PRODUCT ALERT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ELENA RUBIN OF ELENA RUBIN SKINCARE Our Coverage Sponsored by Advanced Derma Laser
Elena Rubin
Advanced Derma Laser is the premier Laser Esthetician in Manhattan and Official Laser Esthetician of Whom You Know. Dedicated to the most comprehensive, safe, effective, laser hair removal services for the past 10 years, Advanced Derma Laser has been recommended for two years straight by Whom You Know in Spa Peachy, ever since we started working with them. Jennifer Kandemir is a Mover and Shaker: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/06/movers-and-shakers-jennifer-kandemir.html In addition to their expertise, they utilize only the finest, state of the art lasers, which enable them to provide clients with the latest and the very best cosmetic laser technology has to offer. Over the years Advanced Derma Laser Inc. has performed over 140,000 successful permanent Laser Hair Removal treatments and has become one of the most highly skilled and respected Laser Hair Removal Centers in America. They are so convinced that you will get great results that they offer a life time guarantee and are proud to be New York's only Laser Center to offer such security! Located at 422 Madison Ave., 3rd floor New York, NY 10017, they can be reached at (212) 223-2235.
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Elena's journey to wellness began in the unlikeliest of places. On Wall Street.
A Harvard graduate, former investment banker, McKinsey consultant and highly credentialed engineer, she is impressive by any measure. But when long hours, high pressure, and rigorous travel plagued the normally clear-eyed, ivory-skinned Elena with extended acne, hair loss, and auto-immune disorders, she sought out the help of Eastern Medicine practitioners.
These practitioners taught Elena what to eat, when to eat, and how to calm her nerves. The effects were significant, immediate—and fully healing. Awed and changed, Elena left the corporate world to dive wholly into her passion: holistic skincare.
Meet Elena Rubin, the most overqualified facialist in New York.
This East-West expert blends two opposing worlds. She is a practitioner of holistic skincare—and speaks of chi (qi) and balance. Yet her approach to skincare is refreshingly enlightened: analytical, questioning, and firmly grounded in science.
The result? Elena cures pimples before they happen. Puts a hex on aging—before lines emerge or deepen. Infuses your skin’s innermost layers with moisture—so you marvel at how parched you’d been. Elena Rubin Facials are elevated: they’re professional, nurturing, unhurried and smart.
Elena’s story, From Wall Street to Wellness™ reaches out to performers in all realms. Bankers. Lawyers. Comedians. Authors. Musicians. Models. Money managers. These are among our loyal—and glowing—clientele. We are pleased to present Elena Rubin as our latest interview in our most populated column, Product Alert! Peachy Deegan interviewed Elena Rubin for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: What do you enjoy most about what you do now, and do you miss anything about Wall Street?
Elena Rubin: I directly see that I am helping people feel better each and every day. My clients tell me as they leave my skin care studio that they feel relaxed, refreshed, recharged and ready to face another day/week/month ahead. This in turn feels me with deep gratitude that I was able to deliver that comfort and boost to them. As for working on Wall Street, I don't miss much from those years at all. It was a good experience to have - I learned a lot, met some nice people, traveled some neat places and was a part of some exciting deals - but it wasn't fulfilling to my spirit the way skin care is.
Do you still follow the market?
Not actively. I stopped reading the Wall Street Journal the day after I left Corporate America. Quickly thereafter, I noticed that I started to feel a lot happier and feel a lot less worry about the world. I still am generally aware of trends and what's going on overall because I have a lot of trader clients who give me the latest, but I don't focus on it. Instead, I spend my mental energy studying whatever I can about health, beauty and vitality.
What should one do to maintain a balanced life in Manhattan?
Live as naturally as possible - in harmony with your body and with respect to the cycles of nature. Just getting your sleeping, eating and physical activities to happen at the right time of day can work wonders towards making you feel more vital, energized and able to withstand stressors. I have a whole schpeal on the benefits of living according to the horary cycle that I teach my clients - it really works and its quite simple to do.
