just learned on my own. Just like, I'm not a dumb girl. Like, I'm just. I learn as I go.
- [15:29]
B
Yeah.
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A
You know?
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B
Exactly. Well, I always. My favorite expression is, it's all figure it outable. Oh, right. Yeah. It's all figure it outable. Yeah. I love that. Yeah.
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A
Because we're gonna figure it out. Exactly. One way or another, we're gonna figure it out.
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B
Exactly.
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A
I love that. I feel like another going back into, you know, having no time for your friends and, you know, for the esthetician. I. Now that I think about it, I really didn't have a life when I first started.
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B
Yeah.
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A
You know, I was so focused on, like, yeah, you can go party and go do this. But.
- [16:00]
B
Yeah, I just.
- [16:01]
A
I wasn't. I mean, I did my party stage. Don't get me wrong. But I also was like, I need to work. I need some. You're.
- [16:07]
B
You're working.
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A
I'm working seven days a week.
- [16:09]
B
Exactly.
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A
I'm working. I'm waking up at 6. I'm taking my first client at 7. Like, you know, like I'm working till night.
- [16:14]
B
Exactly. Well, it's when you're driven, right? When you're a person that's a hustler and you're in, you. You have drive you. That's almost. That's so much more fun than just partying. Don't get me wrong. I partied as well, so make no mistake. But, you know, it's just there's something so fun about building a business and creating something and. Yeah.
- [16:34]
A
Going to your skincare line. Can you tell us the product that you particular are proud of or maybe have a story that people don't usually hear about a certain product?
- [16:44]
B
So let's see.
- [16:46]
A
I got the juiciness questions.
- [16:47]
B
I know, right? These are so good. Um, well, my number one bestseller is called Anti bump Solution. We've sold over a quarter million of them. And it's for Cystic Breakouts, those hard, sore knots that are under the skin that people typically. Right. I mean, you have to get a cortisone injection. Yes, I have the miracle. It's incredible. But the story behind it is that when I first worked at that salon that I did hair, or, you know, started out with hair, became an esthetician, it was a brand out of Canada or French Canadian company, and I sold their products. And then when I started the business, this one product was such a miracle for Cystic breakouts that me and my business partner, we started carrying it. And then the company ended up discontinuing the product and they discontinued it by the time I started Renee Rouleau. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no. So I bought the formula from them and. And then. Yeah. So it's been our number one bestseller to this day. And so. So I didn't create it from scratch. It was one that I sold and they phased out. And we just sell so much of it because it's such a miracle.
- [17:58]
A
I need it.
- [17:59]
B
We all need it. Yeah. When you get those big, like ouch. Yeah. Because you can put all the spot treatment pimple patches that ain't moving right.
- [18:09]
A
Especially they're underneath. They're not. They're gonna stay.
- [18:12]
B
Exactly. And your body reabsorbs that infection, and when you put this on, the bump goes down just fast, like within a day. It's incredible.
- [18:20]
A
How is one. How, like, how do you pick your, you know, esthetician to retail your products? Like, is it.
- [18:27]
B
Yeah. So, I mean, they apply and, you know, they join our weekly webinars And I don't really choose per se. I mean, everyone's just good vibes, you know, I mean, just if there's just good vibes and they're excited and.
- [18:43]
A
Or any, like, sponsors. Do you have any sponsors?
- [18:47]
B
No, no, no, not at this point. Yeah. Well. Yeah.
- [18:54]
A
What are top tips for someone truly trying to truly understand their own skin for the first time?
- [18:59]
B
Yeah. Top tips for understanding their skin. Well, see, an esthetician, I mean, you know, let's put your skin, you know, in the hands of an esthetician. Let them tell you that's their job. But top tips. I always feel like you should listen to your skin. Your skin's trying to talk to you. And I think sometimes, especially as estheticians, we're such beauty junkies that sometimes we cross a line with our skin and we do too much. I mean, think about when you're in school to become an esthetician.
- [19:34]
A
Right.
- [19:34]
B
We all remember what our skin was like. You were getting facials all the time. You were being the guinea pig for everyone. It was like not good. And so I just think, like honoring your skin and just, just listening to it. I think that's why the big thing. Yeah.
- [19:50]
A
And going back to the whole school thing, I never wanted to be a model.
- [19:55]
B
Yeah.
- [19:57]
A
I was always. Not me. I'm hiding because.
- [19:59]
B
Yeah.
- [20:00]
A
You know, we're all learning.
- [20:01]
B
Yeah.
- [20:02]
A
So I was just. My skin went through. Yes.
- [20:05]
B
Yes. Right. For all of us.
