Deep Read with Phoebe Lovatt Facialist and Founder Sofie Pavitt on Career Pivots, Locking In, and Building a Skincare Brand
Oct 31, 2025
Sofie Pavitt, a former fashion designer turned in-demand facialist, shares her inspiring journey from the corporate world to launching her skincare brand. She discusses the challenges of transitioning careers, how the pandemic sparked her product ideas, and her focus on effective acne care. Sofie emphasizes the importance of simplicity in skincare routines and the evolving role of social media in her business. She offers valuable advice for aspiring beauty founders, advocating for a deep understanding of customer needs and building long-term trust.
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Seoul Trips Sparked Skincare Obsession
- Regular trips to Seoul while working at Michael Kors introduced Sofie to advanced Korean skincare and treatments.
- That exposure sparked her curiosity and motivated her to retrain as an esthetician.
From Fashion To Facials
- Sofie quit her fashion job, trained as an esthetician, and built a client base by giving weekend facials while working weekdays.
- She opened bookings, set a target (35) and booked 85 in a month, which convinced her to go full-time in skincare.
Pandemic Pivot: Virtual Consults
- During the 2020 shutdown Sofie pivoted to virtual consultations and saw rapid demand, doing up to 40 consults weekly while caring for her baby.
- Virtual work produced quick before-and-afters and revealed a need for grown-up, effective acne products.
