Bree Holbrook changes lives through R&F

Baldwin Park resident Bree Holbrook, 43, says serving as an independent consultant for Rodan and Fields has changed her life.

Rodan & Fields, also known as Rodan + Fields or R+F, is an American multi-level marketing company specializing in skin care products. 

Instead of feeling like she’s selling a product, Holbrook says hearing people’s stories makes her feel like it’s her personal mission to share the products to help people make the world a better place.

“I wasn’t always passionate about skin and hair care, but now I see that as an avenue to help my overall mission of making this world a better place,” she says. “My goal in a couple of years is to impact a thousand more women with the products to make them feel more confident, but also have another thousand more women become entrepreneurs so they can do whatever their ‘why’ is through these products.”

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

Holbrook attended Murray State, a small college in Kentucky, and graduated with a political science degree before beginning to work for a law firm her first year out of college.

“I really sort of instantly recognized that wasn’t the direction that I wanted to go in, mostly because I just love working with people and that was more reading and preparing as opposed to actually interacting with people,” she says. 

Holbrook shifted gears and worked for a nonprofit organization that served mostly college students and conducted intercity service for about six years. She also completed some teaching to fill the time. 

“I just really had a heart to help people know more just about how impacting your community is so important and really getting the word out,” she says. “I think just when you have a relationship with God, or just feel like He’s a part of your life, you just want to be more of a light in your community. So, that was kind of what the nonprofit did.”

When Holbrook and her husband, Jordan, had their first child, she decided she wanted to be involved in a business model where she was more of her own boss and could make her own hours.

“The thing about corporate America is that it’s amazing, but it doesn’t offer sometimes the flexibility that people need with having a family and wanting to put them first,” she says. “I was looking for something that could really work around my schedule. I wanted to be able to attend my children’s school events during the year and spend time with my kids during the summer. I wanted something for work that I could fit in when my schedule was free but also still feel like I’m making a significant financial contribution to the family.”

One of her friends from the nonprofit contacted her soon after, opening up about her adult acne problems and how she went to the dermatologist who was unable to help. However, the friend said she tried products from R&F that started to help heal her acne almost immediately.

Holbrook didn’t have acne but was struggling with fine lines and wrinkles at the time. 

“I was just getting toward the age of 40 and really didn’t want to go the botox route, so this seemed like a better option,” she says. “I could use the products at home and not have to go to the dermatologist. My friend sent me some of her before-and-after pictures, and I was sold as soon as I visually saw the improvements.”

When she first started using the products, Holbrook says her husband didn’t know and complimented her on her skin.

“He was like, ‘Wow, your skin looks really pretty,’” she says. “I mean, we’ve been married for over 10 years, and he’s never said anything about my skin. So the fact that he commented, and so soon after using the product, it really made me think about the difference I could make with how good just those words had made me feel. I wanted others to feel the impact of kind words.”

Although Holbrook confessed she joined R&F to get a discount on the products, she says after seeing her mom and friends start using the products, she realized how quickly the effect could spread with just word of mouth.

“I saw and heard these stories of how people felt more confident,” she says. “They would get ready in the morning with the light off because they didn’t even want to look at their face, to people after using the products feeling like they could go out and face the day and not feel so much shame or self consciousness about their skin.”

Holbrook says this is when she began to realize the products could be an avenue through which she could help people feel better not only on the outside — but also from within. 

INFINITE IMPACT

Holbrook has been with R&F for about 10 years.

She prides herself on her personal statement: “I help busy moms over 40 gain confidence and care for themselves so they can give more to those they love.”

“I feel like, personally, how God made women is that we want to be beautiful,” she says. “So, when we’re beautiful, it makes us feel like we’re fulfilling more of our purpose or just feel more confident about ourselves.”

Holbrook uses her extra finances from the products to give to those in need. 

She has donated to more than 20 nonprofits, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse, U.S. Hunger (Formerly Feeding Children Everywhere), Compassion International, World Vision International, Captains for Clean Water and Hearts of Hope.

“I want more women that have a heart to make a difference in their community and want to use their extra income,” she says. “I also started the business side to be able to give back to more nonprofits. … I want other women to be able to give back more or even say yes to their family more and do the things that really set their heart on fire.”

Holbrook believes the company is unique because of the dermatological-grade products.

“It kisses prescription strengths,” she says. “These are the dermatologists who created Proactiv because they had so many people coming into their office that were struggling with breakouts, but they sold that because they realized people were also coming in for so many other issues like dark spots, or thinning hair, or so many other things…They wanted people to have access to dermatological grade, quality products that maybe can’t afford to go to the dermatologist or don’t have the time.”

One of Holbrook’s favorite products from over the years is the lash boost, especially being fair-haired. She says people can see the length and health of her eyelashes without having to wear mascara, and she always gets compliments when she uses it. 

The company also launched its hair care line in November. 

Holbrook didn’t realize so many people struggled with issues such as scalp itchiness, hair loss and hair thinning.

One of Holbrook’s recent favorite items is the defrizz and oil treatment from the new line. She loves the shampoo and the conditioner because it makes her feel like she has salon-quality hair without having to touch it up as much. 

Holbrook says people should take a few minutes to complete a quiz which gives a recommendation for products to use based on individual needs and wants. 

The Holbrook couple lives in Baldwin Park with their three children: Kord, 11; Eastin, 8; and Pace, 5.

Holbrook says one of her favorite things about the area is the community aspect.

“I’ve gotten to know so many people in our neighborhood, and starting the Baldwin Park Kids Club several years ago really connected me even more and that was kind of a way to get to know other families,” she says. “I just feel like there’s a great sense of community here that you just don’t get everywhere else.”