Life and Work with Lauren Kruger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Kruger.

Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was 16, I took my first trip to the island of Kaua’i to visit my best friend’s older sister, who was an esthetician there at the time. My friend was suffering from extreme acne on her chest and body, and I witnessed her sister and her sister’s esthetics mentor heal her acne (which doctors had been trying to fix for months) in a matter of two weeks. After seeing this and struggling with my own acne as well, I immediately knew I was drawn to this career. I was absolutely fascinated and decided I was going to be an esthetician after I finished high school.

I got my license and was in and out of the spa, doing treatments and eventually returning to school to get my degree from UCLA. Since then, I made a career change into the corporate side of skincare when I moved to Kauai, to work for a beautiful and small esthetics company on the North Shore. I have since moved companies and live in Denver, CO. Being on the corporate side of skincare has been amazing, it satisfies my need to be in the industry but in a different way than when I was doing facials. I missed being in the treatment room and talking to clients about their skin, so I started an esthetics Instagram (@laurens.esthetics) and a podcast (The Treatment Room) with one of my best esthetician friends, Tess, to fill that need to talk skin and live out my passion.

I feel such a great balance in my work life at this time, and look forward to continuing to impact people in a positive way with my message on Instagram and my podcast with Tess!

Has it been a smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth journey – I have been up and down in this industry, from being fresh out of esthetics school and knowing nothing, to gaining my footing and feeling confident in the treatment room, to then deciding to go back for my Bachelor’s degree and again being new and knowing nothing. My advice for younger women who are just starting their journey is to explore and be constantly learning. You never know where this world will take you, and being a forever student is the most fulfilling part of the skincare community. Take everything with a grain of salt, and nothing at face value. Be your own advocate and find what you are most passionate about, and pursue it every day.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an esthetician, educator, and account manager. I specialize in the treatment of acne and the use of natural and green beauty products. I am most proud of my empathy – in this industry, you must be able to empathize with your clients and what they are going through in regard to how the outward appearance of their skin affects the inward emotions and self-confidence they have. I can truly feel the emotions of my clients when I talk to them about their skin and being able to help them improve whatever issue they come to me with is truly amazing.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I feel that the skincare industry, in general, is an incredibly female-empowering industry. There are so many amazing female leaders, and I would just say that it is important to continue to lift each other up and to offer as much support and help to each other as possible.

Contact Info:

• Email: esthetics.lauren@gmail.com
• Instagram: @laurens.esthetics
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EyeRN9i86OpOjWQ49keb5

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