Industry news

BeautyView: Mara Segal, Founder & CEO, Utique Inc.

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Mara Segal is changing the face of beauty distribution. I like to think that her idea for vending machines that sell beauty and care products (displayed behind her in her head-shot), in both travel and full retail size, came from an altercation with an FAA agent who forced her to throw away a bottle of shampoo. I know I have been in that situation before… but it took Mara to come up with the concept of Utique. I admire Mara – I admire her work ethic, her resilience, her determination, and her art collection! Next time you forget your moisturizer, or your body lotion gets taken from you, remember to look for a Utique!

AP: What city were you born in? MS: Rochester, MN.

AP: What city to do you live in? MS: San Francisco, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? MS: Clair.

AP: What is your astrological sign? MS: Sagittarius.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? MS: I love packaging design and the spectrum of colors that changes each season.

AP: Least favorite thing? MS: It is overcrowded and complex, making it difficult for consumers to navigate. It also often takes itself too seriously in advertising tonality and can feel intimidating for consumers.

AP: What is your most prized possession? MS: Assuming we are limited to material goods: music and my random art collection. My latest acquisition is a neon orange Qi Guangci bunny sculpture that I picked up in Beijing – I love looking at it every day.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? MS: I was pre-med in school before I fell in love with architecture and design and switched my major.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? MS: ToyWatch; it was a gift from a dear friend.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? MS: Depends on the presentation!  Check out Solange Azagury Partridge: she can make anything beautiful and provocative!

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? MS: Diane Von Furstenberg; she is a brilliant, progressive woman and pioneer in so many ways.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? MS: I think this is the hardest part and something I am still working on it. Balance likely rests in a strong team that has your same standards of execution so that you can truly get away with peace of mind.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? MS: 1. Pack light/have travel-sized versions of the regulars to reduce packing/unpacking time. 2. Be in the moment. 3. Find a local or someone who knows a local via your network – always invaluable for insights.

AP: What is your favorite book? MS: I cannot commit to one!

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? MS: Gin with different fresh accents like cucumber, mint, or basil.  I have also seen more hot chili infused drinks recently and love these – I am slightly addicted to spicy food and drinks!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? MS: Sleep.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? MS: Malin and Goetz, Lotus Root.

AP: Botox or not? MS: Not.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? MS: I go back and forth, mostly to mix it up.  Right now I am experimenting with balayage, which is supposed to be less harsh on the hair.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. MS: Video Games by Lana del Rey. Clair de Lune by Alexis Weissenberg and Something Good Can Work by Gotye.

AP: Quote to live by. MS: Eleanor Roosevelt is my favorite source of quotes and inspiration:

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

“What you don’t do can be a destructive force.”

“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.”

AP: Who is your mentor? MS: I cannot cite one…  I have learned from all of the entrepreneurs and risk takers I read about and those I am lucky enough to come into contact with.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. MS: I see a lot of young adults place pressure on themselves to have the final career solution with a first or second job… I encourage open mindedness and the strength to make a change when something feels stagnant or you lack passion for it.  You learn just as much about yourself and your career desires by doing a job that doesn’t suit you!  Also, always rationalize your fear and define the downside of taking a risk with something unknown…  It is always better to have tried!

BeautyView: Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

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The first thing I did way back when I decided that I was going to launch Alchimie Forever in the US to spas, of course, was to become a member of ISPA. Since 2005, I have benefitted so from the International Spa Association. I have learned from spa professionals. I have met numerous spa owners and managers. I have learned from peers throughout my Task Force involvement. I have made BFFs. And, perhaps most significantly, I met my husband. Since 2005, throughout these experiences, both personal and professional, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Lynne McNees, President of ISPA. I know not to discuss politics with her; I know she gets up earlier than I do most mornings; I know she loves Wyoming. Yet I did not know much of the below…  and I now have a new must-read book on my list!

AP: What city were you born in? LM: Okinawa, Japan.  My dad was in the US Army.  I really “grew up” in Dallas, TX but moved to Washington, DC my senior year in high school… ouch!

