Month: June 2020

The Future Of Beauty: “With VR You Can ‘Try On’ Cosmetic Procedures And Visualize Realistic…

The Future Of Beauty: “With VR You Can ‘Try On’ Cosmetic Procedures And Visualize Realistic Results” With Dr. William A. Kennedy III of of AEDIT

…We believe true beauty is unearthed by those who choose to be uniquely themselves rather than conform to a standard. We strive to inspire a movement that will empower everyone to be bold and challenge the preconceived notions of beauty by living by their own aesthetic.

As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years, I had the pleasure of interviewing William A. Kennedy III, MD.

William A. Kennedy III, MD, founder and CEO of AEDIT, is a world-renowned, board certified Head and Neck Surgeon and fellowship-trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.

Practicing for over 10 years, Dr. Kennedy’s experience and extensive list of credentials place him at the top of the most-trusted surgeons in his field. He is dedicated to giving his patients natural results using the most innovative and minimally invasive techniques offered in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery today. He is best known for his attention to detail, his commitment to research, and, most importantly, his devotion to his patients.

Over the years, Dr. Kennedy has set out to improve the aesthetic experience for patients through technology. In 2016, he founded AEDIT (pronounced “ed-it”). At the time, information on aesthetics was only offered in a limited and often biased way, hindering the process of discovering cosmetic solutions and aesthetic providers by making these decisions more complicated and confusing than they needed to be. Where to start? Who to trust? What’s even possible?

In response to these challenges, Dr. Kennedy created AEDIT to provide consumers with a single destination that offers trusted, unbiased, and medically approved content and tools in support of every step of the aesthetic journey, from discovery to recovery. It is the only technology-driven platform that delivers innovative self-service solutions and transforms complicated medical data into understandable information with easy-to-use tools and engaging resources tailored to each user — from visualizing their ideal aesthetic to searching for cosmetic solutions and booking with board certified providers.

Dr. Kennedy earned his BS from Boston University, MS from Boston University School of Medicine, and MD from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Born in Massachusetts, he currently resides in Manhattan and practices at hospitals within the Greater New York City Area.

Thank you so much for doing this with us Dr. Kennedy! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Growing up, I was surrounded by those who dedicated their lives to helping others. My father was a mayor and my mother was a public school teacher. Their commitment to serving their community has always been a source of inspiration. The medical field was particularly appealing because I was able to combine my desire to help others with my interest in science and math.

Specifically, I was drawn to facial plastic surgery because it allows you to really make an impact on someone’s life. Being able to change or reconstruct an individual’s appearance can alter their life in a way few other things can.

Throughout my career, it became evident that many patients struggled through their aesthetic experience. They had difficulty understanding their options, didn’t know who to trust, and there was nothing out there that supported them along their journey. It was important to me to create a solution that would make sure anyone who is looking to undergo a cosmetic procedure didn’t feel discouraged or confused, but instead felt empowered.

I knew there was more I could do to be of help, which is why I founded AEDIT.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

As a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I have helped many patients who have suffered from severe trauma to their face. One instance that stands out to me most was a 17-year-old female patient who had an unfortunate interaction with her dog, which resulted in a large part of her cheek being bitten off. While her trauma was not life-threatening, nor would it limit her functionally, she was understandably concerned from an aesthetic standpoint. Almost inconsolable, it was my role to help her feel as comfortable as possible and reassure her about all the unknowns she was experiencing. My ability to calm her and put a smile on her face was not a result of my suturing or surgical expertise; it was my confident demeanor as I explained the medical process and the reassurance I provided that I would be with her throughout her entire journey — all the way through recovery.

While no patient could prepare for this sort of instance, her experience reminded me of the importance of forming meaningful patient-provider relationships and making sure patients feel supported and cared for every step of the way. It is one of the many reasons why I founded AEDIT, and, now, it serves as a major part of our mission.

Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?

Success for me is having a patient that is happy with my care. A “tipping point” in my career as a facial plastic surgeon happened over time as I began to realize more and more how I could ensure this level of happiness. While results are, of course. one of the most defining factors, the best care and service comes from a combination of delivering on expectations and forming a trusted relationship.

What has helped me reach this level of success is understanding the importance of looking at the bigger picture. It’s not just the outcome, but the process of how you get there. My patients are happy because they feel listened to and supported every step of the way.

I think a major takeaway from this is understanding a patient’s goal and working backward from it to figure out what the necessary steps are to reaching it. If I solely focused on my surgical skills and didn’t pay attention to how I communicated with my patients, then the odds of someone even booking with me would be very slim. Just offering a good result isn’t going to result in success. It’s the whole experience.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

There’s a dear friend of mine who has always been in my court: Matthew Camp, MD. We’ve known each other since before medical school, and he is definitely one of the main reasons why I am a doctor today. He encouraged me to pursue my passion and helped me through the med school application process. Since I can remember, he’s always been there for me and has supported me throughout each major chapter of my life.

Our bond comes from the similar challenges we’ve faced and the shared views and goals we both possess. Likeminded, we always talk about how we can help improve the lives of others and what technological advancements we can create to do so.

I’m grateful to have him in my life, as he has helped me maintain a positive perspective, even through the setbacks and struggles. One instance was when we both weren’t accepted the first time we applied to medical school. Although this was discouraging, he reminded me of my strengths and reasons for pursuing a career in medicine. Later, with his support, I excelled through school and was recognized as the top candidate for my fellowships in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Today, I call him anytime I have a new idea that I want to run by someone. Since the early days of AEDIT, we’ve spoken numerous times about the product and its mission. It’s rewarding to have his support.

Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” (pardon the pun) technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?

Today’s patient is much more independent and informed due to the surplus of information that is readily available at our fingertips. Compared to years past, we are seeing more patients that are *certain* of the results they want to achieve or the procedure they are looking to undergo. As a result, the problem we are experiencing is the influx of misinformation and unrealistic expectations.

As a way to address this situation, we set out to create not only a platform that would offer medically approved and easy-to-understand information, but also a 3D aesthetic simulator — The AEDITOR — that allows users to virtually “try on” cosmetic procedures and visualize realistic results right from the palm of their hand.

It is definitely a monumental product to enter the aesthetics space. We launched this tool as an iOS app and immediately generated a large user base — even without a big marketing push. This is the first of its kind to be created for consumers, as all other realistic and medically accurate morphing technologies are only available in the practices of medical professionals.

With the AEDITOR, consumers are in control of their morphing experience and can use the app whenever and wherever they please. The simulator scans and measures the user’s facial features to create a completely individualized experience and produce results that are truly obtainable.

We see this helping patients along their aesthetic journey. For example, it can improve patient-provider communications, especially the typical consultation conversations today that are often focused on the unobtainable results of other facial filter apps and tools that many patients are hoping to achieve.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

I think we are already experiencing the consequences of technology with the rise of “Instagram Face” — a newly coined term used to describe how social media, facial morphing apps, and plastic surgery has created a certain desired look that is causing a lot of people to look, well, the same.

The purpose of our morphing technology is the inverse of this. We want people to visualize results that are personalized to them and their features. That said, it is very likely people may try to achieve a morphed look similar to someone else, so there could definitely be an unintended consequence of creating more sameness as a result.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

The beauty-tech space allows consumers to engage with the industry in a whole new way. For example, our product will open up the world of aesthetics to every layperson by breaking down the barriers that typically prevent its access. This wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for technology.

Overall, I am most excited about the space because:

Technology is revolutionizing the beauty industry and placing more emphasis on personalized experiences and giving consumers the opportunity to be in more control of their beauty decisions, whether that be virtually trying on lipstick before purchasing or, in our case, trying on a cosmetic procedure before booking a consultation.
Technology is allowing more access to all that the beauty industry has to offer, including aesthetics. It has allowed us to make it easier for consumers to get trusted information and find answers in a matter of clicks.
The reach of technology is incredible. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to connect with as many people and as many different regions as we are able to now. It’s particularly interesting in the aesthetics space, as there are different cosmetic trends depending on the area of interest and we are able to interact and provide the right information based on this.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

Accessibility is a double-edged sword. While it is great that technology has made the beauty industry more accessible in so many ways, I think it can also create consumer demand and control that may present challenges.
Security issues are often a major topic when it comes to technology. The more consumers are asked to provide personal information, the more issues the beauty-tech industry may face unless stricter privacy measures are implemented. This is definitely something I would suggest as an improvement.
Understanding that technology can supplement but not replace human touch, especially when it comes to aesthetics.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Take care of your body — Being in the medical field, I always encourage patients to take care of themselves and keep healthy by adopting an active lifestyle and eating well. I think the better you feel, the more beautiful you feel, too.
Get enough rest — Beauty sleep isn’t a made-up thing. Sticking to a routine sleeping schedule is important for your body and mind.
Stress-relieving activities — The more stressed we are, the harder we often are on ourselves. Find a good stress release and be easy on yourself!
Flaunt your features — We all have features we like about ourselves, and those that maybe make us self-conscious. Focus on flaunting the ones you love
Express yourself — Style is an expression of who we are. Getting dressed in clothes that make you feel like yourself can also help you feel good and beautiful.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :

At AEDIT, we believe true beauty is unearthed by those who choose to be uniquely themselves rather than conform to a standard. We strive to inspire a movement that will empower everyone to be bold and challenge the preconceived notions of beauty by living by their own aesthetic.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“There is no such thing as failure if you don’t give up.”

I’ve always tried to live by this quote. Throughout my life, a passion of mine has been learning about technology and how it can help us care for others. I was able to focus on this when I studied biomedical engineering and now as a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of AEDIT. Being raised in a family where math and science weren’t necessarily the focus, it was often a challenge to teach myself and comprehend the medical world. Although it was difficult, through perseverance, I was able to excel in these areas.

