Today we’d like to introduce you to Rubee Matos.

Hi Rubee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you so much for this honor and opportunity to share my story! My name is Rubee Dilenys Matos, the owner of R&R Spa and Bad & Saved the brand and skincare line founded in Raleigh, NC.

My journey began over 20 years ago at the age of fourteen shadowing my mother in her business Look Good & Feel Good Beauty Salon in Selma, NC. Trained under her wings, I went to cosmetology school at Miller-Motte College in 2009. Together we opened Dilenys Salon & Spa in Benson, NC. In the summer of 2012, I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from St. Augustine’s University. My passion for skincare drove me steadily into the future. In the fall of 2012, I became an independent consultant for the Doctors that created Proactiv, Dr. Katie Rodan & Dr. Kathy Fields. I knew specializing in skincare was my ultimate passion. I left my corporate career when my newborn son began having medical complications. I knew the best decision for my family was to work independently with a flexible schedule. So, I furthered my skincare education and graduated from Aveda Institute in Chapel Hill in 2015. R&R Spa was established in November of 2015 in Raleigh, NC; with the mission of providing excellent service in a relaxing environment and helping people achieve the best skin of their lives. R&R Spa LLC moved from its 2nd large suite space to a private office spa in a prime retail location in March of 2018 near Crabtree Mall. R&R Spa added additional services in 2019 such as non-invasive lipo and made a step towards the Med Spa market. I am very passionate about my clients, community, and giving back to charity as much as possible. Toys for Tots, Charity Water and The NC Food Bank Agency in partnership with Miracles & Blessings of God who my mother Juana Pena directs as the church reverend are some charities R&R Spa has worked with since 2016. Bad & Saved Skin is a skincare line under the trademark “Bad & Saved” brand & lifestyle company I created in 2020. Bad & Saved was birthed out of R&R Spa in Raleigh, NC during the pandemic shutdown in 2020. With over 5 years of ingredient research & testing on all skin types of the family, friends & clients who came into R&R Spa for skincare services. I began formulating my own regimen for my clients’ skincare services and customers raved about how amazing their skin felt and how they haven’t found another place that left their skin feeling so baby soft. In April of 2020, I gave birth to my daughter “Heavenlee Grace” during the worldwide shutdown and while at home I began to formulate and customize natural products anyone could use at home without coming in for a service. I also created the perfect products to treat the skin pre & post in spa services! In 2019 R&R Spa was nominated for Beauty Establishment of the Year and I was nominated for Wax Expert and Esthetician of the Year by Artistry of Excellence Awards. I was awarded Wax Expert of the Year in 2019 amongst my beauty professional peers in the Raleigh/Durham RTP area. During the pandemic shutdown, I wrote an autobiography on my life and journey thus far and the personal experiences I encountered and overcame while achieving purpose as I continue to each day. The book is called Bad & Saved and is currently in production with the publication company WestBow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. The book is available for preorders on badandsaved.org. In 2021 R&R Spa was recognized by the media in Midtown Magazine for the Faces of Raleigh 2021 issue as the face of Enhancements and Skincare.

In 2022 I moved to Jacksonville, NC to raise my family near the coast. Living close to the beach is somewhere I always wanted to call home. Admiring the beauty of nature and the ocean has always been a source of peace for me. During this time, I continued to commute to Raleigh to service my clients and promote my skincare line. R&R Spa participated in the Raleigh Night Market in Downtown Raleigh to bring the skincare products I created right into my communities’ hands. Bad and Saved Skin is now available on a variety of online selling platforms and social media for at home delivery to clients. My goal is to share with the world my incredible skincare passion by producing unforgettable skincare products delivered safely on demand straight to each client’s doorstep. My purpose is to bring light to single motherhood, mental health awareness and finding our individual calling and living our dreams come what may. Bad & Saved Brand shares a message to the masses personal to me on loving yourself inside & out, rejecting anything that compromises you in accepting less and knowing that overcoming it all is because God never left your side. I’m really excited about my office opening for business in Jacksonville, NC on July 1st and Knightdale, NC for my Wake County established clientele. I am a mother of an 8-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter who fiercely believes in following dreams, doing what I love, faith, becoming the best version of myself, traveling as often as possible, growing and perfecting my craft while inspiring others to do the same, my favorite phrases are it’s a Journey, not a Destination –”Be Still” & “Keep Glowing!”

