The Road to Experience — Lessons from Atlanta to Arizona
When I graduated from esthetics school in 2003, I was so eager to dive in and start helping people with their skin — and, honestly, I had no idea what I didn’t know yet.
My first job was at a full-service salon and spa in Midtown Atlanta. We did it all — hair, nails, massage, waxing, facials — the works. It was a complete change from my old life in offices and “pushing paper”, and I absolutely loved it. The energy was fun, creative, and full of personality. But it was also humbling. Those first few years as an esthetician are such a learning curve — you’re constantly discovering that skin is never “one size fits all.”
Thankfully, I had a great mentor. My boss took me under his wing and taught me not only how to give an incredible facial but also the art of waxing — which, let me tell you, did not come naturally at first. I still joke that I owe a lifetime of apologies to my first several clients. But that experience built my confidence and gave me the resilience to keep improving.
In 2007, right before having my second baby, I moved my business into my home so I could balance motherhood and work. Those early years were all about finding rhythm — between kids, clients, and continuing education. I soaked up every bit of knowledge I could find, taking advanced courses and learning new modalities. Around 2008, I took my first chemical peel class, and it was transformative.
I finally started seeing real changes in my own skin and in my clients’ skin. After years of struggling with acne, I understood how to manage it — and I could help others do the same. I was obsessed with how ingredients and technology could work together to actually heal skin instead of just covering it up.
In 2009, A chiropractor I was seeing introduced me to a massage therapist who rented a room in his office. She was doing mobile massage and often got requests for facials, so she suggested we team up. I started sharing her room that she rented and we started doing a lot of collaboration. That partnership turned into my first true business venture — in office or a mobile spa experience! We did everything from couples massages and mother-daughter facials to home spa parties. It was creative, flexible, and so much fun. More importantly, it taught me how to think like a business owner.
She ended up moving out of state and I moved to a different part of Atlanta. I found a new studio to rent in a very busy gym. I quickly set up shop and was loving all the energy from the gym. Things were really starting to pick up, then life threw a curve ball.
My dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and our family made the hard decision to move across the country to Arizona to be closer to my family. Leaving behind my clients — many of whom had been with me since the beginning — was heartbreaking. But it was the right move, and it marked the start of an entirely new chapter for me.
Once in Arizona, I started working at Amara Resort in Sedona and Flagstaff Face & Body. That’s when I realized skincare was completely different here. The dry, high-elevation desert climate required a whole new approach. Products and techniques that worked beautifully in humid Georgia suddenly felt too harsh and stripping. It was humbling to start over and relearn how skin behaves in a totally different environment.
At Amara, I fell in love with the holistic, natural approach they used. At the same time, Flagstaff Face & Body introduced me to medical-grade skincare for the first time. The contrast between the two philosophies was eye-opening — and it helped shape my own balanced approach to skincare today. I learned that skin thrives when science and nature work together.
In 2013, while working at Hilton Eforea Spa in the Village of Oak Creek, I helped select a new skincare line — Rhonda Allison. Their training blew me away. It deepened my understanding of how climate, elevation, and barrier health impact the skin. It was one of those “aha” moments where everything finally started to click.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but all those experiences — the salons, the spas, the mentorships, the moves — were preparing me for something bigger: creating a skincare space that truly aligned with my values.
Skin Lesson:
Every phase of life — and every climate, every challenge — changes what your skin needs. The more we listen, learn, and adapt, the stronger and more radiant our skin (and our spirit) becomes.
To Be Continued…