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- [00:06]
A
Hello. Hello. This is Brooke Devard, and you're listening to the Naked Beauty podcast, and I am so thrilled to be joined by Cindy Ramirez Fulton. She is the founder and CEO of Chill House, the cult self care brand that she built from a single spa on New York's Lower east side into a nail and wellness empire. I could remember when Chill House first opened. Everyone was obsessed. It was discussed on a lot in 2017 and 2018 on naked beauty, and we're still talking about it today in 2026. Cindy is a first generation Colombian American and daughter of a queen's esthetician. Cindy launched chill house in 2017 with a simple but radical idea. Make self care actually accessible and fun. What started as a cafe meets spa grew into a beloved product line, including the iconic chill tips press on nails sold at Target, Urban Outfitters, and beyond. Earlier this year, Kiss Beauty group acquired Chill House, with Cindy staying on to lead the brand into its next chapter. Welcome to the show, Cindy.
- [01:06]
B
Thank you so much for having me, Brooke. It's an honor.
- [01:09]
A
Oh, my gosh. Well, you know what? I didn't include in the intro also, you know, at one time, potential castmate on Real Housewives of New York. Doesn't that feel like a different lifetime ago that we were talking to all the Bravo producers?
- [01:20]
B
Yeah, I know. When we were both still kind of in New York, but had one foot out the door, and we're like, should we stay in New York if we get this? But, like, we're so, like, made up. Like, our minds were already set on moving. So it just, you know, things happen as they should.
- [01:32]
A
They happen as they should. I don't think it was the path that was meant for us, although much love to all the. All the housewives.
- [01:39]
B
They're doing great.
- [01:40]
A
They're doing great. So you are a New Yorker. Like myself, you were raised in Queens and your mother, you know, was an esthetician. Was beauty just like a huge part of your life? Growing up as a young kid, I
- [01:53]
B
mean, it's kind of all I knew. Yes, she was, like, big on skincare, but she also cared a lot about body care. She, obviously, I was very young. She wasn't looking at my body, like, dissecting me, but I feel like even at a young age, I was very aware of my looks of appearance because that's what I was surrounded by. I was surrounded by a bunch of women that were constantly getting their upkeep treatments with my mother. You know, she wasn't like a traditional kind of like, spa owner. She was a very Much like a Medispa type entrepreneur. And so her business was very much centered around skin care, body treatment, cellulite removal. These were women that were coming in with, like, real, like, you know, things that they needed that, like, insecurities that they needed to be fixed. So that was kind of the environment that I grew up in. Not necessarily cosmetics or anything that was necessarily like, more just, like, surface level. It was a lot, like, was a lot deeper. And actually, if anything, there were a lot of, you know, insecurities that came to the surface as a result of it, you know, in some weird, messed up way.
- [02:58]
A
I know that Colombian women specifically are very into, like, body and shape. I mean, still today, Colombia is one of the top places that you go to get, like, surgery. There's a whole thing about, like, the baddies of Medellin.
- [03:11]
B
Oh, my God, is there?
- [03:12]
A
Yes, yes. There's a, you know, it's a. It's a really unrealistic beauty standard, but it's like the tiny waist and, like, the full hips, big boobs was that.
- [03:22]
B
And I had none of that. Like, we were never into surgery. My mom would never make me feel like I needed to get surgery, but, like, whatever we can do without having to get to the surgery table, we. We would do, you know, and that's what my mom wanted to do for women. And yeah, like, Colombian women are stunning. And the. The bar is really high over there. So I, growing up, I definitely didn't feel like the prettiest person in my family. Like, I had cousins that were super skinny and gorgeous and just like, a lot more of, like, the standard. Right. And I was kind of like. I mean, I was always. I was always pretty, but, like, I never felt like the, you know, the most beautiful person in the room just because it's. That the bar was always so high for me.
- [04:07]
A
Oh, yes. Growing up in Queens, though, I would hope that there was, like, pretty good diversity. Like, were there other, like, Latinas, like, young girls that you were around at school?
- [04:16]
B
Yeah, for sure. I mean, of all backgrounds, Colombian, Mexican. I feel like back in the day, in the 80s, it was a big, like, influx of Colombians. Specifically, I felt like I was mostly around Latinos, although there were different pockets of Jackson Heights and areas of Queens where I grew up that were different nationalities. Like, there were Indians, there were Koreans and Flushing. So, yes, there were a lot. And as I got a little older, I was exposed to more of them. But when I was like a little, little girl, it was just like all Colombians, it was like, which is crazy because you live in, like, the most diversely densely populated area. And what they say, I think is, like, the world, and yet somehow you feel like you're in your own groups, in your own segments. And it's not until, like, you get to honestly junior high or college or high school that you're actually co. Mingling with other people. Because so much of your. Like, when you're really, really young, you're really just meeting the people that are, like, part of your immediate group, because those are. Those are people that your mother's still hanging out with. Right. She didn't know any English. She obviously couldn't communicate with other immigrant parents that were coming here from wherever. So it was really like, just Latinos that we were with for so many years. And then as I got a little older, we moved around a lot. I made other friends. I made a lot of white friends, Italians, Jewish, Irish. And then, yeah, my. My friend group just became more and more eclectic as I got older.
- [05:39]
A
Yeah. So she was a hustler, just like you. She basically had one chair in a salon, and then she started running three spas. What was it like seeing her, like, grind and hustle like that? Did it make it. Did it make you feel like, oh, I want to do that one day and be an entrepreneur?
- [05:52]
B
I would be lying if I said yes, because the way she went about it was very like how, you know, an immigrant parent would, you know, she didn't have access to, like, technology. She didn't really. There was no real innovation. Right.
- [06:08]
A
That when I was like, no VC funding.
- [06:10]
B
Oh, of course not. No. It was like scraping pennies off out of the couch. You know, it was very, very grassroots and. And hustler mentality and like, you know, everything was like a big, like. Like a little. It was brick by brick how she built the business. And not to say that I wasn't impressed and inspired, but it wasn't what I aspire to, because I aspire to do it in a way that my generation would do it. So when I was growing up, I was more so, in a way, resentful that she worked so hard. I was like, I wish she would just take care of herself. Like, she just. Not that she didn't. Of course, like, you know, vanity was part of her business and she took care of herself, but I just felt like she didn't leave room for anything but work. And I knew growing up that even if I. Whatever I ended up doing because I didn't know I wanted to be a business owner, I didn't want that. I wanted balance. I wanted to be able to enjoy my life. I wanted to travel. I wanted to experience life outside of work. So in a way, it set me up for success because I've always had the hustle in me because it was bred into me. But I've always also known I wanted other parts of my life to flourish.
- [07:22]
A
Yes. Yes. I'm sure seeing her give, you know, it sounds like more than 100% just to her business not pouring into herself. It's like, okay, I want to do this, but I'm going to do it on my own terms.
