August 2024, Q & A

Growing an Esthetics Empire

August 1, 2024 | by Kimberly Bobson Feldman

A Journey Three Decades in the Making

An interview with Beth Cardarelli, founder of Avery Graham Aesthetics

Beth, how did your journey to Avery Graham Aesthetics begin?

Avery Graham got started after I was an aesthetician for a short period of time and realized that I wanted to differentiate myself. Shortly after that time, clinical products were becoming popular; this was about 30 years ago and things were really all natural or very harsh. When patients with problem skin would come in there was really no in between, you were either doing something that didn’t work or you were doing something so harsh that gave you hope for a few days and then their skin would become too dry and difficult to manage.

I was one of first five aestheticians in the Philadelphia area. We had no mentors, no guidance, no mapped out journey – nothing. We had to create our own vision. That is how my journey began, which led to becoming a clinical aesthetician, the owner of Avery Graham, our product line, and now, Avery Graham Aesthetics, our Philadelphia flagship.

As my career continued I realized that it was very difficult for aestheticians to become successful with very few mentors, classes to begin your career, advanced tools to learn peels and lasers, or any culture to help. Aestheticians can create their own special journey with patients or clients in the world of aesthetics. This is where the next chapter of Avery Graham really started.

As one client says, I’m the love child of Glinda the Good Witch and a mad scientist. I’m a Whole Foods girl and a curious mad scientist all wrapped up in a luxurious cashmere blanket. I like to curate each level of skincare and treatment to be a divine and innovative experience, like baking an organic decadent seven-layer cake topped with beautiful flowers, igniting all your senses with incredible results.

““I’m the love child of Glenda the Good Witch and a mad scientist. I’m a Whole Foods girls and a curious mad scientist all wrapped up in a luxurious cashmere blanket.”
”

How did you get into product creation?

I decided to combine several products that I liked into one product, adding organic grapefruit extract, and salicylic and glycolic acids to make my own concoction. That is how my first product started. For a long time that was my only product and then slowly I added my clarifying toner and a moisturizer and my Active Glycolic Serum. It is still the same active glycolic serum as it was 30 years ago!

We blend pharmaceutical reparative ingredients with natural botanical and plant extracts, and

each product is curated in a special lab designed for clinical excellence. I was very young and very lucky to be introduced by my mentor to a lab that understood my vision and help me create Avery Graham and make my dream come true.

What is your favorite Avery Graham product?

My favorite treatment is our Trifecta Resurfacing Peel! It’s a custom peel that I created for patients as well as aestheticians. One complete treatment has many layers starting with Dermaplaning, Trifecta Resurfacing Peel (Glycolic, Salicylic, and Cherries) which covers all concerns and leaves skin bright, resurfaced, and firm.

What are the challenges that come with product creation?

It might sound like an easy task making your own products. The easy part is that most of my products were designed and curated for clients who had specific problems, like my mother, who suffered from teenage and adult acne for a long time.

There are many challenges that come with creating such an epic vision. It’s never easy, but always worth the end result. You must be a person who can climb all the mountains for long periods of time. You will get there, but it’s not for the faint at heart! I still pinch myself that this is what I get to do each day.

Can you share the philosophies behind your products?

Components of clinical science married to mother nature’s decadent discoveries!

I believe in scientific evidence and in the innovation of science, but I am also a very holistic organic person who is dedicated to wellness, meditation, and creating an environment that makes you look and feel good

The best way to differentiate yourself is to have a skincare line that really works, is clinically superior and also combines the aspects of wellness, good health, and nature to blend them together. This is the entire premise of Avery Graham.

Why is mentorship so important in this industry?

One of the reasons I started Avery Graham Aesthetics is because I wanted to guide new aestheticians that were growing or didn’t know how to grow. I wanted to instill a foundation of entrepreneurship, courage to make your own way, and to be a guide to help them learn how to do so many of the things that I had to learn all by myself through trial and error.

What has been the most rewarding part of this labor of love for you

I started taking care of patients as a little girl as a candy striper at The Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, where my mother and grandmother both worked. I knew then that connecting with people, patients, and families was incredibly rewarding and that is what Avery Graham’s commitment is to each person we have the privilege of caring for. When I first started I thought, “If I can take care of one patient and make the, feel happy about how they look and feel, maybe they will share that with their friend, daughter, mom, and neighbors. And that is exactly how it grew…one patient at a time with integrity, dedication, curiosity and lots of love.

How have you incorporated personal touches into your business?

Avery Graham was my great grandfather’s name, so that adds a divine nod to an honorable and beloved man. I also create all of the floral arrangement in our lobby, and people always comment on them!