Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Robertson.
Hi Sara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved skincare; I remember being super excited to start using cleanser at age ten!
My mom owned and operated a laser clinic (laser vein, hair removal, Laser Genesis), and was a pioneer in the laser treatment world for Thunder Bay, Ontario, my hometown.
I started to get excited about formulating cosmetics in 2016 and pursued a diploma in Advanced Organic Skincare Science from Formula Botanica out of the UK.
Around this time, Korean skincare wasn’t popular yet, but I read Charlotte Cho’s “Little Book of Skincare” and started trying out some Korean products. I realized I liked them a lot, and then around when the pandemic hit and skincare was the focus vs. makeup, I figured I’d take my maternity leave to start working on opening a skincare store with mostly import products and a few of my own formulations.
I hired this lovely esthetician who happened to be a body piercer, and I decided to wind down my formulation operations in favour of adding Curated Ear Piercing services to our repertoire. It’s been a LOT of fun learning to pierce!
K-Beauty is still very much in demand, and we’re doing a lot of special ordering and keeping on top of new product trends, as well as trying out what we can.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an intense first year of business!
I have a hard time when people “should” me about how to run the business, but I try to remember at the end of the day, I have to make the best decisions for the present and future.
My customers, friends, and family have all been excellent about supporting my dream to get the business off the ground and flourishing.
We’ve been impressed with The Potion Bar, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
A big thing I struggled with growing up was feeling included in spaces where skincare was sold or promoted, so including others and recognizing others was a big part of what I wanted to offer.
Before I opened the shop, I took a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course through Bloom Academy to find ways to make the space as inclusive as possible and to prime me for being an inclusive business owner. Our services are all gender-affirming, and we use gender-neutral language on our forms and with our clients.
Skincare is for everyone; how your skin feels is a big part of some people’s confidence, and we love getting to know our customers and seeing how their skin has improved. It’s a little bit of detective work, therapy, and science.
I know not every single person that walks in the door will buy something and that some people just want to be around other humans to feel alive!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The list would be MASSIVE! But anyone who has been with me along my journey, whether or not they’re still present in my life, has been part of my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: thepotionbar.ca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepotionbar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepotionbarskincare/
Image Credits
Crystal Lang, Sara Robertson
