From Canberra to creating a global skin wellness program
Kim Le Sambolec, founder of Skin Wellness Academy
Born and raised in Canberra, Kim Le Sambolec founded an overseas skin wellness company to help women and girls understand ways to help prevent and solve skin blemishes - before bringing it back to Canberra.
Many Canberrans dream of leaving for the bright lights of the big city - only to return. One of our returnees is businesswoman Kim Le Sambolec. When she moved to Hong Kong with her former partner, an airline pilot, she decided to found Skin Wellness Academy. That proved successful and when she moved to Vietnam - the country of her ancestors - the business followed suit. So much so that before she returned to Canberra, her clinic was four stories tall and had six rooms.
Having a conversation
How is a skin wellness business different to a dermatologist? ‘A dermatologist is needed in a more medical field for infections and medication,’ said Le Sambolec. In contrast, her work is preventative. ‘I can help lower inflammation and create a skincare program for the client.’
Skin Wellness Academy stocks five different lines of skincare products, all of which are Australian made, clinically tested and approved.
“It’s always a conversation first”
For Le Sambolec, it was about educating and giving the client informed choice options. ‘What is your current issue, what are you comfortable with, and where do you want to be? Together we’ll make a plan to get from concern to the end result, which is healthy skin,’ she said.
Le Sambolec rarely treats on the first consultation. ‘It’s always a conversation first.’
When she lived in Hong Kong, 90 per cent of Le Sambolec’s clients were expats. While she is now based in Canberra, she continues to hire an employee in both Hong Kong and Vietnam to keep those relationships alongside the skin treatment of her previous clients.
Wellbeing and skin
“I like to say that our skin is similar to a pot plant. If you’re just going to water the leaves on the surface and never fertilize the soil, how are you ever going to get flowers blooming?”
Le Sambolec runs retreats for her clients over 35. ‘They were the first skin wellness retreats in the world,’ she added. ‘I started them to help people who usually take care of others before themselves. To give them tools to relax.’ The retreats are run over three days in a five-star resort eating completely organic meals. ‘They go home with a bag of tools that will help them take care of themselves at home. I’ve been sent videos of my beautiful clients meditating with their children after the retreats.’
Le Sambolec said that skin responded well to the 4 Rs - rest, relax, recharge and restore (the body). ‘Having 10 minutes of downtime a day will help transform your skin,’ she said.
‘I like to say that our skin is similar to a pot plant. If you’re just going to water the leaves on the surface and never fertilize the soil, how are you ever going to get flowers blooming? The epidermis and dermis are our roots. If we don’t fix them, the skin will continue to decline.’
Passion for skincare
Le Sambolec is very qualified in the wellness area. She has a bachelor’s degree in dermal science, she’s a yoga teacher, a reiki master, and also trained in neurolinguistic programming. She would love to dive more into naturopathy or maybe a post-graduate degree in nutrition.
Le Sambolec is passionate about helping her clients. ‘My aim is to spread happiness and health from within, which will then make you glow on the outside,’ she said. ‘We’re all connected in some way, shape or form. If I can help one person, that calmness will have a ripple effect.’
A future foundation in Canberra
Le Sambolec plans to make a base back in Canberra. ‘I want to build a solid foundation here in Canberra and also continue doing online consults with my thousands of clients in Asia. I would like to develop my database of clients in Asia, Europe and the USA who order products on a regular basis and run more webinars and workshops online and run my retreats here,’ she said.