- [20:07]
A
But they changed it.
- [20:08]
B
Now they don't really do that or do as much. Yeah, yeah.
- [20:12]
A
Because they took off practical and stuff like that. So it's. I don't know how it is now, but back in my time, it was. It was very, very bad.
- [20:18]
B
Yeah.
- [20:19]
A
Looking back, what's a pivotal moment or challenge that reshaped your perspective on leadership of. Or success.
- [20:25]
B
Oh, my gosh. So my husband passed away seven years ago and he was the CEO of my company. So he joined my company like 12 years in. And so in theory, it was like a husband, wife company and because he came in as the coo, and then he passed away seven years ago from a short six month battle with cancer. So it was fast, it was furious. We only had six months notice and it was really, really hard. And I had delegated the operations side to him. I mean, he handled all that. I didn't, you know, I mean, he handled the finance operations side. I didn't have to do that. And so now, you know, now he's passed away and now kind of everything is on me. And I remember, you know, My team was so great when he was sick because they were like, renee, we got this because, you know, he's trying to prepare, you know, for his dying and trying to get his affairs in order. Plus, he's trying to, like, wrap things up at the company. He's, you know, I mean, it was just a really, really tough time. And I'm trying to be there to support him as much and be a caregiver for someone who's sick. But then we. We both have this company to run, and, you know, my team really took care of everything, and everything was great. And, you know, you. You know, when you own your own company, you feel like you've got to have your finger on the pulse with everything. And that was a real pivotal, pivotal moment because I had to let go. I had no choice.
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A
And.
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B
But then when he passed away, you know, when you're a leader, you're supposed to be brave and, you know. You know, and kind of tell them it's going to be okay or whatever. And I remember when I. After he passed away, I. We had a big company meeting, and I was like, renee, don't cry. Don't cry. I'm just gonna stand up there and be strong in front of the company. Let them know, you know, show them your strength. And, like, I cried, and I. You know, prior to going into it, I said, I know I'm gonna cry. But I was like, renee, what are you talking about? Like, you're human. Like, why wouldn't you cry? Why would you just do. Suck it up, buttercup. You know, and so, you know, since then, you know, again, like, I had to learn things in my company that I didn't know anything about. All the opera. I hadn't been part of operations in a long time. And so being a leader is. Figure it out. It's all figure it out able, you know, and I'll figure it out. And. And that's what being a leader is. And really bringing together the team. And we got this, and, you know, we'll continue to move forward. And so, yeah, so that was just a proud. A tough moment, but a proud moment because it was all about leadership. It was about. We had this incredible company with a lot of employees who had been with us for a long time, who were heartbroken to see my husband Passed away. Pass away. And so it was a fragile time. And. But, you know, like, we all do. You kind of just keep pushing through, and you get through it.
- [23:17]
A
Yeah. And, you know, it's just as, you know, owning a company, like, you can't take time, too much time off. You're like, your head's thinking about this, but you, you have this going.
- [23:26]
B
Exactly, you know, exactly. Yeah, it was, it was challenging.
- [23:30]
A
Now, was that your headquarters in Dallas?
- [23:33]
B
No, in Austin.
- [23:34]
A
In Austin. Okay. How do you, how did I, you know, I recently saw that you downsize.
- [23:39]
B
Yeah.
- [23:39]
A
Your headquarters. How was the whole process? Like, I know a lot of people when they, you know, downsize, they kind of feel like they're taking a step back in a way.
- [23:47]
B
Yeah.
- [23:47]
A
You know, out of that.
- [23:49]
B
So it's. So first of all, you know, anyone who owns a business, when you, as, you know, I mean, when you sign a lease, right. So for anyone who has an apartment, right. When you sign that lease, you're on the hook for that year lease when you get an apartment, right. Like, you're on the hook for that when you have a business, you're usually signing a three year lease or a five year lease and you are on the hook for that rent. If you decide, oh, you know what, I don't want to do this anymore, or I can't make ends meet, not profitable, you're still on the hook for that. I mean, I think, I guess if you declare bankruptcy, you can get out of it or whatever. But. So the decision to sign a five year lease is a big one. And you also can't always anticipate, you know, is this, do we want to get a little bit bigger space so we can grow into it? You know, I mean, a lot can happen in three or five years, you know.
- [24:37]
A
Yeah.
