More Than Skin Deep

A Boulder-based, holistic esthetician keeps folks glowing with her locally crafted, organic skincare line and studio

By Kalene McCort  »  Photos by Cynthia Sass

Cynthia Sass has always been fascinated with the aesthetics and art of balanced beauty. As a former sought-out makeup artist, she adorned the faces of models, actresses and other A-listers from coast to coast. Working on ad campaigns for industry heavy hitters such as Lancôme, Dior and Chanel, Sass built a reputation as a skilled creative with an eye for enhancing the looks of starlets. 

Eventually, Sass would be motivated to put down the blush brush and eyeliner and embrace a new career—one that went deeper than liquid foundation and finishing powder. 

“It was a gradual transition, more akin to an organic evolution than a deliberate choice,” Sass says of her journey into the skincare industry. “I’ve often described it as something that found me, rather than the other way around. The journey began when my daughter was born with a severe skin condition, which ultimately compelled me to help others struggling with their skin’s well-being. What initially started as a need to alleviate her suffering transformed into my passion. That journey motivated me to return to school, leading me to the Concentric Healing Institute in Boulder, where I studied holistic esthetics.”

Originally opening up Tru Skincare’s first location in Boulder in 2010, Sass was shocked at the outpouring of interest from locals seeking her expertise and treatment. 

“There were almost no skincare businesses in downtown at that time, and I wanted to create an elevated, urban oasis for skincare in the heart of Boulder,” Sass says. 

Currently, Sass stays busy treating repeat clients in her charming studio located on the top floor of The Montgomery House, 741 Pearl St., in Boulder. Within the historic Victorian, she sees clients of all ages. From college students looking to reduce blemishes to folks hoping to smooth fine lines, there is no one type of person who enlists her for help. 

While she has always been committed to using top-of-the-line skincare products, she felt called to build her own line in 2020—Skin by Tru—inspired by the healing properties of Colorado’s nature palette. Given more time with her business temporarily shuttered due to the COVID pandemic, Sass got to work crafting products that she desperately wanted but couldn’t find on shelves. Filling a void in the skincare industry, the evolving line—featuring a number of luscious and detoxifying staples—is hand-blended and made in small batches in Boulder.

“One of my favorite ingredient inclusions is the raw, local honey that’s in both the Hydra Renew Cleanser and the Porcelain Green Tea Mask,” Sass says. “The honey comes from a female backyard beekeeper in downtown Boulder, who is also a bee activist.”

While Sass takes pride in a multitude of products she has helped develop over the years, she considers her Perfection Balm to be the “hero product of the Skin by Tru line.” 

“It is so unique to what exists in the marketplace, and one of the reasons is because it was developed to be a day and night moisturizer combined with ingredients of a serum, in one product,” Sass says of Perfection Balm. “It was—and likely will always be—my best-selling product, and the one I love the most.”

Sass’s full line of products, including Tru Transformation Serum that was released in May, is available online at truskincare.com and within her studio. She is currently in talks with a new, holistic wellness establishment interested in carrying Skin by Tru. In addition to being a trusted practitioner, Sass has a wealth of skincare knowledge to impart.

“I’d say, the most common misconception is that any facial is a good facial,” Sass says. “Many people don’t think of it consciously, but skin is a vital organ, it needs to be kept strong and resilient as you would your other vital organs. Like going to the gym, keeping your skin strong through balanced and thoughtful conditioning is truly important. A great esthetician is like a personal trainer for skin—you see them for the one-on-one focused treatment with professional products, which are prescribed for your skin’s exact needs. Think of your esthetician as your personal trainer for your skin, and the products prescribed as your at-home workout routine in between more focused and intensive treatments.”

In recent years, on-the-go facial offerings from chain establishments have gained popularity, but Sass warns against these speedy skincare businesses and the lofty—sometimes unrealistic—results they promise. 

“The main issue I see with the ‘fast facial’ trend is businesses catering to and feeding the already concerning fast mindset that our culture struggles with,” Sass says. “We are all in such desperate need of finding ways to slow down, and here are businesses capitalizing on that fast culture by creating yet another means for a quick fix and a quick dollar in the marketplace by offering what they position as fast self-care. An oxymoron. These tactics and business practices aren’t designed to serve the best interest of the customer and compromise the integrity of the industry as a whole.”

With summer here, more Boulderites can be found dining al fresco, taking in an outdoor concert, hiking trails or lounging on the banks of Boulder Reservoir. When it comes to frolicking outdoors in the warmer months, Sass stresses the importance of sunblock and not being afraid to slather it on and reapply. 

“But with all of that sunblock comes the need to clean out the skin’s pores where it builds up,” Sass says. “If left sitting without being cleared out properly, it can stretch out the pores over time. This is why summertime facials are great, and using an effective cleanser that doesn’t overstrip the skin’s natural oils is important as well. And of course, keeping your body hydrated is essential.”

Sass stays consistently booked, but she is always enthused to welcome new clients into her calming space. 

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is working with my clients to understand their needs and how to exceed them,” Sass says. “That’s a short answer, but it’s why I love what I do for a living today just as much as when I opened my door for my first client 14 years ago.”

For more on Sass and what new products she will roll out next, visit truskincare.com and follow along on Instagram @skinbytru.