24 Hours With Caci Di Russo of Toccare Day Spa

Photography by The Beautiful Mess Photography.

When we asked Caci Di Russo to share a typical day with us, we had a feeling we would be inspired by her personal self-care routine and how she runs her green beauty boutique and day spa. What we didn’t realize was that it would also be so much fun. The owner of Toccare Day Spa in Charlotte, North Carolina—a destination for locals seeking customized treatments and carefully selected products—clearly loves her work, whether she’s practicing her craft or spending time with teammates. And when she’s not at her flagship or newly opened second location, you can generally find her doing activities with her daughter, Billie, or enjoying downtime with her husband, Massi. Recently, Di Russo took us through 24 busy hours in her life, from her morning skincare routine and coaching new teammates to evening playtime and the practices she uses to stay centered and present. While she is quick to note that “This is my ideal day,” even when things don’t go as planned she makes an effort to be grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves while providing a service to her community.


7:15 a.m.: I wake up. I love my sleep and aim to get at least eight hours. My husband is an early riser, and he lets me sleep in while he prepares coffee and breakfast for my daughter and me before we get up. The minute my feet hit the ground I do a quick stretch and maybe a few sun salutations. Yoga is a big part of my daily routine and helps me stay grounded.

My daughter, Billie, typically gets up around 7:30 a.m. She chit-chats away while I help her get changed and ready for school. Billie is very into dresses and is very particular about her outfits at the moment, so we have to take that into consideration. My husband takes her to school, and after they leave I’m able to get ready for work in peace.

8:00 a.m.: I have fruit with coconut cream for breakfast and sprinkle The Beauty Chef’s Glow Inner Beauty on top. Before I have my coffee I drink at least one full glass of water. When time permits, my husband, Massi, and I like to sit outside and our drink coffee together to catch up and go through what our days look like. I love to be outside and ground my feet to get in a calm head space before my day starts.

8:15 am: I take a long shower. I am very minimalist when it comes to my self-care routine. In the morning I use Sisters Body Wash with Vetiver and the firming body serum from Osea. I wash my face with water and use Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator, Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream, and Ilia’s True Skin Foundation with a little mascara and color on my lips.

8:45 a.m: I head over to the Toccare Myers Park location to make sure the space is ready to go and grab any supplies I need for the new Dilworth location. I also check in with our front desk team. I am lucky to have a great team that I also enjoy working with, so typically I can’t wait to get to work. I also live close by, and the stores are only four minutes away from one another, so I have a very easy commute.

Photography by Demi Mabry Photography.

9:15 a.m: I arrive at the newly opened Dilworth spa and spend an hour checking on the books, making sure that the schedule is set and everyone has a clear picture of their day and has what they need. Currently, I am also coaching our new teammates to instill the Toccare culture, mission, and methods.

10:15 a.m.: I check in with Brittany and Emani, our two spa managers, and discuss what their plan for the day is, what orders need to be placed, supplies that we need, challenges that have come up, etc. Adding a new location is a lot of change for everyone, so a lot can come up transition-wise. I try really hard to make sure information is communicated to our whole team so everyone is on the same page.

“I have my hands in a lot of different tasks, so making sure I stay present and centered so that I can give my full attention to either my teammate or a client is a priority for me.”

11:00 a.m.: I spend some time hanging out with the team, just spending time together and catching up. I practice being fluid and flexible, and I typically don’t have a majorly structured schedule for each day, just a general idea of what needs to be accomplished. I have a few tips and tools I use to keep myself centered throughout the day, including practicing breath work. I have my hands in a lot of different tasks and it’s not uncommon to see me jump in the treatment room from time to time, so making sure I stay present and centered so that I can give my full attention to either my teammate or a client is a priority for me.

12:00 p.m: We are all foodies at Toccare. (If you are ever wondering the way to our hearts, it’s through sweets.) We are constantly snacking throughout the day. For lunch, one of our teammates will do a food run. I love Pepperbox donuts or Not Just Coffee’s avocado toast. I’m also constantly drinking tea throughout the day, one of my favorites is the cloud mountain tea from Flying Bird Botanicals. I also love to drink Potli’s Awaken Apple Cider Vinegar with hot water and Manuka honey, which gives me quite a bit of energy throughout the day.

1:00 p.m.: I’m hands on at both locations for the next three hours. Often, I’m at the front desk checking clients in and out and catching up with them. Some of our clients have been with me since I first became an esthetician in 2004, so I love being there when they check in or out for their appointment. I also jump in the treatment room if need be, and I love the opportunity to be with a client and practice my craft. If I have a meeting, I always try to take it outside. Reconnecting with nature helps me stay grounded.

Photography by The Beautiful Mess Photography.

4:00 p.m.: I aim to leave the store by 4:30 p.m. if everything is going smoothly. I usually grab a Recess Mood drink or Dram sparkling water on my way out of the shop for a little pick-me-up. I pick up Billie from school and take her to do an activity. She’s either at taekwondo, swim practice, or a playdate, and if we don’t have any activities scheduled, she loves a trip to the car wash or we go home and play in the yard. Right now, she’s really into talking about her day and her friends at school. It’s the cutest to watch her make friends and form her own opinions and thoughts.

6:30 p.m.: I make dinner for Billie.

7:00 p.m.: Billie and I love to take a bath together. For a body wash we use a small brand from upstate New York called Sisters that we sell at the shop. It is Vetiver scented, and it’s lovely and so grounding. I also do my nighttime skincare routine at this time: I use One Love’s Vitamin B Cleanser, Josh Rosebrook’s Hydrating Accelerator, Marie Veronique’s Soothing B3 serum, and Josh Rosebrook’s Vital Balm Cream.

7:30 p.m.: We play! Sometimes it’s in our little ball pit and I send Billie on a mission to pick out specific color balls. She is like wrangling a tiger before bed so we try to expel as much energy as we can!

8:00 p.m.: I rock Billie to sleep, we sing “Jesus Loves Me” and say the Lord’s Prayer. Billie loves to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Llama Llama Red Pajama. Massi and I also read Italian children’s books to help her (and me) learn the Italian language.

Photography by Demi Mabry Photography.

9:00 p.m.: In quintessential European style, Massi cooks dinner for us around 9 p.m. My favorite signature meal of his is a thin piece of chicken that has been beaten and breaded and cooked to perfection. We love it with an arugula salad and of course a glass of wine (or two for him).

After dinner I wind down by drinking lemon balm tea with honey and fresh lemon. We grow lemon balm in our garden. I read a little—I love a good self-help book or yoga book like Light on Life, and anything by Glennon Doyle.

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve self-care to our community, to have the opportunity to make an impact on the way people view beauty, and to create and offer this same opportunity to our team.”

10:00 p.m.: I do a deep stretch before bed and sometimes Massi joins me.

10:30 p.m.: This is my ideal bedtime, and I usually take a moment to reflect on my day. My goal throughout the day is to remember to be grateful. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve self-care to our community, to have the opportunity to make an impact on the way people view beauty, and to create and offer this same opportunity to our team.

Toccare is featured in The Scout Guide Charlotte. Learn more about Toccare and other excellent local businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina at charlotte.thescoutguide.com.