Beauty Boss: June Risser, General Manager and EVP of Crown Premium Skincare
June Risser.
Our latest Beauty Boss is June Risser, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Crown Premium Skincare—a privately held, fully integrated global company that is dedicated to developing and providing a diverse portfolio of safe and effective scientific solutions for healthy skin.
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A Princeton and Harvard graduate, Risser leads the company’s Premium Skincare Division, which includes award-winning brands StriVectin and Vita Liberata. Prior to working at Crown, she was the GM of Galderma Laboratories, where she led Cetaphil and Differin; and she also spent 12 years at Reckitt, a global consumer products company where she led iconic brands including Clearasil and Lysol.
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In 2021, Risser was named as a Top 50 Beauty Executive of the Year by Glossy Magazine, and she also has advised CEOs and CMOs across multiple industries on marketing and growth strategies. We chatted with Risser who shared her favorite beauty and wellness tips, secrets for success, best advice, and much more.
What brands do you oversee as GM of Crown Premium Skincare?
StriVectin, the science-based, clinically proven skincare range; and Vita Liberata, the sunless tanning and body makeup brand loved by makeup artists.
How long have you been with the company and what do you do in your role?
I joined Crown in 2022 to lead the Premium Skincare Division and am privileged to lead a passionate and talented team of marketing, digital, creative, and sales leaders focused on growing the StriVectin brand in global top markets including North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s important to have a clear vision and strategy to rally the entire team, and for StriVectin we aspire to delight our customers with science-based products that deliver real, visible results. All of our products are rigorously tested in independent labs so we have full confidence that they will deliver the results our consumers are looking for.
StriVectin is a science-based, clinically proven skincare range for aging and changing skin.
What inspired you to join Crown?
I was inspired by the people at Crown who all have a deep passion for developing and delivering science-based solutions for a lifetime of healthy skin. This passion directly translates into a track record of growth. Crown has three high-performing divisions—Crown Aesthetics, Crown Therapeutics, and Crown Premium Skincare. Our strong power brands include:
PanOxyl, a portfolio of acne fighting treatments led by the number one best-selling acne product in the U.S., PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash, 10% BPO.
SkinPen, the first FDA-cleared microneedling device.
BIOJUVE, with one-of-a-kind living Xycrobe™ Technology to enhance the microbiome for healthier, younger-looking skin.
Blue Lizard, the number one pediatrician-recommended mineral-based sunscreen brand.
In the prestige skincare industry, new launches and true innovation are the foundation for growth. My StriVectin team focuses on bringing groundbreaking innovation in skin science to market through a highly collaborative process that always begins with our deep understanding of our customers. The culture of innovation inspired me to be part of this winning team at Crown Premium Skincare.
Does Crown have a hero product?
For the StriVectin brand, one of our most iconic products is the StriVectin Tightening Neck Cream PLUS, the number one neck cream exclusively for the neck and décolleté. The skin on your neck is quite sensitive and often starts to show signs of aging before the skin on the face. That’s why StriVectin launched this neck cream—it has been specifically designed to tighten, lift, and firm the skin on the neck. And in August 2023, we launched an upgraded formula, now with Alpha-3 Peptide™, clinically proven to smooth horizontal neck lines and visibly lift sagging skin in just four weeks. I encourage everyone who hasn’t tried it to take a look at our Before & After series on our website.
What are your favorite products from Crown?
I was born in South Korea and grew up in the U.S. and I was always encouraged by my mother and my dermatologist to stay out of the sun so daily use of sun protection is a key part of my routine. I also like simplicity in skin care as I’m a busy working mother of three boys, so in the morning I love to use the StriVectin GlowFector SPF30. It gives me an instant glow, goes on with a lightweight and gorgeous feel, and I rest assured that the SPF formula will protect me from damaging sun rays, especially as I live in Texas where the sun can be brutal for many months of the year!
I also love the StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten and Correct Vitamin C Serum. There was a myth that you could not combine the power of vitamin C with retinol in a way that does not overly irritate the skin and StriVectin debunked that myth with this amazing serum that I use every night to help brighten my skin.
Where are Crown’s products sold?
StriVectin is sold globally in over 20 markets worldwide. In North America, StriVectin is sold in specialty retailers including Ulta, Sephora, and many other retail outlets where prestige skincare brands are sold. We also offer the convenience of buying on our website.
Vita Liberata is a sunless tanning and body makeup brand that is a favorite among makeup artists.
Future plans for the brand?
For StriVectin, we have ambitious plans for continued strong growth in our core markets of the U.S. and Canada and also globally. We also focus our time and energy on developing our long-term innovation pipeline to continue to deliver differentiated, science-based skincare solutions to our consumers. On the marketing front, we continue to put our focus on reaching consumers where they want to discover and learn about the latest innovations in skincare and that is social media. We work with a variety of diverse skinfluencers and dermatologists that support StriVectin to reach our consumers in engaging ways on Instagram and TikTok.
Who inspires you?
My father. He was a diplomat for the South Korean government and that is how he first came to the U.S, working at the Korean Consulate on Park Avenue in NYC. From there, he decided to give up his government job and become an entrepreneur, opening retail businesses in the Bronx, following in the tradition of many other Korean immigrants of that generation. In this way, while working six days a week for over 20 years at a jewelry store in the Bronx along with my mother, he raised his three girls. I credit my Princeton and Harvard education largely to his influence on me to strive for excellence.
Secret to success?
Be curious. In my career, I have always focused on having an insatiable appetite for learning. Ask questions. And don’t be satisfied with the status quo because if you are curious about how things work, you may find ways to improve them and make them better!
Beauty secrets?
A good night’s sleep. I don’t take pride in saying I can survive on four hours of sleep a night as I cannot! And laugh! Don’t worry about the laugh wrinkles…
Wellness tips?
I take a holistic approach to health and wellness. Physical health, emotional health, relationship health and, for me, spiritual health. I try to remember that just exercising for example isn’t enough—you need positive relationships as part of feeling optimistic about the future.
Best advice?
Focus on others more than you focus on yourself. The shortcut to happiness is by helping others.
Favorite way to relax?
Tucking into a good Korean drama on Netflix—a guilty pleasure!
For more information about Crown Premium Skincare, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @crownlaboratories
[Images courtesy of Crown Premium Skincare]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk