March 3, 2023 • 53 mins
This week, Rachel Zoe is joined by one of Hollywood’s most beloved esthetician and skincare experts, Shani Darden. On this episode, Shani shares all about her journey to building her skincare empire.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Currently with Kiratour, where I share my
latest dial obsessions, all of which you can access through
my shopping community Katour. My spring curation is here and
I'm so excited. Throughout the season, I'm going to be
telling you more about everything inside of it, item by item.
This week, we're focusing on the Hue and Grace Restoring
(00:21):
Face Serum. A few years back, we included the brand's
night serum and I've been such a major fan ever since.
This daytime formula will brighten and smooth your skin with
antioxidant rich oils that fight both free radicals and hormone
disruptors alone. The serum retails at ninety five dollars, but
you can get this entire five product curation for just
(00:44):
one hundred dollars when you start your membership with my
code Zoe twenty five Zoe twenty five Zoe twenty five.
These boxes are in limited supply, so head to Kuratour
dot com that Cure at eu R dot com to
clean this offer right now. Hi everyone, I'm Rachel Doe
(01:16):
and you're listening to Climbing in Fields. The show is
all about celebrating extraordinary superwomen who will be sharing their
incredible journeys to the top, all while staying glamor. Today
with me, we have one of Hollywood's most beloved astheticians
and skincare experts, Shawnee Darden. She's literally responsible for some
(01:37):
of the most beautiful faces in the business and in
the world, including Jessica Alba who actually helped really mentor
and push her into her career, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, and
Kelly Roland just to name a few, and I can
tell you firsthand they have magnificent skin. On this episode,
Shawnie is sharing all about her very unique journey to
(01:59):
building a skincare empire and her background as a model
and music video dancer. Her hustle is truly something to
be admired. I feel like I get Shawnnie so well
because we're both introverts that you don't really think or introverts.
We get mistaken for being maybe aloof or a little
bitchy or shy sometimes, but I think it's just sometimes
(02:19):
not having the confidence in yourself that other people have
in you. So I really really love Shannie and I
really admire her work and her hustle. I'm so happy
that you're here. I'm so happy we're doing I started
(02:41):
doing climbing in heels because I have the most incredible
women in my life, like you and all of our
friends and all of these amazing women that do such
incredible things. And you know, the thing I get asked
the most in my life is sort of like, how
did you get there? How did you go from being
a stylist to a brand to this my mom? And ultimately, like,
(03:02):
I'm want to talk about myself, And so what I
what I realized is like with all of these women
that I know and some that I don't know, some
I've known my whole life, some for not that long,
but everyone has a different story and like a really
fascinating story, and everyone's stories are so different. Ye, And
so I think that the purpose for me is to
(03:24):
really share the stories of women and how they got
to be at the top of their fields and their
games and the sort of very twisted ways in which
they get there. And I think it really helps to
motivate other other people of any age right to just
do what you love and try and get where you
(03:45):
want to be. Right. Yeah, So, you know, we met
a long time ago, probably ten years ago, maybe more yeah,
a very long time ago. I think the first time
I actually met you is at like a bird they
or something of Jessica's. Was it? I was it? Sure?
If it was Jessica's or at Jenny Kane's house once?
(04:06):
Is that possible? No? No, it was Jessica's. I remember
it was one of Um it was like the first
I had just met her, right, So I met you
there and it was at her old house. Got it okay?
Because I assumed we met through jess But I feel
like there were so many different iterations and places and
parties and things. But I just remember thinking like, who
(04:29):
is this woman? Because well, because you have this very
like strong presence, right, because you're very beautiful, you're tall,
you're this or that, and it's it's it's like immediately
you're like, who is she? Because I haven't met her,
but but but you have a very strong presence. But
then you come off I think shy at first, right,
(04:50):
Like I think, to me, I think it or bitchy,
but it's usually just that I'm I'm such an introvert.
Yes that that, but I have that first, right, so
I think I just was. But listen, jess can be
like that. Too right, like you can be a little
scared a little like yeah, And for me, I'm very
like right, like, I'm very like, yeah, I don't want
to say bubbly, but I guess I'm a little like
(05:13):
and when people are either shy or like intimidating or whatever,
I just work harder right to try and like, you know, engage.
But I think with you, it was sort of like
I was a little afraid at first because I was like,
she hates me, she doesn't want to talk to me.
And then I was like, wait, she's so light and
(05:34):
she's actually so friendly and sweet. And then all of
a sudden, what to me felt like overnight because I
do remember when I first met you that like whoever
we're with, I mean, Jessica was definitely one of them,
and then there was a few other girls. They were like, oh,
have you had one of Shawnie's facials? And I was
like wait, what, I'm sorry what? And I was just
(05:55):
kind of learning, And I think then what felt like
for a night to me, which obviously was probably not
overnight to you, that all of a sudden it was
like all I was hearing about it was you and
your treatments and you can't get in and you have
to and she's opening a salon and oh my god,
her magic, Oh my god, if you go to her house,
like it's transformative, you know. So I feel like, but
(06:19):
what I do want to talk about, and what I
think the most important thing to talk about is like
where did it start and where is it from? Because
I think what's so interesting about you is it wasn't like, oh,
I was playing in makeup and skaningcare my whole life
and wanted to get into beauty, Like that's not your path.
(06:39):
So I think what's so fascinating about you is sort
of where you came from, what you went to, and
then where you are now, so like who, Like, first
of all, you grew up in New York. I grew
up in upstate New York. I was born in Manhattan,
and then I moved and when my parents got a divorce,
I moved to Oatsburg, New York, which is like an
(07:02):
hour away from Montreal, Canada. It's like in the middle
of nowhere, so fairly in New York. It's exactly. It's
it's probably eight hours away driving to the city. Wow,
and a small small town like wow, Like okay, it
was not fun at all. But that's where I grew up.
That's so funny because I would never in a millionaire
(07:24):
say you're like a small town girl like I was not.
I was not supposed to be there. So when I
had the chance to leave, I was out, like I
didn't turn back. It was definitely not where I was
supposed to be. And you grew up with a single mom.
I did. But my mom married pretty quickly after to
my stepfather who is still like he's they're still together.
(07:46):
They've been together as yeah, yeah he's not okay, okay, okay.
I grew up with him, and then I have a
step brother and two stepsisters got older because he's okay.
So and then so you grew up there, and then
what happened, like when did you get out? When was
the great estate? So I started modeling when I was younger,
(08:06):
and I would model in Montreal, Canada, and a scalp
found me and said, come to LA You're going to
be so huge, You're going to be this huge model.
Come and I literally feel like within a couple of months,
I just left. I moved here and quickly realized that
I was never going to be a model and I got,
I got put in all these music videos. I always
(08:28):
big book music videos. I did know how to dance.
I was always wearing like some like corset, rolling around
on the ground, and it was a whole thing. What
year was this around, Like, oh god, I don't know,
I'm forty eight. I was probably like twenty two thousands, yeah,
two thousands. So that because that's when I was styling
music videos, which is why this is all very familiar
(08:50):
to me. Okay, So I just knew like it was
not for me, Like I had no idea how I
got into here or anything. So after that, I was like,
I'm not doing this. After you were like the girl
in the video, thinking you might become a supermodel because
people told you you what you were like, Okay, now
I'm in me, I like music video girl in next
to nothing, and this is not for me. So then
(09:14):
I don't know really what I did right after it.
I think I took a minute and then I don't know.
I was always obsessed with skin here. I think originally
I started working as a receptionist at different spas, okay,
because I knew that then I could get in as
an esthetician or that was my thought. You could learn,
you could learn it. So I bounced around and I
(09:36):
ended up going to school to be an esthetician. While
I was a receptionist at one of a really big
spa at the time, which one Banara Spa. Yeah, I
loved yes, So that's I worked there thinking the owner
was going to give me a job after I got
to school. And then I got into school and she said, no,
you're not ready yet. So then I went to a dermatologist.
(10:00):
Worked there for years and years, and then I just
started working at every like every spot that I could.
I worked at the Sofa Telum, I worked for a
plastic sturgeon, and so I just kept bouncing around to places.
And you were single at this time? Where were you?
I was single when I was we're after I got
(10:20):
my license. I think that's when I met my husband. Okay, yeah,
so that's because I just want to I just want
to point out, like the hustle. Oh, I want to
point that out because I think it's so important because
I think, you know again, I think the real premise
of climbing in heels is that like it's like everybody
(10:40):
knows you now who you are, how you know you're
here you're the best like blah blah blah. But it's like,
guess what everybody? Oh No, it was a huge struggle.
I worked. I worked seven days a week, Monday through Sunday,
working at different places because I never said now right.
The thing is too people don't realize I being an esthetician.
(11:01):
It's not like you're going to be rich, you know
what I mean. It's not easy so as much as
do you work as as much as you make. So
I had to work at all those places just to
make any money because I didn't have any clients. So
it was really a struggle. Then and then shortly after
I you know, I then I had my daughter, my
(11:22):
first child, Phoenix. Yeah, and then still struggling and still
working at all the places, and I just kept going,
I guess did you have? Were you? Because you are
rather like you know, I know you won't believe this
when I say this, and I've said it to you before.
I think I said it your dinner. But I'm freakishly
(11:43):
I am an introvert, so I do understand what you mean.
But I am in my career I'm an extrovert, so
I think right, I am very can be very insular.
And a little bit like, you know, so I do
relate to it. I do, and I think something I
want to talk about it is sort of like so
as you're hustling and doing this climb and you're on
(12:05):
you know, your sucking career, and I think it's sort
of like were you scared? Were there are these moments
where you were like, am I ever going to become? Like?
Am I ever going to is this going to be
like real for me? Like am I ever going to
stop having to run from salon to salon? And like,
you know, oh yeah, definitely. I definitely was scared. And
(12:27):
if I didn't have the support of my husband, I
can't even imagine that I would have gone on because
like how am I going to pay for anything? Yeah?
And I don't, you know, it's hard my mind. I
never like think of the future in that way. So
I didn't really know what was going to happen, Like
I didn't have the plan, just like when I came
out with my product line, I never had a plan
(12:48):
that I was going to put out a product line. Yeah.
