Hi! I am so excited and honored to be a part of the Balanced Thistle family + community and would love to share with you a bit about why I became an esthetician, specifically a holistic esthetician.

I’ve said this before, but I know in my heart that I manifested to where I am today. I’ll never forget the day I was in for an acupuncture appointment with Dr. Meghan and I confessed that I was planning on quitting my current job to go back to school to become an esthetician. My dream was to work in an acupuncture clinic, around women who are also passionate about what they do. I’ve been fascinated by the beauty world since I can remember. It started with makeup but soon grew to the skincare side of things. I knew from an early age if I wanted makeup to lay nicely and look good, I needed to have a clean, smooth canvas to work with. This is when the obsession with healthy skin came in. It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado 8 years ago that I started to have skin issues and sought out holistic alternatives to address my hormonal acne. It was the best decision I made because it led me to where I am today.

I wanted to become a holistic esthetician because you learn to treat the skin from the inside out. Meaning what you put on topically and what you ingest through food has a bearing on the skin. As an acupuncture patient myself, I personally saw the benefits of combining acupuncture and holistic skincare, especially through gua sha, which became an instant favorite of mine. Once I had my first gua sha facial, I didn't want any other type of facial. I knew I wanted to share the magic of gua sha with every person I met! I enrolled in esthetics school and graduated at the end of 2021. I continue to train under the talented Miss Kandi Arnold, learning more gua sha and facial lymphatic drainage techniques so I may continue to provide the best possible experience and results. As well as a holistic, approachable way of understanding the skin's health, needs, and maintenance. I am so incredibly grateful + excited for this new journey.

Blog written by Kayla Blanton, L.E.