An Honest Approach To Beauty with Cynthia Sass of Tru Skincare
WRITTEN BY ANNIE BLOJ // CULTURE & STYLE EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Cynthia Sass, founder and owner of Tru Skincare, has always been known for taking "an honest approach to beauty." With decades of one on one experience with loyal clients looking for solutions for their skincare needs, she has created an exclusive line of skincare products that address specific skin concerns. "Seamlessness and refinement of one's beauty is not only a goal, but a natural side effect of Cynthia's years of perfecting her craft" is a perfect way to explain her approach. She looks to the concerns of the whole body to solve even the most complicated of skincare issues.
Annie Bloj: Cynthia, how did you get your start in the beauty and wellness industry? What drew you to skincare?
Cynthia Sass: I've been a makeup artist since I could hold a shadow brush! This intimacy of three-plus decades working with skin of every color and type laid the natural groundwork for my curiosity about and feeling at home working with skin. Giving birth to a baby that literally developed scales on her skin just after birth set me on a journey of a lifetime in finding the root cause of skin issues and ways to fix them.
AB: One of the things that I admire most about your work with clients is that you consider what is happening in their health overall while diagnosing skin issues. How did you develop your approach?
CS: Such a great question! Having a daughter born with severe skin disorders and seeing the devastation of pharmaceuticals on her whole body without ever fixing the actual problem was the catalyst for me to "go rogue" in finding the root cause of these conditions and find natural solutions. I've forever loved a good challenge, and I guess the universe recognized this! My clients who have sought me out have one thing in common; they seek beautiful skin with the understanding that it's a "whole"-istic approach that gets you there. This is not only what drew me in, but what keeps me absolutely obsessed.
AB: What inspired you to create your line of skincare products, Skin by Tru?
CS: In a word, integrity. Working hands-on each day with people who want and deserve to see real improvement in their skin's health and appearance inspired me. Hearing story upon story (mine included!) of investing hard-earned money into products with a seemingly compelling marketing story and not seeing results was unacceptable. Having a deep understanding of what ingredients create a visible change in our skin's health and creating products that contain viable amounts of active ingredients to support that became a real mission for me. Results being what I've built my business on, it was time to create products that align with both my personal ethics and the actual results my clients deserve.
AB: What makes the Skin by Tru products different from other skincare products?
CS: Once again, integrity! I've poured over a decade of experience as a working esthetician to develop products that change the skin and create visible, real results. This is what speaks to what makes Skin by Tru products stand out from the rest. This is what I do; my passion, my livelihood, and my mission - getting people the results they seek by creating actual change in the skin. The words that are on my website that describe my products are not mine; rather, these are the exact words from the people who use my products, with their names and pictures posted proudly alongside. Another difference? More than 80% of people who purchase my products are repeat, long term users of Skin by Tru, and of the other 20%, I'd say about half are people who learned of my products from that 80%. I stand behind every product and service I offer, and it's me who answers your questions, and I couldn't be more honored. I'd say those are a few things that make Skin by Tru different.
AB: How have you seen skincare needs change this year, with all of the stresses that 2020 has brought us?
CS: Indeed, and with some somewhat surprising (even fun!) outcomes. Getting a routine facial became challenging with COVID, and at times, impossible. This was a big issue for many, and those struggling with acne were most impacted; they genuinely depend on routine, timed treatments to keep breakouts under control. Others saw the signs of stress show up in ways such as breakouts, new or more pronounced fine lines/wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or an overall dull, tired look to their skin. I struggled with how I could help them when going into the treatment room wasn't safe. I'd had enough. After getting repeated calls of distress from my clients, old and new, I had to find a way to help them address these issues safely and effectively. So began my pivot into creating virtual offerings to provide live, face-to-face at-home treatments that would yield real, visible results. My idea was to have an initial call to establish the client's concerns and needs, schedule their first session, and mail them a tailored treatment kit that I would customize specifically for them. We'd then show up for our appointment via video, and I'd walk them through their treatment. But would it work?
In June of 2020, I launched into my first pilot virtual session with a trusting friend. I dialed in the details to ensure a safe, effective, professional-level treatment while monitoring the process from beginning to end. One session this month was on a frigid, snowy evening at 8 pm, and here we were, cozied in our pjs., with warm tea at our sides doing a pro-peel session! Dozens of treatments later with clients ranging in age from 18-77, I now serve clients all over the nation. I've expanded my offerings to include virtual makeup lessons, product review sessions to organize and streamline everything in your skincare or makeup routine through my recommendations of what to keep, toss, and what might be added (this one's been a fave!). Of course, I love doing the beloved at-home peel sessions. This has allowed me to expand my reach to help so many amazing people with whom it just wouldn't have been possible to have before. The best part is all of this in the safety and comfort of your home.
AB: Based on your decades of experience, Cynthia, can you debunk the top 3 skincare myths you've encountered over the years?
CS: 1. "Cleanse your face morning and evening." Want to save yourself some time and money? This is a marketing message designed to sell more products and couldn't further from your skin's best interest. Your skin is at it's absolute best when you wake; cleansing before bed is a must, then your beautiful, natural oils have hydrated your skin to perfection. When you wake, the last thing you would want to do is strip that goodness away with a cleanser in your skin's finest hour! A nice splash with cool to warm water or a rinse in the shower to freshen you up, followed by your treatment and sunblock, and you're perfectly set for the day!
2. "You need a toner after cleansing." But have you ever stopped to ask why? I'm of the proven school that "less is more" when it comes to steps in a skincare routine, but making sure that what you do and use is highly effective and necessary for your skin. The good news is that unless you suffer from severe acne, a toner is unnecessary, but quality, active ingredients appropriately used in your routine are!
3. "You need both a day "cream" and night "cream." Again, the question is why? If you're using a treatment product with the right ingredients, there is absolutely no need for two different products for day and night. Your treatment product should be your one and only, with the use of sunblock for daytime.
Cynthia Sass // Tru Skincare: @tru_skincare
Writer: Annie Bloj: @theblojreport
Photographer: Esther Lee Leach: @estherleeleach