A Day in the Life

Q&A with Colleen Rothschild Beauty's President and Founder.

What time do you wake up? What do you eat/drink for breakfast? What time do you eat?
During the week, I wake up around 8 A.M. The first thing I think about when I open my eyes is coffee! My husband Stan, who is my business partner, leaves for our office first, and he usually has my coffee on my nightstand waiting for me when I wake up. He’s so sweet!

What's your morning routine and which products do you use every day?
During a typical workweek, I normally don’t get too glammed up. In the morning, I like to keep my skincare routine simple. In the shower I’ll use my Balancing Gel Cleanser to remove any treatments from the night before and get my skin ready for the day! To prep my skin for the day, I apply a dime size amount of the Vitamin C Treatment Complex, which helps keep my skin tone even. Then I apply our Sheer Renewal Cream, which not only works as a light-weight anti-aging cream but also doubles as a great makeup primer! When applying my makeup, I’m constantly experimenting with colors and different looks. I love starting with a fresh palette and just seeing where it takes me. It’s always fun for me, never a chore.

What are some of your beauty rituals, from what you use in the shower to what you use on your face, hair, and body?
My nighttime beauty ritual is something I really look forward to every evening. The first thing I do is wash my face, which is essential in keeping skin clear. I LOVE to use our Radiant Cleansing Balm. Not only does it remove all my makeup, but it also cleans deep down and gets my skin ready for any treatments that follow. It’s like taking a trip to the spa every day! My skin tends to be on the dry side, and I’d like to keep my fine lines and wrinkles to a minimum, so at night I like to apply our Retinol Treatment Complex, followed by a “cocktail” of Extreme Recovery Cream and Face Oil No. 9. Twice a week, I exfoliate with our Dual Enzyme Polish.

How long does it take for you to get out the door?
It depends. I have a 15-minute version, a 30-minute version, and an hour-and-a-half version of my beauty routine!

Describe a typical day at work.
There is never a typical workday. Ever. My workday begins from home. As soon as I have my first sip of coffee, I grab my laptop and start working. Social media has been an important part of growing awareness for our brand, so I stay very connected. I first check Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to see what happened during the night. We have followers and customers in every time zone, so I want to make sure all customer questions, concerns, or comments are addressed as soon as possible. I then quickly check my emails before getting dressed for the day. I arrive at the office around 10 A.M., and the first thing I do is meet with Stan to strategize what needs to get done on that particular day. I wear many hats and every day our to-do list is different. Some days I read trade journals, research new raw materials, or visits to our lab. Other days, I’m developing social media strategies with my marketing team, writing copy, or working with our sales manager to discuss strategy.

What do you eat/drink for lunch? What time do you eat?
Once I get to the office, I hate to leave. So I eat lunch at my desk between 1-2 P.M. I usually have a turkey sandwich or a salad with grilled chicken.

What do you do after work?
After work, I work…ha ha! But it’s true. I work around the clock. I don’t mind, though because my work is my passion and my hobby. I’m very lucky that way. My husband doesn’t mind because it’s his business, too. I think if I was married to a man who was not my business partner, he would have left me a long time ago! We do, however, manage to squeeze in a date night or a night out with friends every now and then.

What do you eat/drink for dinner? What time do you eat?
Stan often jokes about taking me on a trip to an exotic destination I’ve never been to before…the kitchen! What’s really funny is that, even though I don’t cook, I love to watch cooking shows on TV. For dinner, we’ll often stop by a local market called EatZi’s for chef-created meals to go. We usually eat between 7-8pm.

What time do you go to sleep?
Stan and I have a long list of prerecorded shows that we’ll start watching around 9 P.M. After Stan falls asleep, I’ll watch a few beauty-related YouTube videos and check out a few of my favorite blogs. I usually go to sleep around 1 A.M. which for some is really late. But now that my children are in college, my schedule is a lot different than when they were little.

Any new products you're excited about?
Before I started this company, I worked for many years behind the scenes in product development and manufacturing. Consequently, creating new beauty products is in my DNA -- taking my first hand knowledge of the fundamentals of manufacturing, the complexity of skin, and a clear understanding of what women want and need in their beauty products. I have a long list of exciting new products in the pipeline. Right around the corner are of course new skincare items, as well as home aromatics and color cosmetics!

Are there any interesting/surprising things in your beauty routine?
I’m addicted to professional blowouts. For years now, I’ve been getting blow dries twice a week or more, depending on my schedule. I know it sounds crazy, but when I travel, I plan my hotel and flights around my blow dries. And now that places like Dry Bar are in the cities I travel to, I’m never too far from a great blowdry! No one has ever accused me of being low-maintenance!

What would readers be surprised to know about you?
In my early 20's, I was a flight attendant. I lived in New York City, traveled the world, and met so many wonderful people from all walks of life with so many interesting stories and backgrounds. I’m so glad I got the chance to do it.