This month’s Day in the Life feature spotlights Lisa Price, Founder and President of Carol’s Daughter. A beauty pioneer for more than three decades, Lisa’s work is rooted in care, creativity, and a deep respect for the people she serves. From her home-based workspace to hands-on product creation and brand visioning, her days unfold with intention. At the heart of it all is a founder who leads with warmth, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to building something meaningful.
OTC Beauty: What’s your name, title, and role at the company?
I am Lisa Price. I am Founder and also the company’s President.
OTC Beauty: What is the company’s mission, and how does it drive what you do?
Since I founded my company over 30 years ago, my passion has been to make the lives of my customers better. Before we knew the words “soft life” I was about that life for my customers. I am still that way today. I want to provide them with what they did not know they needed and now cannot imagine life without it.
OTC Beauty: What inspired you to pursue a career in the beauty and hair care industry?
When I began Carol’s Daughter in 1993, I started with body products. During my first six months, my body care customers asked for hair products —and I listened and delivered. I also discovered for myself that until I made my own products, I was settling for what was out there. I quickly learned a lot of other women and men were doing the same.
OTC Beauty: Can you walk us through a typical day at work? What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office?
Well, getting to the “office” is pretty simple. It is in my home. We are a remote company and the majority of us do not work in a traditional office. This is natural for me as I spent more than half of my career working from home. The first thing I do is look over my schedules. I keep a personal schedule and a work schedule. I keep them both digitally and in writing. I go over email and texts and reply accordingly. But my daily schedule can vary. Some days are meeting days, some days are creative days. There are days spent working on new products, researching ingredients, writing copy and/or content creation for our social channels. And there are days when all of the above happens in the same day.
OTC Beauty: How do you prioritize your tasks and responsibilities during the day?
After over 30 years working on my company and having had many jobs prior to that, organizing my day is based on my energy level. I prioritize based on whether the day requires that I be “outside” and where I am most needed.
OTC Beauty: What’s your favorite part of the day at work, and why?
The favorite part of my day is any day that involves the creation of product. New product, innovation, fragrance, raw material research. I am happiest in the lab and in my kitchen, which is my forever lab.
OTC Beauty: Can you share an exciting project or initiative you’re currently working on?
I can share that new products are in development, but I cannot share what they are just yet. What I can share is the immense joy of returning to independence. It allows for a level of personal involvement in the trajectory of my brand that just wasn’t doable in a big company. Another exciting moment has been the recent relaunch of our D2C e-commerce platform. We’ve rebuilt our digital home to be a true reflection of Carol’s Daughter: warm, educational, and welcoming. Our revamped site is more than just a place to shop… it’s a space that fosters a direct connection and closer relationship with our customers. And since we are on the topic of the site, I am especially thrilled about the launch of ‘Lisa’s Love List’ which is coming very soon. This curated collection will feature my personal favorites across beauty, wellness, lifestyle and more, with a dedicated mission to spotlight Black-and Brown-owned brands. By elevating these founders and brands, we are creating new avenues for visibility and opportunity. For me, this initiative is rooted in trust and the power of community, helping our customers discover products that truly enrich their lives.
OTC Beauty: What’s your favorite product?
Asking for my favorite product is like asking me for my favorite child. But, if pressed, I will say Goddess Strength Cocoon Mask. It is a wonderful deep conditioner with an interesting texture that wraps around your hair strands and moisturizes my hair at a level that is unmatched. It is a product a lot of folks sleep on and I try to let them know how amazing it is every chance I get. It never disappoints.
OTC Beauty: How do you stay inspired and keep the creative energy flowing throughout your workday?
The key to staying inspired and keeping the creativity flowing is knowing when to stop. You cannot just focus on the list and getting it done. Checking those boxes is important to ensure completion of tasks but listening to your body, your spirit, your mind is equally, if not more important. Sometimes I need to stop and dance for a few minutes or go and make myself a cup of tea. In short, “go with the flow.”
OTC Beauty: How would you describe the company culture, and how does it influence your approach to your work?
Having a team that is remote, makes us very focused when we are on virtual meetings. We check in with one another. We share jokes and memes and social media posts. Everything isn’t always about work because if we were all together in an office, there would be coffee catch-ups and rides in the elevator–lunches, going to an exercise class after work, etc. But since we don’t have the face to face, I believe we are more intentional about connecting, talking, bonding and working not just as a team but as a family. As the leader of this team, they must know that they can talk to me, question me, create with me and let me know when they think I am wrong. I work collaboratively.
OTC Beauty: Can you share any habits that help you stay balanced, motivated, and productive?
I am a visual person. My environment must have color and texture and scent. When I did have an office it was never traditional.
I schedule breaks into my day. I make time for my health. Mental health and physical health. I let go of “beast mode” five years ago. That can work from time to time but when it becomes your default, it will kill you.
OTC Beauty: Looking ahead, what are you most excited about for the future in the coming year?
I am most excited about connecting with my customers. I miss the intimacy that we had when I was originally building Carol’s Daughter in my home.
OTC Beauty: After a busy day, how do you unwind and recharge?
I have always been a TV girl, since I was a kid. And now, I am a streamer. I love all of the many options available today for interesting stories, series, and films. I also collect perfume and I knit and crochet.
OTC Beauty: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is what you witness as the Founder. The people. The teams you build and rebuild. You meet people, work with them and if you are lucky, you get a side seat to their lives. You see births and deaths. Weddings, engagements, divorces all pass before your eyes. New homes, new schools, babies, graduations. It is truly remarkable. And while it is sad to see some people leave, when you have done this long enough, you learn it is a part of the process and watching others pursue their dreams is an honor I never take for granted.
