Photo: Courtesy of Jan Marini Skin Research
Watch the full conversation between Jan Marini and Fashionista Staff Writer and Social Lead Brooke Frischer on The Fashionista Network.
Unlike most teens, Jan Marini spent her high-school years with acne-free, “perfect skin.” That is, until she developed severe cystic acne at 19 that inspired her to research skin-care ingredients and set her on the path to becoming the professional skin-care expert she is today.
In the ’80s, after founding two businesses (a training organization for high-tech companies and a consultative endeavor), Marini began researching glycolic acid and soon pioneered the use of the exfoliating ingredient with MD Formulations, her skin-care company that later sold to Allergan in 1994. That same year, Jan Marini Skin Research was born. As Marini’s brand celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, it has continued to stand out in the market by centering solutions over products.
“I don’t think anybody should ever put anything on their skin unless they know for certain that they’re going to get a real result,” Marini told Fashionista’s Brooke Frischer live on The Fashionista Network. (Watch it here!) “And I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve been in the marketplace as long as we’ve been and we’ve gained traction, is because people really do get results for these kinds of issues where there’s no cure. There’s no cure for rosacea or acne, even Accutane is not a cure. There’s no cure for discoloration, but we can manage them.”
When Marini first entered the skin-care market, she noticed a lack of commercial options for glycolic acid, and that physicians were instead buying bottles of the ingredient from pharmacies. When she developed her own glycolic acid skin-care products, and approached physicians about stocking them in their offices, Marini initially faced pushback. Reflecting on those early days, she emphasized the importance of persistence, as well as her philosophy that “you only have to do it once.”
“When I found the first doctor that was intrigued by carrying product, I did it once, I knew I could do it again and again and again,” Marini shared.
Photo: Courtesy of Jan Marini Skin Research
Photo: Courtesy of Jan Marini Skin Research
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Marini has since established her brand as a dermatologist-recommended system addressing skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, acne, redness and laxity. When it comes to product development, Marini said she finds ideas through reading various medical journals and then works alongside the brand’s Vice President of R&D Dr. Subhash Saxena to narrow down the formula.
In the full interview, Marini also discussed her testing process, why she promotes “skin longevity” over “anti-aging,” how she’s remained a “100% stockholder” in her debt-free company and her advice for entrepreneurs. She also revealed some intriguing ideas she has for new products using supplements and exosomes. Watch it here.
This conversation was hosted on The Fashionista Network powered by interactive media platform Fireside, where viewers get the chance to participate and speak directly with industry figures. Learn more about The Fashionista Network here.
Source: Fashionista.com