One of the reasons I founded AEDIT was to empower people with the necessary tools to learn about all that the aesthetics industry has to offer and, in doing so, give them the confidence to make informed decisions.

How can our readers follow you online?

Readers can follow us on social media (@aedit) and subscribe to our weekly newsletter via aedit.com.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

The Future Of Beauty: “With VR You Can ‘Try On’ Cosmetic Procedures And Visualize Realistic… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Joie Tavernise of JTAV Clinical Skincare: “Why making conscious choices about what you put into…

Joie Tavernise of JTAV Clinical Skincare: “Why making conscious choices about what you put into your body will help you feel beautiful”

…Making conscious choices about what you put into your body. I strongly feel that the foods we use to fuel our body have a large and lasting impact on how we feel. Choosing fresh, local, and organic foods not only gives you energy and nourishes you, it makes your skin glow.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Joie Tavernise the founder and owner of JTAV Clinical Skincare, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Joie is a member of the Society of Plastic Surgery Skincare Specialists; National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations; and Society for Medical & Clinical Hair Removal and has been a practicing esthetician for 18 years. Through her many years of hands-on experience as an esthetician and business owner, Joie has created a signature method that focuses on a customized experience for every client; one that unites modern technologies with traditional approaches and incorporates a whole body/whole life perspective.

Thank you for joining us Joie. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My passion for skincare began when I was a teenager. When I was a teen my skin was constantly breaking out. I would go to different spas for facials and would always leave with my skin worse than it was before, so I decided to learn how to treat my own skin at home. I researched products and different home remedies, and educated myself on ingredients and the best treatments for my skin. I found that the more time I dedicated to treating myself, the better my skin became, and my passion grew from here.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

The most interesting that that has happened to me since I began my career has been moving from a small space in a townhouse into our new larger space. Years ago when we moved into the ground floor of a townhouse, I thought that it was an extremely big deal and I had no idea how I was going to fill the space with employees and clients; I was both excited and very overwhelmed. Cut to 5 years later we were bursting at the seams and it became very apparent that we need to move out and find a larger space. I walked up and down the streets of the Upper East Side day and night, knowing that I would find the perfect new space. It was a very exciting moment when I realized that even more growth was possible, and this made me realize that I would really never stop growing. Once we found the ideal new space, I worked on architecture, construction, and design; all things that I had no idea I would ever do as an esthetician.

Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success?

A real tipping point in my career success-wise was definitely building out a new space. This is when I truly realized that I made the power to make something from scratch that was completely mine. This level of empowerment fueled my motivation to push harder to reach my goals.

Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?

I started focusing on educating my staff on my “JTAV Method” so that I could ensure that treatments were being done in the way that I did them, without me having to spend so much time physically in the treatment rooms. This gave me the time to focus on business development. The more that I started teaching my stuff to emulate my method, the more I was able to feel comfortable dedicating my time to the aspects of my business that I always wanted to grow more.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are?

Rather than one person in particular, I am grateful for my team. My staff believed in me and trusted me 100% to grow the business and continue to teach them new things. Working together, all of us were able to grow in our positions and make more money. We encourage and support each other, and this is the foundation to my business.

Can you share a story about that?

We were all comfortable when we were in our previous smaller space, but the potential for us to learn and grow was there. Collectively we all encouraged each other to believe that growth was possible, and to get out of our comfort zones. Together we took on stronger roles and grew togehter.

The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” (pardon the pun) technologies that you are working with or introducing?

What sets JTAV Clinical Skincare apart is our method of layering modalities with less downtime. I am always researching what the latest and greatest technology is, in order to offer this to our employees, but I have found that rather than constantly introducing new technology it actually proves better results if you find a way to layer these existing technologies so that they all work together to treat different concerns and layers of the skin.

Conversely, one must never forget how important the fundamentals are. As estheticians our hands are our more valuable asset. Learning how to properly use your hands as tools will yield excellent results. I also always encourage learning about products and their ingredients, because this is also the foundation to excellent results.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

Looking into having a consultation, learning about what the treatment is. 30 different machines but it’s all the same things. As consumers are very savvy to what’s available — they are always asking about different machines that have different names

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

Staying on the forefront of what’s new

Attending educational seminars

Always evolving, having more result driven treatments with less downtime

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry?

Education is key and we want to make sure that our team is always having continuous education. Sometimes I am concerned about the level of training that estheticians are committing themselves to. As the field is always changing and growing, it is imperative to seek out ways to educate yourself. One more thing that concerns me is the idea of instant gratification. To truly see results, a client needs to commit to a long-term trusting relationship with their esthetician. While it is true that you will see results after one treatment, the real results come with continuous treatments.

If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

I feel that ongoing education should be mandatory. I am always sourcing online courses and in-person trainings for my staff. My Director Chelsea and I are constantly designing protocols to follow and implementing these protocols and structures in the space.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? Please share a story or example for each

1. Develop and stick to a home routine. Making time for yourself is essential to feeling good, which leads to feeling beautiful.

2. Spirituality and meditation are two huge ways to opening up the pathways to feeling beautiful. True beauty, as we all know, is not always about what is on the outside but rather what is on the inside. If someone does not feel beautiful on the inside, no amount of beauty treatments will fix that.

3. Making conscious choices about what you put into your body. I strongly feel that the foods we use to fuel our body have a large and lasting impact on how we feel. Choosing fresh, local, and organic foods not only gives you energy and nourishes you, it makes your skin glow.

4. Choose wisely on how you spend your time and who you surround yourself with. Craft your own beautiful world and you will feel beautiful every day.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I feel that so much good is brought from supporting women and small businesses. If I could inspire a movement, I would encourage people to think twice about where they are spending their money .More now than ever, it is so important to identify with the companies that bring you joy and support them. Look at the smaller companies rather than the large ones.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Believing in yourself is the secret to success.” This quote has motivated and comforted me every step of the way throughout my career. It also could not be more helpful in times like these. A lot of us are wondering if we will be successful once life returns to normal. I know in my heart that if I believe in myself and work hard, I will always find success. Don’t question your own ability. Get rid of fears and self doubt. Anything is possible.

How can our readers follow you online?

@JTAVClinicalSkincare

Joie Tavernise of JTAV Clinical Skincare: “Why making conscious choices about what you put into… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Beauty: “Combination Therapy & Hydraneedling” With Leah Chavie

Women want to feel beautiful and confident inside and out so it’s important to empower them through learning and education. I get concerned about chemicals, over-exfoliation, misinformation, and just using too much of everything! I appreciate moderation. I believe that sometimes less is more. I would like for consumers to really understand what they are using and why.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leah Chavie, a Chicago-based licensed esthetician and massage therapist. She holds several certifications for medical laser, cryo-stem cell therapy, radio frequency, micro needling, microblading, dermaplaning and chemical peel. She has extensive laser knowledge. She was certified with medical laser training in 2004 with Minnesota Vascular Center.

She was the Jane Iredale mineral makeup representative and trade show coordinator for two years. She was a Silk Peel Dermalinfusion sales and educator for the Midwest and continues to support them.

Chavie has been in the beauty industry since she was 15 years old, starting her career at a Minnesota-based chain of hair salons/spas. During her career, she did the makeup for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Vikings cheerleaders. She has offered extensive consulting for multiple doctors and med spas to develop protocols, training and set up from Nusta Spa in Washington D.C. to L.A. She has worked in every facet of the beauty industry from the front of the house to practitioner and educator.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I have always loved anything beauty related. Makeup and skincare have been a huge passion of mine from a very young age. When I was a little girl, I played with my Barbie dolls and put makeup on all of my girlfriends. I started working in the industry when I was 15 at a spa in Minnesota and went on to attend beauty school. At 17, I started working for a salon/spa chain in Minnesota and I was there for 7 years. Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics hired me and encouraged me to move to Chicago when I was 30 years old.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I started my business 10 years ago with about $100 in my checking account! Armed with the passion and a dream to own my own business, I was able to make a career and a safe environment for me to do and live my passion. I tell all my clients I buy everything for me to try and if I love it, I will share with them.

Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success?

I feel like I get a chance to learn and grow every day, so I don’t feel like there was that one day I woke up and thought “I have arrived.” Over the years I have had both highs and lows and feel humbled by every experience. I am determined to keep growing and learning, so I continue to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. During these challenging times as a small business owner it’s important to stay positive!

Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?

I have learned so much from everything I have experienced — both good and bad. I have taken something away from each opportunity along my journey. I have learned to slow down and be present, so I am able to effectively listen and learn from my clients, friends and my partner. I try to find balance in everything I do. I am so grateful to be able to do what I love daily and contribute to other’s happiness and well-being.

Jane Iredale, a trailblazer in the beauty industry. I met her when I was 17 years old. She encouraged and supported this small-town girl from Minnesota to move to Chicago. I am so grateful for my time with her. My experience with Jane Iredale gave me the courage to move and to try new things.

Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” (pardon the pun) technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?

I love combination therapy. I like to mix the HydraFacial with the Vivace radio frequency, micro-needling, and stem-cell therapy. I call it “Hydraneedling.” I love anything that stimulates collagen!

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

No, I say try treatments that induce your own body’s healing components as opposed to chemicals. Micro-needling is excellent for collagen stimulation and product penetration.

I am also loving the Plasma Pen right now to induce an injury in an area that needs improvement or correction. Through controlled heat and topical injury, this amazing treatment helps turn back the clock!

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

I love HydraFacial, Venus Viva and Vivace with stem-cell therapy. As I get older, I feel like less is more with my products and I focus more on anti-aging treatments that stimulate collagen.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

To make sure everyone including estheticians are properly and trained in all aspects of skincare and sanitation.

