My skincare journey began with playing in my mom’s Mary Kay makeup samples, but it truly took shape during my struggle with mental illness in my late teens and twenties. On my toughest days, makeup gave me a sense of control when everything else felt chaotic. As time passed, my passion shifted from makeup to skincare, and I haven’t looked back since. While working at Lush Cosmetics, I became the store’s skincare expert, and helping customers improve their skin inspired me to pursue a career as an esthetician. In beauty school, hearing stories about the impact of acne on my fellow students’ self-esteem deepened my commitment to helping others feel confident in their own skin. To me, skincare is about more than just beauty—it’s about well-being and self-worth. Inspired by the lotus flower’s journey through the mud to bloom in the light, I view skincare as a path of healing and transformation. Like the skin’s renewal process, self-care is a step toward becoming the best version of yourself.