Meet Brooke Habberstad | Esthetician & Owner of Studio Rylee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Habberstad and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Ultimately, I wanted to create an atmosphere where people struggling with skin concerns felt welcomed. It can be overwhelming meeting someone for the first time and trusting them with your skin. As a previous acne sufferer, I’ve been in that position. The acne clearing process is a journey, so making sure you’re in the right hands is crucial.

My goal in opening Studio Rylee was to have a place where everything was exactly the way I wanted it to be. From products to treatments, I test everything on my own skin before bringing it into the studio so that I can make sure clients will see the results they’re hoping for.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
After struggling with acne for years on end, I’ve learned a lot along the way (to say the least!) I would research tirelessly, go to various hormone specialists, acupuncturists, dermatologists, estheticians and so on. I became fixated on not only my own acne, but acne in general. Only those who have struggled with acne truly understand how frustrating it can be. After college, I worked in Property Management and quickly realized I wanted to focus on my passion for skin health. Once I graduated Esthetician school, I became a Certified Acne Specialist. My goal in doing this was to help others who are struggling with their skin, whether it be acne or not.

Clearing acne requires a Birds Eye view approach. I often see people thinking that if they just switch to this one viral product, or if they just eliminate dairy from their diet, their skin will clear up. The trick is you have to tackle acne from many different ways. It requires time, patience, and a multitude of lifestyle changes in order to find the root cause and work towards clearing your skin.

I think what sets myself and Studio Rylee apart from others is that I can relate to my clients on many levels. I have tried it all when it comes to acne and the only person that was able to clear my skin was myself. I understand how frustrating the process can be and how easy it can be to want to turn towards bandaid solutions (antibiotics, harsh topicals, Accutane). I typically check in on my acne clients every few weeks or so to make sure they’re progressing and cheer them on along the way. Seeing my acne clients skin progress week after week as well as their confidence is my “Why.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a question I get asked so often that I even created a page in my notes app dedicated to all my Charleston recommendations! My favorite thing to do when I get a break from running my small business is experiencing Charleston’s amazing culinary scene. I’m from NY originally, and I have to say I think Charleston has some of the best food in the country.
If someone was visiting from out of town I would probably start off the day by taking a stroll to one of my favorite breakfast spots- Babas on Cannon, Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop, and Huriyali to name a few. The whipped honey espresso from Babas is a crowd favorite and definitely a must have on any visit to Charleston. After that, I would bring them on a walking tour around Colonial Lake and South of Broad (pit stop at Studio Rylee of course!) For lunch we would head over to 167 Raw. While we wait for our table to be ready we would shop at the nearby stores on lower King. Once our table is ready we would get a little bit of everything at 167 Raw. Some of my favorites are the tuna tataki, raw oysters, pastrami’d swordfish sandwich, and Crispy Oysters sub Shrimp (no this is not on the menu but it is one of their best items). After lunch we would either do a little bit more shopping or head out to Sullivan’s Island for a beach walk. Before dinner, we would head to the Citrus Club rooftop for drinks and the best sunset views in Charleston. Finally, for dinner we would go to one of my favorites- Chubby Fish or Vern’s. Both tend to leave a lasting impression on visitors and a reason to keep them coming back!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my support system of family, friends, my boyfriend, and the Charleston community. It’s very intimidating starting a business on your own and not knowing what the future holds. Starting from zero clients, having to build trust with strangers, figuring out how to market yourself, etc etc. If it wasn’t for the people around me telling me that they believed in me and that I will succeed, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now. Opening Studio Rylee has been the best and most fulfilling decision I’ve made in my life thus far.

Website: https://www.studiorylee.com

Instagram: @studiorylee

Other: To book an appointment: Vagaro.com/studiorylee

Image Credits
Hannah Burke
@hcbcreative