When Shai Eisenman launched Bubble Skincare at 27 years old, she wasn’t just starting a beauty company — she was solving a problem she believed the beauty industry had ignored for far too long. Consumers, especially younger shoppers, were often forced to choose between products that were clinically effective and products that felt fun, approachable, and affordable. Eisenman didn’t think they should have to compromise.
Now, eight years later, Bubble Skincare has become one of the most recognizable skin care brands among Gen Z consumers, known for its colorful packaging, science-backed formulas, and strong connection to its community. But Eisenman’s path to becoming a founder and CEO wasn’t a straight line.
“I wanted to be an entrepreneur as a child,” Eisenman tells Her Campus. “When I saw other people building brands, I was always very passionate about it.”
Eisenman started her bachelor’s degree at only 15, and worked across different sectors in the tech world during and after college. During this time, she launched her first startup, an experience she describes as both a failure and an invaluable education. “I learned a lot from it,” she says. Those lessons would eventually shape her approach to leadership, product development, and building a company designed around consumer feedback.
Before launching Bubble, Eisenman and her team conducted more than 200 focus groups and extensive quantitative research to understand exactly what consumers wanted from their skin care products. “Community is the heart and soul of everything we do,” she says.
Today, that philosophy extends beyond product development. Bubble’s popular college ambassador program, for example, was created after the company recognized that college students have unique needs, experiences, and conversations that deserve their own space. For Eisenman, the program is as much about learning from students as it is about empowering them. “We wanted to make sure we were understanding and learning from them while also spreading the word about Bubble,” she says. The program reflects the same community-first mindset that helped launch the brand in the first place.
As CEO, Eisenman’s days are filled with meetings, marketing decisions, product testing, and problem-solving. “Challenges happen every day,” she says. Running a company often means shifting roles depending on what’s needed most. “Some days you’re the VP, sometimes you’re the CEO, sometimes the COO. You change hats every day.”
Eisenman says her favorite part of the job isn’t sitting in meetings. “I love meeting consumers,” she says. Whether she’s participating in focus groups or connecting with customers directly, hearing from the community remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
At the same time, Eisenman believes entrepreneurship is often romanticized online. “Running and building a team can be challenging,” she says. “It’s lonely.”
Still, for Eisenman, the difficult moments are outweighed by the impact Bubble has on its customers. Customer feedback remains one of her biggest motivators. “A bad review can crush me and a good review can make my day,” she says.Â
Understanding both quantitative and qualitative feedback, she explains, is essential not just for building a company, but for making better decisions in every aspect of life. “Research. Listen. Combine and understand the what and the why,” Eisenman says when reflecting on the best career advice she’s ever received.Â
For college students dreaming of launching their own businesses someday, Eisenman emphasizes the importance of patience. “Everything takes three or four times longer than you think,” she says. “Never underestimate the process.”
She also encourages aspiring founders to be realistic about the sacrifices entrepreneurship can require. While she firmly believes young women can achieve ambitious goals, she warns against underestimating the difficulty of the journey. “You can definitely do it all,” she says. “It doesn’t make it not hard. It’s really hard, but you can do it.”