JULIE LINDH’S THINKING, LOOKING, AND FEELING APPROACH TO BEAUTY
Skin expert Julie Lindh believes beauty is not just about how you look or how your skin looks. Being and feeling beautiful is equal parts thinking, looking, and feeling. While a big part of the skincare industry focuses on what’s skin deep, Lindh educates clients about developing beauty from the inside out—be it by eating better, thinking better, or simply learning to appreciate the beauty all around us. She is committed to teaching sustainable, holistic beauty tips that anyone can easily implement in their daily lives.
You are an esthetician who works with clients around the country. How has your one-on-one experience with skincare consumers informed your beauty lines—the Miss Julie Collection and the Ageless System?
Both my customers and I truly value the one-on-one Beauty Coaching sessions I offer. During this time, I am able to really connect with my customers, evaluate their skin concerns, and give them holistic advice on skincare, beauty, and wellness. I also get valuable insight into what the most common skincare problems are, what issues customers are facing with the skincare products that they are currently using, and how customers are using (and sometimes misusing) products. This helps me to create and formulate products that deliver the results they’re looking for. When I meet with clients one-on-one or do online skin evaluations, I help them choose the products that will work for their skin and their skincare concerns right now. Skincare needs will evolve as you age and as you treat your skin. It’s always best to take the time to find out what your skin needs right now instead of using products that are trendy or continuing to use the same products that you’ve always used. Talking to a skincare professional helps to put you on the right track.
With the marketplace being so crowded with brands, what compelled you to throw your hat in the ring?
My mission in life is to help people look, think, and feel beautiful through skincare treatments, products, and coaching. It’s my passion and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Prior to starting my own company, I spent 18 years in the spa industry. During this time, I tried SO many products with varying results. When I went off on my own, it was important to me to provide my clients with the best care possible. I quickly realized that developing my own skincare line would be the most effective way to ensure that my clients get the results they’re looking for and help them maintain results after their facial treatments.
How are both of your lines similar? How do they differ?
The Miss Julie Collection is my all-natural skincare line that is a great choice for those looking for gentle products or those who prefer to use only skincare products with ingredients found in nature. Every product in this line feels great on the skin and is wonderfully aromatic. My customers love incorporating these products into their daily skincare rituals because they feel luxurious and using them feels like a daily act of self-care.
The Ageless System collection is a clinical, cosmeceutical line that uses innovative and cutting-edge ingredients. This collection is built on the skincare pillars of Correct, Repair, Rejuvenate, and Preserve. Each product in this collection falls under one of these pillars. These products are designed to be used together as a system to attain desired results.
Both collections are formulated to deliver real results. My clients typically mix and match products from both lines based on their skin type and skincare concerns.
Tell us about your formulation philosophy. How does it differ from other competitors in the skincare industry?
My philosophy is simple: I only use ingredients that I love myself and only create products that I would use on myself. I do a ton of research on every ingredient that goes into my products. I focus on using ingredients that I know are effective instead of what’s trending. I also put a lot of emphasis on formulating products that will complement and enhance my treatments so my clients get the best results from their facial.
With consumers continuing to push the transparency envelope, are you able to control the sourcing of your ingredients to ensure their quality and maintain consistency?
I absolutely agree with the push for transparency. I believe it’s very important to know exactly what you’re putting in or on your body. It’s also extremely important to me that I use the highest-quality ingredients in my products and that each batch is consistent. To ensure this, I maintain close relationships with the labs I work with and I only work with labs that can guarantee the standard of quality and transparency that I insist on.
Are your lines completely natural and eco-friendly?
My Miss Julie Collection is completely natural and eco-friendly. The Ageless System collection uses cutting-edge, manufactured ingredients such as neuropeptides, retinol, and lactic acid. Both lines are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, gluten, paraffin petroleum, sodium laureth sulfate, triclosan, GMO derived soy, propylene glycol, or synthetic colors. We also never test on animals.
What did you learn when launching your first line that you utilized when launching your second?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to always be my own guinea pig. If I don’t love a product or don’t notice results on myself, it will never be on my product shelf. Before rolling out new products, I try all formulas on myself at least 30 days. After those 30 days, I roll out the products to a small, select group of clients for a 10-day trial. If I get rave reviews on the new product, that’s when I know it’s time to offer the formula for sale in my salon and online. Getting client feedback has become an integral part of my research and development process. I now use it when testing and launching all new products and collections.
Your ageless skincare wand utilizes technology to provide a unique skincare experience. How does this fit into your business model? Do you plan to continue merging technology into your skincare?
Technology is a huge benefit to skincare professionals and to consumers. The technology I use enhances the results of a facial instantly. High-tech tools like my Ageless System Beauty Wand provides an easy way to get amazing results conveniently at home. With products like the Beauty Wand, you can look 10 years younger than your age naturally by using a new tool a few minutes each day. I’ve always been a big believer in technology. Since 2000 I helped to implement new and cutting-edge technology into many of the spas I helped to build. I am always on the lookout for new technology to add to my brand, especially when I’m on international trips to Asia.
