Alumni Spotlight: Gabriel Taylor, National Aesthetician, Skin Expert & Business Owner

Alumni Spotlight on esthetics grad, Gabriel Taylor! A National Aesthetician and Skin Expert, Adjunct Instructor for Christine Valmy, and founder of his cosmetic/spa consulting company, Taylor Made Consulting!

Gabriel has accomplished many things throughout his professional journey and always gives credit to those who have helped him along the way! While enrolled at Christine Valmy, he was taken under the wing of Ms. Marina Valmy, who saw his potential and recommended he become the Product Representative at Christine Valmy once he graduated. This experience opened a new world of possibilities for Gabriel, including opening his spa/cosmetics brands consulting firm and working for Estee Lauder as a Brand Representative. At Borghese, Gabriel travels the country as their skin expert, doing facial events, educating about their products, press interviews, and more!

His advice to upcoming estheticians is to stay curious! Don’t limit yourself  – see all the opportunities that await you! Gabriel is another shining member of our CV Family and makes us proud every day with his consistent achievements and hard work.

1. What specialty(s) did you study during your time at CV? I studied esthetics. My goal was to come to Christine Valmy to earn my esthetics license and work in a spa performing facials. Having suffered from acne as a teenager and young adult, facials ended up being what cleared up my skin. I became very passionate about skincare. After visiting other esthetics schools in NYC and discovering their Director’s were Valmy graduates, that was my deciding factor to enroll in the school. 
2. What year did you graduate? I graduated in May 2006! I can’t believe it! I just dated myself! 
3. What are you doing now? I am very busy between operating my own consulting company, teaching as an adjunct professor at Christine Valmy and serving as the National Aesthetician and Skin Expert for luxury Italian skincare brand Borghese Roma. I founded my consulting company while working for the Estée Lauder Companies nearly 20 years ago. I discovered that companies had a need for training and maximizing their cosmetic retail and spa operations and my Father had worked in consulting for years. So I began my consulting career working under his company. I then branched off on my own. I ended up working as a cosmetics executive for many years which included launching brands into national retailers such as Ulta, representing brands on QVC and now representing an iconic brand like Borghese. All of this stemmed from my Christine Valmy education. 
4. What was your journey like to get to your current role? It’s funny, my original goal was to simply work in a spa doing facials. While a student at Christine Valmy we were encouraged to practice recommending home care to our clients in clinic. I apparently was very good at selling and product knowledge because it was Marina Valmy herself who saw my potential and hired me upon graduation to work as a product rep for the skincare division of Christine Valmy. The rest as they say was history! I never would have imagined a career in cosmetic retail. 
5. What was your favorite part about your time as a CV student? I loved theory and learning about ingredients. That has served me very well in my career. I became fascinated with formulas and was privileged to be taken under the wing of Marina Valmy who is one of the most respected cosmetic chemists in our industry. My professional and personal friendship with Marina is my most cherished takeaway from my time as a student. 
6. What is something you learned during your time at CV that has stuck with you today? How to use my hands. As an esthetician your hands are your tools. You can always tell the difference between an experienced pro and a novice by their touch. At Valmy I was able to hone in on my facial technique and ensure I was using my hands properly. I also had the honor of meeting Miss Christine Valmy herself. She taught me something that I have never forgotten and that is the power of the placebo effect. Yes skincare works and makes our skin healthy. But how beauty products and treatments make the client feel is just as valuable. Miss Valmy spoke of the importance of having your client leave that treatment room feeling more beautiful than when she came in. If someone feels good in their own skin then we are doing our job as estheticians. 
7. Do you have any advice for someone who is considering a beauty education? My advice for someone considering getting into the beauty industry is to be patient, listen to what people say, and be very gentle in every way possible. Never make your clients feel like they are either rushed during a service or that they are being judged; always keep in mind how you would feel!
8. Do you have any wise words for students who are about to graduate and look for their first professional job in the industry? Beware of well meaning people! People often want to tell you what you can and cannot do. You have to listen to your own inner voice and that inner voice should be a healthy one.
9. Which CV products are always in your Inventory or shelf? That would have to be the iconic Lotion X! This product has cult status in the esthetics world for making extractions quick and painless. It is the best desincrustation lotion on the market today and for good reason.                                                                                        
   
   

   Our ultimate goal is to provide our students with a strong foundation upon which to grow a flourishing career. Marina Valmy, our leader, calls this a “root system,” and it’s why our success as educators is embodied by the successes of our alumni. To celebrate this, we feature the achievements of our fabulous graduates in our Alumni Spotlight series. Each Spotlight showcases an interview with a Christine Valmy graduate about their educational and professional journeys.

   
   
   

   As part of our educational philosophy, we aim to provide thought leadership on topics relevant to industry professionals and those with a passion for beauty. Click here to visit our Educated Insights homepage to learn trends, tutorials, industry news, and tips for at-home care and spa treatments.

   
   

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