Rising Stars: Meet Nicolette Binafard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolette Binafard.

Hi Nicolette, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I’m a born-and-raised Angeleno with a lifelong passion for skincare. My 20s have been a windy road of finding myself and a line of work in which I could genuinely thrive. I turn 30 this July, and it feels magical having nailed a career bullseye; I love what I do!

I graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 2016. Like most recent college grads, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, so I went with the first job I could find: an internship with a fashion stylist, around the corner from where my practice sits today.

The fashion world didn’t feel quite right, and I knew I loved creating Instagram content, so I went on to pursue digital marketing at a PR Firm. I crafted social media content for a range of clients across clothing, haircare, food & entertainment. While there, my role included film & TV awards submissions. I feel most grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside Kobe Bryant, submitting his “Dear Basketball” to the Oscars, which went on to win for Best Animated Short.

I was 23 at the time and was able to transfer to my firm’s office in New York City. Once living there, I started developing acne for the first time in my life (more on that later), while also feeling like I hit a wall with the social media job. I began working with a life coach who pivoted my direction entirely. She asked all the probing questions, what I loved most in life, and without hesitation, I responded, “skincare and beauty products.” She told me my answer flowed so naturally and that she felt my aura change. It was a simple answer, but I evoked so much joy and happiness in my response, that we both felt a shift. She then asked if I’d ever consider becoming an Esthetician. Sharply, I replied, “No.” I wanted to make my parents proud and put my hard-earned college degree to good use. Still, she nudged me to attend an Esthetics school orientation in the city. I went, and also consulted an LA-based facialist who recommended I hold off until I moved back home to LA for licensing purposes.

With Esthetics on the back burner, my next move was to the Le Labo corporate office in Williamsburg. This was my first foray into the world of beauty. I learned the ropes of product development and visual merchandising while being enveloped in the luscious aromas of candles and eau de parfum for months on end.

All the while, my skin wasn’t in good shape. I was stressed and not prioritizing sleep. I was overdoing it with hair growth supplements and eating eggs every morning, which I now know can be acne triggers. I went to countless facials in the city, scaled Sephora for miracle skincare products, and developed a picking habit, desperately wanting to clear things up. My confidence tanked. I visited a dermatologist who asked nothing about my lifestyle habits and prescribed me Spironolactone in under 2 minutes. While it can be helpful for many people, I was determined to get to the root cause of my acne without medication.

After Le Labo, I chose to give social media another go, but this time, as a freelancer, creating content for a skincare device used by Estheticians. I wrote copy about skin and ingredients all day, interacted with facialists in the states and abroad, and fully immersed myself into this digital world of skincare. Finally, my gears started to turn, but then, everything shut down. The pandemic plucked me out of NYC after two amazing years and plopped me back into an LA quarantine. Of course, the skincare junkie in me managed to squeeze in a much-needed chemical peel before lockdown.

In the silence of the pandemic, I couldn’t help but to dream about actually becoming an Esthetician. I began therapy again, and on a fateful day, my therapist nudged me to finally sign up for school. I drove there directly after our session and was the final student to enroll in a class of 12, officially beginning my journey that June. I graduated on a serendipitous 11.11 and soon after landed two jobs in the industry. I was a receptionist at the OSEA Skincare Studio in Venice, while also working under a facialist with a background in acne and corrective skincare. I was fully immersed and loved every minute of it. After one year and nearly 100 facials a month, I went on to open my own practice. Nicolette Skin Studio is my business baby, happy place, and the manifestation of my greatest passion, with all its twists and turns.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road was anything but smooth. It was filled with self-doubt, comparison, soul-crushing acne, and a global pandemic, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, since it led me here. I learned resilience and kept pushing through the constant fear of “not having it all figured out.” Every job along the way was a steppingstone. It didn’t feel like it then, but I see it all in hindsight. Everyone is on their own divinely-timed path.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m in the business of facials, and only facials! Each treatment is bespoke to clients’ unique skin and concerns. My own struggles with acne have informed my ‘root cause,’ ‘less-is-more’ approach. I work holistically to identify lifestyle and dietary triggers for acne-prone individuals, while also helping to curate effective, at-home skincare routines. Some of my mainstay brands include Osmosis Beauty, DMK & Glymed Plus. Treatments may include dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, LED, carboxy therapy and other modalities to benefit the skin. I’ve brought on the BioRePeel, a minimal-downtime peel that addresses a range of concerns (acne, pigmentation, rosacea & more), which has been a huge hit among my clients.

While I am known for my detailed extractions and gentle touch, I also enjoy melting away the years on mature skin and, overall, creating a healthy, radiant finish. Seeing my clients glow upon leaving their facial brings me all the joy in the world!

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My friends and family have been integral to my success and my cheerleaders from Day 1. They’d drive long distance to get facials with me in school, and refer me new clients before I even had my license, and still do, to this day. My school teacher, Silva, will always be a formative figure on my journey as well. From the moment I met her on my first day, I knew I was home. I cherish her patience, positive outlook, and wealth of knowledge, which paved the way for me to flourish.

The Estheticians I’ve met, consulted and worked with along the way have fueled my path with more knowledge, inspiration and camaraderie. My life coach and therapist were both instrumental in helping me narrow down my ideal career path, and for their gentle nudges forward that made all the difference.

Most importantly, I am where I am today because of my clients! Going solo as an Esthetician was daunting, and they are, without a doubt, the reason I made it through. My opening month was the busiest I’ve ever been, and its carried over to the present day, thanks to them. I am endlessly grateful for their love and support. Not to mention the love letters they send raving about their skin!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nicoletteskin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolette.skin/