AP: What city do you live in? LM: Georgetown, Kentucky, about 30 minutes outside of Lexington.

AP: What is your middle name?  LM: Jeanice, but I use my maiden name Walker now.

AP: What is your astrological sign? LM: Capricorn.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry?  LM: The entrepreneurial spirit and inventiveness.

AP: Least favorite thing? LM: The unnecessary and excessive packaging.

AP: What is your most prized possession? LM: Can I say my cute husband?  If not, our two longhaired miniature dachshunds Jackson Hole and Teton Spirit would be my final answer!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know?  LM: I’ve landed on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. I’ve stood on the DMZ.  I flew a fighter jet during mid-air refueling.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? LM: Sometimes. The model varies depending on my mood.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? LM: Diamonds – definitely diamonds.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? LM: Paul McNees, my husband’s father who passed away when Barry was in college.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? LM: I will never be balanced! Balance is a daily practice I work at with a lot of great friends, hard exercise and a great bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? LM: 1. Water. 2. Hiking. 3. Humor.

AP: What is your favorite book? LM: China Calls by Anne Collins Walker (my mom). It’s about my Dad advancing President Nixon’s historic trip to China.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? LM: Other than Oregon Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Ginger.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? LM: Experimenting with all the fun ISPA member products and LOTS of water!

AP: What fragrance do you wear? LM: Aromatherapy Associates – Revive!  I am addicted.

AP: Botox or not? LM: Why not?

AP: Hair color: natural or not? LM: Luckily – my natural color but now I have to cover the gray!

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. LM: “Its 5 o’clock in the morning” by Lily Allen. “The Walk” by Mayer Hawthorne. Everything Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson.

AP: Quote to live by. LM: Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t lose.

AP: Who is your mentor? LM: I’m lucky, every ISPA Chairman and their unique style has been a valuable mentor to me.  Additionally, both my parents with their unique (and distinct) approach to business.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. LM: Hard work prevails (and, never underestimate the impact of a handwritten thank you note!).

BeautyView: Sharilyn Abbajay, VP Global Spa, Retail and Fitness, Marriott International

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Yesterday I spent a good part of the day with the board of the Washington Spa Alliance (WSPA), a DC-based association I am a founding member of whose mission is to “act as a knowledge center, connecting spa professionals in the nation’s greater capital region. WSPA works to promote the exchange and innovation in the field, and to ensure that the highest ideals of spa are met through policy and action.” I loved our meeting, our 2012 planning ideas, our brainstorming. And I particularly loved to be able to spend some time with Sharilyn Abbajay, WSPA’s co-chair, a dear friend of mine, and an industry veteran. During the breaks in our WSPA retreat day, I learned some new things about her…

AP: What city were you born in? SA: Toledo, OH.

AP: What city to do you live in? SA: Lanham, MD, although I feel like I live on an airplane.

AP: What is your middle name?  SA: Sue.

AP: What is your astrological sign? SA: Libra.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? SA: Touching people and making them feel special.

AP: Least favorite thing? SA: Too many choices.

AP: What is your most prized possession? SA: My family.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? SA: I’m a Nana… I have two grandsons, 4 and 1.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? SA: Yes, A Toy black watch. It’s all plastic, so I never have to take it off, and don’t have to worry about it when I travel.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? SA: Pearls.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? SA: Coco Chanel.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? SA: Hot bath with essential oils. Small indulgences…

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? SA: 1. Drink plenty of water. 2. The night before, use the Alchimie Forever blueberry Kantic Mask, religiously. 3. Pack light. If you forget it, you can always buy it there.

AP: What is your favorite book? SA: The Incredible Journey by British author Sheila Burnford. It teaches your survival, the importance of hope, perseverance, and protecting one another.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? SA: Fiji water. Per Dr. Pamela Peeke, I swore off alcohol two years ago.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? SA: Sleep. 7 to 8 hours every night.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? SA: I blend the Aveda Shakras with Chanel Number 5. Depending on the day, a bit more of one or a bit more of the other.

