Member Q&A: Kristin Ruggieri, Attitude Dance

“I’ve had problematic skin my whole life. Teenaged acne somehow transitioned very smoothly into adult acne, so I have some scarring and the texture has never been great.  Now I hardly wear any makeup, and at 40, my skin looks better than ever!”

Kristin Ruggieri is the owner of Attitude Dance & Active Wear in Norwalk and one Nefaire’s earliest members. It’s a one-stop shop for all things dance, and they cater to dancers in nearly all of Fairfield County. We had a chance to catch up with Kristin and get a glimpse of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.

 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Norwalk and I own a retail store.  I was a dancer, and I now own Attitude Dance & Active Wear, a dance retail shop, with my mother, Ginny.  I’m a work-a-holic, but I make sure I set aside time to travel, mostly to Europe! I have a terrible case of wanderlust and I’m a pro at maximizing credit card points, so I travel for free a few times a year.

 

What’s the toughest part about running your own business? Any tips and tricks that you have for juggling so many responsibilities?

I love being self-employed, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There is a beautiful sense of accomplishment, watching something we created out of nothing become so popular in the community where I was raised! I’m so grateful. Every once in a while it gets very stressful, I’m single and a homeowner, so there is always a lot at stake…and I’m hard on myself when I make mistakes. It’s important to learn to let things roll off your back when you have so much responsibility. I’ve become much more easy-going the past few years.

 

How did you come across Nefaire? What’s your favorite thing about coming in every month? 

I saw an Instagram post about Nefaire last year and made an appointment right away.  I was hooked!  My skin never looked so good, and no one has ever taken an interest the way Wen has.  I’ve had problematic skin my whole life.  Teenaged acne somehow transitioned very smoothly into adult acne, so I have some scarring and the texture has never been great.  Now I hardly wear any makeup, and at 40, my skin looks better than ever!

 

What are some skincare products you can’t live without?

Aesop is my absolute favorite line.  I use the Parsley Seed Cleanser, the Anti-Oxidant Serum and the Fabulous Face Oil.  I also use Peter Thomas Roth anti-aging Peel Pads and a really light moisturizer by Collin that Wen suggested.