ELIZABETH GRACE HAND
Esthetician and Founder of Ställe Studios
ELIZABETH GRACE HAND
Esthetician and Founder of Ställe Studios
How are you balancing new motherhood with leading Ställe Studios?
It’s definitely been an adjustment - a huge change from my pre-baby life — but I’ve figured out how to make it work with a few big shifts. For one, I work less. Since opening Ställe Studios four years ago, my schedule used to be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., nearly seven days a week, with no breaks. Now, I’ve majorly cut back: no weekends, and I’m home by six. When I’m home, I’m fully on. The days of scrolling on my phone on the couch after work are over. But I prepared for this. Before getting pregnant, I made sure to build an incredible team. Sophia, Casey, Julie, Emma, and Bethlehem are truly angels. They held everything together while I was away and continue to make the studio run seamlessly now that my in-studio time is more limited. And my husband… he’s literally Mr. Mom. He’s the most supportive, hands-on partner. I couldn’t do any of this without him.
How does creative energy show up in your approach to skincare?
I’ve always approached skincare like art. I’m constantly mixing, blending, and creating new pairings that just feel right. It’s intuitive. Skincare, for me, is another form of creativity, a daily ritual where instinct meets intention.
What does being part of Violet Grey’s Committee mean to you?
Has that experience influenced your perspective on beauty?
Being part of Violet Grey’s Committee means everything to me. Violet Grey has always been at the forefront of what’s truly exceptional in beauty — hair, skin, makeup, fragrance — if it’s at Violet Grey, it’s the best of the best. I grew up completely obsessed with beauty. The Bobbi Brown and Stila counters at the Belk department store in my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina were my version of heaven. When I finally visited LA for the first time, Violet Grey was my very first stop. To now be part of the Committee, to have their trust in my perspective and to help shape their assortment, feels like a full-circle moment and one of the greatest honors of my career.
How are you balancing new motherhood with leading Ställe Studios?
It’s definitely been an adjustment - a huge change from my pre-baby life — but I’ve figured out how to make it work with a few big shifts. For one, I work less. Since opening Ställe Studios four years ago, my schedule used to be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., nearly seven days a week, with no breaks. Now, I’ve majorly cut back: no weekends, and I’m home by six. When I’m home, I’m fully on. The days of scrolling on my phone on the couch after work are over. But I prepared for this. Before getting pregnant, I made sure to build an incredible team. Sophia, Casey, Julie, Emma, and Bethlehem are truly angels. They held everything together while I was away and continue to make the studio run seamlessly now that my in-studio time is more limited. And my husband… he’s literally Mr. Mom. He’s the most supportive, hands-on partner. I couldn’t do any of this without him.
How does creative energy show up in your approach to skincare?
I’ve always approached skincare like art. I’m constantly mixing, blending, and creating new pairings that just feel right. It’s intuitive. Skincare, for me, is another form of creativity, a daily ritual where instinct meets intention.
What does being part of Violet Grey’s Committee mean to you?
Has that experience influenced your perspective on beauty?
Being part of Violet Grey’s Committee means everything to me. Violet Grey has always been at the forefront of what’s truly exceptional in beauty — hair, skin, makeup, fragrance — if it’s at Violet Grey, it’s the best of the best. I grew up completely obsessed with beauty. The Bobbi Brown and Stila counters at the Belk department store in my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina were my version of heaven. When I finally visited LA for the first time, Violet Grey was my very first stop. To now be part of the Committee, to have their trust in my perspective and to help shape their assortment, feels like a full-circle moment and one of the greatest honors of my career.
“THIS IS WHERE YOU’RE AT RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE. GO EASY, BE GENTLE, YOU’RE SAFE AND TAKEN CARE OF.”
“THIS IS WHERE YOU’RE AT RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE. GO EASY, BE GENTLE, YOU’RE SAFE AND TAKEN CARE OF.”
At MUTHA, we talk a lot about what it means to be a MUTHA. How would you define that for yourself?
For me, being a MUTHA means leading with love and intention. In everything I do, I want to make Pom proud. It’s about showing him what passion, purpose and hard work look like, but also knowing when to slow down and be fully present.
Did pregnancy shift the way you cared for your skin or how you thought about beauty?
It was definitely an adjustment to take a break from my usual routine - no Botox, no lasers, no peels. But to my surprise, my skin completely transformed. I actually lucked out during pregnancy and my complexion looked better than ever. My normally breakout-prone skin could tolerate anything. It was such a beautiful reminder of how intuitively the body recalibrates, how skin can find its own kind of balance when you simply step back and let it.
Stretch marks are such a personal part of many women’s journeys. What was your own experience with stretch marks and a growing belly?
I didn’t get stretch marks, probably because I was religious about slathering on MUTHA Body Butter Melt every night. But I did get the linea nigra, which I still have. I actually loved my growing belly, it was so cool to watch my body change and make space for him. That said, the weight gain was hard. It’s such a strange mix of awe and discomfort, pride and vulnerability. Your body becomes unrecognizable and miraculous at the same time. I tried to focus on giving it what it needed and reminding myself that every change was part of something bigger.
At MUTHA, we talk a lot about what it means to be a MUTHA. How would you define that for yourself?
For me, being a MUTHA means leading with love and intention. In everything I do, I want to make Pom proud. It’s about showing him what passion, purpose and hard work look like, but also knowing when to slow down and be fully present.
Did pregnancy shift the way you cared for your skin or how you thought about beauty?
It was definitely an adjustment to take a break from my usual routine - no Botox, no lasers, no peels. But to my surprise, my skin completely transformed. I actually lucked out during pregnancy and my complexion looked better than ever. My normally breakout-prone skin could tolerate anything. It was such a beautiful reminder of how intuitively the body recalibrates, how skin can find its own kind of balance when you simply step back and let it.
Stretch marks are such a personal part of many women’s journeys. What was your own experience with stretch marks and a growing belly?
I didn’t get stretch marks, probably because I was religious about slathering on MUTHA Body Butter Melt every night. But I did get the linea nigra, which I still have. I actually loved my growing belly, it was so cool to watch my body change and make space for him. That said, the weight gain was hard. It’s such a strange mix of awe and discomfort, pride and vulnerability. Your body becomes unrecognizable and miraculous at the same time. I tried to focus on giving it what it needed and reminding myself that every change was part of something bigger.