Austin-Based Celebrity Esthetician Renée Rouleau Shares Secrets to Glowing Skin and Building a Beloved Skincare Brand
With clients like Sabrina Carpenter, Demi Lovato, and Patrick Dempsey, Renée Rouleau has become a trusted expert in achieving radiant skin
TRIBEZA contributor Kelly Krause recently sat down with renowned esthetician and Austin resident Renée Rouleau who shared highlights of her exciting career, along with her top product recommendations.
With 28 years of business under her belt, you could say that Renée Rouleau is an absolute legend in the skincare industry. I first heard about Renée in 2016 when I worked for SXSW. A well-known fashion and beauty editor from LA was in town and shared on social media how excited she was to score a facial with Renée Rouleau. She shared an after photo, with glowing skin, as well as every product she used, and from that moment forward, I became a Renée fan.
If you’ve followed Renée’s career, you’ve seen the beautiful evolution of both branding and product expansion growth, but also how Renée has seamlessly built community both in and outside of Austin. Maybe it’s her inclusive, educational or giving approach we get to see on social media, or the fact she’s one of the first to pitch in and volunteer her time to causes near and dear to her heart, but either way, Renée has a warmth to her that’s unmatched.
KK: How long have you been an esthetician?
RR: 35 years. The industry has evolved tremendously, and it continues to be an exciting time. I still have a passion for my craft, my industry, helping elevate estheticians, and most importantly, the impact that I make in helping others feel confident in their skin.
KK: How did you get your start?
RR: My passion for beauty began early in my grandmother’s salon, The Powder Puff Beauty Shoppe, where I saw how confidence from a great look could brighten someone’s day. Inspired by her, I chose beauty as my career path and enrolled in beauty school right after high school.
KK: Tell us how you became a celebrity esthetician. Did a product help launch your career or was it word of mouth?
RR: I didn’t seek out celebrity clients, but they found me. Jessica Simpson was my first, when she needed help with acne while living in Dallas. Next, Demi Lovato came on board, and after she moved to LA, I visited her regularly. She would post about me on social media and talk about me to the medi, and my reputation as the go-to esthetician grew from there.
Oscar winners like Susan Sarandon and Brie Larson and Patrick Dempsey — “McDreamy” and yes he is very dreamy! — would become my clients.
KK: What is the Renée Rouleau approach?
RR: Most skincare brands categorize skin as “dry, normal, or oily,” but as an esthetician, I know skin is more complex. Our skin is like our fingerprint — it’s unique to us and only us. People need customized routines and targeted products to address their unique concerns so I created a product line based on nine skin types to get my clients the results they need.
KK: The Renée Rouleau brand has changed over the years. What’s been the biggest shift?
RR: Celebrating 28 years in business is remarkable. My success stems from my passion for learning, which drives me to develop innovative products and share my skin expertise. While my methods have evolved from TV and direct mail newsletters to now online with social media and video content, my message remains focused on offering a unique perspective. At the heart of it, I’ve always been a content creator.
One big change I have made recently is for the first time in 28 years is having others sell my line, which is something I have never done before. Our line is now being sold through estheticians and skincare professionals — these are my people, and it’s an honor to have them be ambassadors for our brand.
KK: I’m so happy you’re in Austin. What do you love most about being an Austin-based brand?
RR: Austin is a small town with a big city feel, and it’s got a lot of heart and soul. Austinites love to support their hometown heroes, and it feels great to have the support here. I feel the love!
KK: How can someone book a facial with you? Are you still accepting new clients?
RR: I only see a handful of clients out in LA, so my books are not open to new clients. However, my belief about skin is that it’s what you do day in and day out at home that truly drives the results, so, anyone can get amazing results for their skin by using products from the Renée Rouleau line for their unique skin type. We have a Skin Type Quiz that can easily create the perfect, curated routine.
KK: What’s the best piece of entrepreneurial advice you’ve been given?
