Define “Your” Success

Success is a subjective term, it isn’t necessarily the same for everyone. It’s the goal you reach for but it could be a money goal or having your favourite celebrity endorse your product as a “must have”. One useful exercise is to consider and identify what success means to you so you can take steps toward it and know when you get there. As you accomplish milestones or your end goal, you can revisit success and recalibrate it, but it’s important to establish a goal in the beginning because you can’t shoot for a star that isn’t there.

Investments are not always about money

When you hear the word “investment” the most obvious example that comes to mind is money. However, there are other equally essential elements to consider that can impact your brand achievement, like time. I found those who spend time evaluating and selecting the right products for their practice, and then brainstorming how to implement and execute the introduction of those products into their brand identity, encountered the greatest growth and success. It’s a fundamental of a well-considered plan, to spend time developing a blueprint to guide you in your journey.

Don’t lose sight of why you began your journey

They say ‘challenge builds character’ and often in business challenge is the impetuous that moves us in a direction we did not intend or forsee. Sometimes what seems like the worst possible situation is actually the starting point for a journey to a remarkable opportunity. The passion and desire that led you to a career in skincare and your desire to deepen your relationship with your customers through branded products is something you should not fear. Whatever the short term challenges may be try not to lose sight of the big picture, there may be a setback here or there but with a positive mindset you are equipped to overcome it.

Stand behind your brand

Through my discussions with different brand owners, both established and potential, one of the most distinctive attributes I notice that helps fuel success is passion. Successful entrepreneurs are confident, they believe in their business and they truly want to make a positive difference.  Whether you are preparing your website or educating your staff on your new skincare line, if your enthusiasm and passion come through it will be noticed. Due to numerous influencers and opinions on the internet and social media about skincare, ingredients and their efficacy, you may encounter a situation where your buyer is hesitant or confused. There may be moments where you can’t please everyone but if have done your homework, tested and personally evaluated your products and based on that positive assessment exhibit confidence, you can often turn that “negative” into a “positive” landing yourself a happy new customer!

Focus YOUR energy on the areas YOU specialize in and seek help for the rest.

You wouldn’t ask your dentist for home construction advice so there is no reason to think that you can handle all aspects of your new skincare business yourself unless you have a wide range of skills (which most of my clients do not). From business plans to financing, social media to website design, there are many areas that require consideration. One common mistake I’ve come across is the brand owner that wants to do it all. They end up spreading themselves too thin and the end result is poor. I strongly believe that you should focus your time on areas you are good at! If your budget allows, reach out to professionals who can help you bring your vision to reality. Using the resources around you will, in the long run, result in a more professional finished product and allow you to use your skills where they are most effective.

Loyalty will be one of your most valuable sales generators

It could be that your first few sales are the hardest because you haven’t sold your own branded skincare before, but as you build your own following of loyal customers it will become easier. You will quickly identify your top sellers and notice trends in buying which will inform you how to maximize your marketing dollars for the greatest return. I have noticed that clients are loyal if they feel they are getting the results they have been promised. Most new customers are cautious so they might start with one or two products, then come back every couple of months and add to their collection. Once you build trust you can build a long term relationship with your brand. Financially what this means for you is a steady stream of revenue you can count on. However financial gain isn’t your only benefit, loyal customers can also be a strong source of social media influencing and marketing potential because they know and love your brand. Your influencers won’t hesitate to share their feedback with their family, friends, colleagues or their social media connections. Happy clients can result in referrals and it’s possible for these referrals and loyal customers to generate even more revenue for your company than paid advertising.

To be successful you need to embrace challenge and make the most of your time, money and energy. Start this venture like you should each day, with passion and positivity, with this mindset you will find your road to success will be a great adventure!

Shanley Lal
Product Specialist/Esthetician
Vitelle Labs

Most people don’t have the bandwidth to manage the demands of their regular day without the added pressure of self-reflection. That said, I believe seeking ‘inspiration’ is a probably one of life’s most important considerations because harnessing its potential can create some pretty spectacular outcomes.

