"Staying focused and on task is a conscious, daily exercise" with Tobi Baker Daigle and Christine McMackin

A highly-specialized Cosmetic Registered Nurse Injector, with over a decade of experience in the medical field, Tobi Baker Daigle is a leader within the aesthetics field. She provides the most current and result-oriented, non-invasive procedures, with as minimal downtime as possible for her clients.

Christine McMackin is a certified family nurse practitioner with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners who has been working within the aesthetic industry for two decades in numerous and diverse capacities. Christine is a certified advanced injector of neurotoxins, dermal fillers, biostimulators, and growth factors. Together, they founded New England Skin Center in 2018.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

After being friends and working in the same circles for years, we decided to join forces and our 20+ years of combined experience in the field of medical aesthetics to create an inviting and intimate medical spa in the Greater Boston area, offering services designed to make clients feel their very best. We have very different backgrounds, but Christine originally went to Columbia University and got a Bachelor's degree in Art History and Fine Arts.

Upon graduation, she moved to LA where she worked as an aesthetician and makeup artist, and she holds numerous screen credits for makeup and special effects. After going back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner, and a few more moves she ended up back in the Boston area, ready to start her own business. Tobi started out going to school for Exercise Physiology and PT before she truly discovered her passion for beauty and skin and becoming a nurse. It wasn’t until the birth of her son, who was born with no diaphragm and needed excessive care in the early years that she decided to go back to school to become a nurse. Now, she is a specialized Cosmetic Registered Nurse Injector with over a decade of experience in the medical field. She has a reputation as the “natural look nurse injector.” We met through being in the industry locally and knew we would want to go into business together someday.

What inspired you to start your business?

We knew that in order to be the mothers and partners we wanted to be, working for ourselves was the only option. We needed and wanted the ability to control our own schedules. We had the idea to create a space where we could practice the craft we love and build a place where we could spread love and create beauty. Being women, we intimately understand the pressures women face and wanted our business to be a space that is judgment-free.

Where is your business based?

Weymouth, MA, in the Greater Boston area.  

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

We were just two women who trusted each other and who, after decades of working for other people, decided we wanted to combine our experience into something greater and better than what was already offered in the industry. Going into it, we knew we wanted freedom on creating a space where everyone who walked into our doors was celebrated and loved and didn’t feel judged. The first step we took was to just trust ourselves --  we did not have a formal business plan or any business training.

If we had thought more about creating NESC and the actual work that goes into creating and building a business and brand, we may have never opened NESC. We just came across a great space one day and realized we need to go for it and decided to sign a lease on the space and figure everything else out as we went. Luckily we didn’t think about what was ahead of us in this journey. We jumped straight into the fire and embraced the heat.   

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The most effective strategy in raising awareness for our business has been, and always will be, happy clients. We help our clients love the skin they are in and help them look and feel fabulous. We encourage them to share that positivity with those around them, and we believe that has been the key to raising awareness. Our business has grown organically through word of mouth.

Additionally, we have learned the importance of social media and how useful it can be in a professional setting. Since the founding of NESC, it has been a conscious decision and active process of collaborating with local women-owned businesses. Women are amazing, we are creators, when we come together the results are beautiful. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

When we first started, we went in with the idea that everyone we communicated or worked with was honest and true to themselves; We quickly learned that wasn’t the case, and I wish we knew that in business, not everyone has your best interest at heart. We are honest women and we live by our word, and we expect the same from others. We lost a lot of money in the first year due to that, but we did not let that have an effect on who we are. We are still honest and we still live by our word, but we are not as naive in thinking that everyone else practices honesty.

How do you stay focused?

Staying focused and on task is a conscious, daily exercise. As mothers, partners, and business owners, we are constantly being pulled in all directions. Developing our skill of multitasking has been critical in meeting the needs of the various aspects of our lives require. We both share the same core values and are governed by the same moral compass, which helps us keep each other on task as well.  

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

We differentiate ourselves by simply not worrying or focusing on our competition. Between the two of us, we have over 20 years of experience within the field of aesthetics. Since we have had the opportunity to work in plastic surgery clinics and spas all across the country, we have been able to take what we love from all those experiences and incorporate them into NESC. We are not saleswomen. We are artists. We are medical professionals. We are beauty consumers. One of our fundamental principles is that we do not carry any products or perform procedures we would not use or perform on ourselves. Our guests trust us as medical and aesthetic professionals to provide safe, results-driven procedures. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

We’ve found a lot of success collaborating with and building up local, women-owned businesses. Our PR partnership with Pollina PR is a good example of this and has also been critical in our ability to share our vision and help create these collaborations and relationships with other brands. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Hustle and maintain a strong work ethic, and be honest and true to yourself. Trust yourself and surround yourself with people that you trust.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer or Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. We believe investing in continuing education is extremely important, so we are always striving to learn, deepen our skill sets, and push ourselves to be better. There are also numerous aesthetic conferences, webinars, Instagram pages, professionals we admire, and attend or watch whenever we can.  

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Our favorite resource is other female entrepreneurs. Teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision. No matter how smart, talented, driven, or passionate you are, your success as an aesthetic provider depends on the people and environment you surround yourself with.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Our business role model would be Courtney, Christine’s younger sister. She started Cortello, a salon based out of Jacksonville, FL, a decade ago and it has become one of Jacksonville’s number one ranked salons. Since it’s opening, Courtney has elevated her client’s experience through changing the standard of the beauty industry as a whole. Through their mission, growth, and recognition, Cortello has been able to inspire others within and outside of the beauty industry and community. Courtney has a wealth of experience and is always willing to share her journey. 

How do you balance work and life?

That is an ongoing balance that we are constantly working on. Being a mother is the most important thing in our lives, and family is our number one priority. We are blessed that our families support our vision, our growth, and our crazy work hours. We make sure we set aside time to spend with family, like in the evening when we get home from work. We know the demands of the business will always be there but it is critical to push them aside and be present with the people you love.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Exercise, meditation, and writing! 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

We plan on continuing to provide the exceptional services we are known for providing as we grow and expand our business. We see a need within our client population for a holistic approach to wellness and are in the process of adding bio-identical hormone replacement into our practice. We have a seasoned nurse practitioner joining our team who has an extensive history in the practice of holistic medicine and hormone replacement, and we are extremely excited to offer that service to our clients.

How can our readers connect with you?

Via our Instagram, @neskincenter, or our website, newenglandskincenter.com.