Isabel’s Blog #15: Christine Valmy and My Second Act
#15: Christine Valmy and My Second Act
Coming of age as a senior professional was a much different experience for me. I had built several successful skin care and wellness businesses, including Diamond Aesthetic Systems, Healing Zone Spa & Wellness Center and Healing Zone World. I still had many goals to accomplish, but I was unsure what my next chapter would look like.
Reality hits you in the face sometimes and I was thinking more seriously about my age. The demands of starting something new in today's business climate are serious. I also accepted my lack of experience with social media and other modern tools. Even with those challenges, I knew I wasn't done yet!
One day during the Covid pandemic my son randomly asked me:
"Mom, what are your thoughts on getting an esthetician license?"
Initially I didn't see the need for another credential. However, I soon realized he was providing me a valuable career suggestion. As an esthetician, I could apply my experience in a practical way for my age, keep my own hours and do what I love.
I began researching local schools and quickly came across Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology. It was 20 minutes from my home and I was already familiar with their incredible reputation. It immediately felt like the right place to start this new era.
Christine Valmy would make me a licensed professional. This was an opportunity to add to my overall skincare career arsenal: President of a major aesthetic company (check ✔)... Spa Owner/Director for 14 years (check ✔)... operating an e-commerce distribution company (check ✔).
Now I could see that being a hands-on professional was the missing piece. It was also a new way for me to help people feel better about themselves.
Here is the Christine Valmy Mission Statement:
"Christine Valmy International School is dedicated to providing our students with an opportunity to pursue a career in the beauty industry. To achieve this goal we endeavor to provide the highest quality education in an inspiring learning environment, while guiding our students to achieve their potential through knowledge, discovery, and social responsibility. We encourage teamwork, promote professionalism and prepare our students with the tools and placement assistance for employment."
My life was suddenly filled with textbooks, study notes, assignments and exams. I was in a new routine centered around online learning and it took a bit to get adjusted. Virtual Zoom classes and self-paced activities were fun but completely foreign. I liked it but was happy when we transitioned to in-person classes and hands-on training. Being home was wonderful but there's something special about developing relationships with your classmates.
Here's a fun video that shows student life at the Christine Valmy NJ Campus:
Before I knew it, I was driving to buy some green uniforms and white sneakers for my first in-person day. I L❤︎VED sitting at a desk again. This wasn’t simply attending a class. This was the moment where I was going prove that I could still grow at any age. My understanding of skin care was still there, but this license would give me something I never had before.
To my surprise, the Skin Care students were from all different backgrounds and ages (although mostly younger girls) and I enjoyed every minute. Early on, one classmate called me OG and I felt so cool haha! For those that don't know, OG stands for Original Gangster, and basically means original or old-school. The environment at Christine Valmy was filled with lots of respect, great teachers and laughs. I initially wondered whether my age would make me feel out of place but instead it gave me confidence and credibility.
I completed the Skin Care program, then studied my butt off for the state final exam and got a 97%!! Then it was time to celebrate a new me and a new beginning. I wasn’t building from scratch, I was building on everything I had already created.
After earning my license, I was excited to put everything I had learned at Christine Valmy into practice and begin working directly with clients. I was ready to combine my new hands-on skills with the years of industry knowledge I had built, turning a longtime passion into a new professional chapter.
I established ZONE Skincare by Isabel by myself and focused on wellness and innovation. This first location was with someone I had worked with previously. She was my mentor and gave me a lovely place to begin my new career as a licensed skin care professional. However, it was a shared room and I was looking forward to having a studio to call my own.
While at Christine Valmy, I met two classmates, Terre and Angelee, and we graduated together as licensed estheticians. Little did I know that these women would become such an important part of my future. We shared a passion for skincare and wellness, and it was exciting to discover that we could combine our different experiences and talents to build something special together. The three of us decided to join forces and expanded to create a new brand. It was so encouraging to work with two people who shared the same vision.
Terre brings a personal connection to skincare through her own journey, helping others feel comfortable and confident in their skin. Angelee shares a love of skincare, natural ingredients, and holistic wellness, with a genuine interest in helping clients find treatments that work for them.
My experience in the industry brought valuable knowledge, equipment, products, and contacts to our partnership. Together, we combined our different talents, energy, and perspectives to create ZONE Skin & Body Care. I now had a studio of my own in Little Falls, New Jersey. It became more than a place to provide skincare treatments -- it became a shared vision for combining wellness, technology, education, and restorative experiences.
One of the signature treatment offerings at ZONE Skin & Body Care is the Salternative, a Microdermabrasion unit that uses crystals, flower grains and sea salt.
This stems from the product development conducted by distribution company Healing Zone World. My love of sea salt and the positive benefits botanicals led to creating one of our most popular treatments. Our focus on the revitalization of skin cells along with working to clear and nourish the skin made us a local standout in the community. I have always promoted the concept that healthy skin begins with treating at the cellular level.
The three of us went to Orlando, Florida in September 2024 and were exhibitors at STAcon LIVE 2024. This is the annual conference for the Salt Therapy Association and we introduced the Salternative to the market. Besides having cool branded jackets and a great backdrop, I treated the team to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. That restaurant had mechanical elephants and some of the biggest fish tanks I had ever seen in my life!
When we got back from the conference, we focused on creating our spa menu. We chose to base it on the benefits of non-invasive equipment, our education from Christine Valmy and the algae-based ZONE private label products.
Our treatments became amazing stand alone therapies and great complements to more invasive procedures where downtime is often required. On average there are 20 million skin cells on the face. We always mention that to our clients so they too can expand the idea of cellular health for improved texture and tone. It's a joy to see people relaxed and appreciate the restorative healing experiences we offer.
Starting a new business also means continuing to dream. We are adding a dedicated body care room focused on body sculpting, improved appearance and healthy mental attitudes. We know that this is something our clients really want.
After that we are creating the ZONE Salt Room to offer Halotherapy at our facility and share its amazing benefits with the community!
When I look back, I realize that becoming a senior didn’t mean my career opportunities were behind me. In many ways, they were just beginning and graduating from Christine Valmy made that a fact. I now have the confidence to know what I want to offer and the freedom to create a career that fits the life I want to live. There are still ideas I want to explore and pursue.
It isn’t about getting older. It’s about realizing that you still have more to become. With that in mind, check out my latest video highlighting the Face Sculpting treatment we offer at ZONE Skin & Body Care:
