Who is in your village is who you are
our first brand event was a dream.
I tend to get hands on, nowadays out of necessity (we’re a tiny team), and because I’m good in the logistical weeds. I admit it’s also a preference thing - letting go doesn’t come naturally. So last week was full of firsts - in bringing our long-time vision to life and letting go. And here’s my very own Oscar acceptance speech with a village to thank for a successful night.
We hosted our first brand event, “A Clear Path” with an incredibly knowledgeable panel of experts discussing adult acne holistically. It was a thoughtful, deep, and nuanced conversation - everything we wished we’d heard as two people dealing with persistent acne. The panel wasn't about checking conventional boxes, but about bringing together voices that could truly speak to the complex and interconnected nature of acne, moderated by
of and EV Salon.
First up,
- she's not just another dermatologist, but one of the few (only?) doctors pioneering treatments on the mind-skin connection. She stepped away from her traditional dermatology practice to focus on somatic dermatology (how cool is that). Her approach centers on regulating our nervous system to heal inflammation and skin disease. Our OBGYN Dr. Alicia Robbins, wasn't just another medical voice. She specializes in hormonal fluctuations and perimenopause, on a mission to help women thrive through their 30s, 40s, and beyond with a holistic, lifestyle-centered approach. Jolie De Feis, our esthetician and go-to skincare educator brought her own persistent acne-prone skin and, as the writer of a top rated beauty substack, , the ability to translate complex skincare science into useful information. She spoke from personal experience and professional clinical expertise. Our cosmetic chemist Kseniya Popova rounded out the panel - an award-winning scientist committed to conscious formulations that are as good for our bodies as they are for the planet.
On other firsts - remarkably, I didn’t touch the flower arrangements, didn’t zhuzh the food presentation, or the bar. And for the first time, letting it all go was the easiest thing because Eda and I were surrounded by incredible women, working their asses off to make the evening a success and make us look good. Outside of my personal life, I haven’t felt this supported - had to pinch myself. It truly does take a village. To Colleen who does our PR (but really much more), Elie who runs the space where we held the event (and who also was the first person to touch our brand as a brilliant designer in her past life), Deniz who runs our social media (and just looks out for us any way she can), and our friends who showed up - A HUGE thank you for being our village.
The conversation was excellent. And I’m still reeling in the joy of experiencing this budding community in person. Especially moved by the team that held us and our mission as if it were their own. Something about attracting your people. From the planning to the panelists who said yes. When you put out what’s authentically you, and trust, people self-select in the most beautiful way. And isn’t this the lesson (of life)?
There’s much work ahead, and last week’s event needs to be marked - a deserved celebration. Because I’m proud of how far we’ve come in executing our vision. I’m also proud of the way we’re building, step by step. There are no shortcuts, plenty of face plants, visceral lessons, but in the end genuine connections. We plan to take A Clear Path to other cities, so stay tuned.
Stay cool, stay kind,
Serra
Eda’s corner:
I need to look up Keira Barr MD! Ive been wondering a lot about this topic. Looked like a wonderful evening. You gals are the best <3 Well deserved and I can't wait to come to one!!