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
My family and their military mindset! I grew up with two career military officer parents and my older brother is now an F-16 pilot in the Air Force. Always trying your best, never giving up, serve something bigger and beyond yourself and doing everything you do with integrity were concepts that were ingrained into me from the cradle. I didn't realize how different or special that was at the time since it was all I knew, but its something I am tremendously grateful for now. I take the same warrior-mindset to my skin care practice, where I am in rigorous pursuit of ousting anything that is keeping you from loving your skin. And yes, I still make my bed every day...with hospital corners and everything.
What are you proudest of and why?
That I learned to live with no fear of being exactly who I am, my authentic self. Several years ago, it was quite difficult for me when I told people I was giving up my corporate career and solid credentials to go to beauty school to pursue my passion for skin care and spas. More and more people are starting to think outside the box now about their career in the economy of late, but when I was going through the process, people around me weren't so supportive and didn't get it. Several loved ones of mine flat out told me that I was wasting my life and education. Fast forward to today and of course they see how happy I am, how much joy doing skin care gives me and they are happy for me, but it was a lonely road there for a long while where I had very few folks cheering me on.
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?
I'd like to study with two masters I know of - one in Switzerland and one in Thailand. One does skin care and one does Eastern healing and meditation techniques. I just have to find the right time to immerse myself with them without abandoning my practice here.
What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
I have several! Being quite busy with little spare time for shopping has given me the opportunity to leverage the great salespeople I meet in the shops around SoHo. Instead of stressing about how to wear the latest styles, I just fess up that I am not great at assembling outfits and ask for help. If there's something I want or I see a dress in the window that inspires me, I try it on and as I'm doing so, I ask the girls that work there if they have any other suggestions for me. I tell them what I'm looking for - a sweater dress, shearling boots I saw the other day, a cool skirt, whatever, and they usually have a suggestion right off the top of their heads that they think will work for me, my body and my coloring. When they come back to see how I'm doing in the dressing room, I give them my feedback - more like this, less like that, etc. and they are able to pull even more from the store what they think will work. This has led me to trying on things I never would have picked up and loving them. It feels old fashioned to actually ask the sales people to help you create the look you want, not just get you another size, but they always seem to enjoy doing it as the folks working in the SoHo retail shops really love fashion. And, because I get such great results, I just keep going back to the same places: the SoHo locations of BCBG, Compton de Cotonniers and Club Monaco.
What is your favorite drink?
Chilled Herradura blanco tequila, 3 limes, extra salt.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?
Funny things happen to me all the time, almost everyday! Can't limit it to just one.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
Jogging along the Battery Park Esplanade in the afternoon sunshine while looking out over the water at the Statue of Liberty. There's a grassy patch there too that I like to walk barefoot in and feel the grass touch the soles of my feet - it's very grounding.
If you could have dinner with any person living or passed, who would it be and why?
Abraham Lincoln...he was such an extraordinary man who overcame so many childhood insecurities and personal setbacks to achieve so much progress not just for himself, but for so many others living at that time. I'd like to ask him where his inner strength came from, who were his role models and how he was able to teach himself so much.
What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?
In addition to giving 1000% to my clients, I make an effort to give out good vibrations everywhere I go to whomever I meet. Whenever someone I encounter says something negative or that's frustrating them, I simply respond to them with compassion and a helpful, positive mindset. And, I try to not go around spreading anything negative myself. I make sure I take care of my needs and my self so that I don't need to drain anyone else and no one else has to do it for me. It's counter-intuitive but it really works...if you take care of you and keep you happy, you can go around and bring happiness to others. Emotions are contagious, so I'm mindful to use that in a positive way!
Other than Product Alert of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?
Patriotic Peachy! I like that Peachy is bringing attention to the awesomeness that is America. It's a refreshingly nice reminder to be in awe of and inspired by our unique land, history and role in the world.
Have you drank The Peachy Deegan yet and if not, why not?
Sorry, I have not yet had the pleasure. Would love to try it and plan to do so next time I'm at Hill Country...love their bands!
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I've recently taken up a hobby that gets me off the island of Manhattan once a week - sporting clays. As much as I love living and working in the city, a day in the countryside hiking in the woods and playing in the sunshine works wonders for my spirit.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
email: info@elenarubin.com or call 212 537 5817
