ACG 101 Breakfast: The Beauty and Personal Care Industry

As Lauren B’s website states, “It’s very possible that no one loves nail polish more than Lauren B. As a little girl, she often set up a nail salon in her garage, where she performed manicures for her grandmother, and any other family member willing to play along. She would set up her station at an old ironing board; while dressed in overalls, snap bracelets, jellies and rocking out to her favorite Spice Girls cassette. She begged her parents for rocks & minerals, art supplies, and new nail polish shades, which she mingled together in color groups. By the age of 15, she was yearning for the hottest colors and obsessing over the newest nail trends that kept her in Cape Cod convenience stores all summer while everyone else was at the beach. It’s no wonder, then, that Lauren Berkovitz grew up to become the Founder and CEO of Lauren B. Beauty. Now, with over 10 years in the beauty industry, Lauren is a sought-after industry expert and fashion trend-setter; she established the nail care company Lauren B in 2013, and her enterprise currently produces over 100 products sold through boutiques, high-end salons and spas, natural food markets, and department stores in over 15 countries.

Prior to founding Lauren B, Lauren was the Vice President for a luxury hair care product company, where she was integral in the growth of the business. Lauren B was founded upon the principles of elevating nail care for busy women without compromising their health for beauty. Lauren B. takes a holistic approach to nail care, offering beautiful, luxury and eco-friendly products that are vegan, 7-free of harmful chemicals, and proudly made in the U.S.A. Lauren earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Suffolk University and furthered her studies at the University of Miami. As giving back to the community is important to Lauren, she is involved with the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Ventura County, Chrysalis, and several other nonprofits. Lauren's sense of style, natural warmth and passion for the beauty industry has made Lauren B. an iconic brand in the luxury beauty market. As Lauren likes to say, “when you give a woman the right manicure, she can rule the world!”

Read more about Lauren’s fascinating story and see her beautiful array of nail colors at www.laurenbbeauty.com/about.

Celeste Hilling, Founder of Skin Authority, has created a healthy skin company with a goal to suit you up to safely embrace all that our digitally enhanced, urban world can deliver.  Celeste saw an opportunity to create a company that not only took advantage of new technology for prevention and protection of skin health, but also provided expert virtual guidance and coaching to address each person’s unique skin needs. Most importantly, she wanted people to experience the self confidence that comes from feeling great about how they look. As Hilling built each aspect of the company, she looked at how Skin Authority could make an impact.  She teamed with leading research and biotech leaders to translate science breakthroughs in “living well longer” from lab to commercial products which could be more widely accessible to improve consumers daily lives and skin health.  This resulted in licensing patented technology to conquer the skin damaging effects of blue light, infrared radiation, heat and pollution:  SGF-4, Vita D Infused, Topical Superfoods, Fear Free Peel and SkinSuit.

To build and assemble Skin Authority’s product offerings,  she partnered with local groups that employ people with mental, physical or other challenges and gives them meaningful life skills. And, to round out Ms. Hilling’s spirit of giving, she integrated her own personal passion about providing every child with the ability to develop critical thinking skills through play and the arts to be the next generation of innovators. She served as development chair to raise funds for the building of the San Diego New Children’s Museum (where she then became Chair and a Board Member for over 10 years); Celeste also served as Co-Chair and Honorary Member of the Advisory Board of Scripps Memorial Hospital of La Jolla, California, as a founding board member of Doctors Offering Charitable Services (DOCS).  She is a past board member of the Boards of the International Spa Association and ISPA Foundation.  Her impact as a female business leader has resulted in recognition and awards ranging from Most Admired CEO by SD Business Journal, Women Who Move the City by San Diego Magazine, Women Who Mean Business by San Diego Business Journal, Woman of the Year by  San Diego Magazine, Spirit of Giving Award from United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).

Being in beauty and well-being, Celeste Hilling is a recognized media expert on skin care science and technology trends. Hilling shares her passion for improving global skin health as a public speaker and expert resource for top outlets including “The Doctors”, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Huffington Post and The New York Times in addition to hosting the Beauty Workout segment on Fox 5 and Beauty Workout Channel on YouTube.  Read more about Ms. Hilling’s generous spirit and health-enhancing products on her website, www.skinauthority.com.  

Dana Jackson is the Founder and Creator of Beneath Your Mask. The road to her success is nothing short of exciting, heart-wrenching, and ultimately, inspirational. A story that she shares freely with her followers to inspire them as they encounter and overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges. It starts like this:

"In 2011 I thought I had it all — or so it seemed. I had just moved to Atlanta. I was living in my dream apartment and working my dream job. I was an entertainment business manager for some of the most popular celebrities in the music industry. It was exciting…all the events, celebrities, trips, and the access. So why was I so miserable? How could I have everything I thought I wanted and still be so unhappy? Deep down inside, I just wasn’t living my authentic self. I had been praying to God to find my true purpose because I knew I wasn’t living it. Be prepared, because when you pray He will answer you. God works in mysterious ways. In the midst of living this “dream life,” just after my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). And not just regular Lupus, but the more severe form that included Lupus Nephritis. At first I didn’t understand what that diagnosis meant, but as I researched it online I began to feel like I had been given a death sentence. I was being told that I would need dialysis and eventually a kidney transplant. Absolutely not!! This was not happening to ME! What did these doctors know, and did they know that I didn’t have time for this right now? But this was very much happening to me. Not only was my body attacking my kidneys, but I felt as if I were being personally attacked. The lifestyle that I was clinging to and the “me” I thought I was (and wasn’t ready to give up), were all under attack."

If you are like us, you won’t be able to stop reading there. Learn more about Dana’s company, Beneath Your Mask, and the journey that led Dana to discover her truly beautiful (inside and out!) self at https://beneathyourmask.com/pages/about-us

Jonathan Weiss is a Leader/Executor holding a CPA and MBA with over 15 years experience leading companies as a CFO/COO thru the challenges of driving growth while also establishing the structures and processes necessary to sustain long term success. Jonathan has extensive expertise in the beauty and personal care, having held C-Level positions with Lime Crime, Freeman Beauty, and Kendo Brands, Inc. He enjoys recruiting and leading teams through the many evolutionary phases of a fast growing business while creating the culture and business norms necessary for an organization to reach its potential.

Jay Mangel is the Crowe LLP local office managing partner in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. He is also an audit services partner specializing in working with manufacturing and distribution companies. Jay has 30 years of experience providing clients with assistance in the areas of specialty lending and financing, mergers and acquisitions, import and export accounting strategies, and business ventures and liquidations. Prior to joining Crowe, Jay was a partner with a regional accounting firm. Mr. Mangle is active with many professional and philanthropic affiliations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of CPA’s, the National Jewish Health Council of National Trustees, and the Inner City Arts (Los Angeles - Board of Directors). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from a California State University.