Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Carbone
Hi Candice, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I had the idea to open Ritual Skin + Soul after spending about a year working for another spa business that was a very traditional type of spa. I knew right away that I needed to be able to have the freedom to create facial experiences that were nourishing for the skin, and also for the soul. Nervous system regulation is something I had spent the previous decade studying and practicing, and I am truly passionate about this type of work. I have a background in teaching yoga and meditation, hypnosis, and have always been drawn to the healing medicine that nature provides for us. It felt very natural for me to open up a space where I could practice skin care holistically, in a setting and experience that created an overall healing effect on the skin and the nervous system. As soon as I decided to start taking the steps to bring this vision to life, things fell into place rather smoothly. It all felt divine and guided, as if it was just meant to be. I proceeded to open my doors to accept appointments for holistic facials in February of 2019. The signature service at the time was the Goddess Glow Gua Sha Facial; facials at Ritual are unique and meant to be relaxing and meditative rather than clinical. Today, I am now in my second year in a location in Hermosa Beach that I relocated to in May of 2023. Today, the Signature Gua Sha Facial is still a popular option. But the Buccal intraoral facial massage is by far the most requested treatment that is offered on the menu. The Buccal facial massage is a massage that is known as the natural botox alternative. It is known for its sculpting, lifting and contouring effects, overall facial rejuvenation with tightening of jowls and smoothing of fine lines being a benefit that is hard to ignore. Even more popularly, this treatment is helpful for those who suffer from TMJ pain and discomfort. Most of my clients who see me regularly are clients who are managing their TMJ. The results of this massage are impressive at the very least. I am always amazed at the transformation that occurs both energetically and physically after a session with me. The face transforms with the lymphatic drainage that conditioning of the muscles that occurs. We store a lot in our jaws, a lot of us clench or grind our teeth; the throat chakra is our center of expression and is correlated to the space that I work on when I perform buccal massage. This massage is powerful in the sense that it can really clear out old stuff as far as repressed emotions and communication. Clients express feeling much lighter after their appointments. When the buccal massage is paired with a facial, the results are phenomenal. Some clients have decided against injectables after seeing what a buccal session can do.
Today, I am busy seeing clients, working on bringing in some new product lines to spice things up a little bit, but I am so pleased with the product lines that I currently work with in my backbar. Plant-based, Vegan, Cruelty-Free brands OSEA Malibu and Code of Harmony are used in Ritual’s custom facials. I am so grateful for my growing community and clientele. I have a really amazing facialist and Ayurvedic practitioner named Cynthia Conant, who sees clients on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. She specializes in Ayurvedic treatments like the ancient Shirodhara ritual and Ayurvedic Facials as well.
My focus right now is on taking as good of care as I possibly can of my current membership and package holders. I am grateful that I took the time to be heartfelt and intentional with how I setup and created my business. It was created to attract a certain type of individual. Every client who finds me by chance or referral or an internet search, is someone I could imagine being best friends with. Really good-hearted people who value my time and are extremely authentic and take responsiblity for booking their own appointments online, they show up on time, are respectful and kind..it’s just such a dream to have created something that allows me to be surrounded by so much love and goodness all the time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road.
The pandemic hit my business really hard only one year after I had been open. The next few years would prove to be some of the most challenging years of my life. While trying to keep business afloat during the pandemic, I began focusing on providing at-home facial kits to my clientele so that they could give themselves facials at home while I was shut down. I taught gua sha classes on zoom, and was doing the best I could. Then, in April of 2020, my dog, Buddy, crossed the rainbow bridge. And 7 months later, I found out I had two brain tumors. Brain surgery would follow in February of 2021, followed by a slow recovery. At this point I slowly started to get back into my work, giving facials, it felt good to start using my hands again. In 2022, my Dad passed away, and then I had to have another surgery in 2023 as a result of a complication from the brain surgery. Needless to say, there was a LOT going on, and somehow, my business managed to be a constant through all of these things, and continues to be. My Dad was a very spiritual person, and I love that I have a lot of his spiritual belongings in my work space. It is part of my work to carry forward his spiritual beliefs and pass along the things that he didn’t get to because of his untimely passing. One of my biggest challenges has been juggling all of these personal life situations with business. It requires a great deal of commitment to self-care and self-love to be able to go through the heavy things that life throws at us and still be able to show up to run a business and hold space for others day in and day out. My understanding of the importance and necessity of self-care for mental health and overall well-being is the reason that the theme of Ritual Skin + Soul is self-care and finding ways to turn mundane tasks and chores into moments of connection with the self, a moment of connection with the breath..ritual is a way to do this. Ritual is simply a mindful and intentional way of staying tuned in to the magic of the simple things rather than being on autopilot while performing these tasks.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is primarily holistic skincare, holistic facials more specifically, and facial massage for contouring, sculpting, lifting, etc. Facial rejuvenation using natural and holistic techniques such as the Buccal Facial Massage, Fascia Release, Pressure Point, Gua Sha, Lymphatic Drainage, and Throat Chakra Clearing. I work with only the highest quality, natural, plant-based products such as OSEA Malibu and Code of Harmony, whom I have been partners with for the duration of my business being open. These product lines are effective and safe. Vegan and Cruelty-Free, it’s really important to me that I use products that will not disrupt your endocrine system or stimulate any type of reaction for you and your skin.
