We are excited to introduce you to Jane, the founder of Nutritional Skincare and CEO of janegee—a nutritional skincare studio and natural nail bar located in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The studio offers a curated selection of sustainable, women-owned brands, ranging from skincare and home goods to wellness products.
Jane is a certified Master Holistic Esthetician, Aromatherapist, Nutritional Response Practitioner, healer, and Flower Essence Practitioner. She has been a true pioneer in the nutritional skincare industry since starting her first skincare business over 40 years ago in Sydney, Australia. Despite countless skincare trends that have come and gone, she has remained committed to her beliefs that "achieving healthy skin is simple—it's all about understanding the vital relationship between your body and what you put in it. Your skin understands natural ingredients."
We chatted with Jane to learn more about her story, skincare philosophy, and more!
What led you to where you are now and opening janegee?
I began my journey into the skincare industry over 40 years ago while living in my native country of Australia. Throughout my early years of training in Australia, I was influenced by the world and research of a Hungarian Esthetician. Her whole philosophy was rooted in working around nature and working with the skin in its natural state to understand how the skin works. Once you understand the language of the skin you better understand the best way to support it, instead of trying to cover it up. I've always believed in the notion that ‘we are what we eat’ and I coined the term “Nutritional Skincare” in 1981. Since then, this philosophy has been the basis of my work.
15 years ago, I opened janegee in the US after noticing an alarming number of invasive treatments being marketed to women in this country. I wanted to offer this community of women alternative treatments that would solve their skin and health problems. I believe there’s so much more to skincare problems than just the external layers of the skin. I knew that you have to get to the root cause to be able to solve those problems.
You're a certified Holistic Esthetician, aromatherapist, and flower essence practitioner! Can you share about your philosophy of botanical skincare?
Nature is all about regeneration and growth, and I believe all our answers are found in nature. We are a part of nature, we are not separate from nature. So why work with anything else? If you give the skin and body what it needs, it will do the work for you.
How do you hope people feel during and after their time at janegee?
When a client comes to us, we want them to feel good about themselves. That's the bottom line. One of the things that is often said to us when people walk into our store is that they feel like they've been given a hug. We pay attention to you and your needs. We look at our services from a holistic perspective, it's not just about the skin.
Each janegee appointment takes an inside-out approach to personal healing. When it comes to your health, you can’t separate what you put in your body, around your body, and on your body from one another.
Our services are designed to help you tap into your wellspring of wisdom that you carry so that you can leave feeling empowered. And that’s my absolute hope for every woman that steps across our threshold.
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness isn't just one thing. It's how you think, how you move through the world, and how you speak to people. It's breathing correctly, moving correctly, and making choices that are good for you, the planet, and the environment. I believe in taking responsibility and caring for the space that you take up.
What is your first beauty memory?
My first beauty memory is from my time traveling around Australia. I visited a beauty salon to have a lash tint. To my recollection, this was one of my first-ever beauty treatments. Not only did this treatment spark my interest in beauty, but my technician actually became one of my mentors. She was the first person to encourage me to train in this field.
That being said, my interest in the skincare world had been piqued at a young age. I had a brother who developed severe acne at a young age. The fact that he was the only one out of 7 children to develop this skin condition challenged me to want to understand if there was something I could do to help him. Over my 4 decade career, I’ve discovered that is the underlying reason why I do anything. I strive to help others and to make a difference in their lives. So it was that journey that brought me to one of my mentors who taught me about natural skincare. This knowledge helped me heal my brother’s skin. From then on I never looked back from my natural skincare journey.
What's the best beauty advice you've received?
I have received two pieces of beauty advice that have changed my outlook on the topic. The first is to eat healthy and the second is that the less you do, the better! Work with your skin, not against it.
What is your skincare routine like?
I like to keep things very simple. To start I use the janegee Deep Cleanser No. 2 because it is filled with antioxidants that help with aging gracefully. Then I like to use our Elixir, which is a multi-purpose corrective serum. It glides over the skin so easily and hydrates it like nothing else. Finally, I finish by moisturizing with the janegee Vitamin Creme. I love it because it has a very light texture but is extremely rich. I also detox my skin once a week with a natural clay mask. It is SO important to detox your skin!
Do you have any skincare tips for prepping your skin before makeup?
You’ve got to make sure your skin is clean and hydrated!
Favorite Minori Product?
I absolutely love the lip glosses. They're hydrating, go on really well, feel fabulous, and look great too!
What are some things you like to do outside of work to feel balanced and enjoy life?
I am an artist. I like to paint and tell stories with my artwork. I am also an avid gardener and love to cook!
For more, follow @janegee and Minori's Lip Gloss in person at their flagship store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire!