m e e t G i n a
I want to welcome you to the Rituals family. Part of that, is getting to know one another. This is how my skincare story began... and I would love to hear yours! Below, please feel free to introduce yourself and ask me any skincare questions you may have.
I began a career in skin care and well-being oh so many years ago at Nordstroms. I worked in the make-up department helping sell makeup. However, it didn’t take long for me to notice that although at the time I loved Nordstrom, it was not as personalized an experience as I had hoped. It seemed as though it was more of a one-size-fits all approach to skincare. For example, a young girl with beautiful skin would walk in and if I was working at the Lancôme counter, I was meant to sell her Lancôme when I knew that the ingredients in the products were not meant for young healthy skin. I found myself constantly guiding these customers to other products or other resources. I would research the components in the products and notice that they were not as clean as I had hoped. They included fragrances or preservatives to maintain shelf life or the products themselves were simply too expensive for the benefits. I got obsessed with wanting to find and recommend the perfect product for the specific customer. This was not a recipe for success at a Lancôme counter.
"I got obsessed with wanting to find and recommend the perfect product for the specific customer."
I kept hearing that small quiet voice of my mother in the back of my head ‘take care of your skin.’ But how?
I had a hair stylist at the time, Rachel, with whom I would chat during my appointments about how frustrated I was because I cared too much about my customers and their skin success. Rachel, out of the blue, recommended and encouraged me to become an esthetician. AN ESTHETICIAN??? Wouldn’t that take too long or be too expensive of an education?
"9 months later,
I was working as an esthetician helping others find solutions to their skin needs."
So, at 36 (I am evidence that it really is NEVER too late to start something new) I went back to school to become a licensed esthetician here in the state of California. 9 months later, I was working as an esthetician helping others find solutions to their skin needs. I went to work for a local spa and was clear that I would work for one year to learn the business before branching out to open my own spa. What was I thinking? I had never opened a small business before and at the point I would be 38 with three kids and a husband? By the way, when I researched the best schools in California, bar none, Skyline College in San Bruno always came up number one. So that is where I went.
This incredible journey began over 22 years ago in 2000. I can proudly say that in this span I have been honored by my peers to have been named Best of Burlingame for 9 years in a row.
I went on to get a certification in Oncology skin care and in these past 22 years have expanded services to include a number of different processes by which to help age us all gracefully and healthfully.
"I have been honored by my peers to have been named Best of Burlingame for 9 years in a row."
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I hope that I can continue to give a personalized experience that allows you to feel your best – inside out.
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- GINA BARRON