Not all makeup is created equal. There’s no-makeup makeup, there’s everyday makeup, clubbing makeup, and bridal makeup. None of these come close to stage makeup – thick, pancake layers of foundation that have to stay on during grueling performances under hot lights. When it’s time to remove it, one needs a serious, dilligent formulation. If not, all manner of skin problems – clogged pores, dehydration, a ruined pH mantle and skin barrier are par for the course.
This is exactly the predicament Jordan Samuel Pacitti found himself in after years as a professional ballet dancer. He asked fellow dancers for their hacks, then took matters into his own hands, and enrolled in cosmetology school. Soon after Jordan Samuel Skin – a unisex line predicated on minimalist design for maximalist results from the formulations down to the packaging – was born.
First there was the cleanse – The Matinee Gel Cleanser. Developed to solve the most fundamental challenge when dealing with stage makeup – full removal of the thick layers and pore-clogging grime sebum without over drying – the effectiveness lies in its simplicity. It’s formulated with three main ingredients, coco betaine as a gentle surfactant to cleanse, salicylic acid to clear out pores, and aloe leaf juice to soothe and hydrate.
This clear, non-foaming cleanser gets down to the business of emulsifying makeup and sunscreen with the addition of water and vigorous massage before rinsing. For sensitive, post-procedural skin for which a BHA might be too potent, The After Show Treatment Cleanser for Sensitive Skin offers the same gentle base of aloe gel, chamomile, and grape seed oil for soothing and moisture, plus green tea for an antioxidant boost. The most nourishing cleanse in the line, The Matinee Cream Cleanser, combines the sebum-zapping properties of silt with the fatty acid-rich oils of sesame and rosehip for a nourished skin barrier and a pristine glow.
When serious pore-purging of congested, troubled areas or weekly maintenance is in order, the Mandelic Exfoliating Mask harnesses Moroccan lava clay in yet another balancing treatment that won’t wreck the skin barrier. It purifies and exfoliates with almond-derived Mandelic Acid, the most gentle, yet still effective AHA. To maintain skin moisture, olive-derived squalane bathes the pores in antioxidants and fatty acids to prevent the compromised skin barrier that typically results from overzealous exfoliation.
Pacitti’s dancer-inspired line isn’t just cleansers. Since launching, Jordan Samuel Skin has added regimens for sensitive and mature skin, including serums, moisturizers and the cucumber-infused Hydrate the Mist for all skin types. The travel-friendly hydrator and sister product to Hydrate the Gel delivers the most reliable and affordable humectants on the market – substances that keep moisture on the skin. For a heavy-hitting treatment, the Moisture Recovery Cream combines the same humectants, fatty acid-rich squalene, barrier-protecting ceramide NG, and shea butter to heal dry complexions or impart a radiant glow on combination skin.
Just in time for the sweltering summer, Jordan Samuel Skin recently added a perfect hydrator for combination, oily, and sebum-challenged complexions – The Matinee Gel Moisturizer. The light, hydro-lipid gel hydrates with a blend of prickly pear, pomegranate, and evening primrose oils. Green tea and bilberry extracts in a base of aloe gel yields an easily absorbed, quenching emulsion that’s perfect under makeup, especially when refrigerated.
With sleek packaging, the range of products from the cleansers down to The Performance Eye Gel, will make a stylish addition to any vanity or shelfie. In a nod to the proliferation of unisex, male-friendly, and affordable, results-driven brands, I was thrilled to speak to Jordan Samuel Pacitti about his pivot to skin care and predictions for the next trends in wellness and self care.
Q&A with Jordan Samuel Pacitti
1. Are most men still reluctant to follow a skincare regimen?
I really don’t think men are reluctant anymore. While they may be reluctant to do a multi-step routine or simply have trouble prioritizing their skincare routine, I believe that we are truly over that hump. Many men have simple but effective routines now. Many will cleanse once a day (sometimes with an exfoliating agent in the cleanser), following with an SPF as their AM moisturizer and using a dedicated nighttime moisturizer in the evening.
2. What are your predictions for the next trends in wellness, skin, body and hair care for the summer and rest of the year?
A lot of times my predictions are more based on my personal wants for the industry, but I do believe both my wants and predictions are about to finally be the same. With so many new products and so many new brands popping up every day, consumers are overwhelmed. I think this has led consumers to look for more multi-functional products and to streamline their routine.
During the beginning of the pandemic, it was all about new launches and obsessing over the latest and greatest ingredient, and so many people screwed up their skin barrier, leaving their skin irritated and confused. Now, I find more people are on a streamlined and consistent routine. As this becomes the norm, I see brands producing more multi-functional products instead of prioritizing single ingredients, and thus, creating less-but-better products and routines for the consumer.
3. Was your line born out of frustration with commercial products, the medical establishment, and/or doctors? Or were you motivated to address a specific need not addressed by most brands?
I became a licensed esthetician in early 2011. Back then, the choices on the market were really heavy on the strong actives while putting very little emphasis on respecting the skin barrier—the use of at-home peels, strong retinols, and other strong actives was at its height. I was constantly seeing irritated skin in the treatment room caused by overuse/misuse of active ingredients, which fueled my desire to come out with a line that was gentle yet effective—something that would keep the skin happy and healthy while still providing specific and targeted results, such as helping to even tone, decongest pores, hydrate the skin, calm the skin, and induce a beautiful glow.
It was hard to go up against the large brands pushing stronger actives, but my philosophy and products appealed to customers who were frustrated with the one step forward, two steps back loop they were in with their skin. Even now, I find that when customers stray out of curiosity and go overboard on the actives, they eventually end up running back to a brand like my Jordan Samuel Skin that puts barrier health at the forefront of philosophy and product formulation.
4. What was your eureka moment, when you knew deep-down that it was the time in your life, and in the market, to start your own brand and make your own products?
I wish I had a clear, concise story like that. Having my own brand was always part of the plan, but it happened years earlier than I had initially thought. After graduating from esthetics school, I worked at a large spa and trained for a large skincare brand before opening my private practice.
As I was getting my practice together and began inquiring about carrying my favorite brands at my facial studio, I found that many either weren’t available to private practices, or if they were, the amount they were requiring I spend to open an account would have been around $15,000. At that point, I channeled Oprah. She has always said the best advice she ever received was to invest in herself, and so that is what I did. I thought, if I’m even considering spending that much on another brand, I might as well just invest in myself and build my own brand. I then started the process of finding a lab, chemist, and manufacturer that would work with me—and the rest is history. :)
5. Do you have formal business training, such as an MBA, or a similar degree in chemistry? Or is your professional background mostly in the beautysphere?
My personal background is in the beautysphere and my own lived experience. While I have extensive knowledge on skin as a licensed esthetician for 13 years, I have learned the business aspects as we have grown through my own research and networking, as well as trial and error. My Dad is an entrepreneur, and I have a close group of other beauty founders who are so supportive and help each other daily. Oftentimes, I think the fact that I don’t have a formal business education prompts me to find unique solutions to problems as they arise that may not be thought of by others.