AP: Botox or not? SA: Not. Not to say I don’t need it…

AP: Hair color: natural or not? SA: Not.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. SA: I don’t have an ipod.

AP: Quote to live by. SA: Never take your eye off the ball.

AP: Who is your mentor? SA: I have a lot of mentors… Margory Abbajay, my aunt. She was the first female Vice President of Revlon.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. SA: Stay true to who you are.

BeautyView: Katia Beauchamp, Founder and Co-CEO, Birchbox

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I love women entrepreneurs. I particularly love beautiful women entrepreneurs who have chosen the beauty industry as their playground. And above all, I love beautiful women entrepreneurs who have chosen the beauty industry as their playground and have gone to my Alma Mater, Harvard. I know two such women (I hope there are more…): Marla Malcolm Beck, of bluemercury fame, and Katia Beauchamp, of Birchbox fame. Last week, I had the pleasure of catching up with Katia, and learning a bit more about her.

AP: What city were you born in? KB: I was born in Austin, TX and grew up in El Paso, TX.

AP: What city to do you live in? KB: New York, NY.

AP: What is your middle name?  KB: Winter. My Mom’s maiden name; she had only sisters and wanted her name to be carried on.

AP: What is your astrological sign? KB: Scorpio.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? KB: I love how smart and imaginative it is. To me, the beauty industry is the perfect mix of creativity and business.

AP: Least favorite thing? KB: Working in the beauty industry, I feel like I have to look perfect and polished and beautiful every day. I hate having to blow dry my hair every day.

AP: What is your most prized possession? KB: My husband, if I can call him a possession.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? KB: Most people don’t know a lot about me… In high school I was captain of my cheerleading squad and president of my school. More recently, most people wouldn’t know that that my favorite workout is dance class, from hip hop to ballet and everything in between – and my favorite food is dumplings. (I dance so I can eat more dumplings!)

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? KB: Yes, a gold Michael Kors.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? KB: Diamonds.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? KB: Dead: There are so many… Cleopatra. Alive: John Stewart; I love his point of view and intellect.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? KB: The secret is forgiving yourself. And forgetting about the concept of work/life balance. There is no such thing. That balance is overall life, not this week or this month; you don’t have to be balanced, just prioritize different things at different points in your life.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? KB: 1. Avoid any restaurants that have pictures on the menu. 2. Try to befriend locals. 3. Book only one night at a hotel and find where you want to stay once you get there.

AP: What is your favorite book? KB: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? KB: A dark and stormy.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? KB: Face oil, any kind. I really believe in oil as a makeup remover and moisturizer. I have really dry skin, so I layer a mist, then the oil, then a moisturizer.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? KB: I wear Sugar Litchee by Fresh. I also love Serge Lutens fragrances for when I need to feel more grownup.

AP: Botox or not? KB: Whatever makes you feel beautiful; no judgment. Personally, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? KB: Not. I love coloring my hair color, I switch colors a lot, it’s one of the most fun things about being a girl.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. KB: Pumped up Kicks by Foster People; Suicidal by Adele; the entire She and He Christmas album.

AP: Quote to live by. KB: I’m not the type of person that likes quotes.

AP: Who is your mentor? KB: A friend and entrepreneur that is the founder of a few different companies. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met, a great sounding board, always makes time for me when I need advice.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. KB: Work hard and own it. You make your own success and your own luck. Ask for what you deserve. Don’t feel you have to abandon your femininity in the process…

Ajune medical spa to close on December 28th

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I love the train. Perhaps it is because growing up I took the Swiss train regularly. Always on time (not a myth, one second late and you miss it), always clean (also not a myth), it wound through the mountains slowly but surely and brought me to my Nona, to the ski slopes, to Bern. Amtrak doesn’t quite live up to the Swiss trains, but I still love the 3.5 hours of peace between DC and New York City. While my trips to NYC are always hectic, tiring, fun, and productive, this trip will also be sad. Tomorrow for the last time, I will visit Ajune medical spa, my favorite medical spa in the City and one of my very first Alchimie Forever clients. Indeed, on December 28th of this year, Ajune will be closing its doors (its website is already down, perhaps as a precursor to the closure).