Women want to feel beautiful and confident inside and out so it’s important to empower them through learning and education. I get concerned about chemicals, over-exfoliation, misinformation, and just using too much of everything! I appreciate moderation. I believe that sometimes less is more. I would like for consumers to really understand what they are using and why.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Exercise daily: Move your body! Do 60 minutes of activity each day. It’s great for heart health!
Nutrition: Your body is a temple — make sure to provide the right fuel for your body by eating healthy and nutritious food.
Mental health/self-care: Try detox treatments to reset the body. Two amazing ways to do this is through infrared wraps and float tanks
Self-love: Slow down and chill! Beautiful music, soy candles, oil diffusers, CBD oils are all good for relaxation and healing. You can even throw in a piece of chocolate or Twizzlers!
Sleep: Need I say more?

I would certainly focus on consumer education to ensure that people understand all the ingredients in every beauty/skincare product and make informed decisions on what to use on their bodies. I share knowledge to my audience on social media and am always teaching my clients about their skin when they come for appointments.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“My Skin is My Sin”

This quote came from Jack Pivac, a man who I dated for 10 years, who passed away in his sleep three years ago at 49. He used to tease me that this would be my “Real Housewives” tagline- #MySkinIsMySin

And it stuck!

How can our readers follow you online?

On Instagram (@leahchavie), Facebook (@LeahChavieSkin), Twitter (@LeahChavieSkin) or LinkedIn

The Future Of Beauty: “Combination Therapy & Hydraneedling” With Leah Chavie was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Kate Christie of Time Stylers: “How One Can Thrive Despite Experiencing Impostor Syndrome”

Imposter syndrome is a feeling, not a fact — get the data before you go too far down that rabbit hole. Make a list of your achievements, your successes, your qualifications, your wins big and small and genuinely reflect on them. Every time you start to doubt yourself, get your list out and read it.

As a part of our series about how very accomplished leaders were able to succeed despite experiencing Imposter Syndrome, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kate Christie

Kate Christie, founder & CEO of Time Stylers, is a Time Management specialist, International Speaker, best selling author and leading media commentator. Kate has worked with thousands of clients, from top organisations through to individuals to help them maximise productivity to ensure success across work, family, community and life. As a single mum and successful entrepreneur, Kate understands the unique challenges women face when trying to support their families, thrive in their careers and achieve personal fulfilment. More importantly, she knows how to overcome these challenges. Me First is her fourth book.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?

My name is Kate Christie and I am the CEO and founder of Time Stylers. I am a time management specialist, best selling author, and speaker. I work with high performing organisations, teams and individuals to maximise individual time spend and minimise organisational drag through smart time investment strategies. I am a single mom to three (mostly) amazing teenagers — so I know first hand how hard it is to manage the ‘juggle’. We have 2 dogs, who the kids promised to love, cherish and obey — but it seems like I’m the only one who ever walks them. My fourth book, “Me First: The Guilt-Free Guide to Prioritising You”, just hit the shelves, which is exciting!

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘take aways’ you learned from that?

I am one of a generation of women who was told I could have it all. And it worked. By my early 30’s I was a senior executive in an ASX Top 100 company. The sky was the limit. However, the wheels started to wobble between the years 2000 and 2003 when I had three babies in three-and-a-half years. And while I maintained the pace for a few years, it eventually all came unstuck.

It was a Monday morning and I delayed my departure for work so that I could drop my son at school. Other moms do this all the time, right? So, there I was, in my beautiful black suit, red lipstick, high heels and with snot from my shoulder to my knee with a hysterical child clinging to my leg because it was ‘cupcake day’. (I don’t know who comes up with these ideas — it certainly isn’t working moms.) Clearly, I did not have any cupcakes. Later, radiating guilt, covered in snot and thinking about the 25 years of cupcake therapy my son would need, I rushed late into my first meeting. The room went silent. Everyone around the boardroom table looked at me and then looked at their watches, and then they resumed the meeting. And I had the profound realisation that I was the only member of the executive leadership team who didn’t have a full-time wife.

As working moms, motherhood is a massive part of our lives. And because we spend so much time second guessing ourselves in our capacity as mums, it should come as no surprise that feelings of self-doubt start to creep into other aspects of our lives. And then we start to question our abilities professionally: Am I any good at this? Do I deserve to be in this role? Will people realise I’m a fraud?

What on earth had happened to the promise that I could have it all? I felt cheated, lied to, robbed, exhausted, set up and a complete failure who, having tried to fly the flag, had in fact dismally let the sisterhood down.

Shortly after this experience I resigned from my fantastic job because I felt I had no choice. I could either have a brilliant career or be a brilliant mom — but not both. I was wrong — of course — but this period of time taught me to reframe my relationship with time and led me to my passion: smart time management. At Time Stylers my focus is on teaching high performers to reframe their relationship with time so that no-one ever feels forced to choose between two things they love for want of time.

In retrospect, this was the best lesson I could have learnt, because it opened up a whole new world for me.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

My back story is very relatable — I am a busy single mum juggling a business. I am not perfect, I have made plenty of mistakes, but I have also been resilient and courageous and have kept pushing myself to be the best possible version of me and to create the best life for my kids. I am just so ridiculously passionate about great time management that my energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Time Stylers is all about finding you time so that you can live your greatest life.

I absolutely love working with high performers, like Kelly — the CEO of Australia’s fastest growing city. She has a massive job, is constantly available and works incredibly long hours. Kelly asked me to work with her after she was appointed CEO: ‘Kate helped me reframe my time — it was a game changer for me. In part I think it was just external validation from someone else that it’s ok to be a mom and an executive and that I needed to focus my time where it was most needed at any given time, and if the was with my daughter, then that was ok.’

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

My dad has been the biggest influence on my career. He has encouraged me every single step of the way. He is not one for lots of noise and carry on — he is just a constant, quiet, positive influence in the background. He has had my back my whole life. He is the first person I share my business wins with and he is the one person I can rely on for level headed advice. I am 50 and he is 79 and we talk every day.

Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. We would like to explore and flesh out the experience of Impostor Syndrome. How would you define Impostor Syndrome? What do people with Imposter Syndrome feel?

Imposter Syndrome is an unkind voice of self doubt. Outwardly we have all the trappings of success, but we are not able to internalise our successes. Our internal dialogue is one of self doubt: I am faking it. I really have no idea what I am doing. And it’s only a matter of time before someone comes up and taps me on the shoulder and quietly asks me to leave the room without making a scene.

What are the downsides of Impostor Syndrome? How can it limit people?

Self-doubt can be limiting when it comes to managing your ‘today’, but when it threatens your capacity to explore wonderful new opportunities ‘tomorrow’, it is unforgivable. No-one ever said on their death bed: I’m so happy that I left those opportunities on the table because I did not think I was good enough.

How can the experience of Impostor Syndrome impact how one treats others?

It should motivate us to be compassionate, understanding and kind, however I am not sure that it aways does.

We would love to hear your story about your experience with Impostor Syndrome. Would you be able to share that with us?

I have literally been winging motherhood from the day I found out I was pregnant 20 years ago. Am I a good mom? Will my kids have friends? Will my kids do drugs? Will my kids be good at sport? Will anyone play with them? Am I present enough? Are they happy? Am I setting the right boundaries? Am I a mom of a friend? Do other people think I’m a good mom? Do my kids think I’m a good mom? Am I a good mom?

Did you ever shake the feeling off? If yes, what have you done to mitigate it or eliminate it?

After resigning from my job to be a full time mom, I had the time to think and reframe my time. Could I honestly live my best life in a state of fear and always wondering if I was ‘good enough’?

I constantly remind myself that every single one of us needs to wing it from time to time. But just because we have a few less-than-entirely-authentic moments, does not mean that we are living a completely false existence. It’s time to back yourself — you do know enough and you are good enough!

In your opinion, what are 5 steps that someone who is experiencing Impostor Syndrome can take to move forward despite feeling like an “Impostor”? Please share a story or an example for each.

If and when you are seized by imposter syndrome, remember these simple truths:

Imposter syndrome is a feeling, not a fact — get the data before you go too far down that rabbit hole. Make a list of your achievements, your successes, your qualifications, your wins big and small and genuinely reflect on them. Every time you start to doubt yourself, get your list out and read it.
When opportunities arise that you think you are unworthy of, remember that if you say No, someone else will be lining up (potentially someone less worthy than you) and they will have the courage to say Yes. They will jump and then build the parachute on the way down and you will look on and think, That could have been me. Stop coming second. It’s time to be first.
Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your daughter when she shares with you her feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.
Know that one day, maybe when you are 40 or 50 or older, you will wake up to the realization that you actually have been good enough all along; that you do know what you are talking about; that you don’t need validation from anyone else to make this so; and that there is nothing to fear. So why not own it now?
Never forget: we all wing it. You are a high achiever for a reason. Don’t waste any more time being anything less. Take a deep breath, get over it and jump.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Work from home. Embrace the opportunity COVID-19 has presented us with — both men and women can maximize our productivity working from home while being available to our children. Less lost time to the commute, lower emissions, happier families, productive workers. Win. Win. Win.

