Hi Joanne! Where are you from?

I grew up in New York, but I moved to Los Angeles from Minnesota.

Oh wow, that is a big change in temperature! How did you get into skincare?

It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I worked in skincare right out of college, took a sidebar to head into corporate America, then retired young and decided this is what I wanted to do. I'm so happy to be back.

What is your favorite part of working with skin everyday?

For me it’s therapeutic, because it’s so relaxing. I also love helping people identify the natural beauty that they have within.

After working with so many clients, is there any advice that you think everyone would benefit from following?

Your skincare routine changes throughout your life, especially depending on where you’re living. Everybody should be cognizant of that. The number one thing to prioritize is to respect the skin’s natural lipid barrier, so don't over wash. Always be gentle with your skin. Gentle cleansing, exfoliating once a week, and hydrating often. That is the bare bones of skincare.

You don’t need 10 products and this arduous regiment, just work with your skin and what it is telling you. Find something that works for you, your budget, your lifestyle, and your tolerance for how much time you can put into it. There is a solution for everything and every commitment level. Don't feel that you must do what others are doing.

Is there a part of the conversation about the relationship between lifestyle and skin that you think is missing?

I’ve studied traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, I know that the whole body is important. You might not see an immediate direct association but when you’re taking care of your body, then you’re taking care of your skin. Emotional stress can cause stress on the skin, so taking time for you — even if it’s just once a month in my chair — the benefits are beyond what you could imagine.

I'd also recommend meditation as a way to reduce stress. I was in a very stressful job for 20 years and found that meditation was life transforming for me. Once you get in the habit of it you can do it anywhere, anytime. It’s a way of detaching. Half of your stress is all made up. If you can’t feed your children, that is truly stressful but what causes the exacerbated stress is often what you’re making up in your head.

If you do these actions, your body will take care of the results. It’s the passive process that makes the difference.

Changing habits as an adult is so difficult. How do you help those who need to change habits around their skin? Who need to learn to take care of it?

Each generation has their own challenges, the generations that are addicted and supported by Instagram and Facebook, they have too much information. For people who are older generations, they often only have the information that is given to them. They say, "I use this product because my sister uses it" or that their mother uses it. Some people don’t know how comfortable your skin can really be, that your skin should feel good to the touch and to wear. Once they feel the difference, even in 72 hours of using the right products in the right way, they’ll feel a real difference.

When you're doing the wrong routine, it's like over buffing your nails. You would never keep buffing your fingernails down, down, down because it would be painful and it would bleed. Some people exfoliate over and over and they don’t get the exact pain but they’re doing the same damage to that protection. It is about learning what to use and how to use it so you're making your skin healthier.

If you had a chance to tell a possible client one thing about you before booking with you, what would it be?

I’ve raised two daughters and I have, for my whole life, been the go-to person for support. I think that’s because I'm innately nurturing. In another life I know I was a good witch living off the earth. Even before being in this profession, people came to me. People are safe with me, I’m so happy when people find me because I can give them a safe space.

What topic in skincare could you just talk about for forever?

Exfoliating. Couldn't you tell?

What are three things that you like that don't have to do with skin?

• I love gardening.
• I love cooking.
• And I love horror movies.