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey has come with its share of obstacles, starting a business without capital, at the time a single mother with a son who had breathing complications and an IEP for a developmental delay in 2014. 5 years later in 2019, a pregnancy with Hyperemesis, c section, and tubal ligation without familiar support in a hospital due to the pandemic and my business closing for almost 4 months. After reopening we were instructed to scale back with the capacity limitations. It has been challenging but my faith in God and the purpose He has on my life, gives me a fierce determination. My desire and grit to leave something better behind for my children and community is the fuel that keeps me going. I’m so grateful for my family, friends, clients and supporters who have held my hand along the way and continue to water my work.

As you know, we’re big fans of R and R Spa LLC and Trademark Bad & Saved. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
R&R Spa was established in November of 2015 in Raleigh, NC and has recently expanded to Jacksonville, NC with the mission of providing excellent service in a relaxing environment and helping people achieve the best skin of their lives. I’m so excited to be located in a Military town! Knowing service members abbreviated “R&R” for rest and relaxation from the intensity of their career while being close to the ocean is the perfect combination of what R&R Spa is here to deliver. This has always been the concept from it’s conception. To unwind, relax and get away a few minutes from home without breaking the bank. To be able to not only care for our skin and body; but also simultaneously our mental health and spirit too!

I specialize in skincare as a licensed esthetician. My goal is to beautify our skin using exceptional natural skincare ingredients. I’m known for giving the most amazing relaxing facials, waxing and creating a hydrating all natural skincare line that makes the skin and hair so supple with a glow! My skincare line focuses on delivering a relaxing experience by providing aromatherapy while bringing optimum hydration to the face, body and hair. The difficult past experiences in my life caused me anxiety and depression. I remember my first spa experience at the Pinehurst Spa in NC. When the service was over, I felt I was transported to a stress-free world. I opened my eyes and said to myself, this, this is the feeling I want to give, be known for and the environment I would love to work in. In that moment “I found my calling”. I went home that evening and put everything on paper. I even made a drawing of the future spa I will open and was filled with joy knowing I found the confirmation of what I was created to do and the gift I’m destined to share.

I’m most proud of making lemonade out of lemons, overcoming so many challenges and the endurance to know in my gut the finish line will be attained and the reward will outweigh the sacrifices. By using the isolated time during the pandemic to write my autobiography, create a natural skincare line, and trademarking Bad & Saved to bring purpose full circle and motivate people who have endured major setbacks in life to keep pressing forward and not to lose faith in God come what may. To find what they love and duplicate it by birthing their life’s purpose. It takes a lot of courage, determination and patience during the process but in the words of my favorite Biblical quote “Be still and know that I am God!” In due time, we will reap a harvest if we faint not. While the transition is in motion “Keep Glowing”, I’m here to help. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me is that women feel supported on their journeys. To leave a legacy behind for my daughter Heavenlee and my son Jonathan Angel and their children someday. To encourage everyone to find what they love to do, their calling and purpose and establish a relationship with God who created us to be who we are and show that same love, compassion and forgiveness to others in their respective processes. To also educate ourselves on our mental health and do things for self-love and self-care by being a little kinder to our body and mind. It matters. It matters in a really profound way. Ultimately it sets the tone for our quality of life and personal contentment.

Pricing:

Complimentary brow wax with any service.

Grand opening special – Deep Cleansing Green Clay Facial $59.99

Complimentary sample of our Bad & Saved Skincare Line

Membership subscription available for additional savings.

Contact Info:

Website: rrspanc.com and badandsaved.orgInstagram: @RRSpaNCJacksonville | @RRSpaNC | @BadandSaved

Facebook: Facebook.com/rrspancFacebook.com/badandsavedYoutube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCMVtmCT4huUMc6shbsorZvwYelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/r-and-r-spa-raleighOther: https://linktr.ee/rubeematos

Image Credits

Faces of Raleigh Article by Mash Photography
Family and profile photo by Cedrick L Forrest Photography

Suggest a Story: VoyageJacksonville is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.