Even now people are like, well, how many skews do
you want to have? I'm like, I don't know. I
don't know, it just happens. It happened for me, so
but definitely very stressful. Like if I hadn't have had
my husband, I wouldn't have been able to continue on
financially and emotionally. Yeah, and we did. We both weren't
(13:12):
making a lot of money then either, so it was
just a struggle. So definitely it is. And I think
that's like a thing that you know, it's funny because
people have asked me, you know, throughout my career sort
of like how did you like, how did you do it?
You never came up for air, you got sick, like
what happened and liked and what I always say, I
give Roger so much credit because what I was doing
(13:35):
was so insane, so mentally draining, so physically draining. It's
almost like I had nothing left. And I don't know
at times if if he wasn't with me, just as
that like support, as that chair like to come from. Yeah,
you know, I don't know that I would have made it, honestly,
(13:57):
and um, and I think that's under valued. And I
think because we're in such a female you know place,
you know where we are, we're just so pro female.
I also happen to be pro maile, And I think
it's because I come from a family of great males
and I and I married one, so and I'm raising
too now so so I'm I have so much mail
(14:18):
around me, which is really funny. But I think it
would be interesting to learn. I think, what was that moment?
And by the way, like you, one of the biggest
pieces of advice I always give is don't look for
your next thing, keep doing, stay focused on what you're doing,
because it'll all happen organically. Yeah, at the right time.
And I think when you go I'm doing this in
(14:39):
two thousand and ten, I'm doing this, and too that
if I don't do this by twenty fourteen, then I failed.
So well can over a plan? You can't. You can't
architect your path that way. In my opinion, m I
think it's time. I think also, I think I used
to hear this all the time that I don't know
if my mom would tell me, but like when you
when you're doing what you're supposed to do, it just
(15:01):
it works correct. And I knew that. It was the
first time that I knew that. When I became an aesthetician,
I knew like this is just what I was supposed
to do, and once you get there, it just all
kind of flows. I will say that sucks to hear
when you're not in the place, you know what I mean,
when you're giving someone that it fits because you're like,
(15:22):
what does that even mean? What does that mean? You
know what I mean? Yes, but I think it's important
to younger people right now, or even not younger people
that are just like, I'm scared to change my career.
It's sort of like it is true though, Like and
I always say, like, if you find your passion, figure
out how to make your career out of that, because
it won't feel like work, right, and the success will
(15:43):
come because you'll want to do it because you love it.
I personally cannot imagine waking up every single day to
do something I hated. Yes, i'd fail, yeah, same, But
I think that that's what I did for my whole
life until I became an esthetician. It's just like it's
completely natural to me. It's so so I have a
question for you, then at what moment and you're probably
(16:05):
gonna say, well, I don't think I am, But like,
at what moment did you say, Okay, I'm actually like
good at this, like I'm actually and I know this
because everybody's telling me, or like all of a sudden,
because I'm telling you for me. You know, I had
(16:26):
lived here I don't know ten years, and you know
you knew a handful of astheticians, right, and then all
of a sudden, it was, oh, it was at Rosie's. Sorry,
that's where it was. I was going to say that.
I was like, I've never been to Jenny Keines, but
that I act that's how exactly right. That just clicked
(16:46):
as I was talking to you. So, I mean, all
of a sudden, all of these women in my life
were like because I just am not one that does
enough self care and I don't take care of my
skin the way I should, but everyone's like you have to.
At what point did the magic start to get recognized
(17:06):
and you were singled out by literally some of the
biggest celebrities in the world with notably the most beautiful
skin in the world. Who can go to anybody, use anybody,
have every product at their disposal, and they're living and
dying by your name, your your spa, your product. When
I work, I went on my I know you're so
(17:28):
uncomfortable with me saying that when I so the last
place I worked what's called the Body Well, it was
like a medical center kind of place. When I was there,
I was I got pregnant with Lennon, my second, and
I was living in a rental house and I had
a back office in it. And Jessica was like, nobody
(17:49):
wants to go there, not because it was bad. Yeah,
it's just like set up your back office. Sure, And
I was like why, Like, no one's gonna want to
come to my house and she was like, set it up,
I promise you. And that moment is when everything changed.
At that moment, a makeup artists, hairstylists, everyone just started
sending me people. And I think the moment was is
(18:13):
that a lot of these people had acne and I
was able to fix their skin. And that was that's
when it changed. That was my busiest time ever. Um
was when I set up that office in the back.
Like I just was at like twenty ten, twenty eleven,
twelve something around. Yeah, getting a timeline. I'm so bad
at a timeline. So I had old your youngest how
(18:33):
old your youngest daughter? Oh, there you go, there you go.
That's how I always remember time ten she's so I
was there like yeah, And so that's when it kind
of went crazy and I was always booked and it
was It was also really difficult because the back office
didn't have a bathroom, so you had to come through
my house. And I'm such like so anal and super clean,
(18:56):
so like I'd have my kids hidden in my bedroom.
When I had people come through, it was like crazy,
oh my. But that's when I knew, like, oh my god,
this really is something. And I also had like huge
people come to my house like me, you know what
I mean, and they kept coming. And I think part
of the reason why they kept coming is because you know,
(19:17):
there was no yeah, and there was no papara like
it was like the play sure. And so I want
to talk about that though, because that's the thing about skin.
Skin is something like yes, you can hide it, like
yes you can hide it with makeup, right, but ultimately,
(19:38):
your skin on your face is the first thing people
see when they say hello, yeah. And I would say
that male or female, everyone, I know. It is the
thing that from listen from age what twelve thirteen, right,
because when you pimple's all over your face, you look
down at the ground covering, so it really impacts the
(20:01):
way you present yourself to the world every day, right,
And I would say that I think having worked with
celebrities my entire career, I would say that the thing
they are the most loyal about this is to their
makeup artists and their skin. Yeah, they're tragicians because and
I will say this, celebrities, just like models, supermodels even
(20:24):
are real people with real skin problems. Yeah, for sure.
And and I think that that's a great point to
what was really pivotal for you in your career, because
I mean, if I've ACKed me all over my face
and you help me get rid of it, you are
my sole sister, Like you know what I mean that
(20:45):
I can't about you now for sure? Yeah, No, it
was it was a that was just all amazing having
that happen. But that's definitely what changed everything for me.
And then that's when I came out with my first
product and it just sort of went from there. We
had one of your first products in my curation and
(21:05):
karatur I know, my god, people were sessed with it. Yeah,
that was my first baby, was resurfacing. Was it the resurfacing?
And I'll reform. Yet right now, I'll reform reform. I
knew it was hard. It was like resurface reform, but
but I think, listen, I use so many of your
products right now. I have the Iye cream on and serum.
(21:27):
Did you get the peel? Did you get the peel?
Ye're gonna project's gonna love the peel. You're gonna love it. Oh.
I was actually on the phone with someone while they
were doing it, and they were saying, I'm just getting
through the little tingaly part because I know it's doing
great thing. It's really good. I'm so proud of that product.
I can't even tell you I made that. I had
(21:48):
wanted to make it for a while, but what pushed
me to get it done was the pandemic, because obviously
I couldn't give the time, and then everyone was asking
me to make it, and I was also like making
kits to use at home, so I was like, I
have to make this. So that's so interesting because you know,
(22:10):
Roger and I were saying that the pandemic forced entrepreneurs
to get so creative outside of what they were doing.
But also if you weren't an entrepreneur, you like became
one because you were starting to figure out how you
could still do your business and the new needs of
(22:32):
the world and how to like how to sort of
acclimate to that and change, you know, mix it up
a little bit, scramble the egg, as he likes to say.
But I think for you, it's funny because part of
me is sort of like, oh, my god, why do
you make your magic peel? You should only give that
in your office so that people come. But I think
they still want it from you. But here's the thing.
(22:54):
It's not the same. But it's all think that it is.
But the strength that I use in the office, technically
I couldn't sell that. But yeah, it's as close as
I could get it for sure. Yeah. Yeah, but it's
it's a good one. I'm very proud. When I was
making it, a lot of people on my team were like, Oh,
(23:14):
this isn't gonna be like your biggest skew, and I
was like, yes, it is. Like people are gonna die.
It's so easy, two steps, Like I can even has
the brush. Yeah, because otherwise anything too complicated, I'm not
doing it. I'm a very lazy skincare routine person, which
is so funny. That's like me it's a stylist of that.
I never have my clothes. No, no, I cannot be
(23:36):
bothered with all the steps people do. Forget it. I'm
not too now, So yeah, I agree with that. So okay,
A couple of things. One is what's been your sort
of like scariest thing, like what keeps you up at night,
what wakes you up in the morning. What is sort
of like your greatest fear in your career or in life. Oh,
I have lots of fears in life, but taking your
(23:56):
children out of it, taking your children out because obviously,
as a parent, that's obviously all of that is our
our fear. I would say my biggest thing that scares
me is not coming up with anything new and innovative.
Is my number one challenge that I freak. I spin
a spiral all the time. And then also I think
(24:17):
my other one is there's so many brands out there
and so many brands that aren't that great that will
they'll do great and take off for whatever reason. And
I always worry like I know everything that I make,
I put so much into it that I fear sometimes
I suppose it doesn't I don't doesn't happen for me.
(24:40):
You know what I mean. Fear of failure. Yeah, that
a lot, and I know that, and I just try
to like get it out of my head and keep
you know, I don't want to manifest that, but I
have that a lot. And I think even more so
because obviously all these brands came out during the pandemic
and it's not ending, and there's more and more and
people are just making the same stuff, and so it's like,
(25:03):
how do I make this different? What's different? Well, I
have some thoughts on that because obviously, like I always
have the same I mean, the same fear, But I
will say this, there is a little bit of good
in that, and I'll tell you why. I talk about
this a lot. And for me, I'm a very similar
type of person, and I always have some element of fear,
and I always have a huge fear of failure. I've
(25:25):
had that my entire adult life, probably my kid life too.
But you know, I think, I actually think it's part
of what drives me. Yeah, because I actually think I
just sort of think that if you're not a little
bit scared, you get complacent and you lose your fire,
and that's when things start to sort of get a
(25:47):
little stagnant, you know, whereas if you're like, hey, mine's
the best, I'm going to keep making it the best,
and I'm gonna work my fucking ass off to make
sure it's the best, better and different than all the
other ship that's out there. Not ship, but you know
what I mean. But like, but I think I think
that that can be used to some extent as as
(26:08):
as something that really pushes you to always do better.
