Penticton local uses creativity and business savvy to run her skin care teaching and product empire

"Okanagan Inspired" is a weekly series of profiles offering a peek into the stories and inspirations of South Okanagan residents who hold creative roles in the community.

As a world-renowned expert in skin care, a local woman gets to flex her creativity and business savvy all while basing her life in the Okanagan.

Originally born and raised in South Africa, René Serbon and her family moved to New Zealand at the age of 14, then, as an adult she moved to Canada.

“I moved to Canada when I was 28, because my husband is in the wine industry. He is a viticulturist, so we moved right to Penticton in the heart of wine country, and we live in Summerland now, with our 2 kids and our dog,” says Serbon.

Although being in the Okanagan for almost 14 years, the allure of the area has not worn off to Serbon. “I love everything about living here!” says Serbon. “I literally feel like I landed in paradise. I travel all over the world for conferences and to teach, and I always include a picture of the Okanagan Valley in my bio in my introductions in every speech I do, telling people how amazing it is to live here."

Serbon is known as a leader in the skin care Industry internationally. She started out in business studies, and took a nail technician course while waiting for her business school to begin.

"While I worked, I would see people going into treatment rooms and see them leaving looking so happy and relaxed, and I thought, ‘I want to do that.’ I was bitten by the beauty bug!" Serbon explained.

Serbon was nervous to tell her mother her plans to pursue beauty rather than university, but she supported Serbon's dream.

"She just made me promise to finish my business schooling,” Serbon says, laughing.

After schooling, Sebon found herself managing clinics, using her beauty and business skills.

“I was managing clinics and ended up doing a lot of waxing. I built up a reputation for being the best waxer in my city, but I got tired of doing what I call ‘backs, sacks and cracks,'” Serbon says, laughing.

“I thought, ‘I am tired of this. This is not rocking my boat anymore.’ I just wasn’t inspired! I found a corrective skin care course I was really interested in taking, but my boss didn’t want me to leave, being their best waxer, but I took the time off, and I went and did it anyway!”

Corrective skin care became an immediate passion for Serbon.

“I felt like I was seeing it all with different eyes, and I just couldn’t unsee it. I loved it. I learned as much as I could and began teaching alongside the people who taught me. I specialize in what is called the Pastiche Method of Advanced Skin Analysis. I aim to find the underlying cause of skin issues before giving treatment, and then we match the cosmetic chemistry to resolve the underlying causes," explains Serbon.

She now teaches the technique around the world.

“As I taught, I learned that information is only part of it. People running clinics needed help implementing the techniques into their clinics and businesses and making them skin-centric businesses. I began helping and people would fly me out to their clinics to help them apply their knowledge. I wanted to make that more accessible to people, so began offering it online as well,” says Serbon.

She eventually began her own line called Dermal Systems, and began distributing products to clinics.

"It’s not what I had intended to do initially, but it helps reach more people, and helps them stay confident in their skin,” explains Serbon.

Even 20 years out of school, she is still finding new opportunities to learn, and hasn’t lost her passion for skin health.

“We love what we do, and we do it well, I don't work a day in my life. I get to show up and do what I love and am in a position to focus on what I enjoy. When I was a kid, I always said I would either be a teacher or a superstar, and I feel like I got both," she says.

"It is really fun ... I love helping people feel more comfortable in their own skin. I get to see them walk a little taller and feel a little better, and when they feel their most comfortable, they are able to build their self worth."

As a little free advice, Serbon says when it comes to skin care, “less is more and gentle is better. I tell my clients when I see them, your skin is a living organ, it isn’t the kitchen floor, it shouldn't squeak. You shouldn’t be too hard on it and don’t use harsh foaming cleansers. Think of treating your skin as silk, not cotton and keep it simple!”

If working in the skin care industry is appealing to you, Serbon recommends studying up!

“You don't graduate and know everything, you graduate and have a foundation to build off of,” she explains.

In between managing her thriving businesses, you can find Serbon relaxing with a face mask and listening to The Puppy Song by Harry Nilsson.

While looking for a larger location to expand her business to be able to offer more in-house treatments in Penticton, Serbon's products are available in clinics in Kelowna, Lake Country and Vernon or online here.