From an early age, aesthetics and entrepreneurship share the heart of Josée Charland. Naturally, she decides to start her own business at the age of 18 after completing her training to become an esthetician. The outcome? With her friend Hélène Leblond, she’s now at the head of EQlib, a complete beauty and wellness institute that offers an unparalleled experience to its clients.
IPL, Laser, Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peeling, Microneedling: Personalized Treatments to Solve Skin Problems
Josée’s first real contact with aesthetics came at the age of 11. “I had just returned from an appointment with an eye specialist,” recalls the esthetician. “I had had some problems, I had to do lots of exercises and I had just learned that my eyes were now correct. I was very proud of that! It was my birthday, and my mother asked me what I wanted. I told her, ‘I want to go to the beauty salon next door.’ It was love at first sight.”
Her motivation for entering the profession? Helping people with their skin problems. Helping teenagers with acne, helping the epidermis heal, softening deep wrinkles: these actions not only improve the appearance of one’s face, but also enhance the confidence and self-esteem of the beneficiary. “Today, we’re fortunate to have access to technology that is constantly evolving. We have powerful tools to work with that give spectacular results, without going through surgery. It’s wonderful!”
EQlib: More than an Aesthetics Centre
Initially the owner of a tiny business – a booth in a hair salon – in downtown Montreal, Josée met Hélène by chance. At the time, Hélène had also just opened a small shop in the east end of Montreal and each became the other’s esthetician. “I was questioning myself, I wanted to expand my business. During a dinner with Hélène, she told me she was thinking of coming to work downtown. I told her, ‘You’re too good, there’s no way you will be my competitor, you’re working with me!’ A few weeks later, we partnered.”
Both share the same vision of aesthetics. Many factors influence our skin. Genetics, our lifestyle and the way we take care of it. “When we meet a client, we consider all these aspects and we evaluate their needs to achieve their goals. We tell the truth, the person knows where they’re headed and if there are requests that are beyond our competence, we refer them to the right professionals. EQlib comes from the balance between all these elements. We each have our strengths and it’s the team that counts.”
From Facial Treatment to Nutrition: Care on a Human Scale
At EQlib, everyone has a lot of experience in their field and all have complementary skills. “Francine and Annie joined us with new technology and are more involved in body care, while Hélène and I are more focused on facial aesthetics (microdermabrasion, chemical peel treatment, microneedling, laser). Tania is there for nutrition. It’s wonderful!” When a client comes in, a personalized program is designed specifically for them, taking into account their life, activities, work, budget, family, and needs. “That’s what sets us apart. That, and the fact that we take the time to educate our clients. I can give the best treatment in the world, but if the person doesn’t look after their skin afterwards, it won’t work. If I teach them what to do and with what products, the results will stick.”
Aesthetics: a Living Passion
Aesthetics is a constantly evolving field, and technology is always being upgraded to push treatments even further. “I’m passionate about my work and I love to learn. I’m always on the lookout for new treatments. We have a profession that is moving and that is still interesting!”
Josée states loud and clear, she enjoys her job as much as the first day. “No matter what is going on in my life, when I lay my hands on my client’s face, I forget about all my problems.” She has achieved her dream, and she continues to savour it daily. “I’m a simple girl who loves beauty. Beauty through health. I love to be around people. I’m a business owner and I work in an industry that I’m passionate about. I only wish for it to continue!”