We are blessed that some very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them 🙂

I would love to meet Reece Witherspoon and gift her a copy of my new book ‘Me First: The Guilt-free Guide to Prioritising You”.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

https://www.facebook.com/kate.christie.92

linkedin.com/in/kate-christie

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Kate Christie of Time Stylers: “How One Can Thrive Despite Experiencing Impostor Syndrome” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Beauty: “AI, AR, And Machine Learning Technologies That Aid The Beauty Shopping…

The Future Of Beauty: “AI, AR, And Machine Learning Technologies That Aid The Beauty Shopping Experience”, With Alice Chang of Perfect Corp

I hope to ignite (and continue fueling) the beauty tech revolution for the democratization of beauty. I see advancements in beauty technology and the emerging interactive experiences as a means for beauty lovers to feel empowered to discover, experiment, and play with beauty and express themselves. Advanced AI beauty technology helps shift power into the hands of consumers by giving them the tools necessary to play, test, and navigate their own beauty journey, on their own terms. I hope that the implementation of these creative, interactive, and engaging beauty AI and AR experiences helps fuel a generation of empowered, confident, and inspiring people who express themselves freely and lean into their individuality.

As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years I had the pleasure of interviewing Alice Chang, CEO and Founder of Perfect Corp.

Alice H. Chang is the founder and CEO of Perfect Corp., the leading beauty tech solutions provider and developer of the award-winning YouCam suite of apps. She is one of the first visionaries at the intersection of technology and beauty. Perfect Corp.’s innovative technology merges advanced artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and machine learning technologies with the growing demand for an enhanced, personalized beauty shopping experience.

Chang’s vision came to life through the creation of Perfect Corp. and a suite of AI and AR beauty apps that includes the award-winning YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect. Leveraging her highly successful experience in technology, she’s been able to upend and entirely recreate the consumer, retailer, and brand shopping journey both in stores, online, and on mobile, introducing a true omnichannel consumer experience. With over 800 million downloads of the consumer YouCam apps, and over 250 brand partners implementing custom enterprise solutions, the impact of Perfect Corp.’s beauty technology is apparent, drawing on Chang’s vision to empower the consumer through interactive discovery and experimentation.

From 1997 to 2015, Chang was the CEO of CyberLink Corp. where her leadership propelled the company from a small startup to an award-winning global brand. Under her leadership, CyberLink expanded rapidly, with its software (including the popular PowerDVD and PowerDirector) now pre-installed across top PC brands around the world. Chang currently resides in Taipei, Taiwan and holds an MBA from UCLA.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Before technology, I was working in the financial sector in the banking industry. This was during the early 90’s, when the internet was introduced into our daily lives and I saw a myriad of possibilities in the online realm. Sparked by curiosity and opportunity, I decided to jump in and started my career in the IT industry, focusing on online security at an antivirus company called TrendMicro. Later in 1996, as I noticed the PC getting more and more powerful, and acquiring new capabilities like video and audio playing, I recognized the opportunity for these devices to be used as a source of entertainment, and not just a work tool. It was on this vision that I founded Cyberlink later that year, to help advance the technology for the enjoyment of people. Nearly two decades later, I recognized the practical application of AR and facial recognition technologies in the beauty space. It was in August 2014 that Perfect Corp. was born with the focus of re-imaging the consumer beauty experience through advanced technology that help individuals discover, try, share, and shop for beauty.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

It was 2016, the second year of Perfect Corp. We had already created an amazing product — YouCam Makeup. The interactive consumer app helps beauty lovers discover, try-on, and shop tons of different products and styles through hyper-realistic virtual effects powered by Augmented Reality (AR) technology. I loved the YouCam Makeup app so much (and still do!) that I used it every morning before heading to the office (mostly testing the latest releases the engineering team had developed the previous day/night). Every time I opened the app to experiment with the beauty filters, my mood was instantly elevated. I started to observe my team and attendees at event who were playing with the technology and observed the same response — they instantly stood taller, held their head a bit higher, and smiled bigger than ever. It was an instant confidence boost, and not just because of the instant professional makeover. There was something about the convenience and fun of trying looks and styles they would have never thought to experiment with in real life, that fueled this sense of self discovery and expression. Playing in YouCam Makeup was instantly empowering and I wanted to continue to build on this experience, connecting the brands, products, and styles from the physical beauty world, with a complimentary experience within the digital beauty universe I had created. I began to think, what will it take for users to find the right products and shades and learn how to apply them in real life? That was the single idea that made me turn the company’s strategy around and begin partnering with top beauty brands to create a full circle experience.

Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything differently? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from ?

I am not afraid to try new things and new ways of doing things. My colleague always says: “Alice is a dreamer, and she has so many wild dreams.” I think as an entrepreneur, this is the spirit I need to carry on and pass to the team. I always said that the paradigm shift is an opportunity for everyone to jump on. Don’t just live in your old comfortable paradigm, because the industry changes very fast, especially in technology. My lesson is that only when we are brave enough to try new things, to do something that nobody else has done before, then we will have a chance of real success and perhaps even have more fun along the way too.

There are so many people that helped me in my career, but I am truly grateful for my team. Our engineering team is fantastic and they help me bring my dreams to life. Every time I have one of those “Alice wish” moments, no matter how hard it is, my engineering team always delivers. All our developers work very hard and they continue to amaze me with unthinkable innovation, so we can prove to the world that we can do it. Of course, no success would be achieved without the hard work and contribution from other departments. Our RD, design, marketing, and business development teams all work tirelessly toward a common goal. Great teamwork truly makes anything possible.

After we developed the first YouCam app, (a selfie editing app, YouCam Perfect), I challenged my team to push beyond selfie-editing to develop an automatic magic mirror that would help beauty lovers instantaneously experience makeup effects with true-to-life details and precision. This has never been done before on a smartphone. The team worked for 4 months, and in 2014 we released the world’s first true-to-life virtual AR makeup app, YouCam Makeup, which had accumulated over 800 million downloads to date.

At Perfect Corp., we are constantly innovating and finding unique ways to utilize advanced AI, AR, and machine learning technologies to improve the beauty shopping experience for consumers, brands, retailers, and content creators. Advancements in AI and AR have helped to create virtual beauty experiences that rival physical ones, unlocking a new level of discovery, experimentation, and personalization that was not possible in the past. Color cosmetics were the first products adopted for virtual try-on given the nature of the more dramatic try on effects. With developments in AI, digital experiences involving hair color try on and skincare diagnostics are also now possible. Furthermore, advanced AI and machine learning are building upon a very personalized experience that helps recommend the best products and styles based on individual preference.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

I think the megatrend of technological impact on each industry is inevitable, no matter if it is FinTech, HealthTech, SportTech or BeautyTech. Technology brings a lot of value to consumers in each area, and I think the benefits it brings are larger than its drawbacks.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

It’s ability to spark discovery, empowering beauty lovers to experiment and have fun with beauty.
The ease of personalization possible with advanced AI for personal recommendations
The opportunity it presents for endless innovation and continued advancements.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

Navigating a sea of options. With new brands and products entering the beauty universe daily, it creates confusion and angst among beauty lovers trying to navigate the extensive selections.
Beauty AI solutions cut through the clutter to deliver instant, personalized products and styles that match the individual consumer’s needs.
Hygiene concerns. With the rapid spread of the novel CORVID-19 virus and growing global health concerns, product sampling will continue evolve to no-touch/virtual testing.
Introducing hyper-realistic virtual beauty try-on experiences that rival physical ones will continue to become the norm for product testing. As technology becomes more and more advanced, shoppers become increasingly more confident basing their purchase decisions on digital try-ons.
Disconnected consumer shopping experience. Brands are continuing to struggle with the many consumer touchpoints that exist today — online, in-store, social media, etc. There is growing demand for brands to create a fully integrated omnichannel experience.
To improve, brands need to take the leap to connect every aspect of their experience and rethink the strategy for each channel individually. User behavior greatly varies based on the channel and brands need to understand and best serve the consumer on that specific outlet, while still maintaining a consistency that rings true to the brand.

You are a beauty expert. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

1. Remind yourself of it every.single.day. It may sound silly, but when you wake up in the morning while you load up your toothbrush, look at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself, “I am beautiful”
2. Write yourself a love note. If the whole talking to yourself in the mirror thing feels awkward, try writing a love note to yourself and watch it manifest in a sea of self-love.
3. Surround yourself with beauty. Ensure that the people and things around you, that fill your space, make you smile and remind you daily that your life is beautiful.
4. Don’t take your beauty regimen so seriously. Beauty is meant to be fun and freeing. A chance to express yourself and discover newness that makes you smile.
5. Turn your beauty routine into daily pampering. Instead of mindlessly washing your face, applying your mascara, or brushing your hair, be present and enjoy those few moments of pampering as a treat to yourself. Take a moment to soak up and appreciate this daily self-love ritual that we far too often rush through on autopilot.

I hope to ignite (and continue fueling) the beauty tech revolution for the democratization of beauty. I see advancements in beauty technology and the emerging interactive experiences as a means for beauty lovers to feel empowered to discover, experiment, and play with beauty and express themselves. Advanced AI beauty technology helps shift power into the hands of consumers by giving them the tools necessary to play, test, and navigate their own beauty journey, on their own terms. I hope that the implementation of these creative, interactive, and engaging beauty AI and AR experiences helps fuel a generation of empowered, confident, and inspiring people who express themselves freely and lean into their individuality.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Life is full of ups and downs and unexpected challenges. Sometimes we even lose sight of what really matters, but I believe it’s very important to never regret a day in your life. Live life to the fullest and always focus on the positive. And if we can make a difference along the way, even better!

How can our readers follow you online?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicehchang/

Follow along in the YouCam journey at @YouCamApps and @YouCamPerfect.Official

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

The Future Of Beauty: “AI, AR, And Machine Learning Technologies That Aid The Beauty Shopping… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Enrico Frezza of Peace Out: “The beauty industry accounts for a great portion of the waste in…

Enrico Frezza of Peace Out: “The beauty industry accounts for a great portion of the waste in landfills; I would love a world where everything is recyclable”

The beauty industry accounts for a great portion of the waste in landfills. I would love a world where everything is recyclable. That said, I’d also like recycling centers to get better at actually recycling. I envision a future where beauty retailers add a recycling drop off area for their customers, possibly with an incentive for recycling.

