Q+A with Licensed Esthetician Elizabeth Grace Hand

Elizabeth Grace Hand is a licensed esthetician based out of New York City who launched her own facial studio — Ställe Studios — in the fall of 2021. Undeniably widely experienced, Elizabeth's career in skin and beauty started in account executive roles at L'Oreal and Dr. Barbara Sturm, and eventually went on to become a founding esthetician at Dr. Barbara Sturm's first spa location. We sat down with Elizabeth to chat with her about her time in the industry, the advice she has for those who may be struggling with their skincare routine, and more.

Q: First things first: you're a licensed esthetician and founder of Stalle Studios in NYC. How did you know skincare was your calling and get started in the field in the first place? How did that get you where you are today?

My obsession with beauty began at Sephora. I grew up in North Carolina, an hour from the closest Sephora, and a trip to Sephora was always a special treat and a bonding experience between my mom, sister, and me. It was the era of Pink Sugar perfume, and the focus was more about makeup than skin — Urban Decay edible glitter, Scott Barnes shimmer palette, Stila and Benefit everything. The only luxury skincare lines I remember were Perricone and La Mer.

It wasn’t until I first experienced acne in my teens that I started getting serious about skincare. I tried everything — peels, microdermabrasion, prescription and OTC topicals, supplements, antibiotics, including one whose potential side effect was turning skin yellow! Nothing worked. During my first semester in college, I did a course of Accutane. The acne went away, but I was left with horrible scarring, which at 19 led me to try Fraxel laser treatments. Fraxel really helped with the scars but when I moved to New York a year later, the acne returned along with years of product experimentation in an attempt to clear my skin.

I started my career in fashion, not beauty. I graduated from FIT and worked in wholesale fashion for a few years before considering a move to beauty. I had always been interested in beauty but lacked the experience to get my foot in the door. Eventually I did, with a role in wholesale for corrective cosmetics brand Dermablend at L’Oreal. I worked with dermatologists, estheticians, and plastic surgeons throughout the country where I gained first-hand exposure to various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and melasma. At that point it clicked that I should become an esthetician. I enrolled in esthetician school but kept my job at L’Oreal and did everything I could to learn from and meet people in the industry. During my first semester, I attended an industry event where I met the Sales Director for Dr. Barbara Sturm. I emailed her for three months until she finally replied. Eventually, I was hired to do field sales and facial events for the brand. Once the Sturm Boutique & Spa opened, I transitioned to doing in-spa treatments where I found my true calling which years later led to me launching my own facial studio.

Q: What do you love the most about what you do, and what do you find the most rewarding about the work you do?

My favorite aspect of my career as an esthetician is making people feel good about themselves. I long for the day where acne, lines, wrinkles, texture, and hyperpigmentation are seen as beautiful, but the reality is, skin issues can have a major impact on confidence and self-esteem. I’ve had clients who have gotten to the point where they don’t even want to leave the house or be seen in public. I’ve been there, and I know exactly how that feels and the impact it can have on your confidence. The fact that I have the skills and knowledge to help improve a person’s skin, which ultimately changes the way they feel about themselves, is by far the most rewarding part of what I do.

Q: On top of your work as an esthetician, you're also on the curation committee for Violet Grey. Can you tell us a bit about that role and how your expertise as an esthetician comes into play here?

Yes! It’s one of the coolest things that has happened to me since becoming an esthetician. Violet Grey is the ultimate beauty destination. The curation committee encompasses all facets of beauty — hair, skin, makeup, nails, etc. — and they determine what will ultimately be sold at Violet Grey. It’s led by the iconic Sarah Brown who was Beauty Director at Vogue for years. She has done an amazing job of curating the committee with a mix of industry experts, like makeup artist Sam Fine, dermatologist Amy Wechsler, and nutritionist Brooke Alpert. Members of the committee are sent a box of products to test and they provide feedback. We test a variety of products and only those with at 70% approval or higher are accepted. As an esthetician, I have tried so many products on all different skin types, so I have a real sense of what could work for the Violet Grey customer.

Q: Considering how climate and environment can impact skin, do you notice any trends or differences in how you treat skin as an esthetician practicing in a big city like New York?

Living in New York or any major city, pollution is a real issue. I don’t think people realize the major impact pollution has on the skin and how it contributes to premature aging. To prevent damage from the inflammation-causing pollution, daily antioxidants like vitamin C are a must, especially in a place with as much pollution as NYC. New York has such dramatic weather, so I encourage my clients to change up their skincare routine in the summer and winter months.

Q: What is your best advice for someone who is struggling to find a skin routine that works for them?

Try to ignore the social media noise and product advertising and see a professional. Ask your best skincare-obsessed friend who helps keep their skin looking great. It can be a derm, plastic surgeon, PA, NP, esthetician — someone who specializes in skin and has the right professional credentials. And you want someone who can see your skin in person. The ideal scenario will be someone who can customize both in-office treatments and at-home products to help you achieve your goals.

Q: What is one mistake you often see folks making in terms of skincare or products specifically?

One mistake I see a lot at my studio is clients using products as frequently as recommended on the label without really considering the condition of their own skin. For example, if an exfoliant recommends usage 1-3x per week, but your skin is feeling dry or sensitized, even once a week could be too much. Your skin needs different things at different times due to weather, stress, hormones, etc. and you need to keep that in mind before blindly following label instructions. I believe that product instructions should generally be thought of as a baseline, not a dictate.

Q: We would love to hear what your current nighttime skincare routine is looking like right now!

Right now, my routine is very Furtuna- and Bader-heavy. They have both transformed my skin and many of my clients'.

Rapid Fire Round

Q: Worth the splurge:

Augustinus Bader & Furtuna.

Q: Favorite drugstore or budget find:

Maybelline Warm Me Up lipstick. I’ve been using it for at least ten years. It’s one of those nudes that works on every skin tone. It’s sort of a glossy matte, good on its own or layered under a gloss for extra shine.

Q: Latest beauty empty:

Nature of Things Restorative Floral Bath. I’m constantly being given products to try so it’s rare that I repurchase anything, but I can’t be without Nature of Things Restorative Floral Bath. I buy it every single time I run out. I’ve gone through at least five bottles at this point.

Q: Recent discovery:

Monastery Beauty. I just started testing products from a brand called Monastery Beauty and I’m really liking them. It’s a beautiful line that’s formulated by an esthetician. The products are formulated with beautiful ingredients and made in small batches in San Francisco.

Q: Product you can’t leave home without:

Augustinus Bader Lip Balm and Aquaphor — the two of those layered is the secret to never-chapped lips.

Q: Brand you wish more people knew about:

July Sky — it’s the best untinted SPF I’ve ever tried.

For more of Elizabeth's favorite products, check out her shop: