Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Dobson.
Hi Carol, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up around nature in Lake Tahoe, I wasn’t exactly a little girl who was obsessed with beauty treatments, health or wellness, but my environment and my family deeply shaped who I would become. My mother and I used to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals and ducks, an experience that really taught me to appreciate nature and planted a deep seed for wanting to help others. My mother was also a nurse and later worked in clinical research, which eventually fueled my interest in finding natural solutions that had real research behind them, for my clients, my family, and myself.
When I grew older and was looking for a career that I was truly passionate about, but that could also work around having a family one day, I discovered wellness through skin health. I wasn’t ever a big beauty fanatic, and my upbringing in the mountains naturally formed my down-to-earth approach. I knew that going to beauty school would be out of my comfort zone. However, I soon realized while there that our instructor happened to be someone who was big in the Northern California wellness community. Her approach was much more holistic than typical beauty school instructors. It quickly became clear that my focus would be on natural skin and wellness, using an inside-out approach to improve someone’s health naturally. After learning different variations of Lymphatic Drainage Facial Massage, Chinese Pressure Point Therapy, skincare ingredients, and studying about herbs and supplements from various health professionals and clinical research, I applied them to what I do today in each of my facials and consultations.
While I was waiting for my license, my beauty school instructor suggested I find a job at a department store beauty counter to learn what not to do. I didn’t truly understand what she meant until I was hired by a major skincare and cosmetics line as a retail salesperson in Los Angeles. After a short day of training where I challenged the ingredients in all of the products-leaving the trainer exhausted trying to explain to me why formaldehyde was okay in skincare while I disagreed-I started working with the retail clients. I quickly realized their sales relied on increasing their clients’ insecurities to sell them skincare for every single area of their skin. Being a woman myself, I never wanted to take this approach. I wanted to help people, not hurt them mentally or physically.
After I got my license, I left that position and worked in a small spa where I was expected to do more aggressive med-spa treatments, including chemical peels and microdermabrasion. It didn’t feel right to me to hurt the skin in order to have it look better. I found myself suggesting other treatments or leaving those aggressive ones out completely, incorporating my lymphatic and Chinese Pressure Point Therapy instead. The owner wasn’t pleased, but I knew in my heart that what she wanted me to do was not the best approach.
On my off days, I started renting my own room by the day in a hippie wellness center and developed my signature facials that I still do today. People were responding well to my facials. Magazines reached out for interviews, and I knew I was on the right track. After several months, I found my own permanent Los Angeles location that I still have today, 27 years later. I was the first holistic facialist in the area when I launched my organic natural lymphatic facials. There, I started my first collective, Purity Organic Spa & Collective, opening my doors to other health, wellness, and beauty small businesses that needed a home. During this time, I had my son, and having a business that I could work around him and his schedule over the years worked out perfectly.
Four years ago, I decided to move with him to the Central Coast, to Arroyo Grande, to be closer to our family in the area, and it has been amazing! Keeping my LA location and seeing my Los Angeles clients just one long weekend a month, while primarily being here on the Central Coast now, has been wonderful. After researching the areas around me and seeing where my “wellness people” were, I found a charming cottage for my business in Arroyo Grande that I instantly loved.
I started Purity Organic Facials & Wellness Collective here two years ago. Operating out of this beautiful cottage with three treatment rooms, I am able to see my clients here while also supporting other small wellness, health, and beauty pros in this area by giving them a space to thrive, which I absolutely love. It has been a beautiful journey of bringing my passion for holistic care to this wonderful community, and I am so grateful to be here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every business journey has its bumps, and for me, one of the biggest transitions came just a few years ago. After 27 successful years of building a deep-rooted, loyal community of clients in Los Angeles, deciding to move to the Central Coast was a beautiful but massive leap of faith. Starting over in a completely new area means you have to put yourself out there all over again, research the market, find your people, and build trust from the ground up. Balancing my long-time LA clients by traveling back one long weekend a month while pouring my heart into opening Purity Organic Facials & Wellness Collective in a brand new town required a lot of energy and juggling. It wasn’t easy, but finding this charming cottage and connecting with this wonderful community has made the transition incredibly rewarding.
We’ve been impressed with Purity Organic Facials & Collective , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
136 South Halcyon Road,
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
(323) 969-9371
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegreenfacialist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreenfacialist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegreenfacialist
- LinkedIn: https://www.Linkedin.com/in/carol-dobson-ba11439
- Yelp: https://www.Yelp.com/biz/purity-organic-arroyo-grande