So I actually think that that's okay, I think in
terms of this sort of oversaturated competition, because that really
does exist, especially in beauty. And I can't say that
because I've been asked to do cosmetic lines and stain
carolines and I'm like, I'm like, no, no, just what
(26:29):
they need, just what they need from me, um and
why so So, but I think that ultimately, if you
really look, ninety percent of the time, the best products win. Yeah.
Not sure is the ten percent that are marketed the
best marketed the best? Yeah, because marketing really can do
(26:49):
it for a brand. Definitely. Yeah, you can see for
sure people are not going to keep repeat buying something
that's not great, for sure. But it is hard. It's
still hard to be in that and then watch it.
And by the way, Instagram doesn't help. It's scrolling to
you know what I mean, because everyone's everyone's winning and
(27:11):
all the things. So it's hard. But yeah, but it does.
It definitely does motivate me. It's good. But that's like
probably the thing that breaks me out the most. Yeah,
and I understand that, And I think I will say this,
I think that's a very common thread in entrepreneurs in general.
I really think it is because we don't have a boss. Yeah,
(27:34):
we don't have someone. We don't have someone making the
final calls, right for sure, it stops at us. So
I think that is something where it's a blessing and
a curse, right and it and it does keep you going,
but it also is terrifying. And I think I think
a healthy fear of failure is okay. I think keeping
(27:56):
your eyes forward and constantly trying to put out the best.
You have a very loyal loyal clients. I really do,
you really do. And I think and it's because it works, right,
because if it didn't, no one's going to be that nice.
Let's be real and listen, Like a lot of we
have a lot of mutual friends and they're all fucking badasses.
(28:18):
And I'm telling you, they're not gonna lie, right, so
they're gonna be like Shahnny, this sucks and gave me
a rash like they would. Yeah, it's true, But but
I think, and I think I already know the answer
to this, but I would say, who is that person
that gave you your sort of that life changing, game
(28:40):
changing moment and confidence to just do it? I mean,
I think it's Jessica, but I would say it was
Jessica because not only that, she was so supportive. So
one of the places where I first met her, um
and this is Jessica Alba for our listener, Yeah, say
jessicause when I when I first met her giving her
(29:03):
a facial, it was just random that I saw her
and we were that we barely talked during facials, and
right before she left, she was pregnant with Honor. I
was pregnant with Phoenix, but I had never really spoken
to her in facials to tell her that I was
pregnant and I wasn't really showing. So the day she
(29:25):
came in, she was getting ready to help Honor, and
I finally told her, Listen, I just want you to
know when you come back. I'm actually pregnant as well.
I won't be here for a little bit right immediately
because she loves to talk about kids. Immediately she was like,
oh my god, I blah blah blah. And so she
started inviting me to hang out after I had had Phoenix,
(29:47):
so I had like a mom so friends, Yeah, yes,
And then I ended up getting fired from the place
that I worked at, and she ended up she was renting.
Remember she rented that how she was redoing her house
and she rented, so she had a guest room there.
And mind you, I really didn't know her that well.
She asked me when I had no place to go,
(30:10):
she was like, why don't you just set up at
my house, my rental house, so you can do facials there.
So I gave facials at her house, like not knowing
her that well, and that really pushed me. And then
after that she pushed me to open up at my house.
So like that was probably no, no, no. It was
(30:30):
pretty crazy because also like not that you would ask
for money, but like I'm just they're working, sure, she
people would just like strangers would just come in the side,
don't you know what I mean. It was like wild
but like that definitely was That's insane actually when I
think about it, and like it just like a huge career.
(30:51):
Not that she doesn't now she has a free empire
and a career and a movie career, but like that's
really unbelievable. That's really believable because I think that you know,
and just everybody knows like Jessica Alba, she is one
of the absolute most supportive yes, friends, girlfriends, mom friends, mentors,
(31:14):
but more importantly like really champions her friend's success. And
in this case was Shawnee, Like they barely knew each other,
and she was like, really, dump in my like guest
house or whatever. We've really in your practice. That's that's
pretty extraordinary. Actually really ever hung out with her at
that time at her a baby class at her house,
(31:35):
so it wasn't like we were like hanging then, so
and then to just set that up, she was like
you could just come whatever, like here's the key and
like and by the way, like I'm sure you know
at that time, my clients, if they would have known
where they were, probably would have freaked. I Mean it
was weird, right, but the nicest thing. But that's one
of Jessica's best qualities that she has is that when
(31:57):
you need someone, that's she's She's very supportive in that way,
like that's when she is. I think her best is
that she always wants to help you if something's going down.
That's pretty extraordinary. And I think and I think, listen,
I think in this kind of world we're living in,
I think that having that person, male or female, is
(32:21):
that there's nothing actually more important because in a sense,
I think that probably kind of kept you going fired,
which is a time when people are like I'm out,
like I can't, I can't do this, you know, fired
with a small small child, you know what I mean.
By the way, I don't even think you can legally
do that now. By the way, was just saying, for
(32:43):
what it's worth, we should go back in time right now. Um,
it was pretty bad. And by the way, by the way,
and that's a thing, it's sort of like can and you,
by the way, you probably were not happy there. I'm
just predicting. No, no, I was not happy. And also
if I wouldn't have gotten fired, I wouldn't be here.
(33:04):
That's my point. It was a lot of times getting
pushed out of something because I wasn't going to leave. Um,
it was the best thing that could have I should
actually thank that person that fired me. Well, well right exactly,
but but I do think I have You know, it's funny.
I have this theory about life in general that sometimes
(33:25):
life makes decisions for you that you would have or
couldn't have ever done for yourself, you know, And here
you are. Yeah, I mean you know we had this, well,
you held this beautiful dinner co hosted by our very
good girlfriend, um Laura Brown, also a cheerleader in Champion
(33:46):
Beyond Beyond. I mean, Laura is a unicorn of a
human being. She's so special. I've known her my most
of my career at this point, since she started at
Bizarre and yeah, um, Laura's always just been different than
Ah very and the best is yet to come for her.
But she co hosted a dinner for you. It was
(34:07):
very star studded and beautiful and also just felt like
a really fun like girls dinner honestly, And I got
to see so many people that I loved and hadn't
seen in a while. Because again, it goes back to
that introvert thing, and I'm trying to be an extrovert,
but I was so happy to see everybody. And I
think you know one thing I want to talk about
(34:28):
that I remember so clearly. I think you cried like
thirty times at the dinner, and I want to talk
about that because you know, and we talked about it
at dinner. But I think that's something to really recognize
in our lives and in our career as personal and professional,
(34:48):
that when you turn around and people show up for you,
it's probably the most meaningful thing that you can ever imagine,
because it's not easy to show up. Everyone's got kids,
it's a million jobs, they're traveling, they're tired, they're this
so that some people it's way easier to show up,
of course, but for some people it's hard. And I
think that, you know, I think you're we're probably similar
(35:12):
in that, like we don't ask a lot of people
to show up, and so when they actually do, you
like turn around, like I can't believe you're here for me,
and I can't believe you got dress, I can't believe
you've got your makeup. I can't believe you did this.
Da da da da, And that gratitude is overwhelming. And
I saw you speaking and you just kept crying. It
was like water works all night, and it made me
(35:34):
love you more because I was sort of like I
get her, and I get I know exactly what she's
feeling right now. And it's partly you can't believe you're here,
you can't believe everyone's there, and you're so happy at
how good, like it's working, like your hard work works
and people recognize it. Right. Yeah, Well, it's just like
(35:57):
LA is such a crazy place, so do just think
like you got like this, like you wanted to come,
like I just never thought that that would happen, so
and I don't. I don't ask for much ever, but
just the fact like that it's like too much. It's
just like and it was all like such great people,
you know what I mean? It wasn't like And the
(36:19):
more meaningful thing for me is that I don't really
because I am so antisocial. I don't really have like parties.
So I was so about like wanting it to be
people that knew each other or were going to like
each other. And the fact that everyone was in that
room it was like it was just too much for me.
And also to ask people to come and you're gonna
(36:40):
have to take twelve pictures and like, so it's like
that's a lot, you know what I mean? And I
could never think anyone enough for that. There's nothing else
I could, you know what I mean. I woke up
the next morning, I woke up and started crying. Right
when I woke up, I called DJ and I was like,
I can't even do this, like too much. So I
(37:02):
knew that you did. I knew that you did because
I saw you, Like I literally saw you, and I
was like, she is a hot, massive emotions right now.
And there was a lot of single moms at that table,
and you know, I think everybody was really feeling it,
and I think everybody was happy to be there. And
again I think, don't kid yourself. The women in your
(37:24):
life are that would be grateful? No, But they're incredibly
grateful to you for what you're doing for them. That's
the end of other thing is you're giving them confidence
to actually like maybe just put on some moisturizer in
the morning, some lip bomb and go talk to people
rather than spending like twenty hours trying to like cover
(37:45):
their faces. So I just that'd be valuable. I'll need
a lot more therapy to get to that point. But like, yes,
I get that that's the feeling I should have. It's
still very hard for me. It's very hard for me,
but but it works. But it works, lady, It freaking works.
And I love watching it. And you know, for me
(38:07):
as an entrepreneur, as someone who's kind of been here
for a while and seen a lot good and bad
and just gnarly, it's so nice to like see you
when and to like really the old fashioned on you know,
now unexpected way to get where you want to be
is just actually work your fucking ass off and that
(38:30):
way and get recognized for your actual talent. And I
think that is extraordinary and I I don't, I can't. Well,
I do want to ask you one last question then
I want to ask you before we go. I need
to ask you some skin questions because everyone everyone would
kill me if I didn't. But okay, so what like
(38:52):
do you think about like what's next? Like what you're
you're done having kids? Right? Yes? She says that, She
says that non negotiably. Yeah, no, that's it. I'll give
more dogs, but no more babies, okay. And then for
your brand, what are we going to do? More salons?