- [07:31]
B
Yeah.
- [07:31]
A
And I feel like you are, like, such an expert at work life integration, because I feel like this idea of, like, work life balance is, like, so false. But it's like, you'll be coming to LA for, like, a work thing, but you're like, oh, obviously, like, I'm coming. Like, the kids are here. You and I had dinner at Nobu Malibu. I remember Stevie was, like, just born. She's, like, just sleeping in her little stroller and make it work. We're having, like, a lovely adult dinner, chatting up her husband. Yeah. 10:00pm Our husbands are there. Obviously you work with your husband as CEO, which we're going to get into. But it is really hard to balance a business and be a present mother. And I have memories of my mom working when I was young and being on conference calls and having that feeling of, like, why can't she just, like, get off that call and play with me? But then as I got older, I kind of understood, like, okay, she is very ambitious and, like, work is going to be a big part of her life. How do you think about how Stevie and Hendricks, your kids, who are both still young, both under six. Is Hendrick six yet?
- [08:29]
B
He's gonna be six in July. Yeah.
- [08:31]
A
Okay. I know, because our boys are very close. I know. I know our pandemic pregnancies. But how do you talk to them about you balancing work? And do you tell them, like, okay, Mommy's working now. How do you balance it? Because it's so hard.
- [08:46]
B
I know. I mean, there's definitely a lot of guilt that comes with it. But, you know, the nice thing about the pandemic, in a way, is that we were there, you know, always around. We were close by. And I know not everyone gets the privilege of being right next to their children, but it allowed us to work from home and actually be, like, around for those little moments where they're there and we're still kind of, like, out of meetings and we can go get a snack and, you know, interact with our children in between all of it. And that's just, like, one example. But really, they know that, you know, we're doing something that sets them up hopefully one day in some way. Right. And I think that's. They might not fully understand it yet, but that will be part of the conversation. Like, mommy and Daddy didn't have this growing up. Like, yes, my mom was an entrepreneur, and she did help set me up in some way. But I work so hard to do everything from, like, the bottom up, you know, with Chill House, with everything I've done. And not that I don't want them to go through a similar experience because I definitely don't want to feed them everything, but, you know, I think they really. They should know that this is also for them and to set the example that they can go and do whatever they want as well, you that they can dream something up and kind of build it from scratch just like how we have. And so we definitely do have the entrepreneur chat with them. They come into this office, they see everything I'm working on, and they go to Daddy's bars, they go to Mommy's, like, you know, Chill House, the flagship. They know the team. We want them to feel like they're invited into the world a little bit. It's not just like, mommy's working, like, get away. Close the door. No, no. I mean, I ask them for advice. Like, do you like these tips? Like, they're. They're. They're in it. They're in it with us, you know, in some way, shape or form. Maybe not as much as I was with my mother, because I, you know, sometimes my mom didn't have childcare, so I was, like, sitting in the salon for, like, hours on end. But they're in it, and I think they enjoy it. So as long as they, you know, just. They realize. And every single thing that we have, like, the life that we're building, affords their life, you know, and like, all. All of this is affording their life and this life that we're creating for them. And that's also important for them to understand.
- [10:57]
A
Yes. How do you alleviate the guilt, though? We were talking yesterday about that Emma Greed article that came. Came out the Wall Street Journal, and the headline was. What was it? It was like, emma says that three hours with your kids is enough is enough as she's building her empire. Like, you can't do it all. And I think when I shared it with you, I said they would never do this Headline about a man. Anytime they profile a man ever, they never talk about. Oh, they don't even ask men, how do you balance seeing your children?
- [11:24]
B
No one even asks them if they have kids or if they're married. There's like, doesn't even enter. I try not to let it guilt me because as long as mommy's happy, like, isn't that all that matters? I wasn't designed to be a stay at home mom. Like, my nervous system isn't set up for it. My nervous system is set up.
- [11:41]
A
Mine is not as well. It's. I think it's actually harder than working.
- [11:44]
B
Yeah. Like, when I show up to parent, I want to be in a good mood. If I'm with them every second of the day, I will resent them more often than I'd like to. Right.
- [11:53]
A
Let's get real. This is a very real conversation that people are hearing, but it needs to be said because it's like we don't have the safe space to even share these things. Of course, it's like the hardest job in the world and it's the most, I think, revered job in the world to stay home and like, raise your kids. But it really isn't for everyone.
- [12:11]
B
No. And I give those women so much credit. And like, if that's what you were, like, designed to do and you dreamt to do it, like, my. If I'm being completely honest, let's go there. Like, I didn't know I wanted to have kids, you know, and my Adam, you know, grew up in a more kind of not traditional. He has divorced parents, but, like, he grew up in the suburbs. He has. He finds peace in the suburbs. I was like, I'm a city girl. Like, I'm good being single forever. Like, I love having him and I love that he's my companion in life forever. But I didn't see a traditional path for me. I didn't know I was going to end up in a house with a backyard and a pool and, you know, swing set in the front. Like, that was like, not on my vision board. I didn't want to build a family and then resent how I was doing it. I had to do it on the terms that made sense for me. And I think it's very possible to do both. And I think women like Emma Grade are great examples of people who can do that. You know, that it's totally possible. And yes, of course, you have to have the right support system because that's the most important factor in all of it. Like, if I didn't Are you kidding me? Like, I. I'd be going crazy. I'd be fuming at the ears. You know, it's definitely not easy to do it if you don'. Have people that you can really rely on. And I. And I say that even wholeheartedly. Like, with the infrastructure that I have now, it's the best infrastructure I've had in the past, you know, five and a half years that I've had a child. I'd have issues with my last nanny, and, you know, she'd call out sick, and it just. There was all this drama, like, you know, and I see even moms now that, like, struggle with that and getting into a good rhythm with their caretakers. Once you do have the right people, it's like, oh, you know, this, like, big relief that.
- [13:53]
A
Yes.
- [13:53]
B
You know, gets lifted off your shoulders. And I have that right now. So I'm very lucky in that department. And I think that does free me up to be more creative, think more into the future when it comes to my business and the flexibility to have a decent social life. Like, you know, my mother comes over whenever I ask her to. She's happy. She has nothing else to do. She's so happy to be here and. Really?
- [14:16]
A
Yes.
- [14:17]
B
Yeah. Like, what else can I ask for?
- [14:19]
A
I'm so happy for you that. That you have that. I want to go back to the gallivanting because I know the gallivanting years you did in New York City because we have to talk about your time in nightlife and the fact that our paths crossed without us knowing each other. Because I knew your husband, Adam as, like, this cool downtown promoter. He was doing all these fun parties, and it'd be like, oh, let's text Adam and see if we can get on the list.
