This winter, Linda Forgues, founder of About Face Skin and Beauty, decided to sell the boutique salon business that she has been committed to growing over the course of the past 23 years.

While selling a business is a big step for any entrepreneur, Forgues is confident that About Face is in capable hands: the buyer and new owner of the business at 7 Theater St. in Damariscotta, Lauren Albaum, is her daughter, marking a generational handoff for the popular salon.

“I think it would have been really hard to sell my business to someone else,” Forgues said Tuesday, May 6. “Knowing that my daughter has been in the business with me this long, she’s grown into it, and she loves what she does, as I do. I think that has made the transition much easier.”

Forgues founded About Face in 2002 when her children were in high school. After working odd jobs throughout their childhood, she was inspired by her husband’s aunt, Jean Gastonguay, to become an esthetician.

Gastonguay went to esthetic school later in her life, when she was in her 50s, Forgues said. She loved her work and was a mentor to Forgues, inspiring her to pursue a career in which she had genuine interest. Since her childhood, Forgues had enjoyed pampering people and caring for others, she said. Opening About Face was a big step that launched Forgues into a career about which she is still passionate.

Albaum, then in high school, began working the desk at About Face during her summer breaks. Soon, she branched out into makeup artistry. In 2015, she would join her mother full time at the shop and has worked at About Face ever since.

One rewarding part about the work is the relationships the About Face team has with their returning clients, some of which span years, Albaum said.

“One thing about this business is I’ve gone from getting engaged to getting married to pregnant to having a baby … My clients brought my kids birthday presents. You really get to know your clients and customers,” she said.

The ownership transition was “very natural,” Albaum and Forgues agreed.

Within the last year, they began to discuss changing ownership, Albaum said. In February, they quietly signed the papers to hand over the business, but life in the shop has continued much as usual. Forgues plans to continue working at About Face for at least another few years.

Albaum and Forgues make up one half of the About Face team, which also includes esthetician Yulinka Warren and nail technician Isabel Vega. Albaum said she is proud to have a range of ages represented among her staff and hopes to continue serving people of all ages and skin types moving forward.

“I just want to be available for all ages of skincare. I'm of the mentality that you need to start early to take care of your skin, because you have it forever,” she said.

About Face offers services from facials to advanced skin treatments, manicures and pedicures, and makeup services. This includes wedding makeup, a particularly busy part of Albaum’s life - this wedding season, she will be helping 30 brides prepare for their big days.

The shop also carries a wide range of skincare products and cosmetics, from medical-grade skincare to botanical and natural products.

Another of Albaum’s goals is to help make skincare and self-care accessible to more people, she said. The shop offers complimentary skincare and makeup consultations for people who may want expert advice or lack knowledge about skincare.

“I love making people feel really good about their skin and making them feel pretty, feel beautiful,” Albaum said.

She considers herself successful when clients are truly relaxed at About Face. One sign, Albaum said, is when a client falls asleep during a facial.

“That means I’m doing a good job,” she laughed. “Like they’re super relaxed. They always apologize when they fall asleep, and I’m like, don’t be sorry! I’m glad that you could completely relax … I’m glad I can give that to people.”

Forgues said she was looking forward to watching Albaum continue to build the business. While Albaum has not made too many changes in her first few months, she has begun redesigning the shop’s logo and shortened the name from the former About Face Skincare Salon and Cosmetic Boutique to About Face Skin and Beauty.

“She’s done new things and made good changes,” Forgues said. “I'm happy to be able to pass the business on to my daughter, who has helped me also build my business through the years.”

For more information, go to aboutfacemaine.com or call 563-3444.

This article is being published through an agreement with the Lincoln County News.