When Kristi’s daughter first asked for skincare, she realized there was a major gap in the market: adult products were too harsh, “kid” products didn’t actually work, and nothing felt right for young, sensitive skin. As both a licensed esthetician and a mom of three, Kristi decided to do something about it, and that’s how Pipa Skin Care was born.

We sat down with Kristi to talk about why she created Pipa, how she approaches product development, and what makes these routines truly different for tweens and parents alike.

Q: Why did you create Pipa?

Kristi: When my daughter asked for skincare, nothing on the shelves felt right. Adult products were too harsh and full of strong actives, and the so-called “kid” skincare wasn’t effective. It felt more like play makeup than real skincare.

As both a mom and an esthetician, I felt that gap deeply. I wanted something safe, effective, and age-appropriate that my daughter could actually use without a fight. I created Pipa so parents like me could finally feel confident putting these products in their kids’ hands.

Q: What do you look for when creating a new product?

Kristi: First, I ask myself: Would I want this for my own kids? Every formula starts with a real need, like calming skin after sports practice or creating a quick routine that kids can do on their own. From there, I work closely with dermatologists and labs to make sure every formula is clean, non-toxic, dermatologist-approved, and rigorously tested. If my own daughter doesn’t love it, it doesn’t make the cut.

Q: How do you make sure Pipa products are truly safe?

Kristi: Safety is everything to me. I work with a team of experienced chemists, board-certified dermatologists, pediatricians, and endocrinologists to check every single ingredient before it ever goes into a formula.

We only partner with the best, fully certified, and carefully vetted labs. Labs that hold themselves to the highest standards for both safety and effectiveness.

And then comes testing: every Pipa product is tried on hundreds of kids and tweens, including our team's own children, who have very sensitive skin. If it doesn’t pass the expert review and the real-world kid test, it never makes it to market.

Q: How does Pipa compare to adult or luxury skincare brands?

Kristi: Honestly, our standards are just as high as the adult and prestige brands out there. The difference is that we strip away the things young skin doesn’t need (harsh actives, fragrance, and complicated steps) and focus on what does matter: gentle, effective, science-backed ingredients that actually work.

Parents can rest easy knowing it’s safe, while kids get the same level of quality you’d expect from high-end skincare. It’s the best of both worlds.

Q: Why is it so important for routines to be quick and easy?

Kristi: Let’s be real, tweens aren’t going to stick to a 10-step routine. If it takes too long, it becomes a battle or they don't see results and experiment with adult products that cause more harm than good. That’s why every product in Pipa is designed to be fast, easy, and pleasant to use. Our cleanser rinses off quickly, our moisturizer absorbs in seconds, and our sunscreen glides on without a white cast.

The easier it is, the more likely kids are to do it, morning and night, without being nagged. That’s how healthy habits actually stick.

Q: What’s your favorite product right now?

Kristi: I love them all, but lately I can’t stop reaching for the Clean Saver Duo. Squeaky Clean is the quickest, easiest way to wash off dirt, sweat, and sunscreen, especially on busy school days. And Skin Saver is our multitasking spray that calms redness, fights bacteria, and feels amazing after practice or play. Together, they keep my kids’ skin fresh and healthy, morning and night.

Q: What do you want other parents to know?

Kristi: That I’m a mom just like them. I’ve worried about harsh ingredients, I’ve stressed over routines my kids didn’t want to follow, and I’ve been frustrated by products that didn’t deliver. Pipa was built to take away that stress for parents and kids, so skincare can be fun, safe, and effective from the very start.