- [14:42]
B
And he'd, like, get this weird, like,
- [14:46]
A
have all of this weird promoter connection. But it was just like, well, that doesn't.
- [14:50]
B
That makes sense. Yeah. Same year, being raised in New York. Like, similar ages.
- [14:54]
A
Yeah, similar ages. The peak of New York nightlife, if you ask me. Between, like, 1Oak, 10, June guest house. What else? Marquis.
- [15:04]
B
Like, oh, my God.
- [15:04]
A
Cool.
- [15:05]
B
No, that's where he works on Tuesdays. Butter was fun. What was? Mondays. I mean, I even go back a little. Well, I don't know how long you've been going out in New York, but even for me was, like, suede pangea. Pink elephant.
- [15:18]
A
Lotus Pink elephant. Oh, my gosh. Yes. It was such a specific time in New York, but during that time, you kind of made this tough decision to, like, drop out of college and kind of work in nightlife to stay financially stable and then you eventually kind of started over to do unpaid internships in your twenties. But what was, what was that time? Kind of like figuring it out, deciding that you weren't going to continue to pursue college, that you were going to kind of work in the nightlife. So space for a bit. What was that time period like for you?
- [15:50]
B
I just remember being really, really wrapped up in the scene, if I'm being completely honest, and it kind of ended up ruining my daytime abilities.
- [16:02]
A
Yeah, you were like nocturnal. You would, you.
- [16:04]
B
I was very nocturnal.
- [16:05]
A
Yeah. Yeah, you would wake up at like 2pm which like sound for me as a mother to hear that horrifying. But like that was normal. Like we would wake up at like 2:00'. Clock.
- [16:16]
B
Yep.
- [16:17]
A
And then just like start the day. It sounds very degenerate.
- [16:20]
B
And then like didn't. It was, it was very degenerative. I'm being completely honest. Like looking back, I'm like, I was 24, doing this, like what the hell, like was I thinking? What was my mom thinking letting me be this way? But I was a grown woman, I was capable of making my own decisions and I was really stuck in my decisions and I, I, I did feel like I had some time left to mess around, quote unquote. Like I wasn't ready to really become like a full blown adult in my early 20s because I wasn't that ambitious about anything that I was seeing as a job option, you know. So yes, I went to college for fashion marketing specifically and like I enjoyed my classes. But then I also had to take math and I'm like, what am I, why do I need algebra? Like what is this? Like, this is where you lose me. I'm like going to, you know, a private, like, what do you call them? Like, yeah, like a university. I wasn't going to like a SUNY or like a city college. Like I was paying like, you know, substantial amount of money to just get just like a fashion degree, not necessarily like a liberal arts or arts or anything else like that. So I just got really frustrated with the process. And yes, I was out partying and working and like, you know, getting to my 9:00am, 8:30am class was really, really hard. So they were really strict too. They were like, okay, well if you're not going to show up, if you have like three or more absences, then you start, you know, failing your classes. And so I was starting to fail and I'm like, I'm just going to just Stop. Like, what's the point?
- [17:47]
A
I think what you're saying is so relatable. People, like, struggling in school, not necessarily having, quote, unquote, like, the right priorities, but, like, clearly everything worked out for you. And, like, you've been this incredible success and you built this incredible business. And I feel like it's just, like, a really important reminder for people to realize that, like, the path you're on in your 20s or even 30s or even 40s, like, does not define your life at all. And sometimes making the mistakes is incredibly helpful. The second thing I just want to say for. Especially for my young listeners, be outside and enjoy being outside. Like, a lot of young people, it's like, they don't drink, they don't go out, they don't. They don't have these messy nights. And it's like, you gotta do it while you can, because I agree, it's important. It builds. It builds character.
- [18:30]
B
Character. It builds, honestly, relationships too.
- [18:34]
A
Yeah.
- [18:35]
B
Built a lot of really fun relationships. Getting a little messy with your friends. And so, yeah, I had a lot of that. And then eventually, and I agree fully. I'm so glad I got all of that out of my system. Like, I, you know, fully. But I had hit a wall where I was like, okay, enough's enough. Like, I don't. This is not the path forward for me. I'm not meant to be in hospitality for the rest of my life. Granted, of course, now, through it, by default, through my husband, I kind of am. But I had to go back to the drawing board, and that's why I ended up interning at, like, 25 years old, which, of course, you know, is kind of old for. In traditional terms. So, yeah, it took me a while.
- [19:16]
A
Yes, but you. But you figured out your path and what you wanted to do. Now, you also had a blog called Taste of Stuff Style. I also had a blog. I had a blog called the Glamorous Eccentric. Like, I feel like. I feel like that's now substack. Like, people have these, like, outlets on substack, which I love. But what did that kind of creative outlet do for you in terms of figuring out who you were and what you wanted to build?
- [19:40]
B
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, I realized I love two things, and it was fashion and hospitality, restaurants, you know, nightlife. And so it was a perfect way for me to marry the two and inject my own personal taste into the blog in some capacity. And so the way I did it, I didn't do it in, like, this sense of. In the traditional Kind of blog sense, like the roomy Neely's of the World or Sincerely Jewels, where I was taking pictures of my outfits. I didn't really do that as much as I did actual interviews and treated it like a mini refinery 29 or like a mini style caster. And I was doing a lot of interviews and I was doing series around women specifically. The one that really took off was a series called Boss Babes. And so I would interview different women across all these different kind of categories or. Yeah, like, industries, like between you know, being designers or if they were a chef. Like, I loved interviewing chefs and getting in the kitchen with them and doing, like, beautiful kind of like photography and around their businesses. So that's kind of how I ended up meeting a lot of people. Honestly, I did it selfishly to expose myself to really ambitious women and business owners and kind of immerse myself in that world and see what. Where I would end up. I don't think I ever thought of myself as, like, a writer per se. Like, I was a good writer. I wouldn't go and, like, try to become a journalist at any of, like, the majors because I wasn't, like, that good at it. But I enjoyed it. That was my creative outlet at the time. And then I also enjoyed beautiful photography. And so I kind of married two and created like, a really, like, I'd say it was pretty successful. Like, we had some pretty decent traffic. And it. It's how I generated my, you know, income for a couple years through brand partnerships. And so that's how I also got exposed to brand partnerships and all that, which of course then carried over into Chill House.
- [21:31]
A
Yes, I know. I. I feel like I didn't even mention in your intro that in addition to all of these things, you are also like a content creator. That meant, like, that does brand partnerships and you're regularly sharing your life online. But it makes sense to me that in those kind of early years, you were creating a blog. Now, you've said that spas always felt to you growing up either, like, too exclusive or too expensive. When did this kind of idea click for you that you wanted to build a spa that was accessible with Chill House?
