And Just Like That... it's 2022

You ever feel absolute overwhelm in December/January?

As I sit in my unfinished floor of a home I am making with a man I love- I am overcome with emotion of seeing my life through the lens of love. It’s been extremely hard to do in this season of my life.

I am someone who can be really hard on those around me because I am especially hard on myself. So taking this moment to see my life for where it truly is feels miraculous. I expanded my capacity for love, I expanded my business, had some great adventures- overall it doesn’t seem like I should be struggling to see the good.

But I am a mildly reformed pessimist. I am someone who tried very hard to remain emotionless. I actually kind of lived for figuring out what the worst case scenario is. My anxiety loved that game. While I weave out of doom and gloom to hopeful and full of love it’s nice to have the grounding moment in my attic that love really is the answer as cheesy as it sounds.

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If you are new around here, I started The Beauty Room in 2014 legally, but went solo in esthetics a couple years before. Having a business was really never something I intended to do or have. I had never seen it done in real life. I just truly wanted the freedom to do things the way I wanted.

From its inception, it's been a whirlwind of opportunities- from becoming a brand ambassador for a global company (before influencer culture) and learning from celebrity artists, Paul Innis + Lauren Anderson. To being flown to Europe and everything in between. I’ve done makeup for prom clients who turned into bridal clients. I’ve gotten to start a magazine and create a skin care line. More recently, I’ve gotten to help others start their own businesses.

I’ve also not known where my next client would come from. Been lied to and devastated from ruthlessness in business. Not always shown up my best self. I’ve been very lonely, even surrounded by so many others. I say all this in hopes that if you are thinking you shouldn’t try something- you absolutely should. It won’t be all rainbows, it will actually be really fucking hard. But what that one singular choice of creating freedom for myself has created- WHEW.

I am in the final stages of removing the last traces of myself as The Beauty Room. TBR will no longer be just me, it will now be for everyone else who wants a new route to freedom in their businesses.

It feels liberating, sad, methodical...the right time to.

I welcome the shift, and it’s a layered change that I’m not quite sure how it will play out. The weird space this puts me in feels like one foot out the door. I am, albeit scared, very excited for what by be next for me. I can’t put exact words to how all of these changes make me feel, but I hope that starting to be more transparent about the journey will help others and even myself, feel not so alone anymore.

Even though I draw closer to not doing business in the way I’ve been doing it. I am still very thankful for all the things it has taught me. Some of the biggest lessons that you can apply to a wide range of things are:

• Get it in writing. Always have receipts.

• Your ideas are never as original as you think. It’s okay. You have something that meets the right people for you, where they are.

• You don’t have to give it all away for free when you start. Your peers will be more willing to work with you when you take your industry seriously and at the very least charge minimum market price.

So as I also get a little further away from social media, I will be posting more here. I would love if you interact, share and really get some nuggets of wisdom you can use in your own life.

I’m making up for lost time and making my website, my business or whatever it turns into, way more personal. More authentically me. What has come up for you in this season of refection?

Your Skin Care Line Up Re-Imagined As Bridgerton Characters

Okay, I admit I am a wee bit basic. I have traded pumpkin lattes for a good chai, but I still fall victim to mass trends. I gave into the Bridgerton craze a few weeks ago and finished the whole season in 2 days. I am only mildly ashamed. While there are some things that could be criticized I feel the need to withhold them due to the fact that inspired me to write this post in the wee hours of the night. I am the opposite of a skin care junkie, but pretty much everything some how relates back to it. So here are my thoughts on which characters are what type of skin care products and why.

Let’s Dive In.

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DAPHNE BRIDGERTON

The trendy skin care item that was made in partnership of a derm who wanted more klout and a celebrity that already had good skin. They have a team of people who live to make them look good, but swear it’s these new products.

It will have the most basic attributes, but some how the marketing and JLO saying it’s great adds an air of magic and you now feel a gravitational pull to have it.

It could bring you some mild satisfaction, but it’s mostly packaged very well and hyped. It won’t completely wreck you, but there are better, less expensive (less drama filled) options.

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THE DUKE

Vitamin C serum hands down.

Unstable most of the time...but there to kick things up a notch and add some kink to your line up. Just like the actual product, it sucks to get addicted to the results because meanwhile you’re creating more damage (with improper usage). Not using this in conjunction with a sun screen, using it with very sensitive skin or getting a rancid batch will leave you with an emotional hangover ala Duke style.

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THE QUEEN

EXFOLIATION

Whether you do it with a scrub, or an acid...it’s a bit abrasive. It also does not care how you feel. It’s there to do its job and you must oblige to get what you want.

Your queen commands it.

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LADY DANBURY

An ever so lovely balm. 

Danbury was a shield for The Duke of having to go at life alone. Soothing over all your visible insecurities while at the same time building you up. Much like a power packed facial balm, we need it in our line up more than we realize. It cares for us in all the other ways our physical products are lacking.  Lady Danbury is the gift that keeps giving. 

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ELOISE BRIDGERTON

Your intuition wants to get down to the bottom of things much like Miss ELOISE.

Very often you push aside your inquisitive nature, but honestly it is the MOST important part of any skin care regimen. Learning to question what you ate, where you were and what you were doing throughout the day can give so much insight when you are trying to get to the bottom of any irritating skin condition. 

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PENELOPE FEATHERINGTON 

This one is a curve ball. She most definitely is your birth control.

Always making you  feel a little uncomfortable, a bit rash and at times vengeful-this part of skin care is easily overlooked, but can be a huge culprit for breakouts.

While it has been linked to help with acne it is pure accident and not intentionally made to do so. The reason it can be helpful or harmful depends on your levels of estrogen and progesterone. Guess what, those change all the time. Going off or on can throw your skin in a tizzy.

As Sir Brown once said, “These hoes ain’t loyal”.

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Let me know your thoughts on who’s who!!