Renata’s Organic Skincare
624 Devon Ave. in Park Ridge
(773) 517-3512
RenatasOrganics.com

Q&A with Renata Karkut, master esthetician and owner of Renata’s Organic Skincare, which has called Park Ridge home for eight years (and been in business for 17)

Q: Tell us about the influence your grandmother had on you growing up.

A: My grandmother in Poland was organic and holistic before it became a trend. She was always very close to my heart because she taught me that way of living. Watching her using simple ingredients straight from the garden and making incredible things — from dishes to jams and all kinds of products — was amazing. She was so accustomed to working in the garden with her hands. Back then, I hated it, but as I was growing up, I started noticing how important it was and started cultivating this knowledge at my new home in America. Years later, it gave me a foundation for my way of living and lifelong passion to create a life of beauty.

Q: You’re looking at 17 years in business and coming up on your eighth year at the current location in South Park. What was your path like toward becoming an esthetician and entrepreneur?

A: When I moved here at 25, I was working in a restaurant for about five years before I moved on to the front desk at a day spa on the North Shore. This experience brought me back to Poland and the European approach to skin care that is very results oriented. Facials should not be just a luxury… there is so much more to skin care. We can get beautiful results with a holistic approach to the types of treatments we choose to support our body’s natural ability to regenerate, repair and renew. Holistic also means that we care about how you feel through all of your senses: touch, smell, vision and sound. The guest should be leaving with beautiful, glowing skin and feeling good about themselves.

Taking a holistic approach has always been a focus because I understood from the beginning that there are so many different factors that can influence the skin. Life’s responsibilities, demands, pressures and expectations are growing, and those affect how we look and feel.”

Life is filled with all kinds of responsibilities and stresses, and wellness is the way to take care of them. One of my influences and inspirations was to create a space for women because I understand how, as caregivers and providers for loved ones, as mothers, often with full-time jobs and dealing with hormonal changes, we are overwhelmed with the tension, pressure and stress in our lives. We need to find a safe space and community of like-minded people where we go to recharge our batteries. I want Renata’s Organic Skincare to be that place where you can do that before going back out into the world.

We are more than just our skin, and what is happening to our skin is a reflection of what is happening to us internally, whether it be our mental, emotional or physical health. And I wanted to offer a variety of ways to heal and stay focused on your journey toward healing, recovery and reconnection.

Q: What are some of the more popular services offered at your spa?

A: We are known for our Organic Glow Facial. It’s a fully customizable treatment that lasts 90 minutes and combines our European, results-driven approach with all the steps of a normal facial with extractions, but we also utilize Hungarian face massage techniques that help to lift and tone the skin. We reserve time, too, for the relaxation and mindfulness portion that includes neck, shoulder, head and foot massages.

Our latest addition is a Kobido massage that is a Japanese face lift massage technique. … It is both invigorating and stimulating, but it also brings about a sense of relaxation, which is always important for us — the idea of a complete treatment.”

Our latest addition is a Kobido massage that is a Japanese face lift massage technique. Think of this full one-hour massage as a workout for the face that helps to firm and tone the skin and improves the condition of the skin. What is great about it is that it is both invigorating and stimulating, but it also brings about a sense of relaxation, which is always important for us — the idea of a complete treatment.

The third popular non-invasive treatment is the Glow2Facial. It is a 3-in-1 treatment that exfoliates, oxygenates and nourishes the skin. We are using customized serum and ultrasound therapy that both stimulates the collagen and elastin and brightens the skin. This is a treatment that has no downtime and can be done throughout the year, and it’s fully customized with different types of oxypods that pair with different skin types.

Q: Tell us about your facials and treatments that focus on teens.

A: Teen facials are fully designed for younger clients exposed to hormonal changes, puberty and the stresses of growing up. With younger clients, this is usually their first introduction to skin care, and we want to educate them on the proper ways of taking care of themselves and the proper products they should be using. We introduce professional consultation and a focus on deep cleaning, extractions and sanitizing.

We like to look at more than the symptom and try to figure out what in their lifestyle can cause breakouts and flare-ups and, by listening to the guest and their specific needs, we can go deeper into their condition to help them.

Every facial comes with a professional consultation that recommends a home-care routine. We want to have that personal touch and a professional recommendation after working on their skin rather than a superficial push to just buy something off the shelf.”

Q: Describe the importance of providing your clients with a space that treats the mind, body and spirit together in the pursuit of optimal health.

A: This is a holistic approach at looking at our clients as a whole and addressing their needs — skin, body, mental health and their emotional health. This has always been one of my main focuses because I understood from the beginning that there are so many different factors that can influence the skin. Life’s responsibilities, demands, pressures and expectations are growing more and more, and those affect how we look and feel. Being able to offer our clients different tools so they can take them home and let us serve as a type of GPS system for their overall well-being.

Q: What are some of the newer products you carry that are particularly popular right now?

A: Every facial comes with a professional consultation that recommends a home-care routine. We want to have that personal touch and a professional recommendation after working on their skin rather than a superficial push to just buy something off the shelf.

We are always looking for products that are clean, safe and effective for the skin and for the environment that also include beautiful results. That is always the key when bringing a new line of products to our shelves. The Neom brand from the U.K. is a new addition that we recommend highly. Neom Wellbeing uses essential oils for candles, diffusers and our best-selling magnesium lotions that are popular for helping with sleep and relaxation.

Q: What’s next for Renata’s Organic Skincare? Any future plans that people should know about?

A: We are planning for a grand opening date of June 27 for Amaru Wellness Hub around the corner from us on Prospect Ave. (and Devon). This is a collaboration with two of my best friends, and it will be a space for our community to meet to expand our perspective of what wellness means for us. We will be offering breath work and cacao sessions, and many other unique offerings. The door is open to special events and to holistic and health practitioners who would like to share their talents and wisdom for finding optimal health and a balanced life. This location will also offer a storefront with meditation, clothing, unique jewelry, superfoods, supplements and more. Visit store.amaruwellness.org for more info.