As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years I had the pleasure of interviewing Enrico Frezza.

Originally from Milan, Peace Out Founder and CEO, Enrico Frezza struggled with severe acne for much of his early life. After three years of research and development, this former cyber security expert created the first to market hydrocolloid acne patch imbued with active ingredients. Peace Out Acne, this first product, was born from Enrico’s never-ending quest for an easy, effective solution for his own breakouts.

Since its debut in 2017, Enrico has developed five more products utilizing proprietary delivery systems in tandem with high quality ingredients to combat common skin issues: Peace Out Pores, Peace Out Wrinkles, Peace Out Puffy Eyes, Peace Out Dark Spots and the newest release Peace Out Dullness. Enrico continues to push the beauty industry forward by producing skincare from cutting-edge technologies and unique combinations of ingredients. Peace Out is based in San Francisco and sold worldwide exclusively through Sephora and peaceoutskincare.com.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

As a child and as a teenager, I suffered from severe, pizza face acne. My breakouts ruled every aspect of my life, emotionally and physically. I became introverted and my self-esteem dwindled. Sadly, Accutane wasn’t a cure for me. I continued to suffer through my twenties from acne that would immediately transport me back to my teenage anguish. I needed a quick fix for my breakouts that would allow me to live my life to the fullest. Products on the market were either slow-working or ineffectual. I realized that if I was searching for a one-step, rapid, effective treatment, then others surely were too. Peace Out Acne was born from my never-ending quest for skincare that actually worked.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I went from running cyber security for my family’s business to creating the acne treatment I’ve always been searching for! Sephora, my dream retailer, partnered with Peace Out before we sold a single product. In 2017, Peace Out Acne Dots launched the first hydrocolloid acne patch with active ingredients. Since our debut, we’ve released five more first-to-market products that combine our exclusive patch technologies with high quality ingredients to target specific skin problems, such as dark spots and wrinkles. The company is now moving beyond patch technology into products that expand the Peace Out lifestyle. At the same time, we’re expanding globally. Every day, I get to research and develop skincare that helps people live their best lives. For me, nothing could better than that.

When we launched Peace Out Acne in July 2017, it took off like a rocket at Sephora and became a bestseller in days, selling out and becoming the juggernaut that it is today. It was crazy and I thought that was success! Very quickly I learned that I can’t do everything. I need a team; I need people who share my vision. My team helps Peace Out continue to grow and we are always learning from one another. To build success, you must have teamwork. We continued to launch innovative first-to-market products every three to four months and they also became bestsellers. But Wrinkles was the tipping point for me and for the Peace Out brand. We had over 3000 people on our wait list and we couldn’t keep up with the demand. Wrinkles far far exceeded our expectations and Sephora’s! Without our team though, none of this would have been possible. Wrinkles pushed our brand and company into a whole new stratosphere.

My husband, 100%. At first, he was actually my biggest naysayer, shaking his head at me. Now he is my biggest champion, the brand’s biggest champion.

In the beginning, Junior couldn’t relate to why I needed to conquer acne breakouts. He always had great skin. My personal struggle with acne was difficult for him to wrap his head around. Then Junior saw how much Isuffered when I got a breakout–that I would shut down and not leave the house or I would hide under hats, hoodies, and cover-up makeup or cancel plans altogether. He realized how much it hurt me and he shifted and turned to championing me every day. Junior told me I could do whatever I put my mind to and he supports me 100%. We’ve built Peace Out together every step of the way. Our vision is a positive, inclusive lifestyle brand. It took me a year and two cities, but I finally got my wish when Junior left his super fun and comfy corporate life in fashion and entertainment to help me build Peace Out

Skincare. He’s my partner in crime, my biggest supporter. Our relationship allows me to take risks and we get to dream big dreams together.

The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?

By far the delivery systems for skincare are what excite me the most. You can take a premium hydrocolloid patch and infuse it with active acne healing ingredients or create a micro-needling patch where the microneedles are produced from the actual ingredients that dissolve into your skin!! I am always designing, searching and exploring new ways to deliver ingredients to treat skincare issues. Right now, we’re working on some new technologies that are game changers.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

What a great question! I’m always wanting to perfect, enhance or fix an issue with my skin. I don’t want others to suffer the way I did and I want to look good and feel good. We should never lose sight of our face’s individuality and uniqueness. The small flaws we hate often turn out to be the things our partners love the most.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

I’m obsessed with how beauty and tech meld together and change the landscape of skincare. I try a lot of new beauty tech because I am driven by what we can be achieved by combining the two.

The constant evolution or discovery of new ingredients is fascinating and exciting. We’re moving towards more powerful and beneficial ingredients both individually and mixed together.

Soon, everything your spa technician uses to make you gorgeous will come in a high-quality home version for less than a full spa visit. You’re already seeing it with light masks and hydrotherapy machines and lasers. Spas will always have their place, but you’ll have the ability to give yourself a beauty quickie for a date night or a little maintenance.

I’m going to add one more. I’m fascinated by the way that beauty and wellness go hand in hand. I am obsessed with gut health and how it impacts not just your skin but mood, energy and overall wellness. The combinations of an infrared sauna with light therapy and lymphatic massage that release toxins and activate your body’s healing. I recently had my gut checked through Viome where you submit a stool sample and the results tell you everything you should and shouldn’t eat for premium gut health. My body has improved since I started following the recommendations. I’ve seen a boost in my clarity, energy, mood and fitness from the loss of internal inflammation. It’s amazing and everyone should try it!

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

I would like to see greater transparency regarding ingredients. Consumers today are hyper-aware and they read every ingredient on the box. They will also call you out if your claim doesn’t match your ingredients. Our customers are smart and educated. They seek out certain ingredients for their properties and they know how they want to use them. Not all ingredients are the same quality.

A standardized beauty review system would be more helpful and useful. We’ve gotten negative reviews with no concrete information why the person wasn’t happy with the product. Brands are also faced with attacks from BOTS, haters and other brands leaving fake reviews. When we released Dark Spots, we had the same BOT leave the same negative review fifteen times in five minutes. We’re always looking to improve and constructive feedback would be much more valuable.

The beauty industry accounts for a great portion of the waste in landfills. I would love a world where everything is recyclable. That said, I’d also like recycling centers to get better at actually recycling. I envision a future where beauty retailers add a recycling drop off area for their customers, possibly with an incentive for recycling.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.) Is this product or treatment focused or more beauty self-improvement?

1. Positivity: You need to remember to tell yourself that you’re amazing! Even if you face doesn’t want to be besties. Junior got me to start taking a couple minutes every morning before I get out of bed and head into the world to pause and say thank you, be grateful and give myself a compliment. It’s a great way to start the day.

2. Treat yourself: Sometimes if I need a pick me up to feel handsome. My go-to is a 45 min Infrared Sauna + massage or a 30-minute HydraFacial.

3. FFT aka Family and Friend Time! Work can be draining. Having a healthy and active family and friend life recharges me and helps me to be more productive. Spending time with those you love and care about is the easiest way to feel centered and realize that life is made of beautiful moments that can make us all feel good. If you suffer from severe acne or skin issues coupled with the stressors of daily life, you can be hard on yourself. Acne can keep you from living life to the fullest but having friends and family to lean on brightens my life and helps me let go of the breakouts and skin issues.

4. The earth is beautiful so let’s keep her beautiful! My husband and I hike every weekend and we pick up the trash that people leave behind in the forest or on the trails. The litter disgusts me, because I love to recycle. I have 4 trash cans inside my house for each type of trash. I recycle all of my beauty and skincare products even my ear plugs.

5. Giving back is a team sport! Peace Out believes in giving back. My team takes pride that we are a company that contributes to society. We all value paying it forward and helping others. We choose different charities each time we give. Right now, we’re supporting those most affected by Covid-19 in Italy and in our SF community. In the past, we’ve supported the LGBTQ+ community by donating skincare products to help people look and feel their best. We’ll also be working with Save the Oceans this summer, and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of SF Gay Pride and the LGBTQ+ community with another give back moment.

Right now, I am most passionate about ending waste and improving recycling. Figuring out how to really, truly, fully recycle everything cheaply and turn it back into usable products will benefit everyone. Our community is super strict about recycling, but there are so many things that still need to be recycling. I make it a point to recycle and return everything!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote?” Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

JUST DO IT! I mean Nike said it best. You gotta just do it! I found my passion, my purpose, my dream and I knew nothing about how to make it happen, but I had to figure it out and get it done. Sometimes the process was awful and sometimes exhilarating. Once I laced up and took off, I couldn’t stop. The momentum in me to succeed was insatiable. There were many times that I thought Peace Out wouldn’t happen. The ingredients would fail to mix. Many people told me that a hydrocolloid patch with active ingredients wasn’t possible and I was wasting my time. I burnt off layers of my skin testing products on myself. Every time I failed or someone said I couldn’t do this, it made me want to bring Peace Out to life even more. I’ve learned to always believe in my vision. You will fail, but you’ll learn from that failure and you won’t make the same mistake again. Bottom line– JUST DO IT!

How can our readers follow you online?

@peaceoutskincare

Enrico Frezza of Peace Out: “The beauty industry accounts for a great portion of the waste in… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Christine Perkett of Mindfull Marketing & PR: “They told me it was impossible and I did it anyway”

…I often think of my life like sea glass or a shell… they start out sharp and edgy and when they meet the water they get tossed about repeatedly — pummeled, really. But in the end, they come out brighter, softer and more beautiful than ever.

