Victoria Tabak grew up understanding the science behind skin care. In fact, she helped her father formulate holistic products, but eventually, she felt a calling towards another aspect of skin care.
She wanted to come from behind the beakers of the laboratory and step into the treatment room, sharing her holistic knowledge as a licensed esthetician.
Victoria didn’t leave the lab too far behind though. She exclusively uses Nature Pure Clinical Skin Care products on her clients—her very own skincare line, derived from holistic herbs and botanicals.
Even when she competed at The Skin Games, not only did she demonstrate noteworthy results on her clients by using Nature Pure, she was a sponsor of The Skin Games, under her Nature Pure company.
Read about how being a part of The Skin Games has allowed her to connect with other professionals.
So, how long have you been practicing?
I have been in the skin care industry for almost 25 years, and an esthetician for over 10 of them.
And, what inspired you to become an esthetician?
I always loved people, and as far back as my teen years, I volunteered in a nursing home to help and uplift the elderly; there was something about the immense amount of joy they expressed when they would see my best friend and I walk through the door, and even more, when we would do something as simple as sit next to them and hold their hand.
I grew up more on the science end of the skin care industry, but I was always amazed and passionate about the power of physical contact.
In my mid-twenties, I realized that as much as I loved being a part of the science, the innovation and education process of creating holistic wellness-promoting products and treatments for skin and body with my Dad, I wanted the license to touch.
How do you achieve the best skin results for your clients?
My goal is always to achieve instant visible gratifying results, but more importantly, build onto a long-term plan for promoting overall wellness to keep skin looking young and healthy.
I use, exclusively, Nature Pure Clinical Skin Care products, which allow me to get amazing results every time. I also incorporate other modalities such as jade rolling, Gua Sha, micro-needle rolling, and My Skin Buddy device.
How do you approach skincare in a holistic manner?
My entire approach to skin is holistic. Everything is connected and when something is off, usually the skin is the first indicator.
Besides having a holistic variety of methods in the treatment room, such as mind balancing music and sound, the aromas, meditation and touch, I also discuss with the client their lifestyle and eating habits as well.
Of course, products that I am using in the treatment room and what the clients use at home are also abundant with holistic herbs and botanicals.
How do you encourage your clients to incorporate holistic self-care into their at-home skincare regimen?
As mentioned previously, all of the products the clients are using at home contain many holistic ingredients that treat and offer a multitude of benefits. Once I know the client’s specific needs and history, I also then go over different things the clients can do or habits to develop that will promote overall wellness.
This includes certain vitamins or nutrients to add to their diet, maybe avoiding certain foods, figuring out a way to overcome stress, which is a big one for many, and other lifestyle modifications the client can make.
What is your personal philosophy of holistic skincare?
Holistic skincare is my philosophy.
There has to be different angles to how you treat your skin, to keep it youthful, and it all has to tie in with how you treat your overall body and health.
What do you find to be the most challenging thing about managing aging skin?
As long as a client is consistent and compliant, there really are not any major challenges that cannot be overcome. Of the many different symptoms of aging skin, I would say that some types of hyperpigmentation can sometimes be stubborn in completely going away, but not impossible.
What new products or services are you interested in trying in your practice?
Reiki is something that really interests and excites me. I would love to learn more about chakra alignment.
How do you stay up-to-date in this industry and what new techniques are you currently learning about?
The only way to stay up to date is continuing education, constantly learning new and refreshing on the old.
I recently began oncology training. I want to better understand the needs of people who are going through health challenges or struggles, they are kind of the ones in most need of TLC.
What industry trends do you think will have the most impact this year?
Holistic wellness is something that continues to grow in the industry because truly this is the only way to develop a long-term lifestyle habit of caring for the skin. The trend, or maybe even the mission, is that no longer will a facial be considered a luxury, just like in Europe; skincare is considered a necessity just as going for your routine checkups to the doctor.
What industry trends do you think we as professionals should push back?
I wouldn’t really push back on any trends, they create excitement and buzz in the moment, which I believe is healthy, but just as the word states, it’s a “trend,” so it will pass, unless it earns its right to stay.
What would you say is your signature technique and approach to skincare?
My signature, I would probably have to say, is my deep understanding of skin and how ingredients work to make a difference for the skin, and of course, everything is interconnected with my holistic approach to treating the skin.
Who do you allow to treat your skin as your personal esthetician?
It depends on the service that I am looking to get, but my primary criteria is that it is a spa or esthetician that uses Nature Pure Clinical Skin Care. I do confess though, that unless I am traveling, I go to the same esthetician locally.
Skincare is a very personal thing; you don’t really shop around once you feel comfortable and fall in love with one.
What is your proudest accomplishment in this industry?
There are many moments, but I would have to say that being invited as a main stage speaker at the International Congress of Esthetics & Spa, on two different occasions was pretty amazing.
Can you name a person who has had a significant impact on you as an esthetician? Why and how did this person impact your life?
The truth is that there isn’t one person, it is every single person that I have ever treated that was on a committed plan. It is truly life-changing for these people. Knowing that I made that difference gives greater meaning and satisfaction to be an esthetician.
What are your current goals?
Growing the education program at Nature Pure is one of the goals for the year ahead.
What do you hope to contribute to the world of esthetics? What do you want to be known for?
I want to continue to be a resource for other professionals in the industry with my knowledge and expertise, and most importantly, I want to be known for my mission to elevate the soul through skin wellness.
How did you first hear about The Skin Games?
It was actually kind of random, of course with the world of social media, I was seeing photos here and there on Facebook. I didn’t really know exactly what it was, but it kind of looked like the Oscars.
My instant reaction was that I want to be a part of the skincare Oscars too.
Seriously though, there is so much hard work, time and commitment that goes into it.
And, why did you decide to compete?
Once I found out all that the competition entailed, I thought that it would be impossible for me to be able to participate and get it done. I was running my company, being pregnant with my third, and facing other personal obstacles, going on at the time, and just like that, you can say I love the challenge, and so I took it on.
I was excited to be a part of Team EC, the ladies were wonderful. I first signed up to compete in only one category, and shortly after, took on another.
There was something about the thrill of it being a competition, but also it inspired me to challenge and push myself to do things I’ve never done before.
Why did you decide to compete in holistic and age management?
My entire approach is holistic, so that was obvious, but I really also wanted to be able to document a transformation for both aging and acne, and those two categories allowed me to do that. My holistic case study was a person dealing with adult acne and pigmentation, and my age management case study was a person going through menopausal skin changes. The Skin Games was a vehicle that facilitated me documenting in great detail, the client transformation.
Has being affiliated with The Skin Games helped your business?
The Skin Games is a platform that motivates professionals to shine and raise the bar. Being a part of it has been a great experience, and has allowed me to mentor and offer advice to other professionals competing in the year ahead.
You also had your company, Nature Pure as a sponsor. What does being a sponsor entail? How does this sponsorship benefit you and The Skin Games?
It was certainly a very special experience to be able to represent and showcase my own baby, Nature Pure, by sponsoring myself.
I exclusively used only Nature Pure products in both the treatment room and the client’s entire 6 Step home regimen as well.
The sponsorship provided additional exposure, both to The Skin Games, and Nature Pure. I know I had many of my clients intrigued and buzzing about what it was that I was involved in.