RR: “You can’t foresee the unexpected, but you can trust you’ll find a way through It.” You never know what’s around the corner. My COO, who was also my husband and partner for 22 years, passed away in 2018 after a short battle with cancer. No one can prepare for a crisis of that magnitude, but I learned that by relying on others for help and support, along with good problem-solving skills, I can get through anything. In those dark days, I put one foot in front of the other and trusted that I would find a way to get through it — and I did.
KK: What’s your advice to anyone looking to either get into the esthetician field or start a business?
RR: Don’t rush to start a business. Working for someone else is getting paid to learn. Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, but it’s hard, and it’s lonely. and there is not a lot of support out there to help navigate the way. Work for someone as long as you can. Be curious, observe, and ask a lot of questions because you’ll need it when you go out on your own.
KK: What do you do in your downtime in Austin? Do you have any favorite spots you frequent?
RR: River Place Trail is an incredible hiking spot, and I get out there as much as I can. My friends, The BROSHFRESH, perform a lot around town so I will always pull up to hear their music. I live on the east side and enjoy hitting up spots over here. I like Holiday. It’s a cool vibe and the food is really good. Nixta is an incredible taqueria that never disappoints.
KK: We recently saw that you were hosting screenings of the film “Skincare” across the U.S., bringing your esthetician network together, not to mention, Sabrina Carpenter and Demi Lovato continue to sing your praises. Are you noticing an uptick in business or how has this shifted for you?
RR: When I heard about the movie “Skincare,” I contacted the production company to host screenings for our esthetician community, and they agreed. I even shared a stage with the main star, Elizabeth Banks.
My long-time clients, Demi Lovato and Sabrina Carpenter, have influenced product demand as everyone wants to use the products from my line they swear by. With Demi’s wedding in May 2025, we’ll focus on bridal skin prep, and I’ll join Sabrina on her “Short N’ Sweet” tour to keep her skin clear and glowing.
KK: If anyone follows you on social media, they know what “Obey Renée” is — tips you share on social media, like shutting the airplane window on a flight. What else should everyone be doing, regardless of skin type?
RR: Don’t get in a rut. Give your skin extra love at home above and beyond your daily skincare. This could include adding a facial device — I like using NuFace — or giving your skin a facial with an exfoliating peel, scrub, and mask. Your skin greatly appreciates newness to keep it staying metabolically active.
KK: If you could recommend 3 products to anyone, what would they be?
RR: Anti Bump Solution: It’s our best-selling product. For those who get stubborn hormonal bumps and breakouts that develop deep under the skin, this helps them go away really fast. It’s also great for men who get bumps and ingrown hairs from shaving.
Vitamin C&E Treatment: Gone are the days of using a vitamin C serum that stings on contact causing a compromised barrier. This is a no-sting formula using the new gold standard of vitamin C — Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.
Rapid Response Detox Masque: There are many products out there to address breakouts once they appear, but we can prevent them in the first place, so this mask focuses on prevention. It interrupts breakouts in their early stages by reducing the impact of bad surface bacteria on the skin, and it smells amazing!
KK: How do you approach building community, both as a business and as an entrepreneur?
RR: Kindness is one of my core values and is at the heart of how I lead. In business, it is perceived as being competitive, so I always seek opportunities to bring the esthetic and/or entrepreneur community together to make us all better. I don’t hold secrets to my success and I share my wisdom with others like others have done for me. At the end of the day, it’s about the legacy we leave, and I strive to make a small difference in my world.
KK: What’s the legacy you hope to leave behind?
RR: In the final days of my husband’s life, he said, “Did my life matter?,” and, “Did I make a difference?,” so I have a tattoo that says “to serve” and I got this to always remind me that I’m here to be of service to others, which is why I chose a profession that improves lives by helping people feel good. I try to serve in all areas of my life and I would like to think that my legacy will be that I was generous and made my small little world a better place.
To learn more about Rouleau and her products, visit www.reneerouleau.com.