Do you want to keep just one? Do you want
(39:13):
to just roll out more products, like what's the plan
if any No, I've always people have always asked me
if I wanted to have more studios, and I just
I don't want a Shawnee Darden shit show. I don't
care about any of that. I have a very private
space and I like that. I like walking through it
and it feels like I'm the only person there. I
don't want that. It's just more about products for me
(39:36):
right now, and you know it takes me forever, so
like it takes me forever to make anything, So you know,
that's kind of my focus. I think that I'll work
as an esthetician for a really long time as long
as I can, because it's kind of what Number one
that's my therapy is when I give a facial one
hundred percent. It's probably the commist you'll ever see me
(39:57):
here in your life. It's where I'm supposed to be.
But all so like, I get to hang out with
all of these great people that tell me what they
want me to make and they try so like it
helps me. So I don't think that I think that
that's it. It's just really you know now being in Sepphora,
that's like a really big thing, incredible, and so you
(40:18):
have to like keep up. So it's about, you know,
just kind of put it. When I went into Sepphora,
they had said to me, you you're not going to
be able to get facials anymore six days a week,
and so I cut back on the facials because there's
just no time to build. So yeah, it's just about,
you know, I'm still doing facials. I try to just
(40:41):
do facials two days a week and ends up being more.
And then the rest is just all about the product line.
See that's incredible, and I think people don't realize that,
and especially in the beauty industry when you're a hairstylist
and makeup artist or an esthetician, you know, you don't.
I mean, I guess you can own your business in
a sense, but when you launch product, that's really your
(41:03):
baby again, and it's it's just a it's a hard
one just because there are so many vitamin c's, so
why am I making one? What's different about my vitamin C?
And to get to make that happen is you know,
it takes a lot. Yeah. Well I love that, and
I also love that you want to just pop out
(41:24):
product because you know. I mean, Sephora doesn't love it,
but it takes me up, takes me a long time.
So this year is the first time that I've actually
caught up because I finally made some that it will
now come out kind of like the way that Sephora
likes it on time, but just keep like rolling out,
rolling out, rolling out. Yeah, it's not completely just rolling out,
(41:45):
but you have like certain times like yeah, jobs, yeah,
so I'm there now. But now it's like, oh, well,
what are we gonna do next year? You know what
I mean, what's going to happen? So I'm just gonna
keep doing it very easy. But it keeps you going
it like you so that's good. It does it and
it's it's such a blessing too because I don't you know,
(42:06):
for those of you that don't know, when you create
a beauty product, the dream is to have a big
presence at Sephora. Yeah, the Holy Growl of Beauty. Yes,
a very dangerous place for me to walk into. Yes,
it's it's a heart it's a challenge. The great thing
about Sephora is they've been so so supportive of me,
and that's been so great. Um, which you know, so
(42:30):
it's been like they helped me a lot. They helped
me a lot with ideas and are always so supportive.
So I'm yeah, I loved out well. I think one
of the biggest there's so there's two things. There's two skin.
I mean, listen, there's a hundred that I have. I've
been blessed in terms of like having my mother's skin,
so I've never really had like a huge acne issue.
(42:51):
But the one time I did was my early thirties.
And so I have a ton of women that I
know that are just dying or just like I don't understand.
I didn't even have acne in my teens. Now I'm
like thirty two, thirty five, and they can't function. It's
obviously hormonal, right, Yes, that's like what's the secret? Like
(43:13):
it is in fact hormonal, and it happens to all
of us or most of us. But like, what what's
your like best best best advice you can give all
of these women, because I mean, it's a it's a
really hard one to tackle. It's a hard So here's
the thing. I think the hardest part is that the
best thing is to find someone that can help you.
(43:33):
But usually it's just about changing your products, right, it's
usually you've been using something forever, your skins change, your
hormones have change, and you need to like you need
to switch it up to something else, but also you
need probably need some help doing it. That's the tricky
part because right, y'all read magazines and see it on
Instagram and we're like, oh my god, she's using it
(43:54):
and then professional and it's not right for your skin type.
So but that's usually so many people I see that
come in they're so congested or they're breaking out, and
I'm like, let's stop all of that, just try all
of this, and by the next time I see them,
they're not breaking out anymore. So it's it's that it's
kind of pretty simple. Yeah, well simple for you because
(44:16):
you're started. And then do you say the same thing
to like the eighteen to twenty four kids that are
just dying, and it's like they're like, oh my god,
I need a laser. Oh my god, like that that
one MTV that then dried out their whole skin, So like,
what is it the same? It's just hormonal shifts for everybody, right,
(44:36):
one hundred percent. And that always killed me when I
worked at the dermatologists. I worked on such young kids
up to the teens and those that's where my heart
just breaks because it's like number one, if you don't
get that under control, you are going to scar your skin.
But also it's just like a hard time, like going
to school, it was so much. It's just like hardful.
(44:57):
So um, I love I love treating people younger, Like
treat a lot of people that are younger. And you
find that your products are really effective in in like
skinness age, like just or do you need like actual
treatments in order to heal it? Do you feel No,
I don't think you need treatments to heal it. Products
for sure. It's products, And I don't just use my line,
(45:21):
so I have a lot of other products, so it's
not just my line alone, right, Like you're not just
trying to sell people stuff. Yeah, so there's a lot
of things you can do. But at some point, if
you are breaking out really badly, you may need a dermatologist.
And I'm very honest with people and will say you
need to go to the dermatologists and get on a
prescription straight topical. But I don't all the lasers and stuff.
(45:43):
I'm not a huge fan of all of those things.
I'm pretty I'm more about products. But yeah, you know, listen, babe,
whatever works, whatever works, And okay, I knew if you
had to die by these are the things I could
never go to sleep without on my face or anyone's face.
(46:06):
What would it be? I think I know the answer.
But retinal retinal? Okay, I can't live without retinal because
it's just the best anti aging ingredient. Like I've been
using retinal since I was in my twenties. I mean,
I just think it's like the best thing that you
could pull. There isn't an ingredient. That's why everyone has
a retinal. Now, every brain has a retinal because you
(46:27):
can't get better than that, so unless you're using prescription strength,
and that's even better. So right, Yeah, no, I couldn't
live without retinal. Use it every day. Well, I want
your skin, so you have amazing skin. Mm it could
be ten acts better just saying. But but I love
you madly. This is so much. It's been so great,
(46:49):
such an honor to be on this. Thank you so much.
I'm so happy to have you. I love your story.
I think it's going to really motivate so many people
to like, you know, career shift. It's never too late.
You two can be in music videos, in course sets
and switch to the career of your dreams. Not that
(47:10):
that's bad, just may not be for you. Yeah, and
also sometimes that it takes that one person to just
push you to do so. All Right, honey, I love you.
How holiday weekend? You two? Thank you so much. Okay,
I'll see you after break Bye bye, my love. It's
(47:35):
that time in the show when I answer to listener questions.
So let's see what we have today. Okay, first question,
what career opportunities or collaborations have you turned down and why?
The answer to that, I can't see names like brands
that I've said no too, but I can say I've
(47:56):
definitely said no to a few, certainly several speaking engagements
because it wasn't it wasn't something that felt right to
me or financially didn't make enough sense for me to
kind of make a trip to do it. It wasn't
for a reason I believed in, so I I didn't
feel I could speak authentically to it. And definitely one
(48:16):
that I turned down that I remember was a really
big deal because it was a crazy amount of money
and something I could have done organically. But I had
made a deal, a deal that was almost closed, and
something came out about the brand that I didn't like,
and it was still being argued but like it wasn't
(48:39):
one hundred percent proven, but I had a feeling it
was true about the brand, and I ended up backing
out and not doing it, which ultimately ended up being
the right decision because had I gone and been the
face or endorser of this product at the time, it
would have been a very detrimental thing for my brand
(48:59):
information image. So I was very glad that I followed
my gut. I did walk away from a lot of
money and a great partnership opportunity, but it really was
like doing the right thing and saying, Okay, doing the
right thing is more important than making all this money,
and so you know, listen, those are those are hard
decisions to make when you're an entrepreneur, but I had
(49:22):
to make it. It was just the right decision, Okay.
Second question, I want to invest in a designer bag.
What would you buy if you could only get one? Well,
I say to that two things. One is it really
depends on your budget. I think if if your budget
is fairly large or large. I should say large because
(49:44):
I don't even think it can be small at this point.
But I would always say to get a channel bag
or in your Mes bag. You will never regret it.
You will have it the rest of your life. Every
Chanel bag I have ever purchased sits beautifully in my
closet and looks virtually unused even though they've been used
(50:05):
a ton, and you never get sick of them. So
I always say, pick what you love the most, but
lean on the more classic version. So if you're getting one,
do it in a color that you really can use
and really can wear. So whether that's camel, you know,
like a beautiful brown carmel, chocolate brown black, something like that,
or if you wear done them the most, then maybe
(50:27):
like a navy or something like that. But I think
the idea is to get something not so trendy of
the moment, because in six months you will not want
to even look at it. But on the flip side
of that, I also want to say that there's so
many incredible resell sites now that if you want spend
the money, get the IT bag you're dying for that's trendy.
(50:48):
If you're that person and then in six months trade
it in, take that money and get the new trendy bag.
So I think it really depends are you classic or
you trendy? And you know, always buy what you love,
you're actually gonna wear, don't buy something, especially if it's
that one decision. Don't buy the bag you're just going
to stare at and it's going to sit in the
duster bag because there's no point to that, no point
(51:10):
to that at all. Don't forget to submit your questions
for next week's episode. All you have to do is
dm us your questions to at Climbing in Heels pod
on Instagram and I might just answer your question. Thank
you so much to Shanny for coming on the podcast
and opening up about her life, her career, and for
(51:31):
sharing some very treasured skincare tips, because they weren't really
what I thought they were going to be. I thought
it was going to be like strip this, stop using that,
like stop stripping on the oil from your face, stop
adding too much product, But really most of it was
sort of like change your products because your products are
probably ruining your skin. Obviously, most of it, especially for women,
(51:54):
as hormonal changes and you're no control over it, but
in times you do need professional help. But I can
tell you I'm definitely doing whatever she says. And she's
very impressive. And I think it's interesting for me to
interview such different women with different career paths because I
(52:16):
think it just shows that you can get to the
top in so many ways, and you create your own
path in your own journey, and there is no rule
book for life, and certainly not for a career. There's
no exact path to the top. So I hope that
you just keep learning from each episode. So thank you
(52:39):
to Shawnee. If you want more Climbing and Heels content,
follow me on at Rachel's Oe and at Climbing and
Heals Pod on Instagram for more updates and upcoming guests, episodes,
and all things charactur. I will see you next week
(53:00):
two
Welcome back to Currently with Kiratour, where I share my
latest dial obsessions, all of which you can access through
my shopping community Katour. My spring curation is here and
I'm so excited. Throughout the season, I'm going to be
telling you more about everything inside of it, item by item.
