Naked Beauty by Brooke DeVard

Episode: How to Build an Empire Without Losing Yourself ft Cyndi Ramirez
Air Date: April 13, 2026
Guest: Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, Founder/CEO of Chillhouse

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode is an intimate, lively conversation between host Brooke DeVard and Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, the serial entrepreneur and founder of Chillhouse, the cult spa/wellness brand known for innovating the press-on nail market and redefining accessible self-care. The chat dives into Cyndi’s Colombian-American upbringing, her mother’s influence as a Queens esthetician, her unorthodox career path through New York nightlife, work-life balance as a founder and mother, and the recent milestone of Chillhouse’s acquisition by Kiss Beauty Group. Throughout, Cyndi and Brooke share honest perspectives on beauty standards, hustle culture, motherhood, and building an empire without losing yourself in the process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins: Family, Upbringing & Beauty Standards

• Early Exposure to Beauty & Wellness

  • Cyndi’s mother was an esthetician in Queens, running from one chair to eventually three spas, focused on body/skincare for Latina clients (01:39–04:06).
  • Growing up, Cyndi was surrounded by women seeking body treatments and confronting beauty insecurities—not just cosmetic upkeep but deeper self-esteem challenges.

• Navigating Colombian & Immigrant Beauty Culture

  • High beauty standards among Colombian women weighed on Cyndi (“The bar is really high… I never felt like the prettiest person in my family.” – Cyndi, 03:21).
  • Her family wasn’t surgery-obsessed, but there was constant focus on appearance, feeding subtle insecurities.

• Diversity & Neighborhood Identity

  • Growing up in Queens exposed Cyndi to a mix of cultures, though her early years were close-knit within the Colombian/Latino community. Her worldview expanded with age and moving around (04:15–05:38).

2. Foundational Hustle & Evolving Ambitions

• Watching Her Mother’s Sacrifice

  • Inspired by her mother’s grit but wanting a more balanced life:
    “She didn’t leave room for anything but work. Even if I ended up being a business owner, I didn’t want that. I wanted balance.”
    – Cyndi, 06:10-07:21

• Vision for Work-Life Integration

  • Rejects the myth of perfect “work-life balance,” instead embracing integration (07:30–08:29):
    • Involving her kids in her work world (“They know the team…they’re in it with us in some way”).
    • Striving for family engagement in the business, not strict separation.

3. Honest Motherhood, Guilt & Expectations

• Motherhood and Ambition

  • Both discuss growing up with working mothers and navigating guilt as ambitious women and mothers now (08:45–10:57).
  • Pandemic allowed for more family proximity, but Cyndi is candid about the tradeoffs—children seeing parents “build something from scratch” and the value it imparts.

• Societal Double Standards

  • The Emma Grede/WSJ article about parental time (“No one even asks [men] if they have kids or if they’re married.” – Brooke, 11:23):
    • Cyndi’s philosophy: “As long as mommy’s happy, isn’t that all that matters? I wasn’t designed to be a stay-at-home mom.” (11:40)
    • Brutally honest about her limits: “If I’m with them every second…I will resent them more often than I’d like to.” (11:43)

• The Importance of Support Systems

  • Acknowledges privilege and the necessity of reliable childcare/community support for pursuing business growth and creative fulfillment (13:53–14:19).

4. New York Nightlife, Identity, and “Nonlinear” Paths

• Nightlife Era & Self-Discovery

  • Cyndi dropped out of college, worked in nightlife to stay financially secure, and then pivoted into unpaid internships (“I just remember being really, really wrapped up in the scene…and it kind of ended up ruining my daytime abilities.” – Cyndi, 15:49–16:05).
  • Honest about feeling lost: “I did feel like I had time left to mess around…wasn’t really ambitious about any job option.” (16:19)

• Messy Years Build Character

  • Brooke and Cyndi encourage young listeners to embrace unpredictable, non-traditional paths and the value of going out/making mistakes (“Be outside and enjoy being outside… It builds character.” – Brooke, 17:47)

5. Early Blogging & Entrepreneurial Seeds

• Creating 'Taste of Style'

  • Cyndi’s blog married her interests in fashion and hospitality—interviewing “Boss Babes” and forming her first creative network (19:39–21:31).
  • The blog became her introduction to brand partnerships, which proved vital as Chillhouse evolved.

• Chillhouse Ideation: The Accessible Spa

  • Frustration with exclusive, uninspired spas—both her mother’s and in general—sparked her vision. She wanted ambiance, community, affordable price points, and creative touches (22:02–27:43).

6. Building Chillhouse: Reality vs. Perception

• Opening & Scaling the Brand
  • Chillhouse’s Lower East Side launch combined spa, cafe, and nail art—becoming a “third space” that felt fresh and inclusive.
  • Behind the glossy press, Cyndi faced relentless financial and operational pressures. “The business itself was struggling…I was like head above water just trying to make ends meet.” (27:43–30:19)
  • Collaborations and brand partnerships were crucial for survival from the start.

7. Nail Care Secrets & Press-On Nail Revolution

• Salon Tips

  • Cyndi’s advice: Be direct with technicians; bring one clear example for inspiration; and communicate what you actually want to avoid “nail anxiety” (31:11–32:22).
  • For busy or overwhelmed clients, press-ons (“Chill Tips”) are a transformative hack—quick, beautiful, and mess-free (33:46–34:49).

