Glow & Grow: Business, Beauty, and Summer Skincare with Garica
Ask Manjot is a monthly advice column by writer and therapist Manjot Mann that tackles all things womanhood, relationships, mental health and more. Submit your questions here.
This month we have guest columnist Garica Bola answering your questions. Garica is a woman entrepreneur, an esthetician that specialises in skin, and the founder and owner of Sculpt Skin Bar. She began her journey in the Beauty Industry after completing her Diploma in the Spa Technician Program in Vancouver BC. Shortly after graduating, she began a skincare line by the name of Sculpt Skincare as her passion lived in ingredients and what they do for the skin and body. Growing up, she suffered with severe eczema and dermatitis, making her ultra aware of what she was putting on her skin. With 7 years of experience in the Beauty Industry, she is ready to educate her audience on the importance of simple and clean skin care and mentor young estheticians and entrepreneurs who also have a strong passion in skin. We hope you enjoy this column written by Garica.
Skincare has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Soon that passion drifted onto helping others. I went and pursued that passion in my career and I am eternally grateful for each and every one of my clients for trusting me with their skin and all of you who submitted questions. It has provided me with another opportunity to further pursue my passion in a different way. Reading the questions you all submitted definitely made me feel proud of how far I’ve come. Writing this column is something I would never have thought I would be doing and I would like to thank Manjot for providing me with this amazing opportunity.
“We all know we should use retinol and other activists along with vitamin C. But I've heard vitamin C should be the next day and you should use retinol with a moisturizer the night before. What's the best steps to get the most impact from the retinol?”
Vitamin C and retinol are both amazing products that can target many concerns. In my opinion, Retinol is something that needs to be discussed with your skin professional before using. It would be best used on a gradual basis, starting with once a week, up to using it every other day depending on your goals and the formula. Retinol should only be used in your night time routine. Vitamin C is a product that can be used daily. It is great for targeting hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone. If using vitamin C and Retinol, I would recommend using Vitamin C in your morning routine with the retinol usage in your PM routine, this would help maximize results.
“Were you afraid of failing when you first started your business, how did you deal with that?”
Absolutely! I feel that this is a feeling that all humans have felt at least once in their lifetime, and it's completely normal. I did fail a few times in specific areas of my career at the beginning stages. I remember feeling embarrassed, confused, and super sad. Podcasts help me a lot, I listen to a few different mentors on Apple Podcasts like Mel Robbins, Rob Dial, Andy Frisella, Ed Mylett and more. Each taught me different ways to get through this feeling but one common thing that they all spoke about was that failing happens, it's supposed to happen. What if you never failed? You would never challenge yourself to make the situation better or stronger, you would just be stagnant. Failing challenges you if you truly have a passion for whatever it is that you are creating. If you feel as if you’ve failed, you will do anything in your power to win. Remember to give yourself permission to feel, reflect on the experience and adapt a growth mindset and revisit your goals, research harder, longer, and create a plan for the next attempt.
“Can you make some recommendations for oily and acne prone skin”
Oily/acne prone skin is skin that takes patience to treat. It is crucial to keep the skin as clean as possible and away from bacteria. This means frequently changing bedsheets, minimizing contact with your face, keeping phone screens and make up brushes clean, etc.. It would also be a good decision to get regular facials done to help the skin detox. Majority of our acne prone clients are with us between 3-6 months to detox and then we move onto acne scar removal if needed which is usually another 3-4 months. Acne prone skin takes time to heal but it gets better, remember to trust the process with your esthetician and know that there is always hope for more clear and stronger skin.
“Why skin care and how do you manage the ups and downs of running a business. I’m just starting out with my nail page and it’s hard not to feel discouraged sometimes”
When I was younger, skincare had one of the greatest impacts on my life. It helped heal my eczema and scarring. I had fun finding products and ingredients to help heal it, even when the eczema and scarring was sometimes very painful and discouraging.
Running a business is definitely a 24/7 gig. There have been times where I wished I worked a 9-5, where I can step out of the office and turn “work” off. However, if you are a true entrepreneur, you have strong ambition and determination. You crave the next big project and can't wait to see it flourish into the world. I would recommend finding nail salons around the world that inspire you, nail salons that are a “dream”, then create your plan to bring that dream into reality. Research, research, research. I can't emphasize this enough.
What is the most common advice you have been giving to clients on skin care. Have you noticed a pattern? How often does diet, supplements, exercise come up in your discussions when it comes to skin health?
I have definitely noticed a pattern when it comes to giving advice on skin care. It tends to depend on the weather and the season we are in. I give out more advice for dry skin in the winter - stay hydrated, use a hydrating serum and a dense moisturizer, add in a facial oil to your moisturizer for better hydration - and in the summer, I tend to have more of the oily skin questions asked - how can I control my oil production = use serums like niacinamide, use a lightweight moisturizer, etc.. Diet, supplements, and exercise are topics discussed pretty heavily when it comes to skin health as they do play a part in how your skin is doing as your skin is your largest organ. Eating a healthy diet and taking the right supplements can drastically change your skin health. Exercising can also help in numerous ways. Sweating helps release any toxins in the skin that could be contributing to any acne or dullness.
“What is a good day time and night routine”
Surprisingly enough, you don’t need a 10 step routine to have a good one. It can be super simple and even more effective. However, this question is a tough one to answer as it really depends on how your skin is (dry/acneic/dehydrated etc) and what your goals are. Every skin type needs to have a cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliator, and sunscreen.This is the base of an effective skin care routine.
“How to juggle business with social and life obligations”
This has definitely been a learning curve for me with my business and it is something that I didn’t fully start to understand until early last year. As I get older, my personal life has started to take over and responsibilities have started to pile on. However, as the business grows, it becomes more time consuming. It is important to place boundaries on work to allow yourself the time to pursue other life obligations. These boundaries are something that you as an entrepreneur must abide by and keep firm otherwise they will not work as intended. This also goes to social obligations as you should not let those come in between the business either. The sweet spot is different for everyone and it is something I would urge you to find in order to balance a personal, social and professional lifestyle.
I would like to again thank everyone who submitted their questions. It means a lot to me. As this column wraps up, I would like to provide some of my summer time essential products that I feel everyone should incorporate into their skin care routines.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C
Mad Hippie Microdermabrasion Facial Exfoliant
BKIND Marine Algae Moisturizer
Blume Meltdown Oil
For all my acne prone girlies, this would be a great couple products to add into your routine, especially with the hot summer months coming up. It has been a great time writing this column and I would love to have everyone reading come in for a facial. When booking in, please use the code “AskManjot” to receive $10 off your facial for the month of July. I look forward to having you all in and to answer any other questions that you may have for me or my team.