- [22:02]
B
I think it all goes back to how I was raised, right? So my mother, she had the one chair and then eventually had three spas, but none of them had much of an ambiance. The decor was very simple. It kind of felt like a little bit of an elevated doctor's office. Right. Like, not to, you know, talk on my mother because, like, I love her And I am so, you know, always inspired by her. But at the same time, there were so many, there was so much room for improvement. And I would always bring this up to her and I'd be like, can you please, you know, put on something other than like, I don't know, ja, like smooth jazz, like, can we like, vibe this up a little bit? Or hey, I would ask her all the time, can you please do nails? We need a lower price point for a customer that just kind of can come up off the streets. Like, you're so slow right now. If we just had advertising for nails, you'd have business versus like what she did was she would sell these packages that were very expensive for, you know, like a lower income neighborhood. But, you know, people would pay it because they wanted that snatch, waste. But, like, that was my mother's world. And I just always wanted to kind of break her foot free from just always having these, like, very expensive services. And then as I kind of grew up, I realized all these spas were very similar. Actually. This is a fun fact that I, I don't even think I've ever brought up in an interview. One of my first. I, I, I decided I didn't want to do nightlife. I'm pretty sure it was right after I worked at Scores when I was 18 years old as a, as a bottle waitress.
- [23:35]
A
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Scores, like the strip club Scores?
- [23:39]
B
Like the strip club club? I was a bottle waitress. I was just a waitress there for like a month. When I was 18 years old, my mom found out. She's like, you're getting the hell out of nightlife and you're getting like a normal nice job.
- [23:51]
A
I do remember that weird loophole in New York at the time where you could like work at a club even if you were 18.
- [23:58]
B
I think you still can.
- [24:00]
A
Yes. But I just remember being like, serving. Yeah, I was a teenager at the clubs as well. But like, I remember people would be like 18 working at the club. He had to be 21 to drink. So it was just, that was like a weird, it still doesn't really make sense that you can be 18.
- [24:13]
B
I agree.
- [24:14]
A
In a club.
- [24:15]
B
Like, how did I get, I mean, I used to work my first, my first, first nightlife job. I was 17 as a guest list girl at like Gustavino's for this promoter. And so how was I inside a nightclub at 17 years old when I was 21 and over?
- [24:29]
A
How, how, how was I anywhere? Yeah, I know. It's, it's, it is, it is crazy. And I want. I want different for our daughters, but we live and we learn, okay?
- [24:38]
B
So I got it.
- [24:39]
A
Mom said, absolutely not.
- [24:41]
B
My mom almost dragged me out of there by my hair. She's like, I will actually physically go into scores tomorrow, drag you out of your hair if you don't quit today. Like, okay, I'll quit. So I. I think it was right after that that I ended up finding a job at. I forget the name of the spa. I don't know if it still exists today, but it was like an Upper east side, like, fancy, schmancy little, like, spa that had zero personality. I was bored to tears as a receptionist. But my one fun story is that I did meet Naomi Campbell, and she told me I was pretty.
- [25:13]
A
Oh.
- [25:14]
B
I mean, she came in with a neck brace. It was like the whole, like, sunglasses, neck brace. You're beautiful, darling. Like, the whole thing. I was like, this is perfect. This is the only reason I got this job. But again, kind of going back to that story, I just felt like growing up, I just was kind of constantly in these spa environments that were just boring me to tears. And so it all kind of clicked one day. You know, I was getting massages. Like, I was either, like, getting massages at, like, high end spas or low end spas, and there was just nothing in between. And it was around the time that heyday and the now, and all these, like, single service spaces were starting to kind of pop up. So we're like, okay, something's here. Like, there is appetite for this, like, middle, you know, middle price tier that isn't being served for massages in New York, and it's not being served for nails that much either. And. But maybe there's also a way to make this a third space. So that was really the aha moment when I really think back and I do a little, like, you know, therapy session on it. It was really me trying to solve what my mother wouldn't solve for me or what the things that she wouldn't do that I was suggesting for her to do. Right? And we can't obviously change our parents's business. It's their business. That's their business. It's their business.
- [26:27]
A
But she's like, you've got a lot of great ideas when you have your own business.
- [26:30]
B
When you have your own.
- [26:31]
A
You should do it. You should do it.
- [26:32]
B
So I did.
- [26:33]
A
And so you did. And in 2017, I can remember, I did this very specific episode of Naked Beauty. I interviewed Kate Seward. She was this brilliant, like, very cool, creative, brand strategist at Viacom. And I talked to her. Okay, talk to me about yourself, K. Richelson. She was like, my, like, religion is chill house. Like, I have a standing appointment. I go. She talked about the fact that she. There was, like, some. Something on your menu where you could, like, let your artist decide the art. Like, it just kind of, like, based on, like, vibe. Like, there wasn't like, a specific, like, oh, I want this or this. So she was like, it's kind of this freestyle thing. It feels very creative. It's like my creative outlet. And I mean, it was just. It was like, to talk about it now, I don't know if people will, like, fully understand, but it was such a cool thing, and it's still very cool. But to have this third space as you're talking about it, that it just felt so revolutionary. It felt like something that we hadn't seen before in the, like, nail art spa space. And I remember all of the, you know, glossy Instagram posts and, like, all of the profiles on you. Like, boss, babe, killing it. But what was it actually, like behind the scenes in those, like, early days? Like, really starting from scratch.
- [27:44]
B
Yeah. I mean, I didn't think it was gonna take off from, like, a press and influencer, like, standpoint. Like, that was all kind of very surprising to me. I do think that the biggest thing is obviously the trifecta of things that we brought into a room. The location we were in a location that a lot of people were just naturally in, like, that area or like, they hang out there or whatever. So I think it was a mix of location, the trifecta of the. The services and then branding and social. All of that really just put it in a. In a position that, you know, at that time, this is millennial peak, Millennial pink and peach time. Right. That was like, glossier peak, glossier peak, the wing. And there was nothing that really felt accessible to women to just kind of, like, come off the street. Right? It was if you could be a member of the wing and pay thousands of dollars to, you know, have access, or you can go to chill house and meet the same people that were members of the wing and, you know, just grab a matcha and sit there and, like, open up your laptop and maybe get a manicure, maybe get a massage. So I think that's what made it so special and unique. And it was a very ambitious business, if I'm being honest. Like, I thought it was gonna. From a, you know, financial, like, from the modeling of it all. Like, I thought it was going to Be perfect. And it was going to pop off, but it had, there were so many challenges with the actual model because, you know, we were still taking care of our team. You know, the reason that these like lower price point massage boutiques in New York like are the price that way is because I don't know how much they're paying for labor, but it's not what we're paying, you know. And so we're comparatively, we're competitively, you know, paying for our team whilst also passing on the, the savings to the customer. And it was just so challenging. Like while it looked so glamorous because we were getting the press hits because the influencers were coming. We had Eva Chen, we had Bella Hadid at one point we had all this like fun glossy pr but the business itself itself was struggling and I was like head above water just trying to make ends meet every single like year over year. Enter partnerships. And that was a big reason why we were very big on partnerships from day one because we had no other choice. Like the actual economics of the original business was broken.
