Meet Lacy Yamaoka | Founder & Facialist, Elo Skin

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lacy Yamaoka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lacy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Firstly, leaving a legacy behind for my five-year-old daughter Eloise was the driving force behind my business beginnings. Elo Skin, aptly named after Eloise, was a creative endeavor from the heart but also about establishing roots and donning a new hat from a career perspective. We had been living a vagabond life working in the hotel world prior from Hawaii to the Caribbean, and being a creative chameleon, I wanted to start a special niche business. I struggled with finding the “it” facial experience unless I was in Europe or Asia, so why not bring more luxury and European style into the wellness world here in North Dallas! When my husband and I honeymooned in Paris, I discovered the beloved Biologique Recherche skincare company and knew it was a match made in heaven. My parents had passed, and that was the final push I needed to turn what little they left behind into my brand, my story.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a lifelong learner, Elo Skin was a challenge and opportunity to help others embrace the aging process positively and enhance natural beauty rather than striving for perfection. I’ve always loved skincare, design, superior service, and quality, which is why I passionately loved my prior position at Four Seasons Hotels, where I kicked off my career in marketing. Being a part of the hotel community and training instilled confidence, and I was surrounded by multi-cultural diversity for the first time in my life at the age of 25. Texas began to look homogenous amidst the female communities with the birth of botox, and after being away for 10 years. This inspired me to bring a slice of my spa and travel experiences to Frisco! First word of advice: don’t do exactly what your girlfriend does! We tailor our facials and regimens to your specific needs. What sets Elo Skin apart from others is that we are uniquely a non-tipping studio and not a quick fix; we stimulate your lymphatic system and facial muscle anatomy to lift your look over time versus freeze and fill. There is not another studio in North Dallas with our holistic ethos. We are all about the long game, beyond the surface of the skin. Je ne sais quoi, the French saying that describes the elusive beauty you cannot quite put your finger on, that cool-girl confidence. This is what I believe women should strive for, and it all starts with feeling good about the skin you’re in. There is empowerment through ritual and prioritizing self-care, and wellness for me is simple: honoring what your body needs and doing it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a week-long staycation in the area with a girlfriend, first I’d book a facial and body treatment at Elo! We are launching our European lymphatic body treatments in a few weeks that will feature not only a full-body slimming and tummy-cinching lymphatic massage but also a luxurious scalp facial! Next, we would lunch at Darna Market at Legacy West, up the street from Elo, my favorite chic Euro-Mediterranean eatery, and then hit the shops. For a Hill Country-esque escape, I’d book the new Omni PGA Frisco Resort for a few nights. When in Texas, always look for live music and dress the part – hit the hat bar at The Star Flea Style, where you can design and brand your own cowboy hat. The McKinney Farmers Market and Square are always a weekend must for that Texas charm! Lastly, a taste of classic upscale Dallas at the Rosewood Mansion bar for an espresso martini, and then finish out the week with bubbly and brunch at Leonie’s at the Swexan.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Success and leadership, I’m discovering, are not as much about working hard, clawing your way to the top, or receiving recognition, but about the generosity you can offer your team and being the person your team wants to work with, not for. Get in there and flip the burgers too. I’ve observed this during my husband Todd’s tenure as a hotelier and GM, so I owe him a shoutout! He has led by doing the tasks other leaders would expect to be done for them, being involved and incredibly relatable. There’s something to be said for that, and I’m appreciative for those bits of wisdom. And with that said, I want to dedicate this to our fabulous Elo team! A wonderful group of collaborative ladies led by the dynamic Quinn Rogers, who has helped me substantially with growing Elo Skin. They push every day to make a difference in other people’s lives and be the best in the business. This job can be glamorous but also all-encompassing! We tend to be therapists, healers, content creators, and problem solvers, so I appreciate the lengths they go to for our clients to have a first-class experience.

Website: www.eloskin.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/elo.skin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacy-colley-yamaoka-8a8a0b16

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eloskinstudio/

Other: Google Reviews and Business: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVArjuc55gj7APkx8