Consider first the difference between inspiration and motivation. While there are some similarities from my perspective they are quite different. Motivation is what gets you out of bed in the morning, drives you to work harder and be better. It’s that inner voice that pushes you to succeed. Motivation feeds your needs and wants. It is most often a tangible, measurable outcome that you can quantify and milestone, charting incremental steps forward on your road to that goal.

One of the benefits of motivation is you can often identify what motivates you with little struggle because its nature is highly measurable. For example, if you are motivated to be at the top of your professional you might work longer hours, take on more responsibility and be more engaged than your colleagues.  By contrast, if you are motivated to take care of yourself because you have a family history of health concerns you might work less, exercise regularly, practice yoga or meditate, eat a healthy diet and make holistic wellness your priority. The desire to take care of your family is also a significant motivator for both men and women leading you to take actions that best achieve that result.

Motivations can drive you to accomplish amazing feats, never miss a day of work (even when you are ill) or push harder to be the best you can be but inspiration is the secret sauce that makes that journey fulfilling.  Finding joie de vivre (joy of living) as a result of being inspired is a key to day to day fulfillment and long term well-being.

A study from the University College London (UCL) suggests that the more you are able to enjoy life, the longer you’ll live. This study demonstrated that a reduced mortality rate is directly linked to a long term sustained sense of satisfaction and life enjoyment.

Finding inspiration, creating the potential for fulfillment outside of the needs or wants of motivation can transform more than your outlook – it can lead to a longer, happier life.

Inspiration is the magic that feeds the soul.

We’ve all met people who are remarkable, people who by their actions or simply through their energy have a profound impact on us. Sometimes it’s what they have accomplished that inspires us or their story of triumph over adversity. They never quit regardless of the odds and they say and do things that make us think outside the box. Exposure to people like this often moves us to be better, do more or reach for new heights. What I have noticed is those inspirational people all seem to be inspired themselves, I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

If your strategy has been to wait for an epiphany you might be waiting a long time. What do you have to lose by actively taking part in a search for inspiration? Music, literature, travel, spirituality, people, art – there are so many places to find inspiration if you only look for them.

For many of us slowing down and taking time to actually think it is the real problem, especially people in business who are not usually programmed to think in terms of ‘me time’ and ‘what makes me really happy and fulfilled’.  However there is simply no denying the importance of the mind body connection to the maintenance of wellness for the long term.

Why not make 2019 the year you find your joie de vivre. Take the first step, create the intention to seek positivity and inspiration.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart”. Helen Keller

Liz Cocchia
CEO
Vitelle Labs

What I have come to find out is that while it’s true I will be dealing with pigment the rest of my life, instead of just accepting my fate I can help combat the appearance of my pigment – and stop future pigment – by adopting a proper skin care regimen.  If you cannot afford many of the expensive procedures out there, a proper regimen can help you tremendously.

The root cause of pigmentation is very hard to determine.  There are so many factors related to pigmentation:  from sun exposure, to stress, to hormonal imbalance, to melasma.  Sometimes it is extremely hard to find out what where your own pigmentation comes from.  But whatever the cause, pigmentation can cause emotional stress to the person who suffers from it.

Reaching my 30’s I started to get what is called the ‘pregnancy mask’ after my son was born.  The pigmentation spread from one little spot to my entire forehead, above my lip line and on my cheeks.  I would hide the pigment on my forehead in a number of ways.  I did this for over 10 years before I started to research alternatives.  What I found was there are many ingredients that will help brighten the skin and prevent future pigmentation.  From my own experience I found a number of ingredients offer brightening effects which have reduced my pigmentation over 80%, after using them for about a year and a half.  And although I still have pigment, I hold my head high and hide nothing on my face.   If you suffer from this type of skin care challenge, you might appreciate what a huge step in the right direction this is.

