Meet Catherine Taylor | Co-Owner of Luxe Cosmetic Studios, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Catherine, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My journey to starting my own business was shaped by both challenge and determination. I graduated from TSPA in 2019, passed my board exam, and landed my first esthetician job. Within three months, I had grown from zero clients to 59, but then Covid hit, and like many in the industry, I was out of work for two years. (I’m profoundly deaf, and I cannot communicate without lipreading.) With a gap on my resume, getting hired in year 2023 was tough.

Instead of waiting, I decided to hire myself and work in a small suite. Building a clientele from scratch was challenging, but it taught me resilience and creativity. When it came time to move to a better location in 2024, I realized finding a suite that had everything I needed as a beauty professional was nearly impossible. That’s when, with the support of my husband, we decided to use the help from my family and create Luxe Cosmetic Studios, a space designed to give beauty professionals the tools, amenities, and environment they need to thrive. My thought process was simple: solve a problem I personally experienced and create a space where others don’t have to struggle the way I did.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets Luxe Cosmetic Studios apart is that we’re a family-owned business that genuinely prioritizes people, not just square footage. While we provide the essential features tenants need, we also focus on thoughtful details, like a welcoming coffee bar and well-maintained shared spaces, so both tenants and their guests feel cared for and comfortable. As a deaf business owner, inclusivity and clear communication are especially important to me, and that mindset shapes how Luxe is designed and operated.
I give our tenants full independence to run their businesses their way, but I don’t disappear. I check in periodically, offer support through social media shoutouts, flyers, and cross-promotion, and celebrate their wins as they happen. We also encourage collaboration through a community board in our break room where tenants can share business cards and promote one another.
Design is another key differentiator. I wanted Luxe to feel elevated yet uniquely Colorado, glamorous without being cookie-cutter or leaning into a rustic cabin aesthetic. By blending sophistication with subtle wildlife influences, we created a space that feels luxurious, distinctive, and inspiring. Luxe isn’t just a place to work; it’s a community designed to help beauty professionals feel supported, seen, and proud of where they build their businesses. To us, luxury isn’t about excess, it’s about intention, comfort, and care. That’s why Luxe is designed to feel welcoming, professional, and genuinely enjoyable for both our community and their guests.
What I’m most proud of is the steady, intentional growth of Luxe Cosmetic Studios and the success of the professionals inside it. We completed construction in December 2024, welcomed our first tenant before our official launch on January 18, and grew to 14 tenants by December 2025. As a real estate business, we quickly learned the importance of patience, trusting the process, and honoring the value of our space.
What excites me most is seeing our tenants thrive. We celebrate when they gain new clients, cheer them on through milestones, and proudly share their wins when their marketing efforts pay off. Community is central to Luxe, which is why we collaborate with industry leaders who support tenant education and business growth. Knowing how many new graduates struggle in their first few months, we share guidance and resources during tours to help set aspiring tenants up for success.
I’ve also reached out to local beauty schools to offer class tours at Luxe, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to work solo versus in a salon. Helping beauty professionals make informed, confident decisions, and supporting their long-term success, is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Luxe Cosmetic Studios was built from real experience, both the struggles and the wins. Our brand is about creating a space where beauty professionals feel supported, empowered, and proud of where they work. We believe independence shouldn’t be lonely, growth takes patience, and success is better when it’s shared. Luxe isn’t just a building; it’s a community built with intention.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’re big believers in slow mornings, good food, and leaving plenty of room to relax, especially since we’re a kid-free household. When guests arrive, the first day is intentionally low-key: settle in, rest, and ease into Colorado Springs at an unhurried pace.

Day One: We love starting the trip with brunch at Nightingale Bread, followed by a leisurely walk through Garden of the Gods to take photos and enjoy the scenery. We’ll often drive past Glen Eyrie Castle to soak in more views. Dinner is usually at Red Leg Brewing Company, where we can relax over beer, food, and great conversation.

Day Two: The ladies enjoy a pamper day at Luxe Cosmetic Studios. For smaller groups, that might include nails with Kelley at Kells Belles (Studio #13) and a facial with Veronica at Soluna Vee Spa (Studio #6). For larger groups, we’ll split between Diana at Luna Nails by Diana (Studio #11) and Tami at Renew Skincare & Lash Studio (Studio #14), swapping appointments so everyone gets the full experience.
Meanwhile, the guys usually head to Topgolf to golf, chat, and unwind.

Day Three: We’ll brunch at Boonzaaijer’s Dutch Bakery. If the weather’s sunny, we’ll head to Manitou Springs for the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, riding up to the summit for breathtaking views. If it’s not sunny, we opt for window shopping in Old Colorado City, strolling from Meraki Springs toward Carnelian Coffee or Queen TEApothecary. Either way, we end the day with dinner and drinks at Cerberus Brewing Company.

Day Three: Downtown + Creative Finds
We keep breakfast at home for a change, then head out for lunch at Homa at Kinship Landing. Afterward, we’ll visit Kae Designs (my friend’s shop), then grab Lime scooters to explore downtown and view the Art on the Streets installations using the mobile app. Dinner depends on our mood—sometimes at home, or out at favorites like Dos Santos, Sushi Row, or White Pie.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the incredible support and guidance of so many people. First, my husband, Travis, he’s been my partner in every sense, helping with clever decisions during construction, assisting with tours, and just being my sounding board through it all. I also want to recognize some mentors and friends who have shaped my journey: Cathy Philips-Rogers, the director at TSPA, guided me in gathering the right information before starting my business; Lisa El-Jamin, my DermaplanePro educator and esthetician, shared valuable insights on suite rentals and helped spread the word; and

Andi Smith has been a quiet but consistent source of support since my school days. I’m also grateful to fellow business owners like Savannah Fletcher and Tara Evel for sharing their experiences as salon owners, and to friends like Sierra Collins and Candice German, who have helped amplify my story and connect me with others.

At our first Open House, I was touched to see Nadia Romero, Lisa El-Jamin, Jenean Rawson, and Jewel of Simple Products celebrate this milestone with me.

Supporting community is core to Luxe Cosmetic Studios. We give local artists space to showcase their work without upfront costs, helping them gain exposure while beautifying our studios. I also love helping new business owners launch their services, sharing their work on social media, and creating flyers to introduce them to our tenants and guests. It’s been incredible to see how supportive and fast-growing these communities are in Colorado Springs, and I’m so grateful to be part of this ecosystem of encouragement and creativity.

Website: https://www.luxecosmeticstudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxecosmeticstudios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxecosmeticstudios

Image Credits
The professional photos were taken by emerging photographer Samantha Monjure of Bentz Bequest.