Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susie Bowers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Susie , appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
My first job in the field was at an Aveda spa and salon, called Pyara, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I was a recent graduate of esthetic school after a HUGE career shift-I had previously studied early childhood and was an educator of young children. The interview process had two parts, I was interviewed by the manager and then had to give one of their “master estheticians” a facial and wax their eyebrows. A week later, while celebrating graduation with my mom in Canada, I got the call that they wanted me to join the team. I remember feeling a plethora of emotions. I was relieved and proud to be hired so soon after graduation. I was excited to be embarking on a path that felt so right in a field that I felt so passionate about. I was nervous because the only experience I had with facials and waxing came from working on classmates and our school clinic. I was scared to have clients look to me for advice being so freshly out of school. I felt imposter syndrome BIG TIME.
I am so grateful that I started the professional part of my journey as an esthetican there. I worked alongside of some the most talented and hardworking folks I’ve ever known. They welcomed me with open arms and taught me so much. I also had consistent education outside of the spa. Pyara was what Aveda calls a “lifestyle salon and spa”, so I had frequent opportunities to take advanced classes in a variety of different modalities and techniques. It was here that I started to become interested in a more holistic approach to skin care.
Susie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
After years of practicing as a traditional esthetician in Cambridge, MA and a very short time (thanks COVID) in Providence and Bristol, RI, I returned home to the foothills of the Catskill Mountain Range to create my own space where my hands and words can be more aligned with my mind and heart.
As a holistic skincare specialist, I don’t just treat symptoms on the surface of the skin, but take a whole body approach to discovering the underlying factors that may be causeing the symptoms. My passion lies in taking my clients’ personal experiences into account to create a customized plan that is just as unique as they are. At the core of this, is getting to know them at a deeper level and forming an honest and trusting relationship. With each consultation, treatment session and follow up, I learn more about how we can work together to reach their skin goals.
My philosophy is that skin care treatments and products should be safe, sustainable and support our body’s natural functioning. I want my clients to feel comfortable and empowered, both in the treatment room and in their home care routines. It’s my hope that by working together with intention, connecting with plant allies, using kind ingredients and discussing healthy lifestyle rituals; we can achieve this.
It’s important to me to meet my clients’ minds, bodies and especially their skin where they are at in the moment. For this reason, I offer facial treatment sessions based on time, rather than on a specific skin concern or product type. During our time together, I work to nourish, reverse damage, support and protect their unique skin.
During a facial treatment with me, you always receive a thorough consultation, cleanse, massage and masking. Where appropriate, you may also receive exfoliation and extractions. Depending on your needs, you may experience one or more techniques that stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems, release fascia (connective tissues) or relieve muscular tension. All products used are chosen with intention, and many are hand mixed at the time of our session from sustainably sourced, organic ingredients.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Word of mouth has been the biggest piece of building my reputation. I’m incredibly fortunate that when I decided to open Synchronicity Herbal Skincare & Waxing Studio, I was able to do so in the area that I grew up in. Friends, family and other community members have shown up in a big way by coming for treatments and then spreading the word about their experience. To show my gratitude, I started a promotion called “Share the Love” for referrals, where both the new client and the person who referred them get a discount on their next treatment.
I also think that what sets me apart from others, aside from completely customized treatments, is my focus on helping folks to quiet their minds and their nervous system through touch. Our world has become so disconnected and distracting and it’s really important to me that I provide the opposite environment.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
I think one of the keys to success in my field is discovering what lights a fire under you, finding your niche and building community within it-especially as a solopreneur. I actively work to surround myself with other estheticians, holistic wellness practitioners and folks who make natural skincare products (especially those who’ve been at it longer than me). It’s incredibly helpful to have mentors to reach out to with questions and I feel so held and supported by them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.riverfamilywellness.com
- Instagram: @synchronicity.herbalskincare
- Facebook: Synchronicity Herbal Skincare & Waxing Studio
- Other: synchronicity.herbals@gmail.com
Image Credits
Haley Birt Photography