The team at NAKEDFACE: l to r: Catherine Arias, Katarina Papageorge, Elaine Visentin, Kate Kim and Thy Vu. Photo Janis Fertuck
Kate Kim, owner of NAKEDFACE Beauty Professionals on Bayview, states her mission right on her phone message: “Helping you achieve your skincare goals is what we are all about,” and she offers encouragement to “remember to take some time for yourself today.”
Kate moved to Canada from Korea in 2006 after visiting family in Toronto and falling in love with the people and nature here. While she was a skincare specialist in Korea, here she encountered some difficulty in adapting her skincare routine to the challenges of a different climate. After taking an aesthetician program and a course in entrepreneurship and working for several years in the beauty industry, Kate decided to open her own studio.
Kate Kim, owner of NAKEDFACE Beauty Professionals on Bayview. Photo Janis Fertuck.
The resident of the Yonge and Eglinton area settled on Leaside because of its “warm community vibe and the neighbourhood support for small businesses.” With her “knowledge of the industry and the challenges to beauty entrepreneurs,” she also wanted to create a health and beauty co-working space and set out to attract some other beauty service providers interested in setting up their own businesses as well as being part of a professional network.
Each member of the collective runs a separate business in its respective space, while the members support each other with business strategies and client referrals. Kate herself operates NAKEDFACE Skincare, creating skincare products with the help of local suppliers in the GTA and using only naturally-derived ingredients in her products “with a focus on effective formulations for hydration and nourishment to slow the aging process and without additives like dyes and fragrances.”
Kate’s team includes Thy Vu, who oversees product development, and Catherine Arias, who is in charge of marketing and social media. Their popular, handcrafted products include cleansing oil, gentle face wash, hydrating gel, nourishing cream, rejuvenating exfoliant and body scrub and moisturizer. Her philosophy is that “skincare is self-care.” Her belief that taking care of ourselves through skincare can help improve our mental and physical health has resulted in a high degree of customer satisfaction.
One client, Rachel Craig, says she loved the experience of trying the different products and seeing the results. Others are similarly impressed by the light, yet luxurious feel of the products and their impact on facial lines, and plan to try more products. Another positive comment comes from Parminder Thukral of Lit Espresso Bar. He and Kate collaborated on a coffee body scrub that has been very popular. He has high praise for the “quality products and top-notch service.”
The two other businesses sharing Kate’s space are Beauty by Kat and Clean Skin Esthetics. Kate is grateful to have collaborative, open and passionate colleagues who enjoy working together and developing the best possible products and services for the community. She says they love taking care of their clients and are looking forward to many more years of doing so.
To learn more: https://nakedface.ca/
