Today we’d like to introduce you to Penelope Hoffman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started as an esthetician 20 years ago. My own personal journey as well as the industry’s ongoing advances and innovations encouraged me to stay on a continuous education course has brought me great satisfaction and work that I love to be involved in.
I worked with skin care salons and spas, eventually with physicians and today I own a small boutique clinical skin care office that provides the latest in non-invasive high end skin care. In addition I am a Cidesco International Diplomat, NCEA national Certified and certified Laser technician.
Skin health and aging are complex issues and the solutions are complex as well. It soon became apparent to me that with life becoming busier and more complicated than ever before (wasn’t technology supposed to do just the opposite??), our skin care needed to be more precise, effective, affordable and time conscious.
I invested in equipment and products that were able to deliver all of the above. For our consultations we use a state of the art digital, skin analysis unit, the Visia and we can tailor our service and product recommendations to our individual client’s needs and wants.
Because they are able to see for themselves what is going on with their skin, they are involved in creating a skin care regimen that best fits their expectations. Down the line, the Visia helps us monitor their progress and adjust their program to reach their goals.
As a professional, I have come to appreciate the need to continually research and stay abreast of the industry’s advances so that I can invest accordingly and be able to progressively take our skin care offerings to the next level.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, of course there were many challenges along the way. I soon discovered that what my clients called my “magic hands” were not so magic after all. Wonderfully relaxing facials, nice cleansers and moisturizes were not really addressing the many and increasingly obvious signs of aging such as fine and deeper lines, discolorations, sagging, etc. Real issues such as persistent acne, rosacea and coupe rose skin required more effective treatment protocols and product selections.
Good, result oriented skin care was going to require some serious investment. Learning to spend money wisely required extensive research, obtaining the right equipment and product formulations as well as investing in post graduate certification courses to become proficient in using them. Offering great skin care was at no point going to be inexpensive. Time investment was also necessary. Once certified, working under physicians for a number of years added the required experience and expertise to the education.
Providing reasonable pricing without devaluing the services and products or undercutting our industry is always a balancing act. Finding good people to work with that share my work ethics, attitude towards our clients and an all-around respectful and appreciative manner can also be a challenge. Those have been the major challenges.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SkinSync – what should we know?
SkinSync is a small boutique like clinical spa, in a beautiful and private space.
We offer non-invasive state of the art treatments such as: Microdermabrasion, IPL (Photofacial), IPL hair and vein reduction, Lamprobe, non-ablative Fractional, Pelleve radiofrequency skin tightening, Hydro-wand facials, a variety of formulations and various strengths of Chemical Peels, Microneedling, highly effective facial treatments using highly concentrated Actives such as Growth Factors, DNA and Stem Cells.
By having such great tools at our fingertips, there is an infinite number of precise and highly customized solutions we can offer our clients to help them reach their skin care goals. Our VISIA digital skin analysis unit is instrumental in helping us identify issues on and below the skin’s surface so we are able to address them effectively. There is not one product, one treatment, one of anything that can offer the best option. Rather it is combinations of services and home care regimens that work in a synergistic way to achieve optimal results. It is the ability and expertise required to put such programs together for our clients, to systematically monitor and measure their progress that sets us apart. It is the four important Es: Education/Experience/Expertise /Equipment. In that exact order.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The physicians who hired me to help them set up skin care in their practices. I was able to put together services and programs that complemented their own work and the new technologies and products they were bringing in their offices. As I continued to get certified in each modality, I also had the opportunity to practice with those, long before I personally invested in them. I worked respectively for a plastic surgeon, a dermatologist and a general practitioner. I am currently working under a plastic surgeon who is my medical director.
My office manager and dear friend Paris Mumford, my longtime friend and fellow esthetician, Julia Kaihlanen and many loyal and supportive clients
Most of all my wonderful husband, who never raised an eyebrow as I announced the purchase of yet another pricey piece of equipment. It is true what they say… it does take a village…
Pricing:
- First time Visia consultation w/treatment $140
- Buff and Polish,$170 , a combination of microdermabrasion with an appropriate chemical peel.
- Valmont Collagen facial treatment,$210, an incredably luxurious, highly effective cellular facial treatment
Contact Info:
- Address: 301 Edgewater Place
Suite 100
Wakefield, Ma 01880 - Website: www.SkinSync.com
- Phone: 781-968-5439
- Email: paris@skinsync.com
- Instagram: SkinSync
- Facebook: SkinSync
- Twitter: SkinSync
- Yelp: SkinSync
- Other: SkinSync
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