This week, we're focusing on the Hue and Grace Restoring
(00:21):
Face Serum. A few years back, we included the brand's
night serum and I've been such a major fan ever since.
This daytime formula will brighten and smooth your skin with
antioxidant rich oils that fight both free radicals and hormone
disruptors alone. The serum retails at ninety five dollars, but
you can get this entire five product curation for just
(00:44):
one hundred dollars when you start your membership with my
code Zoe twenty five Zoe twenty five Zoe twenty five.
These boxes are in limited supply, so head to Kuratour
dot com that Cure at eu R dot com to
clean this offer right now. Hi everyone, I'm Rachel Doe
(01:16):
and you're listening to Climbing in Fields. The show is
all about celebrating extraordinary superwomen who will be sharing their
incredible journeys to the top, all while staying glamor. Today
with me, we have one of Hollywood's most beloved astheticians
and skincare experts, Shawnee Darden. She's literally responsible for some
(01:37):
of the most beautiful faces in the business and in
the world, including Jessica Alba who actually helped really mentor
and push her into her career, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, and
Kelly Roland just to name a few, and I can
tell you firsthand they have magnificent skin. On this episode,
Shawnie is sharing all about her very unique journey to
(01:59):
building a skincare empire and her background as a model
and music video dancer. Her hustle is truly something to
be admired. I feel like I get Shawnnie so well
because we're both introverts that you don't really think or introverts.
We get mistaken for being maybe aloof or a little
bitchy or shy sometimes, but I think it's just sometimes
(02:19):
not having the confidence in yourself that other people have
in you. So I really really love Shannie and I
really admire her work and her hustle. I'm so happy
that you're here. I'm so happy we're doing I started
(02:41):
doing climbing in heels because I have the most incredible
women in my life, like you and all of our
friends and all of these amazing women that do such
incredible things. And you know, the thing I get asked
the most in my life is sort of like, how
did you get there? How did you go from being
a stylist to a brand to this my mom? And ultimately, like,
(03:02):
I'm want to talk about myself, And so what I
what I realized is like with all of these women
that I know and some that I don't know, some
I've known my whole life, some for not that long,
but everyone has a different story and like a really
fascinating story, and everyone's stories are so different. Ye, And
so I think that the purpose for me is to
(03:24):
really share the stories of women and how they got
to be at the top of their fields and their
games and the sort of very twisted ways in which
they get there. And I think it really helps to
motivate other other people of any age right to just
do what you love and try and get where you
(03:45):
want to be. Right. Yeah, So, you know, we met
a long time ago, probably ten years ago, maybe more yeah,
a very long time ago. I think the first time
I actually met you is at like a bird they
or something of Jessica's. Was it? I was it? Sure?
If it was Jessica's or at Jenny Kane's house once?
(04:06):
Is that possible? No? No, it was Jessica's. I remember
it was one of Um it was like the first
I had just met her, right, So I met you
there and it was at her old house. Got it okay?
Because I assumed we met through jess But I feel
like there were so many different iterations and places and
parties and things. But I just remember thinking like, who
(04:29):
is this woman? Because well, because you have this very
like strong presence, right, because you're very beautiful, you're tall,
you're this or that, and it's it's it's like immediately
you're like, who is she? Because I haven't met her,
but but but you have a very strong presence. But
then you come off I think shy at first, right,
(04:50):
Like I think, to me, I think it or bitchy,
but it's usually just that I'm I'm such an introvert.
Yes that that, but I have that first, right, so
I think I just was. But listen, jess can be
like that. Too right, like you can be a little
scared a little like yeah, And for me, I'm very
like right, like, I'm very like, yeah, I don't want
to say bubbly, but I guess I'm a little like
(05:13):
and when people are either shy or like intimidating or whatever,
I just work harder right to try and like, you know, engage.
But I think with you, it was sort of like
I was a little afraid at first because I was like,
she hates me, she doesn't want to talk to me.
And then I was like, wait, she's so light and
(05:34):
she's actually so friendly and sweet. And then all of
a sudden, what to me felt like overnight because I
do remember when I first met you that like whoever
we're with, I mean, Jessica was definitely one of them,
and then there was a few other girls. They were like, oh,
have you had one of Shawnie's facials? And I was
like wait, what, I'm sorry what? And I was just
(05:55):
kind of learning, And I think then what felt like
for a night to me, which obviously was probably not
overnight to you, that all of a sudden it was
like all I was hearing about it was you and
your treatments and you can't get in and you have
to and she's opening a salon and oh my god,
her magic, Oh my god, if you go to her house,
like it's transformative, you know. So I feel like, but
(06:19):
what I do want to talk about, and what I
think the most important thing to talk about is like
where did it start and where is it from? Because
I think what's so interesting about you is it wasn't like, oh,
I was playing in makeup and skaningcare my whole life
and wanted to get into beauty, Like that's not your path.
(06:39):
So I think what's so fascinating about you is sort
of where you came from, what you went to, and
then where you are now, so like who, Like, first
of all, you grew up in New York. I grew
up in upstate New York. I was born in Manhattan,
and then I moved and when my parents got a divorce,
I moved to Oatsburg, New York, which is like an
(07:02):
hour away from Montreal, Canada. It's like in the middle
of nowhere, so fairly in New York. It's exactly. It's
it's probably eight hours away driving to the city. Wow,
and a small small town like wow, Like okay, it
was not fun at all. But that's where I grew up.
That's so funny because I would never in a millionaire
(07:24):
say you're like a small town girl like I was not.
I was not supposed to be there. So when I
had the chance to leave, I was out, like I
didn't turn back. It was definitely not where I was
supposed to be. And you grew up with a single mom.
I did. But my mom married pretty quickly after to
my stepfather who is still like he's they're still together.
(07:46):
They've been together as yeah, yeah he's not okay, okay, okay.
I grew up with him, and then I have a
step brother and two stepsisters got older because he's okay.
So and then so you grew up there, and then
what happened, like when did you get out? When was
the great estate? So I started modeling when I was younger,
(08:06):
and I would model in Montreal, Canada, and a scalp
found me and said, come to LA You're going to
be so huge, You're going to be this huge model.
Come and I literally feel like within a couple of months,
I just left. I moved here and quickly realized that
I was never going to be a model and I got,
I got put in all these music videos. I always
(08:28):
big book music videos. I did know how to dance.
I was always wearing like some like corset, rolling around
on the ground, and it was a whole thing. What
year was this around, Like, oh god, I don't know,
I'm forty eight. I was probably like twenty two thousands, yeah,
two thousands. So that because that's when I was styling
music videos, which is why this is all very familiar
(08:50):
to me. Okay, So I just knew like it was
not for me, Like I had no idea how I
got into here or anything. So after that, I was like,
I'm not doing this. After you were like the girl
in the video, thinking you might become a supermodel because
people told you you what you were like, Okay, now
I'm in me, I like music video girl in next
to nothing, and this is not for me. So then
(09:14):
I don't know really what I did right after it.
I think I took a minute and then I don't know.
I was always obsessed with skin here. I think originally
I started working as a receptionist at different spas, okay,
because I knew that then I could get in as
an esthetician or that was my thought. You could learn,
you could learn it. So I bounced around and I
(09:36):
ended up going to school to be an esthetician. While
I was a receptionist at one of a really big
spa at the time, which one Banara Spa. Yeah, I
loved yes, So that's I worked there thinking the owner
was going to give me a job after I got
to school. And then I got into school and she said, no,
you're not ready yet. So then I went to a dermatologist.
(10:00):
Worked there for years and years, and then I just
started working at every like every spot that I could.
I worked at the Sofa Telum, I worked for a
plastic sturgeon, and so I just kept bouncing around to places.
And you were single at this time? Where were you?
I was single when I was we're after I got
(10:20):
my license. I think that's when I met my husband. Okay, yeah,
so that's because I just want to I just want
to point out, like the hustle. Oh, I want to
point that out because I think it's so important because
I think, you know again, I think the real premise
of climbing in heels is that like it's like everybody
(10:40):
knows you now who you are, how you know you're
here you're the best like blah blah blah. But it's like,
guess what everybody? Oh No, it was a huge struggle.
I worked. I worked seven days a week, Monday through Sunday,
working at different places because I never said now right.
The thing is too people don't realize I being an esthetician.
(11:01):
It's not like you're going to be rich, you know
what I mean. It's not easy so as much as
do you work as as much as you make. So
I had to work at all those places just to
make any money because I didn't have any clients. So
it was really a struggle. Then and then shortly after
I you know, I then I had my daughter, my
(11:22):
first child, Phoenix. Yeah, and then still struggling and still
working at all the places, and I just kept going,
I guess did you have? Were you? Because you are
rather like you know, I know you won't believe this
when I say this, and I've said it to you before.
I think I said it your dinner. But I'm freakishly
(11:43):
I am an introvert, so I do understand what you mean.
But I am in my career I'm an extrovert, so
I think right, I am very can be very insular.
And a little bit like, you know, so I do
relate to it. I do, and I think something I
want to talk about it is sort of like so
as you're hustling and doing this climb and you're on
(12:05):
you know, your sucking career, and I think it's sort
of like were you scared? Were there are these moments
where you were like, am I ever going to become? Like?
Am I ever going to is this going to be
like real for me? Like am I ever going to
stop having to run from salon to salon? And like,
you know, oh yeah, definitely. I definitely was scared. And
(12:27):
if I didn't have the support of my husband, I
can't even imagine that I would have gone on because
like how am I going to pay for anything? Yeah?
And I don't, you know, it's hard my mind. I
never like think of the future in that way. So
I didn't really know what was going to happen, Like
I didn't have the plan, just like when I came
out with my product line, I never had a plan
(12:48):
that I was going to put out a product line. Yeah.
