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MANILA, Philippines — For many busy women, self-care is often the first thing to take a backseat. Work, family, and daily responsibilities take center stage, and taking care of yourself feels like just another task on an endless to-do list.
“I need to get my hair done!” “I haven’t had a facial in forever.” “I don’t have the time!”
Women deserve to make themselves a priority, and this is the vision behind Living Water Skin Clinic, a home-based skincare business built by best friends Anna Escalona and Kristine Soguilon.
AT the forefront of their business is women supporting women. What started as a shared dream between two women has evolved into a sanctuary for clients seeking holistic, high-end, and medical-grade skincare treatments — delivered right at their doorstep.
From friendship to entrepreneurship
“We wanted to create a space that felt more like a sanctuary than just another skincare clinic,” Anna told Rappler.
“The name ‘Living Water’ is not only symbolic of rejuvenation but also self-love and self-care. Our brand aligns with our values of healing, renewal, and peace,” Anna added.
The two best friends combined their strengths — Kristine’s experience in medical aesthetics and Anna’s background in business operations and brand management — to launch Living Water in 2019.
Partnering with a doctor who is the sole distributor of their primary skincare technology in the Philippines, the women-led team focuses on delivering high-quality, non-invasive, personalized treatments for the hair, skin, body, and scalp that complement their holistic approach.
Post-pandemic glow
The pandemic forced Living Water to “adapt quickly and shift to a more home-service model to ensure safety,” Anna said. While they had already been offering at-home treatments, the team had to implement stricter health protocols; luckily, they didn’t have to adjust too drastically.
After the pandemic, many home-based businesses worried about losing customers as things returned to normal. But for Anna and Kristine, the shift back to in-person life turned out to be a blessing in disguise — instead of slowing down, their business grew even faster.
“It seems many clients realized they preferred the personalized, intimate experience that a home-based service provides,” Anna said, highlighting how women, in particular, valued the convenience, comfort, safety, privacy, and schedule flexibility of getting treatments in their own space. This remains Living Water’s biggest advantage that other luxury clinics can’t match.
Home-based models: Harsh realities, advantages
Running a home-based clinic comes with unique advantages and challenges. Without the overhead costs of a physical branch, Living Water can invest more in high-quality products from Europe (without the harsh chemicals) and advanced technology, while keeping treatments affordable. The business’ day-to-day ops also require a lot of agility and adaptability.
“Every day is dynamic and requires constant coordination. We handle appointments, client inquiries, and service bookings. I often oversee the operations, while Kirstine focuses on business management and ensuring our treatments are up-to-date,” Anna explained.
Training is also a priority for Living Water; the staff is regularly trained on technical skills and customer care by experts in the field through specialized workshops.
A typical day at Living Water involves checking in with clients, discussing their needs, and coordinating the delivery of treatments. They also keep track of inventory for product refills, handle customer feedback, and create social media content to maintain visibility and attract new clients within the saturated market.
However, the biggest disadvantage is the logistics.
“It is not easy to manage multiple appointments in various locations while ensuring we maintain the highest level of service. Traveling to clients’ homes requires careful planning, and there can sometimes be delays depending on location or other external factors. It also means we need to have a very reliable team and communications system in place to stay organized, ” Anna said.
But the pros outweigh the cons.
“We built this particularly for moms who are often very busy and would have to stay home to care for their children. We wanted to create a space where they could still prioritize their wellness without the hassle of leaving home. We know how difficult it can be to find time for self-care, and having a clinic that comes directly to their homes gives them the flexibility to relax and rejuvenate while balancing their daily responsibilities,” Anna said.
Eliminating the pressures that come with typical clinic environments, such as long wait times and busy spaces, was also a core factor.
“With a home-based model, we could provide an intimate, luxury experience without the hassle of going through traffic.”
Living Water’s therapists bring a mini spa to your home — it’s amazing how they transport and set up everything in your space in a few minutes. For scalp treatments, they set up a massage bed, a portable sink, and even the waterfall therapy system. Every detail is accounted for: the NANNIC machines, the facial lamp, the tools for pricking and steaming.
Living Water is known for its NANNIC Non-Invasive Contouring & Illuminating Experience, an advanced skin rejuvenation treatment that combines NANNIC NBE 3000 radiofrequency technology with bioactive serums. This treatment lifts sagging skin, sculpts the jawline, eliminates double chin, fades hyperpigmentation, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, and reduces dark circles, without invasive procedures.
Another favorite is the Living Water Signature Facial Experience, featuring the Organic Glow Anti-Stress Facial. This includes a gentle cleanse, exfoliation, steaming, pricking, and an organic botanical mask designed to nourish, hydrate, and revitalize the skin.
For ultimate relaxation, the Scalp & Hair Treatment: Age-Defying CoQ10 Scalp Therapy & Hair Restoration is a must-try. The anti-aging scalp treatment helps prevent hair loss, strengthen strands, and restore hair vitality. The salon-like experience includes a deep hair cleanse, a relaxing scalp scrub, and a soothing neck and scalp massage — relaxing from start to finish.
Learning as they go
Anna and Kristine’s success isn’t just about great skincare — it’s about adapting, learning, and growing in an ever-evolving industry. They emphasize the importance of understanding market trends, continuous education, and customer connection.
“Being an entrepreneur requires so much growth and flexibility. It means you have to advance as fast as the market is advancing and be ready to embrace trends that work best for your business,” Anna said. There is no room to stay stagnant; you can’t afford to stand still.
“You need to continuously innovate, adapt, and understand the evolving needs of your clients. It also teaches you how to manage challenges, pivot when needed, and make decisions quickly,” she added.
For Anna and Kristine, the journey has been full of learning opportunities and obstacles. But according to Anna, every challenge is a chance to expand their knowledge and grow in ways they never imagined.
As long as passion, friendship, and their desire to offer something truly meaningful to women remain at the core, Living Water proves that self-care doesn’t have to be complicated — it just needs to be accessible. – Rappler.com