What is your take on the current landscape of skincare and wellness?
I believe that skincare and wellness go hand in hand. I teach a holistic approach—that taking care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally are all parts of wellness. It’s all connected. Many consumers nowadays are starting to become aware of this. Most at least now recognize the fact that the food they eat and their lifestyle affects the condition of their skin. They’re now more open to eating better and taking better care of their skin, all in an effort to improve overall wellness.
What gaps in the skincare industry do you hope to fill?
I want to teach my clients that beauty is not just about how you look or how your skin looks. Being and feeling beautiful is equal parts thinking, looking, and feeling. A large part of the skincare industry only focuses on what’s skin deep. I want to educate clients about developing beauty from the inside out—be it by eating better, thinking better, or simply learning to appreciate the beauty all around us. I want to teach sustainable, holistic beauty tips that anyone can easily implement in their daily lives.
Tell us about your new treatment, Super Beauty CBD Fusion Facial. Why is CBD such a hot ingredient? Is it a fad or truly a super-ingredient?
For a few months, I had been testing hemp products, but I just wasn’t satisfied with the results. Then I started testing pure CBD oil and the results were so much better than hemp oil. CBD is one of the buzziest ingredients in skincare, and the beauty world is sparking up in skincare and other health and beauty products! It’s poised to take your skincare routine to a higher level. That’s because star ingredient CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is known for its reputed stress-reducing and pain-relieving (among many others) benefits in the wellness space, and has incredible prowess when it comes to topical, skin-boosting use. It’s a non-psychoactive compound (meaning that it won’t make you feel “high”) found in cannabis plants.
CDB has many surprising health benefits, especially for the skin. So many in fact that it’s being touted as the new “super beauty ingredient” thanks to its amazing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Due to its unique and potent properties, CBD oil can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve irritating skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, dry skin, and psoriasis. From what I have experienced, I believe that CBD oil is a super-ingredient and is here to stay in the beauty and wellness industry.
Because of cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and the way the CBD binds to a special set of receptors in the skin known as TRPV-1 receptors, it’s an all-in-one solution because of its ability to target multiple problems simultaneously, and has a soothing effect on all skin types. Just as other natural oils are used in skincare, the natural fatty acids and antioxidants in hempseed oil make it a good choice for people with irritating skin conditions.
There are close to 100 compounds called cannabinoids, such as CBD, that work together to produce the cannabis entourage effect. We want the whole plant system working together using the full -spectrum oil as an active ingredient in my treatments and products.
Who is the treatment for?
This all-natural treatment is an awesome addition to any skincare routine. It will help to hydrate the skin, decrease inflammation, keep your pores clean and your skin clear. This treatment is suitable for all skin types.
What can be expected?
This treatment is more than just a facial, it’s a whole experience. We have partnered with COCORAU, a local maker of 100% raw organic cacao “Power Bites.” As part of this facial, you will also receive a shot of COCORAU’s CBD Sublime Elixir as a special treat! This Sublime CBD Elixir is specially designed to help you feel refreshed and energized.
The Super Beauty CBD Facial fuses an ancient ingredient (CBD) with cutting-edge Infrared Light Therapy skincare technology.
First our proprietary Skin Potion Face Oil A CBD Fusion is applied to the skin. Next we use a noninvasive Infrared Light Therapy treatment, which addresses skincare concerns from fine lines and wrinkles to acne and hyperpigmentation, depending on the type of light being used. LED Light Therapy can be used on all skin types. It is a highly effective treatment and the benefits of Light Therapy are well documented in clinical trials.
A botanically infused CBD sheet mask will then be applied to the face. Lastly, the Ageless System Beauty Wand, a facial micro-current kneading device that will firm and tighten your skin, improve circulation, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, will be rolled over the sheet mask to further push the active ingredients into the epidermis.
Your work as an esthetician personally connects you with target consumers. What can you tell us about the needs of your consumer? How has this shaped your business model?
I started offering a complimentary 15-minute Beauty Coaching session after each facial treatment a couple of years ago for exactly this reason—I wanted to personally connect with each and every client, focus on their specific skincare concerns, and give them exercises to help them get the best results. During these sessions I found my clients really appreciated all the knowledge I shared with them that went beyond what products to use or what treatments to book. I share beauty tips about skin-friendly foods, how to cultivate a beauty mindset, how to build confidence, how to use daily affirmations, I teach meditation tips, help them to develop the right daily skincare/self-care rituals, and so much more. These Beauty Coaching sessions have become so popular that it gave me the idea to do Beauty Coaching in a group setting so I could help more people. So far, these groups sessions have been very well-received!
What can we expect next for your skincare products?
As far as products in development, I hope to expand the brand-new CBD line. I’m also currently working on launching an online version of my Beauty Coaching sessions in the form of an online course. This will hopefully expand my reach so I can help many more people on their beauty journey.