Even now people are like, well, how many skews do
you want to have? I'm like, I don't know. I
don't know, it just happens. It happened for me, so
but definitely very stressful. Like if I hadn't have had
my husband, I wouldn't have been able to continue on
financially and emotionally. Yeah, and we did. We both weren't
(13:12):
making a lot of money then either, so it was
just a struggle. So definitely it is. And I think
that's like a thing that you know, it's funny because
people have asked me, you know, throughout my career sort
of like how did you like, how did you do it?
You never came up for air, you got sick, like
what happened and liked and what I always say, I
give Roger so much credit because what I was doing
(13:35):
was so insane, so mentally draining, so physically draining. It's
almost like I had nothing left. And I don't know
at times if if he wasn't with me, just as
that like support, as that chair like to come from. Yeah,
you know, I don't know that I would have made it, honestly,
(13:57):
and um, and I think that's under valued. And I
think because we're in such a female you know place,
you know where we are, we're just so pro female.
I also happen to be pro maile, And I think
it's because I come from a family of great males
and I and I married one, so and I'm raising
too now so so I'm I have so much mail
(14:18):
around me, which is really funny. But I think it
would be interesting to learn. I think, what was that moment?
And by the way, like you, one of the biggest
pieces of advice I always give is don't look for
your next thing, keep doing, stay focused on what you're doing,
because it'll all happen organically. Yeah, at the right time.
And I think when you go I'm doing this in
(14:39):
two thousand and ten, I'm doing this, and too that
if I don't do this by twenty fourteen, then I failed.
So well can over a plan? You can't. You can't
architect your path that way. In my opinion, m I
think it's time. I think also, I think I used
to hear this all the time that I don't know
if my mom would tell me, but like when you
when you're doing what you're supposed to do, it just
(15:01):
it works correct. And I knew that. It was the
first time that I knew that. When I became an aesthetician,
I knew like this is just what I was supposed
to do, and once you get there, it just all
kind of flows. I will say that sucks to hear
when you're not in the place, you know what I mean,
when you're giving someone that it fits because you're like,
(15:22):
what does that even mean? What does that mean? You
know what I mean? Yes, but I think it's important
to younger people right now, or even not younger people
that are just like, I'm scared to change my career.
It's sort of like it is true though, Like and
I always say, like, if you find your passion, figure
out how to make your career out of that, because
it won't feel like work, right, and the success will
(15:43):
come because you'll want to do it because you love it.
I personally cannot imagine waking up every single day to
do something I hated. Yes, i'd fail, yeah, same, But
I think that that's what I did for my whole
life until I became an esthetician. It's just like it's
completely natural to me. It's so so I have a
question for you, then at what moment and you're probably
(16:05):
gonna say, well, I don't think I am, But like,
at what moment did you say, Okay, I'm actually like
good at this, like I'm actually and I know this
because everybody's telling me, or like all of a sudden,
because I'm telling you for me. You know, I had
(16:26):
lived here I don't know ten years, and you know
you knew a handful of astheticians, right, and then all
of a sudden, it was, oh, it was at Rosie's. Sorry,
that's where it was. I was going to say that.
I was like, I've never been to Jenny Keines, but
that I act that's how exactly right. That just clicked
(16:46):
as I was talking to you. So, I mean, all
of a sudden, all of these women in my life
were like because I just am not one that does
enough self care and I don't take care of my
skin the way I should, but everyone's like you have to.
At what point did the magic start to get recognized
(17:06):
and you were singled out by literally some of the
biggest celebrities in the world with notably the most beautiful
skin in the world. Who can go to anybody, use anybody,
have every product at their disposal, and they're living and
dying by your name, your your spa, your product. When
I work, I went on my I know you're so
(17:28):
uncomfortable with me saying that when I so the last
place I worked what's called the Body Well, it was
like a medical center kind of place. When I was there,
I was I got pregnant with Lennon, my second, and
I was living in a rental house and I had
a back office in it. And Jessica was like, nobody
(17:49):
wants to go there, not because it was bad. Yeah,
it's just like set up your back office. Sure, And
I was like why, Like, no one's gonna want to
come to my house and she was like, set it up,
I promise you. And that moment is when everything changed.
At that moment, a makeup artists, hairstylists, everyone just started
sending me people. And I think the moment was is
(18:13):
that a lot of these people had acne and I
was able to fix their skin. And that was that's
when it changed. That was my busiest time ever. Um
was when I set up that office in the back.
Like I just was at like twenty ten, twenty eleven,
twelve something around. Yeah, getting a timeline. I'm so bad
at a timeline. So I had old your youngest how
(18:33):
old your youngest daughter? Oh, there you go, there you go.
That's how I always remember time ten she's so I
was there like yeah, And so that's when it kind
of went crazy and I was always booked and it
was It was also really difficult because the back office
didn't have a bathroom, so you had to come through
my house. And I'm such like so anal and super clean,
(18:56):
so like I'd have my kids hidden in my bedroom.
When I had people come through, it was like crazy,
oh my. But that's when I knew, like, oh my god,
this really is something. And I also had like huge
people come to my house like me, you know what
I mean, and they kept coming. And I think part
of the reason why they kept coming is because you know,
(19:17):
there was no yeah, and there was no papara like
it was like the play sure. And so I want
to talk about that though, because that's the thing about skin.
Skin is something like yes, you can hide it, like
yes you can hide it with makeup, right, but ultimately,
(19:38):
your skin on your face is the first thing people
see when they say hello, yeah. And I would say
that male or female, everyone, I know. It is the
thing that from listen from age what twelve thirteen, right,
because when you pimple's all over your face, you look
down at the ground covering, so it really impacts the
(20:01):
way you present yourself to the world every day, right,
And I would say that I think having worked with
celebrities my entire career, I would say that the thing
they are the most loyal about this is to their
makeup artists and their skin. Yeah, they're tragicians because and
I will say this, celebrities, just like models, supermodels even
(20:24):
are real people with real skin problems. Yeah, for sure.
And and I think that that's a great point to
what was really pivotal for you in your career, because
I mean, if I've ACKed me all over my face
and you help me get rid of it, you are
my sole sister, Like you know what I mean that
(20:45):
I can't about you now for sure? Yeah, No, it
was it was a that was just all amazing having
that happen. But that's definitely what changed everything for me.
And then that's when I came out with my first
product and it just sort of went from there. We
had one of your first products in my curation and
(21:05):
karatur I know, my god, people were sessed with it. Yeah,
that was my first baby, was resurfacing. Was it the resurfacing?
And I'll reform. Yet right now, I'll reform reform. I
knew it was hard. It was like resurface reform, but
but I think, listen, I use so many of your
products right now. I have the Iye cream on and serum.
(21:27):
Did you get the peel? Did you get the peel?
Ye're gonna project's gonna love the peel. You're gonna love it. Oh.
I was actually on the phone with someone while they
were doing it, and they were saying, I'm just getting
through the little tingaly part because I know it's doing
great thing. It's really good. I'm so proud of that product.
I can't even tell you I made that. I had
(21:48):
wanted to make it for a while, but what pushed
me to get it done was the pandemic, because obviously
I couldn't give the time, and then everyone was asking
me to make it, and I was also like making
kits to use at home, so I was like, I
have to make this. So that's so interesting because you know,
(22:10):
Roger and I were saying that the pandemic forced entrepreneurs
to get so creative outside of what they were doing.
But also if you weren't an entrepreneur, you like became
one because you were starting to figure out how you
could still do your business and the new needs of
(22:32):
the world and how to like how to sort of
acclimate to that and change, you know, mix it up
a little bit, scramble the egg, as he likes to say.
But I think for you, it's funny because part of
me is sort of like, oh, my god, why do
you make your magic peel? You should only give that
in your office so that people come. But I think
they still want it from you. But here's the thing.
(22:54):
It's not the same. But it's all think that it is.
But the strength that I use in the office, technically
I couldn't sell that. But yeah, it's as close as
I could get it for sure. Yeah. Yeah, but it's
it's a good one. I'm very proud. When I was
making it, a lot of people on my team were like, Oh,
(23:14):
this isn't gonna be like your biggest skew, and I
was like, yes, it is. Like people are gonna die.
It's so easy, two steps, Like I can even has
the brush. Yeah, because otherwise anything too complicated, I'm not
doing it. I'm a very lazy skincare routine person, which
is so funny. That's like me it's a stylist of that.
I never have my clothes. No, no, I cannot be
(23:36):
bothered with all the steps people do. Forget it. I'm
not too now, So yeah, I agree with that. So okay,
A couple of things. One is what's been your sort
of like scariest thing, like what keeps you up at night,
what wakes you up in the morning. What is sort
of like your greatest fear in your career or in life. Oh,
I have lots of fears in life, but taking your
(23:56):
children out of it, taking your children out because obviously,
as a parent, that's obviously all of that is our
our fear. I would say my biggest thing that scares
me is not coming up with anything new and innovative.
Is my number one challenge that I freak. I spin
a spiral all the time. And then also I think
(24:17):
my other one is there's so many brands out there
and so many brands that aren't that great that will
they'll do great and take off for whatever reason. And
I always worry like I know everything that I make,
I put so much into it that I fear sometimes
I suppose it doesn't I don't doesn't happen for me.
(24:40):
You know what I mean. Fear of failure. Yeah, that
a lot, and I know that, and I just try
to like get it out of my head and keep
you know, I don't want to manifest that, but I
have that a lot. And I think even more so
because obviously all these brands came out during the pandemic
and it's not ending, and there's more and more and
people are just making the same stuff, and so it's like,
(25:03):
how do I make this different? What's different? Well, I
have some thoughts on that because obviously, like I always
have the same I mean, the same fear, But I
will say this, there is a little bit of good
in that, and I'll tell you why. I talk about
this a lot. And for me, I'm a very similar
type of person, and I always have some element of fear,
and I always have a huge fear of failure. I've
(25:25):
had that my entire adult life, probably my kid life too.
But you know, I think, I actually think it's part
of what drives me. Yeah, because I actually think I
just sort of think that if you're not a little
bit scared, you get complacent and you lose your fire,
and that's when things start to sort of get a
(25:47):
little stagnant, you know, whereas if you're like, hey, mine's
the best, I'm going to keep making it the best,
and I'm gonna work my fucking ass off to make
sure it's the best, better and different than all the
other ship that's out there. Not ship, but you know
what I mean. But like, but I think I think
that that can be used to some extent as as
(26:08):
as something that really pushes you to always do better.