Ajune has been at 1294 Third Avenue since it opened, 13 years ago. Owned by Dr. Maura Romita, a famed plastic surgeon, Ajune was one of the first spas to understand that spa goers wanted results, medical-style procedures, under medical supervision, but all in a softer, more spa-like setting.

Over the years (I started working with Ajune in 2004), I have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people, whether managers, therapists, aestheticians or receptionists. Margaret (now the spa director at Merge, also in NYC) was the one who brought Alchimie Forever into Ajune, and for that (and for the fact that she has since brought my line to Merge!), I will be forever grateful. Having worked at Avon prior to Ajune, she is a numbers-driven, no-nonsense operator, someone whom I have learned much from (and continue to today). I worked with Josephine for many years, whose smiles and kindness I still remember. Cara was my colleague Catherine’s favorite aesthetician at Ajune, a petite brunette, with a great extraction technique and constructive feedback and input on the Alchimie Forever product prototypes I would have her test. Most recently, I have had the pleasure of working with Amy, who was hired to work at the front desk a number of years ago and has since been promoted to spa director; today, Amy is in charge of this transition time.

To all of you, to Dr. Romita, to Dana, to the entire Ajune team, I say thank you. Thank you for taking on Alchimie before anyone did in NYC. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for your support and friendship over the years. Thank you for your business. Thank you. I will miss you. Catherine will miss you. New Yorkers will miss you.

Having spoken with Amy, she shares these bittersweet words: “Thank you to our loyal clients for their patronage; we hope that during our time open on third avenue, we provided you with incomparable service and an education about skincare that you will take with you throughout their daily life.”

Dr. Romita will be taking a select few technicians to continue working at his office at 853 5th Ave at the beginning of 2012. The services they will offer will be strictly clinical.

While the recession has not been kind to the spa industry, this is the first long-time Alchimie Forever spa partner that has closed. Ajune closing makes this economic turmoil feel a whole lot more personal, and brings home the fact that we are not out of the woods yet. We small businesses must continue to support each other, to help each other, to work together. And we consumers must continue to shop local, spa local, and to support our own communities.

BeautyView: Tina Alster, Director, Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery

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I have always been fascinated by Tina Alster. I have the privilege of calling her my friend, of considering her my mentor, and of almost being her neighbor in Georgetown (indeed, she is a true DC native!). She is one of the top dermatologists in the country, known to her friends and fellow doctors as the “laser diva.” She always looks perfect, is invited to speak at all of the leading dermatology conferences, has consulted for Lancome (she even appeared in ads for them), and she has a shoe closet (and shoe collection) to die for. When I grow up I want to be just like her.

AP: What city were you born in? TA: Washington, DC.

AP: What city do you live in? TA: Washington, DC.

AP: What is your astrological sign? TA: Capricorn.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? TA: It’s always changing; new advances are more frequently scientifically based.

AP: Least favorite thing? TA: Overpromising results; the high variability in product quality.

AP: What is your most prized possession? TA: A George Rickey sculpture.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? TA: I was a Duke University cheerleader.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? TA: Yes, a white ceramic Chanel J12.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? TA: Pearls (lots of them mixed with other necklaces- like Coco).

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? TA: Besides my husband, President Obama.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? TA: Choose a life partner who is a team player (and has your back).

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? TA: 1. Travel light (never check luggage). 2. Keep a travel bag with appropriately sized skin products packed at all times. 3. Check in and print boarding passes before going to the airport.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? TA: Daily application of antioxidants and sunscreen.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? TA: Balenciaga.

AP: Botox or not? TA: Of course!

AP: Hair color: natural or not? TA: Not.

AP: Quote to live by. TA: “Work hard, play hard.”

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. TA: Do something you love, but remember…there are no shortcuts…you will need to work hard to be successful.