"I initially worked for an airline," Estelita recalled, "where I met Bernice’s dad Teodoro Bernardino. I quit my job and had four beautiful kids. Later, my husband thought I should be able to accomplish something for myself so he allowed me to work again. But this time, he encouraged me to put up a business that is somehow related to what I was doing before, which is to travel. So I put up a travel agency. Later on, I was enticed by a good friend to get a beauty salon franchise, which I did. I now have two salons. With the creation of a new global standard for beauty, it is but logical and fitting to have a facial and complete body care center."
For her part, Bernice related, "I previously worked for my father’s business, a paper manufacturing firm, for five years, before moving to Total Skinn. I handled a bit of marketing and sales prior to working full time. I decided to actively participate when a cousin, who used to manage Total Skinn, got married and moved to California with her husband. She is still active with the group as a consultant and purchaser."
Because she has her other businesses, Estelita has pretty much entrusted the management of the day-to-day operations of the center to Bernice. "My mom basically gives me a free hand to operate the business in terms of marketing and PR, day-to-day operations such as HR and bookkeeping," Bernice intimated. "She gives me the freedom to make the decisions, but I have to report everything to her. She just keeps an eye on me." Bernice is the eldest and only girl among four siblings. She graduated with a degree in business management from the Ateneo and is presently taking her MBA at La Salle.
"Having someone from your family work with you really makes everything easier, especially when you both like what you are doing," Estelita remarked. "We complement each other at work. Bernice relates very well with people, which is, of course, very important and essential in this kind of business. She is hard-working and very thorough. She is a perfectionist most of the time especially when carrying out services to clients."
"Total Skinn offers personalized, exclusive, gentle yet effective facials and body treatments to suit any skin type," Bernice declared. A bestseller is the Purifying Herbal Facial, a Total Skinn signature treatment for the face that needs basic cleansing. "This is an hour and 15 minutes treatment with neck and shoulder massage that uses the therapeutic properties of natural botanical extracts such as lavender and chamomile to regenerate cells and repair damaged, stressed skin."
The seaweed facial is perfect for dry skin. This treatment begins with a honey-almond scrub and ends with a hydro-moisture mask. It reduces the onset of fine lines. "Results are visible with just one treatment," Bernice stressed. For oily skin, there is the Casmara normalizing facial. The Casmara mask combines the benefits of eye, face, and neck masks that provide superb moisturizing and regenerating properties, and increase the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
"We also have the original Lasertone which is the perfect way to conclude a facial treatment. Lasertone makes use of a cool, soft laser light designed for faster tissue and wound healing," Bernice explained. "It stimulates the production of collagen and has anti-inflammatory effects. It also helps dry up pimples quickly and protects against early signs of skin aging."
"Our treatments are reasonably priced and programs are transferable and convertible if improvements are visible within the first few treatments," Bernice remarked. "Total Skinn focuses on the specific needs of the client," Estelita interjected.
"We adhere to our principle of honesty and sincerity to our clients. We don’t sell to clients treatments they don’t need even if they want to. We tell our clients if they need to see a dermatologist. We don’t do anything invasive. Our products are all-natural. Come to our center and immediately you will see and feel the difference. Clients immediately notice the cleanliness and wholesomeness of the center."
"It is the client’s right to demand meticulous service from us, so that’s what we give them," Bernice stressed. "We have very nice clients and thoughtful ones who even bring food for the therapists or flowers for the center. Often, they come here just to relax and feel good about themselves." Among the body treatments offered at Total Skinn are de-stressing body massage therapy, Obi body massage therapy, holistic body therapy, Zen stone therapy, Thai massage, crystal body buff, waxing, hand and foot massage.
But it’s not all work and no play for Bernice and Estelita. "My mom and I are each other’s barkada," Bernice intimated. "Our activities are simple. We shop, grocery, eat out together. I enjoy her company immensely. We’d try new restaurants, bars, or comedy clubs together. We also have different interests. I love to sing but she does not sing. I spend a lot of time in front of the piano. My mom, on the other hand, is quick with crossword puzzles. I can hardly solve a crossword puzzle even to save my life. I’d rather walk outdoors, she would rather do the treadmill." Estelita added, " I love to eat, so I cook and bake. I love to read. I have read almost all the novels of Robert Ludlum and of course, everything that pertains to beauty."
"Of course, just like other human beings, we have conflicts at times," Estelita admits. "But it is easily resolved and this is one advantage of having a family member work in the business. You could discuss things freely and arrive at a course of action."
Bernice added, "My mom has an uncanny gut-feel. I have not developed mine yet. Sometimes her gut feel eludes all reason but it’s always correct. How she does it, I don’t know. It’s something she must have developed as a mother."
Now in its fifth year, what future do they see for Total Skinn? "I think beauty centers and spas continue to emerge because the entry barrier in this business is low," Estelita observed. "Reports claim that the beauty industry is not responsive to slumping economic conditions," Bernice interjected. "The fact that skin care centers and spas mushroom everywhere is a sign that there is a demand. We have vanity to thank for this good fortune." Estelita added, "We ourselves are vain."
"We are not yet thinking of opening another branch because we want to maintain the type of attention we are able to give our clients for the moment," Estelita concluded. "We want Total Skinn to be the ultimate place for expert cleansing and relaxation."