So I actually think that that's okay, I think in
terms of this sort of oversaturated competition, because that really
does exist, especially in beauty. And I can't say that
because I've been asked to do cosmetic lines and stain
carolines and I'm like, I'm like, no, no, just what
(26:29):
they need, just what they need from me, um and
why so So, but I think that ultimately, if you
really look, ninety percent of the time, the best products win. Yeah.
Not sure is the ten percent that are marketed the
best marketed the best? Yeah, because marketing really can do
(26:49):
it for a brand. Definitely. Yeah, you can see for
sure people are not going to keep repeat buying something
that's not great, for sure. But it is hard. It's
still hard to be in that and then watch it.
And by the way, Instagram doesn't help. It's scrolling to
you know what I mean, because everyone's everyone's winning and
(27:11):
all the things. So it's hard. But yeah, but it does.
It definitely does motivate me. It's good. But that's like
probably the thing that breaks me out the most. Yeah,
and I understand that, And I think I will say this,
I think that's a very common thread in entrepreneurs in general.
I really think it is because we don't have a boss. Yeah,
(27:34):
we don't have someone. We don't have someone making the
final calls, right for sure, it stops at us. So
I think that is something where it's a blessing and
a curse, right and it and it does keep you going,
but it also is terrifying. And I think I think
a healthy fear of failure is okay. I think keeping
(27:56):
your eyes forward and constantly trying to put out the best.
You have a very loyal loyal clients. I really do,
you really do. And I think and it's because it works, right,
because if it didn't, no one's going to be that nice.
Let's be real and listen, Like a lot of we
have a lot of mutual friends and they're all fucking badasses.
(28:18):
And I'm telling you, they're not gonna lie, right, so
they're gonna be like Shahnny, this sucks and gave me
a rash like they would. Yeah, it's true, But but
I think, and I think I already know the answer
to this, but I would say, who is that person
that gave you your sort of that life changing, game
(28:40):
changing moment and confidence to just do it? I mean,
I think it's Jessica, but I would say it was
Jessica because not only that, she was so supportive. So
one of the places where I first met her, um
and this is Jessica Alba for our listener, Yeah, say
jessicause when I when I first met her giving her
(29:03):
a facial, it was just random that I saw her
and we were that we barely talked during facials, and
right before she left, she was pregnant with Honor. I
was pregnant with Phoenix, but I had never really spoken
to her in facials to tell her that I was
pregnant and I wasn't really showing. So the day she
(29:25):
came in, she was getting ready to help Honor, and
I finally told her, Listen, I just want you to
know when you come back. I'm actually pregnant as well.
I won't be here for a little bit right immediately
because she loves to talk about kids. Immediately she was like,
oh my god, I blah blah blah. And so she
started inviting me to hang out after I had had Phoenix,
(29:47):
so I had like a mom so friends, Yeah, yes,
And then I ended up getting fired from the place
that I worked at, and she ended up she was renting.
Remember she rented that how she was redoing her house
and she rented, so she had a guest room there.
And mind you, I really didn't know her that well.
She asked me when I had no place to go,
(30:10):
she was like, why don't you just set up at
my house, my rental house, so you can do facials there.
So I gave facials at her house, like not knowing
her that well, and that really pushed me. And then
after that she pushed me to open up at my house.
So like that was probably no, no, no. It was
(30:30):
pretty crazy because also like not that you would ask
for money, but like I'm just they're working, sure, she
people would just like strangers would just come in the side,
don't you know what I mean. It was like wild
but like that definitely was That's insane actually when I
think about it, and like it just like a huge career.
(30:51):
Not that she doesn't now she has a free empire
and a career and a movie career, but like that's
really unbelievable. That's really believable because I think that you know,
and just everybody knows like Jessica Alba, she is one
of the absolute most supportive yes, friends, girlfriends, mom friends, mentors,
(31:14):
but more importantly like really champions her friend's success. And
in this case was Shawnee, Like they barely knew each other,
and she was like, really, dump in my like guest
house or whatever. We've really in your practice. That's that's
pretty extraordinary. Actually really ever hung out with her at
that time at her a baby class at her house,
(31:35):
so it wasn't like we were like hanging then, so
and then to just set that up, she was like
you could just come whatever, like here's the key and
like and by the way, like I'm sure you know
at that time, my clients, if they would have known
where they were, probably would have freaked. I Mean it
was weird, right, but the nicest thing. But that's one
of Jessica's best qualities that she has is that when
(31:57):
you need someone, that's she's She's very supportive in that way,
like that's when she is. I think her best is
that she always wants to help you if something's going down.
That's pretty extraordinary. And I think and I think, listen,
I think in this kind of world we're living in,
I think that having that person, male or female, is
(32:21):
that there's nothing actually more important because in a sense,
I think that probably kind of kept you going fired,
which is a time when people are like I'm out,
like I can't, I can't do this, you know, fired
with a small small child, you know what I mean.
By the way, I don't even think you can legally
do that now. By the way, was just saying, for
(32:43):
what it's worth, we should go back in time right now. Um,
it was pretty bad. And by the way, by the way,
and that's a thing, it's sort of like can and you,
by the way, you probably were not happy there. I'm
just predicting. No, no, I was not happy. And also
if I wouldn't have gotten fired, I wouldn't be here.
(33:04):
That's my point. It was a lot of times getting
pushed out of something because I wasn't going to leave. Um,
it was the best thing that could have I should
actually thank that person that fired me. Well, well right exactly,
but but I do think I have You know, it's funny.
I have this theory about life in general that sometimes
(33:25):
life makes decisions for you that you would have or
couldn't have ever done for yourself, you know, And here
you are. Yeah, I mean you know we had this, well,
you held this beautiful dinner co hosted by our very
good girlfriend, um Laura Brown, also a cheerleader in Champion
(33:46):
Beyond Beyond. I mean, Laura is a unicorn of a
human being. She's so special. I've known her my most
of my career at this point, since she started at
Bizarre and yeah, um, Laura's always just been different than
Ah very and the best is yet to come for her.
But she co hosted a dinner for you. It was
(34:07):
very star studded and beautiful and also just felt like
a really fun like girls dinner honestly, And I got
to see so many people that I loved and hadn't
seen in a while. Because again, it goes back to
that introvert thing, and I'm trying to be an extrovert,
but I was so happy to see everybody. And I
think you know one thing I want to talk about
(34:28):
that I remember so clearly. I think you cried like
thirty times at the dinner, and I want to talk
about that because you know, and we talked about it
at dinner. But I think that's something to really recognize
in our lives and in our career as personal and professional,
(34:48):
that when you turn around and people show up for you,
it's probably the most meaningful thing that you can ever imagine,
because it's not easy to show up. Everyone's got kids,
it's a million jobs, they're traveling, they're tired, they're this
so that some people it's way easier to show up,
of course, but for some people it's hard. And I
think that, you know, I think you're we're probably similar
(35:12):
in that, like we don't ask a lot of people
to show up, and so when they actually do, you
like turn around, like I can't believe you're here for me,
and I can't believe you got dress, I can't believe
you've got your makeup. I can't believe you did this.
Da da da da, And that gratitude is overwhelming. And
I saw you speaking and you just kept crying. It
was like water works all night, and it made me
(35:34):
love you more because I was sort of like I
get her, and I get I know exactly what she's
feeling right now. And it's partly you can't believe you're here,
you can't believe everyone's there, and you're so happy at
how good, like it's working, like your hard work works
and people recognize it. Right. Yeah, Well, it's just like
(35:57):
LA is such a crazy place, so do just think
like you got like this, like you wanted to come,
like I just never thought that that would happen, so
and I don't. I don't ask for much ever, but
just the fact like that it's like too much. It's
just like and it was all like such great people,
you know what I mean? It wasn't like And the
(36:19):
more meaningful thing for me is that I don't really
because I am so antisocial. I don't really have like parties.
So I was so about like wanting it to be
people that knew each other or were going to like
each other. And the fact that everyone was in that
room it was like it was just too much for me.
And also to ask people to come and you're gonna
(36:40):
have to take twelve pictures and like, so it's like
that's a lot, you know what I mean? And I
could never think anyone enough for that. There's nothing else
I could, you know what I mean. I woke up
the next morning, I woke up and started crying. Right
when I woke up, I called DJ and I was like,
I can't even do this, like too much. So I
(37:02):
knew that you did. I knew that you did because
I saw you, Like I literally saw you, and I
was like, she is a hot, massive emotions right now.
And there was a lot of single moms at that table,
and you know, I think everybody was really feeling it,
and I think everybody was happy to be there. And
again I think, don't kid yourself. The women in your
(37:24):
life are that would be grateful? No, But they're incredibly
grateful to you for what you're doing for them. That's
the end of other thing is you're giving them confidence
to actually like maybe just put on some moisturizer in
the morning, some lip bomb and go talk to people
rather than spending like twenty hours trying to like cover
(37:45):
their faces. So I just that'd be valuable. I'll need
a lot more therapy to get to that point. But like, yes,
I get that that's the feeling I should have. It's
still very hard for me. It's very hard for me,
but but it works. But it works, lady, It freaking works.
And I love watching it. And you know, for me
(38:07):
as an entrepreneur, as someone who's kind of been here
for a while and seen a lot good and bad
and just gnarly, it's so nice to like see you
when and to like really the old fashioned on you know,
now unexpected way to get where you want to be
is just actually work your fucking ass off and that
(38:30):
way and get recognized for your actual talent. And I
think that is extraordinary and I I don't, I can't. Well,
I do want to ask you one last question then
I want to ask you before we go. I need
to ask you some skin questions because everyone everyone would
kill me if I didn't. But okay, so what like
(38:52):
do you think about like what's next? Like what you're
you're done having kids? Right? Yes? She says that, She
says that non negotiably. Yeah, no, that's it. I'll give
more dogs, but no more babies, okay. And then for
your brand, what are we going to do? More salons?
Do you want to keep just one? Do you want
(39:13):
to just roll out more products, like what's the plan
if any No, I've always people have always asked me
if I wanted to have more studios, and I just
I don't want a Shawnee Darden shit show. I don't
care about any of that. I have a very private
space and I like that. I like walking through it
and it feels like I'm the only person there. I
don't want that. It's just more about products for me
(39:36):
right now, and you know it takes me forever, so
like it takes me forever to make anything, So you know,
that's kind of my focus. I think that I'll work
as an esthetician for a really long time as long
as I can, because it's kind of what Number one
that's my therapy is when I give a facial one
hundred percent. It's probably the commist you'll ever see me
(39:57):
here in your life. It's where I'm supposed to be.