The key is consistency in using quality skincare which has pigment lightening ingredients. Look for products that contain one or a combination of ingredients which are effective yet safe. I prefer ingredients that are plant-derived extracts which in addition to brightening the skin also provide nourishment.  It is extremely important to take steps to prevent future pigmentation.  Always, ALWAYS use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on a daily basis to minimize the amount of UV rays that penetrate your skin.

My top ingredient picks!

Arbutin – Arbutin is considered a natural skin brightener and an alternative to hydroquinone.  It inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme, which is involved in pigment production.

Kojic Acid – Kojic Acid is a skin lightening agent that targets melanin production.  Melanin determines the color of pigment in the skin.  Kojic Acid blocks tyrosine from forming, effectively preventing the production of melanin.  Kojic Acid helps to gradually fade discoloration caused by sun, natural aging and other causes.

Ferulic Acid – Ferulic is a highly sought-after anti-oxidant which can help to neutralize free radicals and prevent UV-induced sun damage.

Niacinamide – Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, helps to balance skin tone by slowing down the transfer of melanin. Niacinamide also is considered an excellent skin conditioner as it offers a wide range of benefits.

Above all, patience and consistency is essential in dealing with your pigmentation.  Adopt a solid skincare regime, using ingredients you’ve researched to help with your unique challenges, and you will be surprised what a difference you can get!

Tiffany Mosley
Senior Client Service Representative
Vitelle Labs

Mistake #1
Guilty as charged when it comes to the “My night was better than yours” morning look! If only I knew the underlying truth of what was actually happening when I went to bed and woke up with a flawless foundation application still intact.

The realization only began with understanding the functionality of our pores. The activity of your pores is to not only for product absorption but also to help excrete oil to lubricate and protect your skin – forming an acid mantle. Sleeping with a blanket of makeup on prevents your sebum from completing its journey to your skin’s surface which results in congestion and can eventually lead to blemishes.

Through years of performing this skincare taboo I never stopped to visualize aside from my makeup what “else” was making its debut along with it on the surface of my skin. When you hear the phrase “Wash the day away” – it actually means to cleanse off everything you have encountered that day. That includes all the free radicals, pollutants and dirt particles you picked up along the way, go to sleep with you at night if you skip this essential step!

Mistake #2
Fitting into the Fitzpatrick Scale at a 5, I occupy skin that rarely burns from the sun and has lower risk for concerns like skin cancer compared to fairer tones. A day at the beach leaves me with a sun kissed glow – a blessing right?

Being “sun safe” to prevent damage in future years was never a concept that crossed my mind due to a shortfall in understanding the power of UV rays when it comes to skin and aging. Some of the most commons signs of premature aging as a result of sun exposure are fine lines, wrinkles and discolouration. Thankfully with a hint of education I was able to change the direction I was going on my skincare journey when it came to the glistening rays. Life moves at the speed of light but if you could delay aging by the application of sunscreen wouldn’t you? If you’d still like to achieve that sun kissed glow, opt for the kind that comes in a bottle instead – your secret is safe with me!

Mistake #3
My basic routine consisted of using a cleanser, an astringent to combat blemishes and an occasional quick scrub which at the time seemed to work wonderfully. So what if a freshly cleaned  face felt tight at first? At least my skin “looked” clear and I could count on the oil induced shine to be back again.

I wish I knew skipping a finishing product to avoid an oily complexion was actually causing me to produce excess oil. Comprehending the relationship of quenching dehydrated skin versus moisturizing dry skin provided insight that despite the excess oil, my skin was thirsty for hydration! Stripping all the oil off my face caused a panic for my oil glands causing them to work overtime to provide a layer of protection. A simple change of feeding my skin cravings with humectants, like hyaluronic acid, provided me the healthy skin harmony I was missing out on. Now I even catch myself indulging in a heavy cream at night as an extra treat.

Without background knowledge it can be difficult to address skin concerns and be confident you are taking the appropriate measures. Instead of skipping out on an important step, seek advice from your skincare professional to point you in the right direction.

Shanley Lal
Product Specialist/Esthetician
Vitelle Labs