Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat James.
Kat, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m Canadian born and raised. I attended a 2-year aesthetics program in Canada with a focus on advanced skincare. After graduation, I spent a few years working in luxury spas. I quickly become bored with the quiet spa life and ventured into the high-end cosmetic retail industry.
I have worn almost every hat in the industry with positions ranging from business manager, makeup artist, national trainer, account executive and buyer for many outstanding lines including Bobbi Brown, Keihls, Fresh, Tarte, Estée Lauder, Dr. Brandt to name a few.
After leaving Canada, I spent my 20s in NYC in beauty management at Bergdorf Goodman. This was probably my greatest learning environment and all together fondest memory throughout my career. After joining Dr. Brandts Skincare team at Bergdorf Goodman, I rapidly began to develop an interest in the cosmetics/medicial field.
I soon started collaborating with plastic surgeons and dermatologist in both skin care products and patient’s protocols. After eight years, I left Bergdorf’s and went into the medical anti-aging field.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In a nut shell: I got married and had three children. Shortly after my third child, I wanted to re-enter the workforce. Not as easy as I had thought. Time waits for no one, and neither do careers.
The work/balance life was much harder then I had anticipated. There would be no way I could keep up my old pace and raise kids. Throw in a divorce a few years later, and it truly seemed impossible to get my footing again.
Please tell us about Shine Beauty Collective “SHINE.”
This was when I decided to take the matter into my own hands.
-What am I really good at? The Beauty Business.
-I know products and ingredients inside and out.
-I know how they are formulated.
-I know skin types, I know skin protocol.
I know medical procedures, and every anti-aging injection there is. (After all, I had worked many years with the doctor who FDA approved Botox for cosmetic use). I knew high-end sales, luxury department stores, marketing, and planning events. This is what I have done for over twenty years, and now, I decided to do it for myself.
Enter Shine Beauty.
I think deep down I always dreamed of having a little place of my own. An apothecary. A place that has both the most advanced stem cell treatments as well as clean organics. A place the pulls you in. Makes you feel good. Offers solutions and options for everyone.
All those years of working in the industry made it easy to hand pick an amazing assortment of products to offer in store. What amazing me was that no one in Malibu had yet done it. A local beauty business doesn’t exist. I felt like it was my calling.
To do what I love, bring something amazing to my community and to be able to be close to my kids while doing it… perfection! I’m super excited to announce that due to an astonishing number of requests, we are building out a treatment room and introducing state of the art facials at Shine this Spring!!! It’s going to be amazing!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I should have done it years ago. Fear holds us back.
-What if I can’t?
-What if it fails?
-All the what if’s?
When all along it’s should have been, “why not?”
Contact Info:
- Address: 30745 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu California 90265 - Website: wwwShinebeautycollective.com
- Phone: 646-677-0667
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @shinebeautymalibu
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