- [24:37]
B
And so we were in a space, a five year lease, and ultimately when the tariffs came, it hit our company really bad, as it did a lot of people. And it was really interesting and frustrating at the same time because everyone just raised prices and everyone was like, tariffs, tariffs. But I think it was a trickle down effect. It was like dominoes that everyone just raised prices no matter what. So like, even companies in theory that shouldn't have had issues with tariffs, they were raising their prices. And one of our vendors, which I'm now transitioning away from because they showed me who they were, which is, they said to me, they sent out a letter, we're raising, you know, tariff prices because of tariffs or whatever. And they said it was on their packaging. And we get, you know, we get some of the packaging from them. And I said, I said, well, if the tariffs come down, will you go back later, lower the price because you're saying it's tariffs. And they said, no, it's like, well, wait A minute you're saying you're raising it because of tariffs, but if the tariffs come down, you're not going to lower it. So I was like, okay, well that's. We're not going to do business with someone like that anymore because it's like, that's not fair. Yeah. You know, that's not fair. Yeah. And so anyway, so everyone was raising prices and so we were about a year away from resigning a new lease. So again, like signing another five year lease, I'm like, who know? I mean, the world's nuts right now. Like, who knows? And so the smart thing, I can't control the world and what's happening out there, I can only control me and my decisions. So we downsized to half the size. Our rent went from $22,000 a month to $12,000 a month. So that was a huge treat. And so. And we signed a three year lease because I anticipate we're going to have to get bigger. You know, we'll have to. We'll outgrow that space. But, you know, just had a downsize and it's a little more tight headquarters now. But, you know, this is. It's business. It's the constant game of adaptation. And you always just want to be smart before you sign on the dotted line and lock yourself into something that you can't get out of.
- [26:39]
A
Did you guys hear that? $22,000.
- [26:43]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [26:43]
A
Let me.
- [26:44]
B
Hold on.
- [26:44]
A
We need to give her the whole bas. The crowns and everything. Put that on because. Wow.
- [26:50]
B
Yeah.
- [26:50]
A
That is insane.
- [26:52]
B
Yeah.
- [26:53]
A
Wow. That's. I don't even want to tell you my. You're going to be like, why wish you're going to look at me like. But you know what? That. I understand that especially for, you know, downsizing isn't a bad thing. It's just a smart. Whatever is smart for the person.
- [27:08]
B
Yeah.
- [27:09]
A
Whatever they're comfortable with. You know, I always think about that too. I'm like, you know, if it wasn't for my booth renters, you know, the help.
- [27:15]
B
Yeah.
- [27:16]
A
You know.
- [27:17]
B
Yeah.
- [27:18]
A
It's a lot.
- [27:18]
B
Yeah.
- [27:19]
A
When you own. Especially read that contract.
- [27:22]
B
Yes.
- [27:22]
A
And we're gonna get into the final two questions. Where do you see the future of skincare going with the trends or the changes that's happening? You know, there's so many skincare trends on Tick tock. What is the. What is it? The snail. I see beef tallow. Tallow.
- [27:40]
B
Oh, yeah. The list goes on and on. So this is where I see the future of skincare.
- [27:45]
A
Oh, we're gonna hear from the goat.
- [27:47]
B
Yes.
- [27:47]
A
Pay attention.
- [27:48]
B
The future of skin care is in the hands of estheticians. So I am on a mission to elevate estheticians as the ones who know skin the best. Why we do it. Dermatologists don't. What skin care influencers can't. They don't touch skin, they don't feel skin. Skin has lost its way, and we need to go back to the basics. What's the basics? Actual skin, skin type. This is what it is. It's not about product ingredients. It's about skin. What's right for me, what's your skin type. And the person that knows skin types the best are estheticians.
- [28:27]
A
Wow.
- [28:28]
B
Yeah. So that's my mission. I'm here to elevate estheticians and really, you know, really push that. We are the ones that can help people find their way back again. Because consumers are confused. Right. They're following all these things, but. Yes, but, you know, as much as they follow all these things, they're frustrated. Right. Because it's overwhelming. It's too much information. And as estheticians, we are the ones that can say, you know, cut out the noise, you know, I'm going to set you straight, because I know skin, because I touch skin, I feel skin. We know skin in a way that no one else does. And so people need to trust estheticians. And I'm on a mission to shout from the rooftops that we are the best people to care for their skin.
- [29:11]
A
Yeah. I couldn't have said it better, because they're seeing these trends on Tik Tok, and they're seeing. They don't even know that the actual influencer is wearing makeup, you know, and it's like they see a pimple and then they don't know the person is sent to a week later, and they literally just take it off. Whatever. They probably put, like a little red dot.
- [29:30]
B
Yeah.
- [29:30]
A
And then they take it off with a little concealer. And that's it.