- [30:19]
A
I do want to talk about the pivot to press on nails, but before I get to that, I do need to get like just simple nail manicure tips from you because you and I have talked about this. I spiral a little bit sometimes about my nail appointments. I feel like I'm not really in the mood to do it. I go, they say pick a color, they're like 500 colors. I get like, what's it called?
- [30:39]
B
You get overwhelmed.
- [30:41]
A
Yes.
- [30:43]
B
Yeah. Decision paralysis.
- [30:45]
A
Decision paralysis. There are too many choices and now they've got chrome and cat eye and I can't. So what is overwhelming for, for, for people listening that are like, I would love for my experience of getting my nails done because we have press ons and we're going to get to the press ons. And the press ons. That is a big hack if you don't like the whole salon thing. But for people that want to go and have a better experience at the nail salon, give me your, like, give me your top tips.
- [31:11]
B
There are a lot of people that like have a hard time speaking up at the salon, but I would just be as open to what you want from the get go when you sit down. Be very specific. Show as many examples as you can because if you don't then it's not really their fault. Right? Of course you want to make sure. Of course you want to now wait
- [31:33]
A
with the examples with. Because the examples is another thing. Because sometimes I've brought examples and they're kind of like, you're showing me three different manicures, and none of these really have anything to do with each other.
- [31:43]
B
Right.
- [31:43]
A
So it's like, are you saying, like, come in and have, like, one clear of what you want?
- [31:50]
B
I'd be clear. I'd be very clear. And I know sometimes we're like, wait, I would love to, like, yes, we're trying to be a little creative and, like, make it make. If you want to be the type of person that's like, I want it to look like this. This isn't that. You go, then you have to leave that up to the nail tech. You have to trust that you're in good hands. But if you're like, I'm scared, and I just want it to look like this, then I would be very, very clear on what that is. Because, yes, you're going to end up with something that you're not happy with when you're. You yourself aren't clear. And I do think you personally have a little nail anxiety.
- [32:23]
A
I think I have nail anxiety if I'm not going to someone where, like, I know the product is going to be good. And then I also have realized that my phone going off continually as I'm getting my nails done, it just, like, stresses me out. And I actually need to. To schedule getting my nails done at a time where it's, like, expected that I am unreachable because it's like, I don't have my hands. Sorry.
- [32:47]
B
Put in a podcast maybe, or, like, watch, like, an episode of whatever you watch. Just, like, perch it up on your phone. Like, I don't necessarily. I'm, like, not chatty with my nail text. I mean, my team. Yes. But I wouldn't. In the past, I wasn't really chatty. So I think that's a good way to. Because I hear you. That's a good, big thing for me, too, because we're both always in communication, working on things we're always on. And that's one of the big reasons that I've turned to press ons, because literally takes me 10 minutes. Like, I just did them today. It took me nine minutes to do these. And I know I'm like, a pro by now, but, like, that's. You can't beat that. And, like, I love. I love the salons. I think they're community builders, and I think they're so important to always keep nail techs in business. And you'll never catch me saying, like, ditch the salon because it's so important to us. But, like, I get why people are so obsessed with press ons. It really does change your life.
- [33:46]
A
So it's Covid times and you make this huge business pivot to chill tips. This, like, kind of new product category for you all. Obviously, it's been incredibly successful. I don't know if you're comfortable sharing some of the volume metrics that here on the podcast, but, like, you're selling. I'm like, if you want to say, you can say. Can I say, like, tens of thousands a month?
- [34:11]
B
Yeah, of course. I don't even know. I don't even have those exact unit numbers.
- [34:15]
A
But I remember we were together and like, you, there was something that came up where you had to, like, do, like, an order fulfillment for Target, and I, like, heard the, like, monthly unit number, and I was like, what? You're selling that many chill tips? And you were like, like, yeah, babe. And I was like, congratulations. I'm so proud of you. Thank you.
- [34:32]
B
No, I mean, it's been. Yes, of course. Just the Target business alone is massive. So if you can do the math, that. And then now we're in Walmart, we're in cvs, and then, you know, where we aren't, like, super massive yet is like, our dot com, and that's something that will, like, eventually kind of circle, too.
- [34:49]
A
Yes, yes.
- [34:50]
B
But, you know, our Amazon business is growing, so, yeah, I'd say we're growing anywhere from, like. Like, a slow year of growth was like, maybe 70% and up to, like, 80 to 90, 100% year over year since we launched chill tips.
- [35:02]
A
Wow, That's. I mean, that trajectory is just absolutely incredible. And yes. So press ons. So revolutionary. A tip. A tip that Hannah Bronfman gave me, which to this day, I always have chill tips when I travel. She said that she always has press ons because she's like, no matter what my nails look like, a nail could break at any time. And there's nothing that's, like, tackier, crazier looking than like, when you have, like, just one or two nails that are just, like, off. So she's like, I always have, like, chill tips, like, in my. So I every, like, literally in my suitcase. They don't even leave my suitcase. I have chill tips because they're emergency. Emergency. I need to be able to, like, pop these on. I love all of the designs. I love that you can go super minimal, super, like, expressive. But what is it about press ons that you find to be, like, so revolutionary?
- [35:53]
B
I think so when we, you know, this was go back to 2020, when we were, you know, deep into COVID pandemic chaos and we were reflecting on what, what we could be doing. Obviously had already had conversations with a supplier to launch these press ons, but it wasn't until, like, only like a couple months, I'd say, a few months before the pandemic that I even had the idea for doing press ons because I was so. I was really stubborn with the product that I would actually enter the market with. Because prior to this, we had, like, little candles, we did merch, we, you know, had a marketplace with curated products, but we never had anything that we can take to market like that we can actually wholesale, right, that we can, you know, really put our real name behind. And so when it hit me the press ons were the thing, it was just, just, it was. It felt like super ripe for innovation. At the time, it was still very like a drugstore. Very much like a drugstore product. Right. I wasn't seeing a lot of nail art on some of the newer brands that kind of were starting to come up on the market, like, probably zero. And then when I really reflected on our brand story and what even, you know, had, what was Chill house back in 2017, this is something that we didn't really touch on. But our branding agency was actually introduced to us by the nail artist that created our lookbook. So design was always a big part of our DNA. It wasn't just massage, it wasn't just the cafe or self care. We were always very big on design. So, like, our nail art lookbook was very, very well known from day one. And it was because of this amazing nail artist. Her name is Ida, went by Lady Fancy Nails. I think she's kind of in her mom era right now. I don't think she's like, really putting her brand forward right now, but she designed these really iconic, you know, nail art designs for us. And I was like, this is perfect because we were constantly getting me especially both of Chill House's inbox and my inbox, hey, can you please open in Chicago, Louisiana. Louisiana, Louisiana. Miami, whatever. Atlanta, Every single city under the sun. And I was like feeling this pressure of like, I can't expand like that. Like, it sounds exhausting to build more stores. I simply feel like I would fall over and die if I had to repeat all the crazy chaos that I had to deal with with the brick and mortar in New York. And so I was like, I can't do this. Like, I'm not designed to, like, physically build this many Spaces. And I didn't think Chill House was the right business to be a franchise business either. And that's the only way you can do it. Like, that's why Ali Webb was able to do dry bar. You know, she had a single thing that she did and then she built products off of it that then end up getting sold on Sephora. But I was like, no, we're like a bumble and bumble, like a one and doner. And then we're going to build products and you know, people want our product, they're going to get our product on nail on press ons. They're going to get nail art on their fingers by Chill House in their respected cities. And that's how we would do it. So that just made sense for us. And I can control the narrative a lot more than launching polish. Right. Because it could be on the shape that I wanted on the exact length, the whole thing. So we were controlling the nail art experience through press ons and so that made sense for us.
