G: You’ve taken Chillhouse from a Lower East Side spa to a full-fledged CPG brand. What’s one lesson from that leap, whether it’s product or brand?

C: Don’t be afraid to pivot or let go of what’s not working—it might open another door. That’s been a hard lesson I’ve learned, even when the signs were there. I had to follow my instincts, which didn’t always align with the “right” path for the business. I’ve thrown a lot at the wall to see what sticks, and that’s how we’ve grown.

We started as a tiny NYC spa, then expanded. Around COVID, we had to close, which gave us time to rethink. We tested ideas, but nail care kept standing out. Our e-comm was already curating great products—our polish and nail care sold incredibly well. During peak COVID, we launched press-ons. The timing and product fit were perfect, and it helped define our identity. That momentum took us from niche to national, and now Target is our biggest retailer.

This April, we launched our own polish line, Forever Wear, inspired by those early wins. Sometimes the clues are there, but as founders, we’re too in the weeds to notice. I’ve learned to pay attention—and it’s paying off.

G: You've brought that trendy chill vibe experience from your spa into people's homes. How do you bottle that experience and translate it from in-person to at-home?

C: We do this through two pillars. First is design and self-expression—showing up as your authentic self is the ultimate form of chill. Then there's the introverted side that needs real nurturing, healing, quiet time. That's why our flagship does both. We have the self-expression category and the self-care version.

I live between these two worlds, and I think most humans do. We're always figuring out who we are outwardly but also internally—how we self-soothe, find work-life balance, manage stress. Everything we make reflects that balancing act.

It's not just about packaging and colors. It's about scents, storytelling, the message. Like with Forever Wear, I didn't want just any polish. It had to be long-wearing, super non-toxic, with actives that actually treat your nails over time. But the campaign was about letting go, breaking up with toxic habits—not just the polish, but situationships, burnout, people pleasing, following trends. Break up with all that, be you, find your forever. That's the fun part—creating something people want and need while inspiring them to think outside the box.

G: I love how Chillhouse isn't judgmental. You're saying it's okay to be chaotic but also want good things for yourself. How intentional is that messaging?

C: I'd be a hypocrite to act like I haven't done things to destroy my nails or my health. We're all human. But there's an inspiring undertone that says these things aren't good for you, and we know you don't want to sacrifice fashion and trend just to be good to yourself.

We try not to do the fear-mongering thing. Chillhouse is that perfect balance of not being judgmental but hopefully inspiring you to make better decisions. You can be both things—it's okay to be a little chaotic and still care about yourself.

G: As a founder, how do you navigate those different parts of life—the chaotic times versus the more peaceful ones?

C: I'm very project-oriented, so I know if I'm in the trenches with a big launch, it's just gonna be that time. It might happen twelve times a year, but it's not every day. I have to know the ebbs and flows, recognize when the calm waters are coming, and really lay low to reset.

My biggest goal is learning to not overwork myself because of this feeling that I have to burn out to feel successful. Success doesn't look like working yourself to the bone every day. It means putting good, thoughtful energy into the most important projects, having the bandwidth to do them well, and then continuing the momentum without it feeling chaotic.

Right now I'm having the nicest May—it's been so chill. Everyone's helping each other out, and it's been nice to not have a million calls every day and actually get quality work done. I love embracing these slower times and not overdoing it.

G: How are you navigating AI and the shifts happening in wellness, beauty, and retail?

C: I think we should be using it to our advantage. I don't see a big problem with it—if anything, it's only going to make our work better and set the bar really high. If you don't embrace it, good luck at this point.

We haven't fully adopted it as a company yet, but we're using tools that are already in our ecosystem. It's gonna help us more with design work, rendering—we have to do so many renders for retail now. As a strategic creative, it's hard for me to physically show someone what I'm thinking. Having AI tools to get something to a designer to make it real? That's a huge advantage.

I'm sure my team uses ChatGPT for captions or newsletter copy—why wouldn't they? I think we should be more open about it as a team, share learnings, and see how we can use different tools to elevate our work.

G: As a mom of two and a successful founder, how do you stay grounded?

C: Can I be honest? It's so easy to get sucked into this founder success, female CEO, empowerment trap, plus coming from the influencer space—all the events, networking, being chummy with people you think you need to be friends with. I find all that exhausting.

My favorite days are spent with moms who aren't even on social media. Women who aren't founders, where we don't talk about work or even just our kids. We're just not doing the song and dance. They're not trying to tell me anything about me or gas me up—it's just chill. We're just hanging. That to me is what life should be about. That's how I stay the most grounded.