Tell us a little bit about your background.
Both my parents are immigrants, and I couldn’t be prouder. They worked tirelessly to sacrifice every bit of their own life to open up opportunities for my sister and me. My mother worked since she was 16 to support herself through college. She built her first company by 29 and ran two companies while raising my sister and me.
I had my future mapped out at a young age. I was pre-med in college and had dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. In 2011, I graduated from USC with a double major in Neuroscience and Chinese, but instead of going to medical school, I found myself working in a number of industries, from finance to retail merchandising planning. I loved working as a retail planner, however, despite working in an industry I loved, something was missing, and I felt empty inside…lost almost.
The internal conflict I had with myself literally “erupted” on my face. During this period, I struggled with acne, dry, hypersensitive skin and I couldn’t find a solution that fit into my schedule.
With a very science-oriented mind, I was determined to find a solution. I lived and breathed “skin” and the more I talked to women, the more I realized I wasn’t alone.
I became obsessed with creating an all-encompassing solution, and was so consumed with research and development, I couldn’t possibly see myself doing anything else. I again, decided to switch careers. This time, taking the biggest jump of all.
I worked tirelessly to develop La Luer’s Facial Treatment System. In my heart, I knew it was going to work, so, I ran with the idea.
Since then, we have secured distribution with global retailers like Selfridges and Neiman Marcus gained recognition amongst industry leaders, and have been- selected as one of the 12 female entrepreneurs for Sephora’s Accelerate program.
I want to share my story because, I lived my life planning everything to a T. I felt horrible whenever I strayed from the paved path. But, time after time, adversity and “straying” has led me closer to a career that truly resonated with me.
Never did I think I’d follow in the footsteps of my entrepreneurial mother, who started her own real estate and construction company before turning 30. But here I am, 29, and loving everything I’ve built with La Luer.
Why did you decide to start your own company?
LA LUER was born out of my need to develop a solution to maintain healthy skin while working long hours. I struggled with dullness, blemishes, and uneven skin tone while working my 12-hour job.
Skincare shouldn’t be complicated, and good skin shouldn’t be limited to those with access to high-end spa treatments. My mission was simple– to develop skin tech products that were easy to use, simple to understand, and delivered visible results.
What makes your brand different from other beauty brands?
We have 3 key differentiators:
La Luer offers the most comprehensive solution on the market–– Unlike other devices on the market that use 1-3 technologies max, we hold the patent for the integration of 6 of the most widely used beauty technologies into an all-in-one at-home skin care tool to deliver both real and visible results.
There’s a treatment for all ages and most skin concerns. Our 4 specific treatment modes allow for customization and targets a multitude of skin concerns ranging from dull/dehydrated skin, to appearance of wrinkles, puffiness, and blemishes. Go through all 4 modes for a comprehensive facial or focus on specific modes to custom tailor your treatment.
Our larger surface area is tailored to stimulate multiple muscle groups at once, allowing for increased efficiency. Neither too big nor too small, we’ve doubled the average device head size while maintaining a compact design and light weight.
Describe your brand in three words.
Comprehensive, Simple, Essential.
Without giving away too many of your secrets, what do you anticipate your growth to be next year and what is your direction for the future of the brand?
We’re growing our product line and community this upcoming year.
We’ve established partnerships in the US as well as Europe, but we’re hoping to expand into international markets like the Middle East and Asia in the coming year!
What is the best piece of advice someone gave you? What advice would you give a budding entrepreneur?
DIFFERENCE is your strongest asset— don’t try to fit yourself into a mold, but rather, let your true personality shine and always stick with your values
Your gut is your greatest guide…so take time to silence the noise and operate from intuition. It’s never wrong.
Never force anything because anything forced is not worth fighting for, whether it’s a contract, deal, partnership, or relationship! Whatever flows, flows. There’s a time and place for everything, so be patient and trust in the process.
Take full responsibility for your decisions –celebrate your successes, learn from your mistakes, forgive, and let go of the past.
Believe in the power of visualization and manifestation. Never lose sight of your dreams and allow yourself to dream vividly. And from there, have the strength to take the first step, even if it’s a baby step because… “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve”
What did your Cosmoprof North America experience mean to you?
Showcasing at Cosmoprof [North America] was on my bucket list prior to even launching the company. Reality, however has far exceeded my expectations. Exhibiting at Cosmoprof this past year was the turning point for our company. It’s provided us with opportunities emerging beauty companies like ourselves, could only dream of getting- we were selected as one of the 4 tools finalists in the beauty awards, and had a chance to interview with QVC and HSN. The exposure was phenomenal, but most of all, the Cosmoprof family was so welcoming- they truly care for you regardless of the size of your company, and they’ve welcomed us with open arms.
My biggest takeaway from Cosmoprof were the relationships I’ve built as a result of the show: I’ve found mentors, friends, retail partners, and like companies I now collaborate with.
Finally, what’s an interesting fact about you people would be surprised to hear?
I’m a mixture of so many contradictions. I’m a nerd and an adventurer. An extrovert and introvert. As much “left brain” as I am “right brain”.
ABOUT LA LUER
CEO/Founder of La Luer, Nicole Chau
LA LUER was born out of Nicole’s need to develop a solution to maintain healthy skin while working long hours. She struggled with dullness, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. From thousands of topicals and hundreds of at-home tools, to 10-step skin care routines and in-office treatments to choose from, Nicole was overwhelmed with all the available options in the market. She was surrounded by other women facing similar frustrations.Skincare shouldn’t be complicated, and good skin shouldn’t be limited to those with access to high-end spa treatments. Nicole’s mission was simple– to develop skin tech products that were easy to use, simple to understand, and delivered visible results. La Luer’s tools and products allow women to maintain their busy schedules, while preserving their skin’s health and radiance.
Categorized in: Spotlights