I can not narrow it down to one thing that I am proud of. There are a few things that sort of all tie together.
I’m proud of my unique business model and heart-centered offerings that are hard to find in the South Bay. A lot of my clients use to drive to the valley for treatments that I offer and are now happy to not have to drive so far to find the holistic facial offerings that they crave and desire.
I’m proud that I followed my gut and intuition to teach myself and master the art of gua sha massage for my own personal reasons so that when i opened my business in 2019, the gua sha massage was what drew people in for their sessions, and the magic of the blending of the other healing modalities with the facial is what i believe keeps them coming back.
Equally, Im proud of my resilience and determination to continue tending to my business when it may have otherwise been easier to throw in the towel on the the all-consuming role of entrepreneur, business owner and service provider..and social media manager, content creator, clerical secretary, scheduler, toilet cleaner, laundry and towel washing…oh my goodness. it goes on and on. I’m proud that I didn’t give up when the going got tough.
I’m proud of the way I took a big toolbox of “random” accomplishments and turned it into my dream, and then stuck with it through thick and thin, almost as if it were testing my loyalty and commitment, and finally, once i proved myself over and over again, it finally began to thrive.
I’m proud of the branding i created without really meaning to. I just stayed so committed to my business and making sure that my business was always in every way, a reflection of my own essence and energy. My business is a reflection of my Highest and most Authentic Self. It’s pretty cool to see where I stand from here as compared to the person I was 6 years ago when I started business. I have grown a lot professionally as well as personally. Im proud of who I have become through the experience of nurturing Ritual Skin + Soul and every individual i have the honor of crossing paths with in my boutique. Many divine connections are made on a daily basis. Beautiful heart connections, healing and authentic conversations are had in my Ritual treatment room. It is such a healing space.
The Buccal Facial Massage has rapidly become the most popular service on my menu. It is my specialty by far, I have memberships and packages to accomodate the different goals and needs that people come looking for Buccal to address. Many are sent by their dentist or chiro for TMJ and jaw tension relief, babies are getting referred by pediatricians to find a buccal specialist to help with rehab after a tongue tie procedure..and many come for the external benefits that are instant and cumulative with every buccal session, given that the initial sessions are spaced closely together and then spaced out further and further until only maintenance is required to achieve that snatched jawline, plumped cheeks, tightened jowls, less visible fine lines, and just an overall lifted and rejuvenated appearance. This massage is really helpful with depuffing and symmetry, and can also be helpful for those who with Bells Palsy.
Also proud of being featured on California Live on NBC in 2023. the buccal massage was the focal point, i was interviewed about the benefits of this treatment, and it was highlighted how I begin every session with a bit of breath work and guided meditation to get the client into a relaxed and present headspace before beginning.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk-taking is something i found to be necessary when I wanted to grow my business. I found that keeping one foot in the door of an old job that was providing job security was sending the wrong message out to the Universe. If i wanted to create my own abundance, it was necessary to go all in with my vision. Once I did that, I noticed tangible validation showing growth and forward momentum. It was a cool experiment to test out. My willingness to trust in myself and the more I learned how to receive as much as I was willing to be giving all of the time, the more my business began to grow and thrive.
Risk induces a lot of fear, but i try to shift my mindset to reframe that fear into excitement and curiosity. Our nervous system registers anxiety and excitement as being the same based on physiological response to these two different states. We can trick ourselves into benefitting from fear by turning it into excitement in our minds.
Also, perceived risk is relative. Risk implies that a loss will be a possible result. And the only reason that this is a problem is that most people perceive loss to be a failure. And many will become discouraged after a failure and may lack the tools and resilience that is needed to keep going.
I don’t perceive loss to be a failure. We can always learn something from a loss if we aren’t too busy being upset about the loss. (I am only regarding loss here in terms of the loss that may occur if we take a risk- not talking about the loss of a loved one or business or home or anything like that, to clarify)
When we take a risk, if we experience a loss as a result, say a loss of money, or a loss of opportunity..we can focus on that loss, or we can reflect and pull out the lessons and wisdom that come from every experience we have in this human existence.
This isn’t about looking on the bright side, it’s about truly looking for the value and the lessons that will help to grow you or heal you or to be more equipped to next time.
Pricing:
- 50 min Ayurvedic Facial $145
- 70 min Signature Gua Sha Facial $185
- 90 min Ultimate Lift + Glow Facial $260
- 1 hour Buccal facial Massage $185
- Men’s Facial $135
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ritualskinandsoul.com
- Instagram: @ritualskinandsoul