- [39:25]
A
And there are so many press ons that I love from you all. I actually wrote down my two favorites.
- [39:30]
B
Okay.
- [39:31]
A
One, which I saw is on sale right now, so I may have to reorder scrubbed down.
- [39:36]
B
Oh, I know. Everyone's like, right now I'm.
- [39:40]
A
Okay. How do you describe scrub down? Because I won't do it justice in my description. But it's like, it's just like very clean girl.
- [39:47]
B
Clean girl.
- [39:48]
A
That sounds like opaque. Like what's the like?
- [39:50]
B
It's like a little, it's like soft ombre. It's not like an aggressive ombre. It's like very feels very like, like. Yeah. It feels like you just went into your nail salon and got your like a white milky airbrush on your nails, on your natural nail, like a nude underneath.
- [40:06]
A
It just like makes your nails look so good. And then I love 90s supermodel.
- [40:11]
B
Okay. Yay.
- [40:12]
A
That's like, I think such a good one that like red, deep, French. What are your favorite go to's? The ones you have on your nails right now. I've never even seen those.
- [40:21]
B
Yeah, these are coming out in, in a couple weeks since these are spring. So these are. It's like a newer nail shape for us. It's like a shorter oval. I don't know if I have like exact favorites. I mean, they're all so fun. I'd say I'm going to talk about our bestsellers because I feel like, you know, the ones that have made millions and millions in sales, which would be like sea Siren and bougie butter and Acid wash. Those are, like, our top three in rotation at Target, and there have been some that have crept up and made it to the top three, but those are, like, the constants.
- [40:57]
A
I do love acid wash because it looks to me like this beautiful blue sky. It's like this cloudy blue with, like, sparkles in it. Right. Like, how do you. How would you describe it?
- [41:07]
B
It's like it was designed, I think, honestly, on my inspo board was, like, Justin and Britney in their tuxedo, Canadian tuxedo outfits. Because the denim, it was obviously like, a denim play, but I wanted the sparkle that was kind of, like, inspired from, like, Britney's rhinestones and, like, all the stuff that they had going on. So it was kind of like a mix of that. It's just a really fun, playful design, and we're actually turning that into a purple version that's gonna get swapped into Target in the middle of the year and see how it goes. But anytime we have, like, a really successful askew, we like to kind of reinvent it in a new colorway and introduce that a little, like, in a different season. So we're doing that with Sea Siren and with and with Acid Wash this year.
- [41:53]
A
And Sea Siren is this sea moss green with this velvet, glossy finish.
- [41:59]
B
And it kind of like, velvet and cat eye mix.
- [42:01]
A
Yes. It catches the light in really interesting ways. And I will say, as someone I have no, I'm, like, the least dexterous person you'll ever meet. Like, I really struggle with everything. And I can apply these press ons, like, the kit that it comes with, like, the glue. You get extra nails if you, like, mess one up if it doesn't fit your nail perfectly. Like, you really have made it so simple to just apply these press ons and have your nails, like, looking fabulous. It doesn't. Nine minutes is incredible. It takes me, like, a good 20 minutes to do it. Really?
- [42:33]
B
Oh, my God. We got to get that number down. We'll work on it together.
- [42:37]
A
But, like, if it takes me 20 minutes for the person listening, it will take you 10 minutes. You know? Like, I'm just. It's just not my. My minute.
- [42:45]
B
You probably stop in between and, like, text people. Like, get back.
- [42:49]
A
No, I'm just like, I'm really not. This is like, when I talk to hairstylists, and they're like, no, like, you can do hair. I'm like, no. Like, I literally, like, I gotcha do hair.
- [42:57]
B
I'm the same with hair. I can do nails, no problem. But hair Is definitely my.
- [43:02]
A
Yeah, well, that's the perfect segue because you are very much a beauty girl down. And I feel like you do lots of fun treatments. I feel like you're the glam is always on point. I'm gonna ask you favorite treatments because you're also between New York and Miami and I feel like Miami has a lot of fab treatments too. But like, what are your most game changing beauty treatments that you've invested in for yourself?
- [43:25]
B
Would you believe me if I told you I really don't do that much? I mean, when I go into chill house, I get. We have like a dermaplaning treatment that I usually get like every few months.
- [43:36]
A
On your face.
- [43:37]
B
Yeah, I do like dermaplaning a lot. And even if I'm not in New York, I like to, you know, maintain with just like a little tool that I have here because I do feel like that helps a ton with like the product really seeping in and, and giving you that glowy effect. Otherwise, body treatments, I mean, do we are talking skin. Skin treatments. I'm just like a botox person. I get like Botox every eight months or so or nine months. I don't like too much time to pass.
- [44:03]
A
Not too much time to pass. Okay, where do you get Botox? Because I. This is not like locations. Yes, locations. Because I. I just recently learned. I was watching your friends and neighbors, this great show with John Hamm.
- [44:16]
B
I love. Wait, is the new season. This new season's out.
- [44:19]
A
The new season just came out. And who's the woman I love from
- [44:23]
B
has never gotten Botox?
- [44:24]
A
Well, I didn't even know that, but I was just watching her and she was so magnetic on screen. And I said to my friend, I was like, wait, I'm just realizing that I'm actually witnessing a woman on screen that does not have Botox. And she said, and then my friend said, maybe not on her forehead. She said, but I think she's got a little bit around the eyes. And I was like, I didn't even know you could get botox around your eyes. And she's like, yeah, babe, you can like literally get botox all over your face. So where do you get botox forehead?
- [44:50]
B
Yeah, obviously here. I have gotten it here.
- [44:53]
A
Okay. By your eyes.
