Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren McKeough. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, appreciate you joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I left corporate America and changed careers to become an Aesthetician because I felt there was something missing from my career. That missing component was being able to help and care for other people. There is nothing more heartwarming than being able to give someone their confidence back. Working with clients that are struggling with acne has become one of my absolute favorite things.

Shortly after I opened up my own skincare studio, I met a client who had been struggling with adult acne for most of her life. She signed up for a membership where she came in for monthly treatments, as well as completely revamping her skincare routine. After a few months, she texted me something that I will never forget:

“I want you to know you really have changed my life! I am so so grateful that I met you and that you impacted my life so much. I’ve struggled so long with my acne, and it’s always something I’ve been so ashamed of…and the picking. But you just made me feel like no big deal about it, where I’ve had Estheticians judge me in the past. I went to dermatologists and tons of people, and no one has give me results like you! You are so so good at what you do! And I just wanted to tell you that!”

It’s experiences like this that make me proud of leaving my corporate job and doing something that truly has an impact on a person’s life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

SkinVibes is a membership based facial salon. Our menu is simple and straightforward, allowing you to choose from only a few different facials and enhancements. I wanted to come up with a simple menu since one of my pet peeves when going to get a treatment is a lengthy, overwhelming spa menu.

We offer a membership at $89/month, which allows clients 1 treatment per month and discounts on products and additional add-ons & services. I wanted to come up with the idea of a membership based facial studio, as I truly believe your skin is in it’s healthiest state when receiving monthly facials, as this coincides with the skin’s natural cell turnover rate. Every one of my treatments is customized and addresses various conditions like acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation and aging.

When treating certain skincare conditions like acne, monthly (or even bi-monthly) treatments are so important to achieving clear skin. My goal when I meet with a new client is always to provide them with the best information I can, while working with their budget, needs, and goals.

Nothing brings me more joy than being able to give someone their confidence back and the happiness they deserve. My goal will always be to make effective skincare as affordable as possible.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After working in NYC for 7 years, I ditched corporate America for a new career that filled me with purpose. I worked in marketing and PR for a high-end fashion company after graduating college. After climbing the corporate ladder, I began to feel like the daily grind of being in New York (and being behind a computer all day) wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to get into a career that was more hands on and rewarding, so I decided to go back to school for Esthetics.

I then moved to Austin, Texas and a few years later I opened up my own skincare studio, SkinVibes (during the middle of a pandemic). Thankfully, it survived, and to this day, it is my passion and joy.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met my husband while living in New York. We both used to work in the fashion industry and met at a trade show. He had his own fashion company, and from the moment I met him, I knew that business and entrepreneurship was a strong passion of his.

I worked in the Esthetics field for a few years after moving to Austin and soon realized that I wanted to have something of my own. My husband was the one who pushed me to pursue my dreams and open up my own business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.skinvibesatx.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinvibesatx/

Image Credits
Brenna Hodge (Brenna Joy Photography)