- [29:33]
B
Yeah. You know, I know it's wild, but,
- [29:36]
A
you know, teach their own. Right. What's the next for you and your brand in the coming years? Any new products?
- [29:43]
B
Oh, so many.
- [29:44]
A
What's the direction? Let's hear it here. Let's hear it here first.
- [29:48]
B
Yes. So crystal ball. Crystal ball. Crystal ball. So we're really focused on this professional side. Like I said, these are my people. Estheticians. I just love educating estheticians. I mean, the reality is, you know, as we talked about, like, I've kind of done it all I've employed estheticians like when I had my skincare spas in Dallas. Rene Rouleau. The estheticians who worked for Rene Rouleau were the highest paid estheticians in Dallas. Everybody wanted to work for Rene Rouleau. Why? Because they were so educated, so professional. They weren't pushy salespeople, but they knew how to sell because they were so educated and training was. I mean they were just the smartest estheticians because I trained them. And so I'm really going to give that back to our pro partners and our estheticians. I'm doing, you know, all throughout the year I'm going to be doing a lot of, you know, free webinars and trainings so people can learn from me.
- [30:42]
A
And.
- [30:43]
B
But skincare education is really important and because I've done it all again from hiring an employee, you know, your first employee to if you want to create a skincare line, how do you become a celebrity esthetician? You know what, you know, the nine skin types. My philosophy, there's just so many things I can speak on and so really taking everything in my brain and sharing it with the world is really my focus as far as skin care. We're going to continue to innovate. We're actually pushing products harder this year. Our goal is to come out with four products this year which is, you know, normally we kind of do two a year.
- [31:16]
A
Yeah.
- [31:16]
B
So our last launch last, last year, six months ago was our Hyper Fix fading toner. And that's a. An alcohol free toner that uses 3% tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid is the only skin brightening ingredient that stops both pigment two pigment producing. Pigment. Pigment producing pathways where most vitamin C and RB and all those just address one. It's incredible. And that has now been one of our top. It's our number, top five bestseller and we have 55 products in a line. So if something is the top five bestseller, you know, it's good. And so Hyper Fix Fading toner, that's just incredible. We have a new serum coming out in March and we have a lot of our esthetician pro partners in testing it and everyone's obsessed. But to me, skin care isn't creating a product to create a skincare product. It's. I have to find something really innovative. I'm not chasing trends but really looking to solve a problem that there's a real need for. So a lot of the products that I'm focused on right now are all for, you know, discoloration post breakout marks, you know, dark spots, sunspots. Because that's, you know, we all need lots of things in the hyperpigmentation toolkit and. But yeah, more products, more estheticians and me being out on the road more, you know, speaking at trade shows and just. Yeah, I mean, this year we're celebrating 30 years, and I'm getting ready for the next 30 years.
- [32:43]
A
Will you be speaking at any trade shows this year?
- [32:46]
B
I haven't gotten confirmation yet. Honestly, I haven't even really asked yet, but. But I'm sure. I'm sure. Yes.
- [32:51]
A
Well, I will be. New York.
- [32:53]
B
Yeah.
- [32:54]
A
If you're going to that trade show, there's a lot of people going to that one. I'm like, I usually go to Vegas.
- [32:58]
B
Yeah.
- [32:59]
A
One. But my first time going to New York.
- [33:01]
B
One.
- [33:01]
A
So we'll see.
- [33:02]
B
Yeah, we'll see. You'll see me around? You'll see me around.
- [33:04]
A
Is there any last? We. We usually used to end the podcast with a quote, but we now end with any final thoughts that you have, any advice you would give for future estheticians. Anything.
- [33:15]
B
Let's see.
- [33:16]
A
Let's pick her brain.
- [33:17]
B
I know.
- [33:18]
A
Okay.
- [33:18]
B
Yes. For any esthetician that's listening and watching this love on your client better than any anyone else. And they will stay loyal to refer all their friends and you will have amazing clients for life. And what that means is, you know, don't run late, don't cancel because you want to go to the party as we talked about earlier, right? I mean, always show up in service for them and, you know, just give them your all, follow up with them in between visits. Don't just think that, you know, this relationship is just in the treatment room. Their skincare journey is part, you know, is happens when you're not together. How can you stay in touch with them, become their personal skin assistant and they will stay loyal to you.
- [34:05]
A
That was beautiful. Literally amazing. That was like, drop the mic. That's it. Well, thank you so much for being on my podcast and thank you so much for being in traffic for me. You guys know, like two and a half hours. I'm insane. So.
- [34:19]
B
No, I hope to see you in
- [34:20]
A
my next one and bye. Bye.