The Truth for 99% of Founders
Cindy Ip, Founder of Habitude, on Building Slowly, Honestly, and On Your Own Terms
If you’ve ever worked late, poured your own money into something you believe in, and still felt like you’re screaming into the void—this one’s for you.
In this episode, I sit down with Cindy Ip, the founder of Habitude, a skincare studio in Toronto that’s part beauty bar, part emotional reset button. Cindy’s not here to glamorize the founder journey—she’s here to tell the truth. The parts we don’t always see. The ones that feel messy, discouraging, and sometimes hilarious in hindsight.
Together, we talk about what it happens when you start from zero:
Spending your own money on ads that go nowhere
Wondering if anyone will ever care about what you’re building
Straddling two worlds—being amazing at your 9–5 while building a dream after hours
Showing up online when it feels vulnerable (and not super cute)
Cindy also shares why she’s choosing to slow down. Why she restructured her pricing. Why she’s pivoting intentionally. Not because she’s failing—but because she’s listening. To herself, to her audience, and to the world around her.
She’s building a business designed to make people pause. And in doing so, she’s redefining what growth can look like: quiet, grounded, human.
We laughed a lot during this one. We also said the quiet parts out loud. The things founders feel but don’t always share.
And if you’re in the thick of it—wondering why it feels so hard, or when things will finally click—this episode is here to remind you:
You’re not behind. You’re just building something unique to your journey.
Connect with Cindy:
Habitude Beauty:
Cindy:
