I constantly get asked when I first became interested in esthetics and what pushed me to make a career out of skincare and makeup services and education. This was not something I set out to do when I graduated high school, but to say I fell into it isn't quite right either.⁠..

 

I've‌ ‌had‌ ‌an‌ ‌interest‌ ‌in‌ ‌makeup‌ ‌and‌ ‌skincare‌ ‌since‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌quite young.‌  I‌‌ was‌ ‌always‌ ‌intrigued‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌lotions,‌ ‌potions,‌ ‌colors,‌ ‌and‌ ‌cremes‌ ‌being‌ ‌used‌ ‌by‌ ‌my ‌mom‌ ‌and‌ ‌grandma,‌ ‌who‌ ‌have‌ ‌always‌ ‌taken‌ ‌great‌ ‌care‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌skin.‌  Often, I'd sneak off to their bathrooms to play in their moisturizers, face masks, and cosmetics, gaining an appreciation (obsession, maybe?) for lipstick that I still have to this day.  But let’s jump ahead to when I was a young teen... I had very problematic skin.  I started seeing a dermatologist when I was 14 and tried every skincare system, topical medication, and oral medication out there, short of Accutane.  Very little helped.  I'd get clear for a little bit, then all the acne would come back again full force, and the cycle would start over.  I dealt with awful breakouts off and on all through high school, through college, and even into grad school in my early to mid 20s.  I was told I was undatable because I had too many pimples.  I got made fun of by the girls who could sleep in their makeup and still manage to have baby-soft, perfect skin.  I clearly remember days of skipping class and crying at home alone in my apartment because the acne was so bad that I couldn't get it covered with makeup.  I knew nothing about the health of skin or what, outside of my Derm's advice, would help calm and clear up the breakouts, I felt embarrassed and hopeless that my skin would ever get better.

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Prior to my life as a skincare therapist, I dabbled in various other career paths.  I have a BS in Psychology and an MBA with a Marketing emphasis.  Ultimately, the corporate world wasn't the best fit for me, and I started to evaluate what I was passionate about and how I could use my personal experiences to help people.  I did a lot of soul searching, took a lot of personality tests, spoke with friends and family members, and made a ton of lists regarding my interests.  Even at that time, being 27 years old, I was still suffering from occasions in which the acne would flare up and I'd once again become a recluse.  I decided that not only did I want to figure out what would help clear my acne long term, but I wanted to find a way to help other people that were suffering too.  So, in 2006,  I enrolled in esthetics school.  Once I learned more about the science and health of skin and started using that knowledge on myself, things changed.  I always joke that my acne cleared when I started being kinder to my skin, but it's actually the truth!  As I discovered from personal experience, Dermatologists and doctors definitely have a place in skincare; however, writing a prescription isn't always the best course of action.  So much can be achieved by making a comprehensive plan involving the right skincare products, habit adjustments, and different lifestyle choices.  Thus, my rewarding career in the world of esthetics, and the dream of Covet Skin Studio, was born. 

 

Fast forward to today... I still get the occasional breakout, and while I'm of the age that wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation are also a concern, I now know how to tackle all of those issues properly and with a true understanding of skin health.  One of the hardest lessons I had to learn on my own skin journey, and one that I emphasize with clients, is that NOTHING happens overnight!  Achieving clear, balanced, even-toned skin is a marathon, not a sprint, and consistency is key.  Client education is at the core of my treatment philosophy.  Since the beginning, I've taken the approach that if consumers understand the "why" of their homecare products and treatment regimen, they're more likely to stick with it and get the results they desire.  I also preach, as often as I can, that "visible pores are normal", "seeing skin texture is normal", and "lines and wrinkles come with age and seeing them means you've lived a full life in which you laughed and smiled".  It's important for people to keep perspective and realize that the images we're bombarded with on a daily basis are NOT real and that your skin is beautiful because it belongs to you! 

 

After the struggle with my own skin, I feel extremely blessed to have a career helping others learn to love theirs.   It still feels like a dream that through all of my experience treating patients at dermatology and plastic surgery offices, teaching aspiring skincare specialists at esthetic schools, and running the education department for a professional cosmetics company, I've been able to train and inform so many consumers and industry professionals alike and truly transform how people see themselves.  Having a beautiful, healthy complexion isn't just about looking "pretty" or "pleasing" to others.  At the core of it, I want to help men and women feel confident and uniquely beautiful in their own skin!