January 8, 2017

Meet Leslie Kritzer of Skin Worship

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Kritzer.

Leslie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got into the skin care industry in my early 30’s after an onset of adult acne hit me hard and fast. Having had a flawless complexion throughout high school and all my life, it was troublesome to experience problematic skin at an age where it was important to be both presentational and professional. I was literally living at my dermatologist’s office. It was at this point that I was inspired to begin a career in health and beauty. I began my career working at a dermatologist’s office as an esthetician. I learned a great deal working in a clinical environment. However, my personal experience led me to open up my own practice, integrating clinical with mind, body and spirit. It was a long journey of trial and error before I was able to establish the Skin Worship philosophy and protocol. I wanted to expand my practice and so I decided to partner with Madison DeClercq, a promising young lash and skincare expert. We worked side by side for a year and a half before we opened Skin Worship in our current Beverly Hills location. Skin is our largest detox organ and therefore anything toxic or disagreeable to the body is purged through the skin. For many this means having to adhere to a strict diet and lifestyle. Skin Worship is founded on that principal. We treat the skin from a holistic perspective, taking into account our clients’ medical history and lifestyle habits. Therefore we often refer out to a larger network of esteemed health experts integrating both beauty and wellness.

Great, 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?
When I first opened my own practice it was 2006 and the economy was strong. I was able to hustle quite a bit of work just through word of mouth. People were spending money on self-care and retail sales were strong. Then the crash of 2008 hit like wildfire. Nobody wanted to spend any of their discretionary income on services or luxury items. Skincare is usually considered a luxury for most and so our industry is hit hard during recessions. So I learned how important it is to set money aside to be able to ride out these difficult times. As a result, Groupon and other coupon distributors were able to leverage the sinking market and offered customers that were not spending deep discounts to providers like myself. That was a difficult time as I was doing the same service, paying the same rent and had all the same expenses and was making 60% less than my usual fee. I love helping people, and I always do my best to provide the best care that I can. Every once in a while, someone comes in with a skin concern that I am unfamiliar with. Rather than treat them, I reluctantly have to decline service and refer them to a professional dermatologist.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Skin Worship – what should we know?
Skin Worship specializes in preventative skin care. Our target client is between 20 and 35 years old and we try and educate and instill proper skincare habits so that they are less likely to show signs of aging due to poor dietary habits and too much sun exposure. While we see a diverse group of clients with skin of all ages, I would say our focus is more preventative. We believe that over treating the skin is worse than not treating it at all. The cosmetic industry perpetuated a myth that you can feed your skin young and that the more you do, the better your skin will look. We wholeheartedly disagree with this premise, The skin is a primitive organ and was not designed to assimilate large amounts of nutrients. In fact, over treating the skin leads to inflammation which causes breakouts, hyperpigmentation, and premature aging. We developed an evolved line of skincare products, perfect for most skin types. Our ingredient profile is simple, never exceeding 12 raw ingredients at a time. We source organic animal free and sustainable agriculture-based ingredients, with most of our products exceeding 80% organic.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Customer Service. Our business is a relationship business. If you don’t have the loyalty and trust of your clientele you will fail.

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