But all so like, I get to hang out with
all of these great people that tell me what they
want me to make and they try so like it
helps me. So I don't think that I think that
that's it. It's just really you know now being in Sepphora,
that's like a really big thing, incredible, and so you
(40:18):
have to like keep up. So it's about, you know,
just kind of put it. When I went into Sepphora,
they had said to me, you you're not going to
be able to get facials anymore six days a week,
and so I cut back on the facials because there's
just no time to build. So yeah, it's just about,
you know, I'm still doing facials. I try to just
(40:41):
do facials two days a week and ends up being more.
And then the rest is just all about the product line.
See that's incredible, and I think people don't realize that,
and especially in the beauty industry when you're a hairstylist
and makeup artist or an esthetician, you know, you don't.
I mean, I guess you can own your business in
a sense, but when you launch product, that's really your
(41:03):
baby again, and it's it's just a it's a hard
one just because there are so many vitamin c's, so
why am I making one? What's different about my vitamin C?
And to get to make that happen is you know,
it takes a lot. Yeah. Well I love that, and
I also love that you want to just pop out
(41:24):
product because you know. I mean, Sephora doesn't love it,
but it takes me up, takes me a long time.
So this year is the first time that I've actually
caught up because I finally made some that it will
now come out kind of like the way that Sephora
likes it on time, but just keep like rolling out,
rolling out, rolling out. Yeah, it's not completely just rolling out,
(41:45):
but you have like certain times like yeah, jobs, yeah,
so I'm there now. But now it's like, oh, well,
what are we gonna do next year? You know what
I mean, what's going to happen? So I'm just gonna
keep doing it very easy. But it keeps you going
it like you so that's good. It does it and
it's it's such a blessing too because I don't you know,
(42:06):
for those of you that don't know, when you create
a beauty product, the dream is to have a big
presence at Sephora. Yeah, the Holy Growl of Beauty. Yes,
a very dangerous place for me to walk into. Yes,
it's it's a heart it's a challenge. The great thing
about Sephora is they've been so so supportive of me,
and that's been so great. Um, which you know, so
(42:30):
it's been like they helped me a lot. They helped
me a lot with ideas and are always so supportive.
So I'm yeah, I loved out well. I think one
of the biggest there's so there's two things. There's two skin.
I mean, listen, there's a hundred that I have. I've
been blessed in terms of like having my mother's skin,
so I've never really had like a huge acne issue.
(42:51):
But the one time I did was my early thirties.
And so I have a ton of women that I
know that are just dying or just like I don't understand.
I didn't even have acne in my teens. Now I'm
like thirty two, thirty five, and they can't function. It's
obviously hormonal, right, Yes, that's like what's the secret? Like
(43:13):
it is in fact hormonal, and it happens to all
of us or most of us. But like, what what's
your like best best best advice you can give all
of these women, because I mean, it's a it's a
really hard one to tackle. It's a hard So here's
the thing. I think the hardest part is that the
best thing is to find someone that can help you.
(43:33):
But usually it's just about changing your products, right, it's
usually you've been using something forever, your skins change, your
hormones have change, and you need to like you need
to switch it up to something else, but also you
need probably need some help doing it. That's the tricky
part because right, y'all read magazines and see it on
Instagram and we're like, oh my god, she's using it
(43:54):
and then professional and it's not right for your skin type.
So but that's usually so many people I see that
come in they're so congested or they're breaking out, and
I'm like, let's stop all of that, just try all
of this, and by the next time I see them,
they're not breaking out anymore. So it's it's that it's
kind of pretty simple. Yeah, well simple for you because
(44:16):
you're started. And then do you say the same thing
to like the eighteen to twenty four kids that are
just dying, and it's like they're like, oh my god,
I need a laser. Oh my god, like that that
one MTV that then dried out their whole skin, So like,
what is it the same? It's just hormonal shifts for everybody, right,
(44:36):
one hundred percent. And that always killed me when I
worked at the dermatologists. I worked on such young kids
up to the teens and those that's where my heart
just breaks because it's like number one, if you don't
get that under control, you are going to scar your skin.
But also it's just like a hard time, like going
to school, it was so much. It's just like hardful.
(44:57):
So um, I love I love treating people younger, Like
treat a lot of people that are younger. And you
find that your products are really effective in in like
skinness age, like just or do you need like actual
treatments in order to heal it? Do you feel No,
I don't think you need treatments to heal it. Products
for sure. It's products, And I don't just use my line,
(45:21):
so I have a lot of other products, so it's
not just my line alone, right, Like you're not just
trying to sell people stuff. Yeah, so there's a lot
of things you can do. But at some point, if
you are breaking out really badly, you may need a dermatologist.
And I'm very honest with people and will say you
need to go to the dermatologists and get on a
prescription straight topical. But I don't all the lasers and stuff.
(45:43):
I'm not a huge fan of all of those things.
I'm pretty I'm more about products. But yeah, you know, listen, babe,
whatever works, whatever works, And okay, I knew if you
had to die by these are the things I could
never go to sleep without on my face or anyone's face.
(46:06):
What would it be? I think I know the answer.
But retinal retinal? Okay, I can't live without retinal because
it's just the best anti aging ingredient. Like I've been
using retinal since I was in my twenties. I mean,
I just think it's like the best thing that you
could pull. There isn't an ingredient. That's why everyone has
a retinal. Now, every brain has a retinal because you
(46:27):
can't get better than that, so unless you're using prescription strength,
and that's even better. So right, Yeah, no, I couldn't
live without retinal. Use it every day. Well, I want
your skin, so you have amazing skin. Mm it could
be ten acts better just saying. But but I love
you madly. This is so much. It's been so great,
(46:49):
such an honor to be on this. Thank you so much.
I'm so happy to have you. I love your story.
I think it's going to really motivate so many people
to like, you know, career shift. It's never too late.
You two can be in music videos, in course sets
and switch to the career of your dreams. Not that
(47:10):
that's bad, just may not be for you. Yeah, and
also sometimes that it takes that one person to just
push you to do so. All Right, honey, I love you.
How holiday weekend? You two? Thank you so much. Okay,
I'll see you after break Bye bye, my love. It's
(47:35):
that time in the show when I answer to listener questions.
So let's see what we have today. Okay, first question,
what career opportunities or collaborations have you turned down and why?
The answer to that, I can't see names like brands
that I've said no too, but I can say I've
(47:56):
definitely said no to a few, certainly several speaking engagements
because it wasn't it wasn't something that felt right to
me or financially didn't make enough sense for me to
kind of make a trip to do it. It wasn't
for a reason I believed in, so I I didn't
feel I could speak authentically to it. And definitely one
(48:16):
that I turned down that I remember was a really
big deal because it was a crazy amount of money
and something I could have done organically. But I had
made a deal, a deal that was almost closed, and
something came out about the brand that I didn't like,
and it was still being argued but like it wasn't
(48:39):
one hundred percent proven, but I had a feeling it
was true about the brand, and I ended up backing
out and not doing it, which ultimately ended up being
the right decision because had I gone and been the
face or endorser of this product at the time, it
would have been a very detrimental thing for my brand
(48:59):
information image. So I was very glad that I followed
my gut. I did walk away from a lot of
money and a great partnership opportunity, but it really was
like doing the right thing and saying, Okay, doing the
right thing is more important than making all this money,
and so you know, listen, those are those are hard
decisions to make when you're an entrepreneur, but I had
(49:22):
to make it. It was just the right decision, Okay.
Second question, I want to invest in a designer bag.
What would you buy if you could only get one? Well,
I say to that two things. One is it really
depends on your budget. I think if if your budget
is fairly large or large. I should say large because
(49:44):
I don't even think it can be small at this point.
But I would always say to get a channel bag
or in your Mes bag. You will never regret it.
You will have it the rest of your life. Every
Chanel bag I have ever purchased sits beautifully in my
closet and looks virtually unused even though they've been used
(50:05):
a ton, and you never get sick of them. So
I always say, pick what you love the most, but
lean on the more classic version. So if you're getting one,
do it in a color that you really can use
and really can wear. So whether that's camel, you know,
like a beautiful brown carmel, chocolate brown black, something like that,
or if you wear done them the most, then maybe
(50:27):
like a navy or something like that. But I think
the idea is to get something not so trendy of
the moment, because in six months you will not want
to even look at it. But on the flip side
of that, I also want to say that there's so
many incredible resell sites now that if you want spend
the money, get the IT bag you're dying for that's trendy.
(50:48):
If you're that person and then in six months trade
it in, take that money and get the new trendy bag.
So I think it really depends are you classic or
you trendy? And you know, always buy what you love,
you're actually gonna wear, don't buy something, especially if it's
that one decision. Don't buy the bag you're just going
to stare at and it's going to sit in the
duster bag because there's no point to that, no point
(51:10):
to that at all. Don't forget to submit your questions
for next week's episode. All you have to do is
dm us your questions to at Climbing in Heels pod
on Instagram and I might just answer your question. Thank
you so much to Shanny for coming on the podcast
and opening up about her life, her career, and for
(51:31):
sharing some very treasured skincare tips, because they weren't really
what I thought they were going to be. I thought
it was going to be like strip this, stop using that,
like stop stripping on the oil from your face, stop
adding too much product, But really most of it was
sort of like change your products because your products are
probably ruining your skin. Obviously, most of it, especially for women,
(51:54):
as hormonal changes and you're no control over it, but
in times you do need professional help. But I can
tell you I'm definitely doing whatever she says. And she's
very impressive. And I think it's interesting for me to
interview such different women with different career paths because I
(52:16):
think it just shows that you can get to the
top in so many ways, and you create your own
path in your own journey, and there is no rule
book for life, and certainly not for a career. There's
no exact path to the top. So I hope that
you just keep learning from each episode. So thank you
(52:39):
to Shawnee. If you want more Climbing and Heels content,
follow me on at Rachel's Oe and at Climbing and
Heals Pod on Instagram for more updates and upcoming guests, episodes,
and all things charactur. I will see you next week
(53:00):
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