As a part of our series about “dreamers who ignored the naysayers and did what others said was impossible”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Perkett.

Christine is a serial entrepreneur and founder of three companies. She is currently the CEO & Founder of Mindfull Marketing & PR, delivering marketing, PR and digital communications services to help clients thrive in a competitive market, garner the attention of highly distracted and divided audiences and exceed their business goals. She also provides leadership counsel, training, and guidance to C-level executives around the world and has won numerous accolades and awards along the way such as the 250 Most Influential Women Leaders by Richtopia, a Boston 50 on Fire finalist, Best Communications or PR Executive in the Stevie Business Awards, and Top 100 Champion in Small Business Trends’ Small Business Influencer Awards. Christine is also an adjunct Professor of Digital Marketing and Media at Northeastern University in Boston.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to ‘get to know you’ a bit better. Can you tell us your ‘backstory’?

Sure! I received a BS in Business/Public Relations at Ferris State University in Michigan. I promptly moved to Boston with $200 in my pocket, where I knew one person — my oldest brother. Before I settled in, he moved to Maine, leaving me a stranger in a new city.

I wanted a job at a high tech PR agency but they wouldn’t hire me until I officially moved to Boston (I had been interviewing over my senior year Spring Break) and I couldn’t move to Boston without a job. So, I secured a retail job — where I worked for one month until I was hired at an agency. I rose through the ranks quickly over the next couple of years but I also noticed some fundamental issues with the agency structure — clients were sold by senior executives but the work was executed by junior employees, leaving a disconnect of quality and expectations. In addition, it was the height of the tech boom and a lot of startups with money to spend couldn’t even get agencies to call them back or consider working with them. With these two elements in mind, I quit my safe, full time job and started a unique agency model with all senior-level executives. 22 years later, we are still here and have won numerous awards and accolades for our work, HR practices and tech prowess — we were even held up as a “Golden Standard” for our productive and green workforce by Forrester Research in a case study.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

Always! As an agency, we recently welcomed a new client, Team IMPACT, which connects children battling serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes. It’s always fulfilling to work with clients who have a bigger purpose and serve the greater good. Telling the world about this organization will help many people — 1) children fighting life-threatening illnesses and their families, who benefit from increased confidence, coping skills, and improved social and emotional development, 2) medical and health professionals who see the “whole child” treated and improving, 3) the athletes and their schools who participate and gain a wider view of the world beyond themselves, encouraging them to become lifelong philanthropists, and 4) the donors, who fulfill their desire to help those in need.

Personally, I am working on a book about living, leading, and thriving after trauma and depression, and gearing up to officially launch my third company, which is a consumer apparel and standup paddleboard company focused on personalized, inspirational designs that encourage more people to get out on the water more often. We’re working with local artists and I’m so excited about that. I’m a big believer that water is a powerful force for healing, happiness, and wellness.

In your opinion, what do you think makes your company or organization stand out from the crowd?

For Mindfull Marketing & PR, it’s two things 1) An all senior level team delivering both strategy and tactics, which leads to better results and makes each client feel like they are our only client receiving such personalized attention 2) Our now often emulated virtual model, which has been in place for 22 years and recognized by entities such as Forrester Research, the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal and others for the positive effects it has on our environment as well as our employees’ wellness, health and happiness. This leads to higher retention rates, loyalty, and better work results for clients, all of which are important to businesses investing in a marketing or communications agency partner.

Ok, thank you for that. I’d like to jump to the main focus of this interview. Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us? What was your idea? What was the reaction of the naysayers? And how did you overcome that?

Oh yes, absolutely. When I told my college advisor that I was moving to Boston and seeking a PR agency job, she told me that it would be very difficult and I would be a small fish in a big pond, likely to return to Michigan within a year. I did see that happen with at least two other friends who moved to Boston and then quickly returned, but I never did. I had a plan, I was determined and diligent, and I’m still here, thriving. I had to tough it out during uncomfortable years when I was making very little money, living with strange roommates, knowing next to no one, and not exactly feeling that PR was as glamorous as it looked on TV. But that’s the thing — there are always tough times. You have to decide if you’re going to let them beat you or build you up to be stronger. I chose the latter.

Further, I was told by many professionals it would be impossible to start my own agency in my 20s, and that a virtual agency would never be accepted or successful — that clients would never work with us over traditional firms. It was challenging at first — clients were nervous not only because I was young, but because they wondered how I was going to manage my workforce and ensure they were productive. But I balanced the naysayers by hiring only senior-level executives, and that gave us a competitive edge. We compete with “traditional” agencies all of the time.

In the end, how were all the naysayers proven wrong? 🙂

I’ve been in Boston for 24 years now — the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere, and it’s wicked awesome ☺ I’ve built a positive name, brand and reputation for myself, evident in accolades such as being one of Boston’s 50 on Fire, American Inno’s national awards for honoring the influential people and fast-growing businesses that are driving our cities forward.
I laugh and am amused as I look around at how many companies are now letting employees work virtually, hiring and managing remote work forces, and striving to help employees thrive with a better work/life balance. Even large, multinational corporations are doing so and working to figure out the infrastructure, policies, and processes to make it work. I like helping them do so. I led the way when it wasn’t popular opinion and I’m proud that I had the foresight to do so.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I would have to say that’s my Dad. He pushed me to adopt tech long before it was the norm. He taught me that good writing is an essential life skill. And although he often questioned my choices as well, he instilled in me a work ethic like no other and he taught me a tremendous lesson with one piece of advice: networking is everything. It still is! I have a global network of pretty amazing people who have helped me with advice, introductions, support, and more. Even Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce.com. I reached out to him when I was starting my second company, a software platform for PR analytics (now a part of our agency), and he took the time to give me VC introductions and connected me to someone within his company to take a look at our product. It was incredible.

But back to my Dad — even when he was unsure, he supported me. Even when it didn’t seem like support, he was helping me:

When I crashed my car in college he refused to buy me another one and told me to figure it out — which I did. (Lessons: tenacity, ingenuity, self-sufficiency, problem solving).
When I dropped out of college for a year and a half, he drove me to Connecticut where I was taking a job as a nanny. He told me years later how scared he was about my choice and that he would have rather that I joined the Army! (Lesson: support and believe in those you love, even if you don’t fully understand their motivations.)
When I was trying to figure out what to do with my life during that time, he’s the one that suggested communications and that I read What Color is Your Parachute. (Lesson: if you’re a first time job hunter or looking to change careers, read that book and do the exercises. Write down what you want in life — I still have my notebooks from all those years ago and can say I’ve achieved just about everything on my list!)
When I returned to college and became the Editor of the University newspaper, he was the first one to pick up his copy and give me feedback. (Lesson: learn to handle and learn from constructive criticism.)

He was an entrepreneur and small business owner as well, having left a big architecture firm in the 70s to start his own. We often commiserate over the challenges small business owners have, and it’s comforting to hear I am not alone in those challenges.

It must not have been easy to ignore all the naysayers. Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share the story with us?

I moved twice during my formative school years — once when I was eight-years-old, which was ok, but a second time in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, which was incredibly difficult. Kids can be so mean and girls, in particular. I learned how to navigate very uncomfortable situations, and how to win people over. I learned how to ignore naysayers and focus forward. I learned how to pick your battles. I dealt with a bully who would wait for me outside of work and school and try to beat me up, so I also learned how to get strong and fight back. I learned to focus on positive things that uplifted me despite the chaos — joining clubs and athletic teams, getting a job, planning my future.

I also experienced a childhood trauma at the age of six. I have spent my life working to overcome the destruction it did to my psyche through therapy and selfcare. I have had to learn to love myself, not blame myself, face the trauma and live with — and manage — the effects, such as depression. Everyone has negative experiences — you can’t run from them. You have to go through the feelings, not avoid them. This is a big lesson to learn.

Based on your experience, can you share 5 strategies that people can use to harness the sense of tenacity and do what naysayers think is impossible? (Please share a story or an example for each)

Be a shark. In 2011, I separated from my husband and I got sued within months of each other. I would spend the next four years fighting both of those court battles and trying to keep my head above water financially. Those were very dark days but my mother gave me this great advice — she said, “Be a shark, they can only move forward.” I still think of that every time I’m feeling down or facing a tough time.
Trust your gut. Yes, some people have good advice and most of them are well-meaning. But no one knows you as well as you know yourself. I have done this numerous times in my life — when I moved to Boston, when I quit my fulltime job to start a business, when I spun off a second business, when I chose to get divorced. None of these choices were easy and plenty of people spoke out against my decisions, but each one advanced my life in the way that I needed at the time.
Build an intimate support network. Although I have a large business network, I keep my personal relationships more intimate. I am one of those people that doesn’t have a lot of friends but instead has a small group of very close friends. They help me through both career and personal situations with advice, introductions, or just a shoulder to cry on when necessary. And they have seen me through decades of change — and love me through it all.
Make selfcare #1. The World Health Organization reports that globally, it’s estimated by health authorities that more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from to various forms and depths of depression. The challenge in talking about depression in the workplace is especially heightened for leaders, and I’ve faced this myself. I have learned that selfcare is critical — you can’t lead or take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself first. When you take care of yourself you can then focus on enveloping others into the life you want to build in a healthy and mutually beneficial manner. I go to individual and group therapy, exercise (running or the gym) 4–6 days a week, try to mediate or attend yoga several times a month (I’m not the best at settling down), and push myself to get off the computer doing other hobbies: making jewelry, hiking, reading, getting a manicure. Our society makes hard work seem like it should always be #1, but the truth is you should strive to worker smarter, not necessarily harder, so you can enjoy the other facts of life and avoid burnout.
Try new things. I just turned 49 and my gift to myself was to dedicate the year before the big 5–0 to learn or try 50 new things, or things I haven’t done since I was a child. I’ve asked my social network for suggestions as well but so far I’ve signed up for piano lessons, finished a half marathon, registered for a women’s retreat out West, gone snowmobiling, and am taking my kiddos to Universal Studios, where I’ve promised I’ll get on a rollercoaster with them, which I haven’t done since I was probably 18. I’m scared, but life is short and I don’t want to make a bucket list when I’m too old to really execute it. Trying new things keeps us energized and active — we should never stop learning. Got any other suggestions for me?!

