Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauntavia Ward.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shauntavia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had an interest in the beauty industry. From playing in makeup and curating at-home beauty pageants as a child, to owning a skincare studio, beauty has always been close to me. Fun fact: During high school, I was the neighborhood kitchen beautician and nail art with makeshift stencils was my jam. I was all about helping my teenage besties look good and feel good about themselves. However, life had other plans for my career and my path to beauty/skincare would come much later. I remember touring a local beauty school when I was 18. While the art of cosmetology was very intriguing, the act of acquiring clients before the social media era, was not! So, I opted for a field that offered stability and a consistent paycheck despite not gaining a “clientele”. Enter, Shauntavia RN.
I started my career in medicine about 10 years ago, first as an ER nurse and I later became a Nurse Practitioner (NP). As an NP, I’ve worked in various medical aesthetic, plastic and cosmetic surgery roles. This was me slowly finding my way back to beauty. I even blogged as a hobby on the topics of hair, skin and nails. Through this blog, I realized I was passionate about skincare. I ultimately enrolled in Aveda Institute to hone my craft and break into the beauty industry on my own terms. This time, I was able to position myself to combine my passion for skincare and my knowledge in skin health, to get back to my purpose; inspiring women to look good and feel good about themselves. And I was very much prepared and actually excited to tackle the marketing aspect.
So, I created eleMINT Skin, a modern facial studio the elevates women and inspires them to see the power of their own natural beauty, beyond cosmetic enhancements. eleMINT is a dedicated space for skin and wellbeing to thrive holistically. A natural habitat for skin.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Pivoting into entrepreneurship, the journey to self-discovery and selfless empowerment is no easy feat. Nothing about my journey was smooth. In fact, there were external obstacles and internal self-doubt from the very beginning. I had professors, very early in my college career, tell me that I wouldn’t make it past their class, let alone become a nurse. I was counted out before I was even given a fair chance. I’ve navigated imposter syndrome, doubting my own abilities in healthcare and business. I’ve felt the agony that accompanies rejection, and I’ve learned through experience that failure is the first step to success. Despite those challenges, I’ve always found a silver lining. Optimism is my strength.
My advice to young women starting their journeys is not internalized someone else’s idea of who you are. Everyone will have an opinion about what you are or are not doing. Silence the noise with action. Be unapologetic in your pursuit to create the life you want. Also, realize that accepting and growing from failure or rejection is an important component of true success.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with eleMINT Skin – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
The real work that I am most proud of is fostering self-awareness, acceptance, and confidence in women, through skincare. On the surface, eleMINT is a facial studio, but when you peel back the layers, we’re ultimately a self-improvement space.
We offer clean beauty products, custom botanical facials, ingestible beauty and wellness events centered around building community and redefining what “good skin” truly is. I believe that the most powerful element of beauty is health. Our customized approach to skincare using plant-based or food-grade ingredients, hand-mixed to each skin concern is what clients love about our experience.
My vision is for eleMINT is to become a destination lifestyle brand for holistic skin health. Skincare has long been tied up in the spa industry and viewed as a luxury. Through eleMINT, we’re creating a shift in the skincare narrative, designating space for beauty and wellness to coexist, and make skin health a lifestyle while inspiring optimal wellbeing.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
Women are magical. Considering all the challenges we face, yet women are constantly opening businesses, breaking barriers, mastering leadership roles, and demanding and receiving the respect and equality of their male counterparts, at astronomical rates! Women are resilient and resourceful, we bring a different perspective and this is why we are claiming our seats at every table in the room. Overcoming struggles that were put in place to suppress women, makes us extremely valuable and well-positioned to do well in any given opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Address: eleMINT Skin Health & Wellness Studio
906 E.5th Street #106
Loft Level
Austin, TX 78702 - Website: www.elemintskin.com
- Phone: 512-518-0128
- Email: hello@elemintskin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemintskin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elemintskin/?view_public_for=361618094453444
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elemint-skin-health-and-wellness-studio-austin
Image Credit:
Heather Halbert
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