- [44:55]
B
Yeah, just my crow's feet. Yeah, just getting rid of those lines a little bit. Even here a little bit. You see, I like definitely like do okay.
- [45:03]
A
But yeah, for people listening, she's scrunch. She's scrunching her eyebrows and going the tiniest little indent.
- [45:09]
B
Yeah, she's crazy. She needs nothing. No, I mean, I think by now I'm just used to like, what version of my face is like my favorite, you know, and you just want to kind of keep that and not go like too far off because I do feel a little like tired looking when I haven't done it in like, you know, if I go past a year, like, obviously with the kids, when I was pregnant, both times I. I didn't get it for about a year each time. But I've done it in interesting areas too. Like I. I think I'm trying to think more. Most recently I went to Amy Peterson. Actually, I went to her maybe like a year and a half ago. But they did it in like random places. I'm trying to think, oh, I did my masseters. Right. This, like, helps with like kind of like thinning out. Like just having a little bit more of like less of a square. Like I have like a naturally kind of a square face. So it's just like, I don't know, it's giving me a slip more slimmed down effect, more. Actually, this is an interesting one. I heard that the shoulders right here, this like, I have these, like, what are these, trapezoids or whatever. This muscle just because that's where I hold all my tension. It's just right here. And I. And I just like look so inflamed all the time because I'm always stressed out to some degree. And so it just helps relax the muscle. And so I'm overdo that. That's really what I want to go in for in the next or so you need.
- [46:28]
A
I looked into this as someone who also holds a lot of tension in my traps, but you need so many units. And I remember I was talking to my personal trainer about it because I was like, is this going to. When I was doing all my strength training, was this going to like, limit me? And then he went. She was like, my suggestion would be rather than to like dull that pain, maybe figure out the source of that tension and start there.
- [46:51]
B
You mean, let's go to therapy.
- [46:52]
A
No shade to say. Maybe I need to de stress. De stress my life. Favorite beauty products. Favorite makeup products.
- [47:03]
B
Okay, so. Oh, man. So many makeup. Specifically, I've been very, very committed to Haus Labs foundation as my go to. It really is the best.
- [47:16]
A
It's the best.
- [47:17]
B
Hands down. I don't know how people don't like it. Like, there's people that say it's not for them. I'm like, you're crazy.
- [47:21]
A
The concealer. And I'm. I'm very excited. I just. Actually, I'm doing a partnership with Haus Labs, and I'm like, the products under embargo. But I tried this new product that they're releasing, and I'm like, I'm not impressed with beauty brands anymore. I mean, you know, we try so much stuff where it's like, there's not that much innovation. House Labs is one of these brands that just kind of like, come out of nowhere and just really impressed me. And that. That foundation is incredible.
- [47:44]
B
They're not like this big, glossy, like, Instagram famous tick tock famous brand. They're just. Obviously, it's Lady Gaga, but, like, they're. The quality is incredible. I mean, like, it has to be like, she's on stage and this needs to perform. And it's just. It makes sense as to why it's so good. But, yes, that's like my main go to foundation for an eyebrow pencil. I actually really love Westman Atelier's eyebrow pencil. I found that it's like a thicker. It has, like, the normal kind of traditional slam, but it's a little thicker and a little softer. So it just feels like I can, like, I'm not gonna end up with, like, a heavy, like, stripe on my. Underneath my eye, you know what I mean? With, like, other ones that just feels like if you just go a little too hard or you just look like a clown. This is a lot softer. And then it has, like, a little, like, thick brush on the other side of the pen. It's really lovely. It's. And, you know, all her products are really elevated and nice. Otherwise great products. Yeah, you like.
- [48:42]
A
You're like me. You like makeup. Makeup that, like. Like, I'm not hearing a lot of, like, merit or say, which, like, we love those brands, love those founders. Like, so fab. But like, the Westman Atelier House Labs, like, those are. To me, I put Patrick Ta in that category as well. Like, yes, makeup by Mario. Like, these are the, like, for people that, like, love, like, makeup girls.
- [49:02]
B
Like, I just need a little slightly heavier. I do love say, I feel like in certain climates, like, I find that say in Miami doesn't really work that well because it's like, I look. It's just. It's. The foundation is a little too thick and watery. It's like, it's. We're in a humid. We're in humid weather here, so. Yeah. And it also just depends on, like, the location. Like, some makeup in skincare is Better for me here than it is in New York and vice versa. When I'm in New York, especially in the winter, like, oh my God, I need so much moisturizer. My body, like, can't take enough moisturizer. And then when I'm in Miami, I use like the little spit of oil because I don't need it. So it really just depends. But man, it's, it's hard. There's so much good stuff out there. I'm like always changing. You know, you get so much fun stuff.
- [49:49]
A
How do you keep your hair sleek in the Miami humidity? I'm about to be in, in Miami for a week and I've already booked my hair braiding appointment because I'm like, I can't. I'm not competing with the elements.
- [50:00]
B
A wise choice. Yeah, that's a wise. It's starting to. The humidity starting to, to kick in now. I, I do enjoy just like an, like a, an air dry situation. Right now. My haircut isn't great for air dry. And I'm realizing that, like, I'm like, Cindy, like, stop giving yourself these cuts that don't work with the weather. Like, this is like good New York hair. But, like, I can't blow up my hair every day. Like, it's just not for me. So, you know, when I have my cool, like little layer, fun, funky chop cut, like, that's, that's when it, it does the best in Miami. And I usually do. I feel like I, I keep going back to Olaplex, honestly. Always shampoo conditioner. And then of course the leave in. And then for my like Miami, like, natural hair day, I just use crown affairs air dry mousse. It's the best.
- [50:51]
A
That moose, that texturizing mousse and the fact that it can work across so many different hair types. Like, my hair is so different from your hair and I. My hair loves that mousse. It's just. There's something magical that Diana and team have put into that mousse.
- [51:04]
B
I don't know how they've done it, but they have. And it. Yeah, it just feels like it controls the frizz, but also gives it like that very natural good texture that you're looking for that you don't get. If you're just like fresh at the, you know, it's like, oh, wow, where's this Been missing my whole life? Like, yes, I've needed this. So, yeah, they're brilliant. They obviously are killing it.
- [51:25]
A
Yes. I mean, I could talk beauty products with you all day long before we wrap. I do want to ask you about just this, like, huge acquisition that happened with kiss. I think that for so many founders, you're grinding, you're grinding, you're grinding. And, you know, I think for most found. Not for most, but for a lot of founders, the goal is, like, we want to be acquired one day so that we can, like, scale beyond what our current team and current resources allow us to. When. And we didn't even talk about the fact that you work with your husband, but we've been alluding to it this whole time. Adam's your CEO. When you and Adam got, like, the official offer from kiss, did it. Was it. Did you guys kind of just have this moment? Like, oh, like, we've been working at this so hard for so long. Like, this is what we've been waiting for.