• The Chill Tips Pivot During COVID

  • Pandemic closed salons, press-on nails soared. Chillhouse leveraged its nail art pedigree into a thriving product line.
  • “We’re growing anywhere from, like, a slow year of growth was 70%…to 80–100% year over year since we launched Chill Tips.” (34:49–35:02)

8. Product Philosophy & Bestsellers

• Intention & Inclusivity

  • Chill Tips designed to deliver nail art to anyone, anywhere, with styles for all tastes ("You can go super minimal, super expressive." – Brooke, 35:02–36:00).
  • Bestsellers include “Sea Siren,” “Bougie Butter,” and “Acid Wash.”
    • Designs are frequently refreshed in new colorways to stay on trend (40:56–41:53).

• Accessible “Third Space” Mentality

  • Chillhouse delivered wellness and beauty without pretension or exclusivity, and the product line continues that mission.

9. Beauty, Treatments & Miami Life

• Cyndi’s Personal Routines

  • Minimal on “high maintenance” treatments: dermaplaning facials, occasional Botox (every 8–9 months), targeted for specific zones like masseters and even traps to help relieve tension (43:25–46:27).
  • Hair: Favors Crown Affair’s air-dry mousse, Olaplex shampoo and conditioner, adapts routine between NY and Miami climates.

• Makeup Favorites

  • Haus Labs foundation (Brooke: “It’s the best.” – 47:16), Westman Atelier brow pencil, Patrick Ta, Makeup by Mario for makeup enthusiasts who like bolder looks (48:41–49:01).

10. Acquired by Kiss Beauty Group: The Next Chapter

• Acquisition Story

  • Chillhouse’s acquisition was entrepreneur-driven: “The offer was pretty much completely created and designed by Adam [her husband].” (52:21)
  • Frustration with VC fundraising led to structuring their own deal—choosing a strategic partner over more raising/dilution (52:28–54:07).

• Emotional Win & Staying in Control

  • Cyndi feels grateful she can continue as the face and creative driver: “I get to build my brand with a team that’s standing behind me...they love that. We just need always more Cyndi.” (54:07–55:08)
  • The parallel between their New York roots (Kiss Beauty’s founder is also from Queens) feels especially meaningful.

11. Personal Reflections & Beauty Philosophy

• Most Beautiful Moments
  • Cyndi feels most beautiful after a fresh haircut or on vacation, getting ready slowly and relaxed, with “vacation skin.”
    “You just feel so relaxed and glowy and pretty. Those are my favorite girl moments.” (58:44)
  • Plus, affirmation from her kids: “When Hendrix says, ‘Mommy, you look beautiful.’” (56:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On work-life balance:
  “I wasn’t designed to be a stay at home mom. My nervous system isn’t set up for it.”
  – Cyndi, 11:40

• On the “empire” and acquisition:
  “My story is not to fundraise with VC…if anything, my story is going to be that we sold to the company that believed in us.”
  – Cyndi, 52:28

• On community and accessible beauty:
  “There was nothing that really felt accessible to women…you can go to Chillhouse and meet the same people that were members of the Wing, and grab a matcha, open your laptop, and maybe get a manicure.”
  – Cyndi, 29:02

• On building a life outside of work:
  “I wanted to be able to enjoy my life. I wanted to travel. I wanted to experience life outside of work.”
  – Cyndi, 06:08

• On what’s essential for creative women founders:
  “If you don’t have people you can rely on…you’re going to go crazy. I have that right now…that frees me up to be more creative.”
  – Cyndi, 14:16

• On advice to listeners about career paths:
  “The path you’re on in your 20s or even 30s or even 40s does not define your life at all. And sometimes making the mistakes is incredibly helpful.”
  – Brooke, 17:47

Timestamps of Major Segments

• 00:05–04:06: Introduction, family background, beauty standards, NYC upbringing
• 05:38–07:21: Watching mother’s hustle, lessons in work ethic and desire for balance
• 08:29–14:19: Parenthood, guilt, integration, COVID-era shifts, the role of support
• 15:03–19:16: Nightlife career, dropping out of college, nonlinear paths
• 19:39–22:02: The Taste of Style blog, early entrepreneurship
• 22:02–27:43: Chillhouse ideation, accessible spa concept, early struggles
• 27:43–30:19: Growth, influencer/press attention, business realities
• 30:19–33:46: Nail care tips, decision paralysis, the rise of press-on nails
• 34:10–36:00: The Chill Tips pivot, sales figures, why press-ons worked
• 40:05–42:33: Favorite Chill Tips, product expansion, press-on application
• 43:25–46:50: Cyndi’s treatments (dermaplaning, Botox, body care, hair routines)
• 47:02–49:48: Favorite beauty/makeup products
• 50:00–51:25: Hair care in Miami, air dry routines
• 51:25–56:03: Acquisition story, working with husband, future ambitions
• 56:39–59:04: Most beautiful moments, vacation skin, fresh haircuts

Conclusion

For aspiring founders, beauty lovers, and anyone wondering how to juggle “having it all,” this episode delivers unfiltered advice, heartfelt honesty, and real strategies for building a fulfilling empire—on your own terms. Cyndi’s resilience, willingness to reinvent, and commitment to self-care over self-sacrifice make for a refreshing listen.

“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…We just need always more Cyndi.”
—Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, 54:07

Links:

• Chillhouse / Chill Tips
• Brooke DeVard on Instagram
• Notable product mentions in the show notes

Compiled and summarized by Naked Beauty Podcast Summarizer, preserving the energy, humor, and candor that define both host and guest.