Women’s Wear Daily: Mothers and Daughters: The Inside Story of Beauty’s Most Dynamic Duos

October 25, 2024

Women’s Wear Daily

By Jenny B. Fine, Jennifer Weil
October 18, 2024, 12:00am

An G. Hinds
President and chief executive officer, Catherine Hinds Cos.

Rachel Liverman
Founder and chief executive officer, Glowbar

Although Rachel Liverman launched Glowbar in 2019, her concept of “fast facial” bars that is redefining the aesthetics category, you could say it’s been in development for quite some time.

“When she was in the sixth grade, Rachel printed out cards on her computer for her own waxing business,” remembers her mother, An G. Hinds, president and CEO of Catherine Hinds Companies, the aesthetics institute and skin care manufacturer that was founded by her mother, Catherine. “Rachel grew up at the dinner table talking about people, connections, hard work.”

And while the adult Liverman opted for facials rather than hair removal as the central premise for her business, the apple doesn’t fall far from the proverbial tree. “I often say Rachel is like the best of my mother, who was a true entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of aesthetics, who loved to create things, combined with me, because I’m much more of an operations systems person. I like structure and the way everything works,” said Hinds.

Still, it wasn’t a given that Liverman would toe the family line — especially since she didn’t particularly like getting facials growing up. “Iwas like the cobbler’s son with no shoes — I hated the experience,” she said. “I used to say to my mom, ‘I wish there were a 30-minute option.’”

Enter Glowbar, whose premise is results oriented, customized facials in just 30 minutes.

Truth be told, Hinds was skeptical that an efficacious facial could be done in a half-hour. But not only did she help provide funding, writing a check for $50,000 (which Liverman used to create Glowbar’s branding), she’s also become a top customer.

“She my cheerleader,” said Liverman.

“And an ambassador,” added Hinds. “She opened one near my house and I’m there every month. I talk to everyone.”

“She’s a mentor, a sounding board, a cheerleader. She won’t stop talking about Glowbar, that’s for sure,” said Liverman.

There are differences between how the two run their businesses — Hinds has never taken outside investment, for example, while Glowbar closed a $10 million round in 2023 — and the duo have their share of mother-daughter disagreements. (“We are real and authentic and we love each other more than anything and it hasn’t always been easy,” said Liverman.)

The duo bond over mani-pedis and beauty still dominates the dinner table conversation.

“We are enormously respectful of each other. I’ve always trusted that she was going to make good decisions and she has,” said Hinds. “Rachel is my favorite person on the planet and I think she’s just remarkable.”

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