Pulse August 2025 | Page 35

BY THE END OF THE 1990s, Celeste Hilling had built a successful career in California’ s software technology industry.“ I didn’ t have a dream to start a skincare company,” she says.

It was while serving on the board of a San Diego hospital that Hilling became invested in the connections between skincare, vitamin D and immune health. This experience drove Hilling to wonder how she could develop a product technology that would help one’ s skin and, therefore, one’ s health.“ As life has it, you walk through doors you didn’ t anticipate opening,” she adds.

That door was Skin Authority, founded by Hilling two decades ago not as a skincare company, but as“ a skin health technology company,” she says.“ We are focused on developing technology that allows the skin to better play its role in the immune system.” This tech-centered approach to maximizing skin’ s potential was unique at the time, and so Skin Authority has played a significant part in shaping today’ s skincare industry, in which advanced technologies are playing an increasingly large role.

Though Skin Authority can now be found in spas and resorts around the word, in its initial years it operated primarily in the medical space via partnerships with San Diego-area clinics. Long before Zoom and webcams became commonplace, the brand emphasized hands-on video consultations and launched a two-way video platform to connect with clients and evaluate their skin on an ongoing basis; one thousand of those initial clients are still among

“ You’ re pioneering something new, which means you always have to educate people to bring them along with you. That takes passion.”

Skin Authority’ s customers today.“ In a world where we’ re increasingly isolated, one-on-one coaching is a unique commodity,” says Hilling.“ Other companies don’ t do it because it’ s expensive, but the reality for us is that it’ s a great investment in our ability to retain customers over years because we build relationships with them.”

Two decades on, what began as a personal project for Hilling has grown into a successful company propelled by passion and innovation.

“ When you’ re an innovator, the innovation makes it harder,” she says.“ You’ re pioneering something new, which means you always have to educate people to bring them along with you. That takes passion.” n

FOUNDER’ S PLAYBOOK l ADVICE FOR YOUR YOUNGER SELF:“ Don’ t be afraid to ask for help. It’ s a superpower, not a sign of weakness.” l PERSONAL MOTTO:“ If it is to be it’ s up to me.” l BIGGEST MENTOR:“ Noel de Caprio, who I met through ISPA. When I first came into the industry, I asked her if she could share advice, and she said yes. She spent quality time with me, and I will always remember that kindness.” l ALTERNATE CAREER:“ A naturopath. We need more people in the medical world focused on prevention.”

Know a company founder in the spa industry whose legacy should be celebrated? Contact ispa @ ispastaff. com to share their story.

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