As you probably know, I have had alll the skin issues and allll the gut issues. I've been there, got the t-shirt?. My journey has had many ups and downs, as I am sure yours has. I had a client ask about my journey and how I got here, so I thought it would be a fun Beauty S'cool edition! Here is my acne journey.
Pre Beauty School
Before I decided to become an Esthetician, I had still suffered from acne and skin issues. I was oily but dry, flaky and sensitive, had breakouts I couldn’t control, was on antibiotics for the breakouts, felt sick all the time, had no regular bowel movements, an unhealthy and un-active lifestyle and was miserable at my desk job. Knowing what I know now, this was the perfect recipe for disaster. I woke up one day, told my parents I was enrolling in Beauty School and three weeks later the journey began.
Beauty School and Starting Out
Beauty School was probably one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. It’s not nearly as easy as "becoming an Esthetician". You gotta have loads of grit, work ethic, passion and motivation or you'll never see the other side. What a time I will never forget!
I met my best friend there, learned how badly I wanted what I was going after and all the ways of doing things wrong first. When I say I understand, sister (or brother!), I understand.
This is when my acne hit an all-time high. I was STRESSED to the max, 20 pounds overweight and so inflamed. I was eating fast food, quick bites, snacks or not eating at all driving almost 40 minutes one way to school and then an hour to work every. single. day. See what I mean about grit? I worked my way through school through a turbulent relationship, frazzled friendships and strained home life relationships. But, I was determined. Alissa and I (I would have never made it had it not been for you babe!) graduated in 8 months going to school part-time and working, which is almost unheard of. We wanted OUT and were ready to get started working on our dream.
Fast-forward a few months and I had started my own teeny tiny business booth renting a teeny tiny room with no clientele, no idea what I was doing and a drive to make it work. Funny story, I had actually enrolled in Beauty School to do freelance makeup in conjunction with skin services to provide the best possible situation for brides and makeup clients. Once I was in school, it was pretty obvious that makeup was not my jam!
I ended up falling in love with waxing and had started getting my own Brazilian waxes. I knew how much I loved it and had to offer it to other women. It turns out, this is was what started my business. I started with almost only sugar waxing and a "classic" facial that was only for relaxation. Dermaplaning entered the scene soon after and I slowlyy started falling in love with skin again.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Slowly, but surely I began to realize what my diet and lifestyle were doing to my skin and health. I started creating new habits and falling in love with heath, nutrition and fitness. I began helping others clear there acne as well. That brings me where I am today! Let me tell you, I am just getting started ?
There were changes I made as I began to learn about triggers, food and gut correlation with the skin and mental health. I also had another bought with breakouts on my face. I learned how to use the wrong products pretty quickly and began to try new things on myself, test trial after test trial.
My skincare line came out of this as well as my confidence! Shop skincare here ?Once my skin was clear again, just now at the beginning of 2020, I had learned (am learning) SO much. Now, I am offering treatments that work from the time the client walks through the door to them getting clear, to working on texture and pigmentation. I offer many services, however I will always have a special place for those who suffered what I suffered. I never want that for anyone.
Can you believe that is me up there?! I hardly know that girl on the left. I am thankful for her though, because literally only a few months ago I couldn’t believe I'd be the girl on the right. Now, here I am, typing this message to send you hope through a screen and sending you a virtual hug no matter where you are in your journey. If you need help or aren’t sure where to start, feel free to book with me here!
Things I Did to Get Healthy
Notice I didn’t write the title as "Things I did to get clear". I always say this and you’re going to roll your eyes when I say it again! ?BUT, "beauty is a whole" friends! Diet, fitness, mental health and relationships, your job, your faith- they ALL play a factor here. Here are some very important changes you can (and should) do as well:
- Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day?
- Hide greens in EVERYTHING ??? - smoothies, soups, sandwiches, wraps, juices, etc.
- Exercise and sweat 3-5 times a week (also rest)
- Cut way back on sugar intake
- Start eating as gluten-free as possible
- Change pillowcase weekly, if not every other day
- Use clean muslin cloths to *pat* your face dry after cleansing morning and night (yes, both!)
- Again, cleanse morning and night
- Drink celery juice daily ?
- NO PICKING OK
- Sunscreen!!!! This is in the only way to keep any kind of scarring or pigmentation from worsening. A tan may hide it temporarily, but at the end of the day you will have worse scarring + sun damage ? Shop the goods here.
- Pick friends, partners and media that supports you!!! How do you feel after being with that person or group of people?? Are you being pushed to your best self?? Are you passionate about what you do?? Find good connection.
- Quit caffeine- you don’t actually need it ❤️
- Get reg??u??lar?? skin treatments, like I am very serious, this will change your life
- Give back to charity, volunteer, donate something
- Take time for YOU. Whatever that looks like. Learn something new, read a book just for fun, take a longgg hot bath (my fav), go for a walk and talk to Jesus. Refuel so you can pour out again!
Now, that list can be overwhelming however, I am your guiding light. I don’t expect what I did in four years to happen for you in a month. If it does, we will celebrate the pants off of Goshen Indiana!! Maybe you can relate to this very summed-up version of my story and find some peace that you are not alone. Give yourself grace, room to grow and room to change. You can always be better. You can always learn and grow. You can’t change the past, but you can move forward now! Here’s to the future and I believe in you??
Much love ❤️ -A