What is your favorite quote or personal philosophy that relates to the concept of resilience?

I love this quote by Maya Angelou: “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

I often think of my life like sea glass or a shell… they start out sharp and edgy and when they meet the water they get tossed about repeatedly — pummeled, really. But in the end, they come out brighter, softer and more beautiful than ever.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

That’s very kind to say, thank you. This question is tough! It’s hard to answer without sounding unrealistic or cliché, so I’ll keep it focused on something easily actionable: share the good. On my social media, especially Facebook, I make a concerted effort to share positive things and use the hashtag #sharethegood. The reasoning is two-fold: 1) there is so much negativity that’s too easily spread and adversely affecting the mental state of our society. The more you see, the more the Internet feeds you, so change your stream by liking, sharing and commenting on good, positive content, and 2) it’s a small act that is easy to do, and you never know when it might inspire someone, lift them up from a bad day, or give them a new idea that will change their life. It doesn’t have to be all puppies and rainbows, but inspiring art, a great book, a motivational speech. Please, help make our world more positive and #sharethegood!

Can our readers follow you on social media?

Please do!

Twitter: @missusP

Linkedin: ChristinePerkett

Facebook: Christine.Perkett

Instagram: cperkett

Pinterest: cperkett

Thank you for these great stories. We wish you only continued success!

Thank you so much for the opportunity, and for reading!

Christine Perkett of Mindfull Marketing & PR: “They told me it was impossible and I did it anyway” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Rising Star Zach Avery: They Told Me It Was Impossible And I Did It Anyway

My mom is a very strong woman and taught me so much about believing in myself. She is a lifelong educator and truly passionate about helping young people achieve their goals. I was able to watch her with her students and uplift them every single day…. And then come home to her providing me with the tools to trust myself and follow my instincts. Having a role model such as her as a young person allowed me to drown out the negative noise and focus on the goal.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Zach Avery. Gaining momentum over the last few years for his notable plot twisting roles, Zach Avery is taking his career to the next level with the May 19th streaming and DVD release of Lionsgate’s Hitchcockian thriller, LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY. Featuring Netflix’s breakout star of “Hollywood” Samara Weaving, Carly Chaiken (“Mr. Robot”) and “Successions’” legendary patriarch Brian Cox, Zach plays Sam, a husband on the run after his wife is murdered by the Bulgarian mob and resurfaces years later as a movie star in Los Angeles. Ahead of the COVID lockdown, Zach had also wrapped filming on GATEWAY opposite Olivia Munn, Bruce Dern and Frank Grillo.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to ‘get to know you’ a bit better. Can you tell us your ‘backstory’?

Thank you for having me! I grew up in Tampa, FL and moved to Indiana after my freshman year of high school… so I definitely had 2 very different environments to now draw from for creative inspiration. I ended up starting a doctorate program for Psychology in Chicago after college but dropped out after 3 months to follow my dreams and dive into acting full time. My girlfriend and I drove across the country with our Rottweiler from Chicago to LA and started making it happen.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

Due to Covid — all production has been shut down so it’s certainly an interesting time to try and stay inspired and creative. My friends and I are still writing and shooting, whatever we can remotely, but most projects are on hold for the time being.

In your opinion, what do you think makes your company or organization stand out from the crowd?

I always try to bring my own unique thing to every role that I take… you never want to copy or just replicate another performer or performance… and I definitely pride myself on always bringing something new to the table.

All the time. When your career path is acting (or anything creative) — there is not much stability and the odds of actually “making it” are not in your favor. Everyone around me told me that I was crazy when I said that I wanted to be an actor. “Get a real job” / “Make money and then chase the dream” / “There are thousands of people trying to act — it’s impossible to make it.” — — At the end of the day — you have to fully believe in YOU. No one is going to do it for you… no one is going to put in the work, take the rejection, keep your head down and grind because it isn’t easy — it’s really hard. But at the end of the day — if you put the work in and stay the course… it will work out.

In the end, how were all the naysayers proven wrong? 🙂

They can see me in movie theatres now ϑ

My wife, Mallory, has always been my rock. She has been there from the very beginning and supportive along the way. When you are starting out — you are constantly getting rejected — thousands of auditions… thousands of “no”s — and she was always there to remind me why I started this in the first place, push me to follow my heart and dreams and really has been the backbone to my career.

It must not have been easy to ignore all the naysayers. Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share the story with us?

My mom is a very strong woman and taught me so much about believing in myself. She is a lifelong educator and truly passionate about helping young people achieve their goals. I was able to watch her with her students and uplift them every single day…. And then come home to her providing me with the tools to trust myself and follow my instincts. Having a role model such as her as a young person allowed me to drown out the negative noise and focus on the goal.

Based on your experience, can you share 5 strategies that people can use to harness the sense of tenacity and do what naysayers think is impossible? (Please share a story or an example for each)

Trust your gut. Surround yourself with positive people. Always be over prepared. Under promise — Over deliver. Persevere… no matter what — keep grinding.

What is your favorite quote or personal philosophy that relates to the concept of resilience?

Don’t wait for the storm to pass …. Learn how to dance in the rain.

Right now it would be to educate the younger generations on racial equality, systemic racism and how we all can actively work toward equality and eradicate the racist ideologies in this country.

Can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram and Twitter — @zachavery & @_zachavery

Thank you for these great stories. We wish you only continued success!

Rising Star Zach Avery: They Told Me It Was Impossible And I Did It Anyway was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Beauty: “CoolSculpting, Kybella & Hydrafacials” With Dr. Michele S Green

The Future Of Beauty: “CoolSculpting, Kybella & Hydrafacials” With Dr. Michele S. Green

find something that brings you joy and happiness. Make everyday count! Appreciate every moment of everyday and take from those moments everything you can as you may never be able to have that experience it again. I enjoy my time with my two beautiful daughters and listening to my patients’ amazing life stories.

As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years I had the pleasure of interviewing Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Michele S. Green

Michele S. Green, MD is a world-renowned cosmetic dermatologist with a private practice in the Upper East Side of NYC. She is recognized by New York Magazine and Castle Connolly as one of the Best Doctors in New York and offers state-of-the-art cosmetic dermatology. Both international and NYC based patients rely on her services because she specializes in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments that use a combination of lasers such as Thermage, chemical peels, fat reducing procedures such as CoolSculpting, along with facial injections. Her focus is on improving your appearance in a way that creates a simple, artistic, natural-looking result. Dr. Green has also worked with many famous celebrities and has received numerous awards including awards for Best of Manhattan, America’s Most Compassionate Doctors, and has been named one of New York’s Super Doctors.

Dr. Green is devoted to providing a world-class experience for each and every one of her dermatology patients in a comfortable and relaxed setting. Dr. Green designed her unique MGSKINLABS product line to complement her facial rejuvenating procedures such as Clear & Brilliant, and Fraxel, which she performs daily in her office. Dr. Green is an expert in Asian and Mediterranean skin and offers the latest technology designed for darker skin tones. The personal connection she builds with patients helps her to provide a superior level of analysis and care to create beautiful skin. She knows that her patients want subtle, non-invasive treatments that reveal their natural beauty. She is eager to discuss how these treatments can help you achieve a flawless complexion. Ultimately, her biggest goal is to help all patients feel comfortable in their own skin.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I never anticipated becoming a Dermatologist. In fact, I was pretty convinced that I was going to be a radiologist. However, a friend of mine was interested in doing Dermatology and asked me to take a two week elective in medical school with her. I was shocked at how much I loved Dermatology. What I loved most about it was that it was a “happy field” where you could make people better and improve the quality of their lives in a single visit. It also combined seeing patients of all age groups and working with many disciplines in medicine from medicine to pediatrics, to endocrinology and gynecology.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Early on when I was a resident in Dermatology I learned how important it was to examine and listen to your patient. I remember being consulted on a patient in the hospital who had a fever and a “rash.” I went early in the morning to see the new consults before I started my day. I was very worried when I saw this young girl because she had a growing abscess in her leg which looked very ominous. I could not reach any of the other physicians who were in charge of her. I found out later that they were all in Grand Rounds which lasted for three hours and no one had realized the immediate danger of her condition. In the meantime I called the head of the infectious disease lab to come down and help me culture and test this patient to come to a diagnosis. It turned out that she had “flesh eating disease” and if I had waited for guidance she might have died. I learned early on to trust my own instincts when it came to caring for my patients.

When I graduated from my residency program at Mount Sinai, I was asked by Cosmair to consult in product testing, clinical studies, legal reviews, and public relations opportunities. I had always considered myself a “serious” doctor, but working in the cosmetic industry made me love the cosmetic industry and cosmetic dermatology. Working on new products for Redken, L’Oréal, and Lancôme made me realize how complex the “beauty business” was and was the impetus for my starting my own line of cosmetic products for my patients.

I have to thank my mother. She always wanted me to become a dermatologist. When I was a teenager a dermatologist had mistakenly diagnosed her with Lupus and with that all of the horrific medical implications of the disease. After several months of improper treatment my mother consulted another dermatologist who figured out quickly that she really only had a fungal skin condition and treated her with the correct medications. After seeing how important the right medical treatment was, I became fascinated with Dermatology.

