Why Do High-Achieving Women Struggle to Prioritize Themselves | ZZ Exchange with Caroline Crochet

For many women, self-care ends up at the bottom of the list. Between leading teams, building careers, supporting families, and managing the invisible mental load that comes with modern life, it can be easy to overlook the small signals that your body has been sending for years. In this episode of ZZ Exchange, I sit down with aesthetician, founder, and former nurse Caroline Crochet to explore what happens when women finally make themselves a priority. While our conversation begins with skincare, it quickly expands into something much bigger. We talk about perimenopause, stress, identity, entrepreneurship, and the importance of creating space to rest, reset, and reconnect with yourself. Caroline shares practical insights about how hormonal changes impact the skin, why consistency matters more than complicated routines, and how many women unknowingly carry pressure that shows up physically long before they acknowledge it emotionally. We explore what it means to care for yourself in a season of life where everyone else seems to need something from you. In this episode, we discuss: What actually happens to your skin during perimenopause Why more products do not always mean better results The connection between stress, sleep, hormones, and skin health How women often place themselves last on their own priority list Building a business from scratch and navigating the founder journey Why self-care is about more than appearances Creating spaces where women feel supported, seen, and cared for Caroline also shares the story behind La Cachette, her Richmond-based spa whose name means “the hiding place,” and how creating a sanctuary for others became part of her own entrepreneurial journey. If you’re navigating midlife, leadership, entrepreneurship, or simply feeling stretched between everyone else’s needs and your own, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that caring for yourself is not a luxury. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is create space to come back to yourself. Chapters: 02:14 Skincare Journey: From Soap and Water to Healthy Skin Routine 02:55 Simple Skincare Routine: Cleanser, Moisturizer & Sunscreen Basics 04:53 Perimenopause Skin Changes: Hormones, Collagen Loss & Aging Skin 06:29 Stress, Sleep & Cortisol: How Lifestyle Impacts Skin Health 09:23 Skincare Treatments Explained: Laser, Microneedling & Collagen Boosting 11:18 Choosing the Right Skincare Treatments for Your Lifestyle 12:48 La Cachette Spa Story: Building a Holistic Skincare Sanctuary 15:26 From Nurse to Aesthetician: Career Shift into Skincare & Wellness Founder Journey 16:41 Entrepreneurship in Beauty & Wellness: Building a Skincare Business 20:38 Women, Self-Care & Skin Confidence in High-Pressure Life 23:37 Listening to Your Skin & Coming Back to Yourself 🎧 Listen to more episodes on our ZZ Exchange playlist:    • ZZ Exchange | Real Conversations. Shared G...   🎧 Listen anytime, anywhere. ZZ Exchange is also available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70uWrLf... Thanks for watching! About Caroline Crochet Caroline Crochet is the founder and lead aesthetician of La Cachette Spa, an award-winning skincare destination in Richmond, BC. With a background in nursing and clinical aesthetics, she combines science-backed skincare with a deeply personal approach to care, helping clients navigate everything from skin health and aging to confidence and self-care. Since founding La Cachette in 2011, Caroline has grown the business from a solo practice into a trusted wellness space while also mentoring future estheticians as an educator. Known for blending clinical expertise with genuine human connection, she believes skincare is about more than appearance—it’s about creating space for people to feel supported, cared for, and at home in their own skin. About ZZ Exchange ZZ Exchange is where real leadership meets real life. Hosted by Ainsley, founder of ZenZero, the podcast explores the messy, meaningful side of growth through honest conversations with leaders and change makers. 🎙️ Subscribe to ZZ Exchange for more grounded conversations on leadership, growth, and the human side of work. ZenZero Resources: Website: https://zenzeroconsulting.com/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:   / ainsleyericksen     / zenzero-coaching-consulting   Instagram:   / zenzeroconsulting   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zenzeroconsu... Caroline Crochet Resources: Website: https://lacachettespa.com/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:   / carolinecrochet   Instagram:   / lacachettespa   Facebook:   / lacachettespa