- [52:13]
B
So the fun fact is that the offer was pretty much completely created and designed by Adam.
- [52:20]
A
Oh, wow.
- [52:22]
B
Because in a way, you know, we. We were actually fundraising when this opportunity came.
- [52:27]
A
I remember you were fundraising.
- [52:29]
B
So it wasn't a conversation about, like, it wasn't like, they came to us with some big number and was like, we want to buy you. Like, it was nothing like that. It was, in fact, the opposite. We were fundraising and just kept kind of striking out, like, had, like, really great conversations, but just kept hitting the same roadblocks we had always. We'd always had. And it's funny because I think back on, like, that time period, and I was really pregnant, and I just kept being like, this is not my story. My story is not to fundraise with vc. Like, if anything, my story is going to be that we sold to the company that, you know, believed in us. Because even, like, the idea of, like, okay, we. We fundraise with vc, we raise all this capital, we dilute ourselves, and then maybe we only get 5x or of our valuation, and then we end up with, like, the same amount as we would now. Like, it just makes no sense for me to build this business for another time, three to five years, and make the same, if not less than maybe I'd be making now. That's what it came down to. I was like, this is. Adam and I are like, it's not worth it for us to keep chasing funds versus just having a conversation about potential acquisition. So that's kind of how it all came about.
- [53:50]
A
That's really smart, actually. And I don't know, I'm so happy for, like, founders listening to this to know that there's so many different paths and the acquisition path Finding the right acquisition partner is a very viable path. You don't have to just, you know, raise millions of dollars and stay on the hamster wheel.
- [54:07]
B
No. And I love the idea of also being able to work underneath a company that's done it before, then can give us the roadmap and give us the tools and access versus, like, the alternative is, like, we could have ended up selling to some private equity company and they could have taken our business and completely, you know, messed it up and that and kicked me out. Like, this is literally the best case scenario. Like, I get to build my brand with a team that is standing behind me that supports me and wants me to do the fun work. Like, I get to the. Like, we just had our, you know, not even our Q1 meeting, but whatever the last, like, board meeting was. And he's like, I. I love the Chief Strategy Officer. His name is Paul. And he's. I, like, we look up, everyone looks up to him. He's like, you know, genius. And he's like, we just need always more Cindy. Like, Cindy, Cindy. Cindy has to be, like, the face of everything. And I'm like, I know Paul. Like, have you checked out my Instagram?
- [55:07]
A
You're like, I'm doing it.
- [55:08]
B
I'm doing it. And. But that's what they want. They love that. And, like, you know, of course, like, I get to exercise a lot of the things we do. I know we didn't get into, like, my acting and modeling days, but, like, I. This is like, what I am meant to be. You know, I am meant to be the face of something. I'm not meant to be crunching numbers, asking a bunch of bros from Silicone Valley to invest in my company. Like, that is not what I signed up for when I started this business that I thought was going to be a fun little lifestyle business that then got the attention of all these, like, you know, people in power. And I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't know how to, you know, sell the business to those people. And it's just. It's just very. I don't know, it just feels very meant to be. Right? I mean, this is also like a Queen's, like, the owners from Queens. Like, he built his business in Queens from Flushing. Yeah. So many parallels.
- [56:03]
A
Very kismet. And I feel like I've been saying this the whole episode, but, like, I'm just so happy for you. I'm so proud of you. I feel like you are such a hard worker. I love a hard worker. A moment who Also just, like, stays fabulous, but also, like, knows how to have fun and it's like, always down for a good time. And you have a great sense of humor and you don't take things too seriously. Like, I. I really appreciate what you represent in the beauty space and I feel so lucky to call you a friend.
- [56:32]
B
And likewise, Brooke, that was so well put and I feel the same about you, so thank you. Oh, don't make me cry on a Monday. Come on.
- [56:40]
A
My final question for you is, when do you feel most beautiful?
- [56:44]
B
Oh, my God. Okay. Yes. This is the question that I've been like, I swear I woke up at six in the morning today being like, what am I going to answer? This is such a hard question. You know, the sweet, sweet thing that, that comes to mind is like when Hendrix says, mommy, you look beautiful. Like, that is, like, amazing, of course. But when I think about, like, when I actually, like, feel pretty and like, feel like sexy in a woman, do you ever feel like, well, two. Two things after a good haircut? Because there's nothing worse than, like, knowing that you need a haircut and being in like this ugly haircut phase for like three weeks, four weeks, a month, and just being like, oh, I'm ready.
- [57:22]
A
Yeah, getting your hair fresh cut. Peak.
- [57:25]
B
Yeah. Also shout out to Eric Invisible. I am so proud of this man. I know you love to feature, like, actual, you know, hair, makeup talent. He is, like, he used to do my hair at Bumble and Bumble when I was in my late 20s, early 30s. And he's blown up. He's still there, but he does so much celebrity now. Like, he does Alex Earle, Olivia Culpo, Ariana Maddox, like, Ashley Graham. Like, his roster is crazy. And I feel like he's still like, just getting started. Like, he doesn't have that many Instagram followers yet, but he's like, he's like the go to for all the cool, hot girl, like, babes in New York Instagram.
- [58:05]
A
Wow. He did. He did Alex Earl's skincare campaign. Yeah. Wow. He's very talented. These buns, wow. Okay, love immediate.
- [58:13]
B
So shout out to him. So, like, honestly, he does always make me feel beautiful. I love him for that. And then the other thing, I feel like, you know when you go on vacation and you're like, you have such a nice day, you have a cocktail, you get like a little toasty, you have the sun, like, burn your skin a little bit, and then you get ready for dinner like that, like that, like that. In between time, you know, you just feel so relaxed. And glowy and pretty. Those are my favorite girl moments.
- [58:45]
A
It's the best. It's the best. Like a sunset getting ready. Not rush. Vacation skin is still warm from the sun.
- [58:53]
B
Not rushed exactly.
- [58:56]
A
Heavy on the knot.
- [58:57]
B
Heavy on the knot rush. And not having kids knocking down the door, you know, while you're getting ready and like interrupting you.
- [59:05]
A
Yes, yes. Cindy, it's been such a pleasure. I know everyone in the naked beauty community is going to be continuing to root for you and I hope if people listening if you haven't purchased your chill tips yet. I mean, I'm gonna link a ton in the show notes, but like treat yourself and then you're gonna become addicted and you're gonna have to always have them in your travel bag like me.
- [59:24]
B
Thank you so much, Brooke.
- [59:25]
A
Okay.
- [59:25]
B
Adore.
- [59:26]
A
Thank you, Cindy.
- [59:27]
B
Appreciate you.
- [59:51]
C
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- [60:27]
B
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- [60:49]
D
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- [61:33]
B
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