Every day new lasers and new injectables are introduced. I was one of the first physicians to use Botox and Juvederm injections and cannot believe how it has expanded to be the most popular cosmetic treatments done today. Kybella for your “double chin” and CoolSculpting for fat bulges have revolutionized non-invasive body contouring. Newer lasers to treat acne scars and wrinkles are coming out all of the time. Hydrafacials have taken over as a simple and painless way to extract blackheads.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

The new technology has been amazing. The only drawback is that some patients think that everything can be “fixed” with cosmetic facial injections or lasers and not everything can.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

I am very excited about all of the new neurotoxins that are being introduced including some newer long lasting ones coming out soon. I am also super excited about the RF technology to treat acne scars. I have many patients with acne scars who have suffered for years and I am excited at all of the new ways to help treat my patients with lasers and cosmetic injections. Kybella and CoolSculpting have also been game changers in that previously patients had to have liposuction to remove unwanted fat, and now there are effective non-invasive treatments that have a proven track record of success.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

What concerns me mostly about the beauty industry is how much of it is unregulated. There are minimal requirements in New York for individuals to perform cosmetic injections, and use lasers and CoolSculpting devices. More regulation needs to be put in place so that board certified physicians in the dermatology speciality are the ones allowed to use these devices.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

1. Healthy and beautiful skin has a profound impact on one’s self esteem. After working for L’Oréal for many years I developed my own line of skincare products in order to bring quality skincare to my patients. One of my favorite products is my MG Skin Labs Vitamin C Serum; I use it twice a day. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and helps reduce pigmentation and redness and wrinkles.

2. Eat a healthy diet rich in omega-3s and foods containing antioxidants. A well-balanced diet containing the right amount of healthy nutrients will help cellular turnover and increase collagen production giving you radiant and smoother looking skin. It will also protect your skin from UV damage, and premature aging. It is important to drink lots of water as well. Water is good for our bodies and essential to having great skin.

3. Take a walk! Exercise is important, as little as 30 minutes a day can be beneficial to your physical and emotional health. Exercising releases good endorphins putting you in a better mood and ready to face the day! I enjoy swimming — it is my “go to” exercise.

4. Protect yourself from the sun. Changing your everyday lifestyle when outdoors can also be beneficial to improving the overall appearance of your skin. Wearing sunglasses when outdoors in addition to sunscreen can prevent skin cancer in the eyes, sun damage to the eyes, and wrinkles around the eyes. I never go outdoors without applying my sunscreen, wearing a hat, and wearing my sunglasses. I learned from a young age, from my mother’s sun worshiping, the importance of sunscreen and sun protection. Since my mother did not stay away from the sun, she suffered with skin cancer and premature sun damage. Prevention is the key to preventing skin cancer. Please see your dermatologist on an annual basis for a skin cancer screening.

5. Our hair is considered a sign of beauty for men and women. Keeping your hair and scalp healthy is important. Taking oral hair vitamins like Nutrafol and Viviscal, can rejuvenate damaged hair and maintain healthy tresses. My grandmother had very thin hair and suffered from female patterned baldness. Because of her hair loss, I have always been interested in helping women with female patterned baldness and problems with hair loss.

6. Lastly, find something that brings you joy and happiness. Make everyday count! Appreciate every moment of everyday and take from those moments everything you can as you may never be able to have that experience it again. I enjoy my time with my two beautiful daughters and listening to my patients’ amazing life stories.

Try to mentor someone younger who needs your help or guidance. I have been lucky enough to have had some tremendous teachers and professors in my life who have guided me and helped me become a success. I think it is very important to help the next generation realize their goals.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

‘’There is always a way.” What I mean by that is that no matter how difficult things may seem or impossible a problem is to solve, there is always a way. Sometimes you may not see the answer at first but you have to have faith in yourself in that no problem can’t be solved and there is ‘always a way.” I have tried to instill this life lesson in my children and teach them not to give up.

How can our readers follow you online?

Yes, you can follow me on my website: https://www.michelegreenmd.com/,

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmichelegreenmd/, and on Instagram @michelegreenmd

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

The Future Of Beauty: “CoolSculpting, Kybella & Hydrafacials” With Dr. Michele S Green was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Beauty: “New techniques allow for a greater number of candidates to enter the plastic

The Future Of Beauty: “New techniques allow for a greater number of candidates to enter the plastic surgery realm” With Dr. Farrokh Shafaie

There are numerous inventions and discoveries today that are able to help people appear younger and healthier. These vary from machines that help tighten the skin, injections that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, injections such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) that promote hair growth, and stem cells that help joint pain. In addition to these procedures, the onset of so many new techniques allow for a greater number of candidates to enter the plastic surgery realm and use a method that works best for them.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Farrokh Shafaie, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon. Practicing in Summit, New Jersey and New York City, Dr. Shafaie combines his extensive plastic surgery training with a holistic approach to give you the best results for you. As a pioneer in utilizing holistic medicine in his work, Dr. Shafaie has been featured in Good Morning America, Vogue, W Magazine and New York Post.

Thank you for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My father’s family has a long history of physicians. In addition to confidently knowing I wanted to be a physician, it also seemed as though it was a bit of a tradition in our family. When I was 12 years old, my mother had a nose job that I was incredibly impressed by. At such a young age, I was able to observe my mother’s physical and emotional transformation, which inspired me to ultimately help others.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

When I started my practice in 1984, I was not expecting to see any celebrities for at least a few years. In 1989, a very well-known Brazilian popstar entered my office. It was shocking to have such a celebrated and renowned individual personally seek me out, especially during a time where her country had many experienced plastic surgeons. Ultimately, she explained she saw one of her friends that I had operated on, and she loved the results, which is why she visited me personally.

I began my career working in a variety of emergency situations. I spent about 10 years practicing all types of surgeries such as reconstructive, cosmetic, and microsurgeries. After this time is when I realized my true passion was to focus on cosmetic surgery within plastic surgery.

Specifically; however, I recall a “tipping point” in my career that involved foreign patients. Patients from France, Italy, Canada, and Germany were calling the office to schedule appointments. Prior to this, I was aware of my demand nationally; however, receiving calls from individuals regarding my personalized facelift technique (Shafaie’s-Lift) was an eye-opener.

In 1976, I received a letter of deportation from the US Immigration Office to leave the country in ten days. Luckily, I met a lady by the name of Renee on the beach in Cohasset Massachusetts. She was able to secure me a job that allowed me to legally stay in the country long enough to renew my visa. If it wasn’t for her, I question where my life would be today. She allowed me to further my education and create a life for myself in the United States.

There are numerous inventions and discoveries today that are able to help people appear younger and healthier. These vary from machines that help tighten the skin, injections that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, injections such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) that promote hair growth, and stem cells that help joint pain. In addition to these procedures, the onset of so many new techniques allow for a greater number of candidates to enter the plastic surgery realm and use a method that works best for them.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

I believe there are always potential drawbacks and consequences with the onset of new technologies. However, if you ensure that you go about these techniques under the care of a board-certified Plastic Surgeon who knows how to facilitate and negate potential consequences, there should not be any overt drawbacks in the near future.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

The constant pursuit of perfection in the field of cosmetic surgery
The improvements that are being made both with the technology and practices we have been accustomed to for many years.
The research that will result from this, that will in turn promote healthier living and younger looking appearances.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

Concerns

False claims regarding cosmetic products in order to wrongfully convince consumers
Non-authentic results of cosmetic procedures used as advertising
A lack of honesty and transparency between patient and physician

Improvements

More stringent FDA regulations regarding products sold on the market
A way to assess whether advertisements are true results of the product, or if they have been embellished for consumers
Normalize the stigma around plastic surgery in order to allow a more honest conversation between patient and physician.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Love yourself for who you are, not what you see on social media
Flowers are beautiful, but no 2 flowers look the same. Each have their own beauty, similar to us as individuals.
Do not expect anything in return
If you do something good, do it from the goodness of your heart, not for the result
Ex. Helping others is for you, not for other people to know.
Try to eat healthy
Read ingredients! If you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
Ex. If reading the ingredients is not your cup of tea, I personally try and purchase foods with an ingredient list no longer than 2–3 lines.
Create a routine exercise
The routine is the main aspect to focus on here. Creating a schedule allows for a sense of control, which ultimately helps our overall mental health.
Every morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and no matter how you look, smile and tell yourself “I love you. Today will be a great day for ME”.
This might sound cheesy, but verbalizing positive feedback manifests in your everyday life.
Ex. When I began doing this, I didn’t believe myself. But once it became somewhat of a routine, it was something I looked forward to in order to start my day on a positive note.
Although these suggestions are not necessarily physical, I have always incorporated a holistic approach to my practice. I believe focusing internally is the first step toward feeling beautiful externally.

As the Persian Prophets suggest: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

In moments of unhappiness, loss, and defeat, you recognize how fragile life truly is. We never know what the next moment will hold. The death of both JFK Jr. and Kobe Bryant had emotional and lasting impacts on me. Two men who seemed so full of life and invincible, taken away. I find it necessary to step back and observe the true beauty and blessings in life. Enjoy the moment, do not envy anybody’s happiness or success, and always think about what you can do to light up your internal spirit and flame.

How can our readers follow you online?

Website: www.medfem.com

Instagram: @drshafaiemd

Facebook: Dr Farrokh Shafaie

Office #: 908–522–1777 (NJ) or 212–772–1010 (NYC)

The Future Of Beauty: “New techniques allow for a greater number of candidates to enter the plastic was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.