The story Behind Inner Light Holistic Skin Care

Meet Renée:

Holistic Aesthetician Rooted in Oncology Informed Care and Skin Barrier Health

Welcome. I am so glad you are here.

Inner Light Skin Care has always been more than a place to receive a facial. It is a reflection of my life, my values, and the many chapters that have shaped how I care for skin and for people.

I first wrote an introduction, like this, in 2020 when Inner Light first opened. A week later, I was diagnosed with cancer. Since then, so much has changed. In many ways, my work and vision for skin care has become clearer.

Inner Light remains a piece of my heart. It is the accumulation of my experience as an esthetician, product developer, and lifelong student of skin. It is also shaped by lived experience and a deeper respect for the body’s intelligence, resilience, and capacity to heal.

Many of the people who find their way here are navigating changes of their own. Shifts in skin. Shifts in health. Aging. Or simply a desire to care for themselves differently. If that is you, you are not alone.

I am the proud mother of two grown daughters. If you ask my girls what I look forward to on the daily, they will most likely tell you it is my evening cleanse. They are not wrong. Skincare continues to bring me genuine joy.

I cherish time with my daughters, my sisters, and my friends. I find grounding in yoga, reading, walking, and the quiet rituals that bring me back to myself.

My relationship with skincare began early. My mother, who is Korean, has always prioritized caring for her skin. At 80, her skin reflects the decades of consistency and care. She remains a steady inspiration to me, as do my sisters, who are also in the skincare industry.

Before becoming an aesthetician, I worked as a flight attendant with United Airlines. After 9/11, and later after becoming a mother, my priorities began to shift. Around the same time, my skin changed. It became more sensitive. The traditional and aggressive treatments and products I once relied on no longer felt supportive or aligned.

That experience led me to slow down and begin asking deeper questions. What does truly healthy skin look like? Why was my skin experiencing sensitivity when I was using “the best” products available. What happens when we support the skin instead of pushing it?

One question led to another and before I knew it, I found myself somewhere familiar yet entirely new. I became drawn toward more thoughtful skincare and into product development. Working closely with cosmetic chemist and formulators deepened my understanding of ingredients and formulations and how they interact with the skin barrier.

Those questions eventually led me to aesthetics. I did not set out looking for a career change, but rather found myself exactly where my soul was being called to.

What I did not anticipate was how deeply I would fall in love with the hands-on work and the power of touch.

The first training I attended outside of esthetics school was Oncology Aesthetics. That training and later my own cancer journey profoundly shaped how I approach every client. It expanded my understanding of the body, not as a collection of parts, but as an interconnected whole that responds best when it feels safe, supported and respected.

I have been fortunate to have trained with some of the best educators in manual lymphatic drainage, Gua Sha, and facial massage. These experiences taught me how deeply the skin is influenced by the nervous system. When touch is offered with intention and care, meaningful change can occur. When the nervous system is calm, tissues and muscles soften, circulation improves, and the skin is better able to receive treatment.

This understanding, along with compassion shaped by lived experience, forms the foundation to every treatment I offer. Each session is guided not only by technique, but by presence, and respect.

My philosophy is simple. The skin is intelligent. It is in constant communication with us. When we overwhelm it, we interrupt its ability to function well. When we support it, it responds with clarity, resilience, and vitality.

Skin care is not about fixing. It is about listening, responding, and building trust over time.

The relaxation component of a facial is not a luxury. It is essential. Stress shows on the face. It lives in the tissues. It impacts the skin’s ability to repair and renew.

My goal in every treatment is to create a deeply calming experience while delivering measurable improvements in skin health. Beauty does not need to hurt. A gentle, more intentional approach is not only effective, it is sustainable.

Every product, technique, and modality I bring into Inner Light is thoughtfully researched and personally tested. My work balances holistic care with clinical understanding, always in service of the skin’s long term health.

My hope is that when you leave your session, you feel cared for, grounded, and confident that your time and energy were well spent.

Life is demanding. Caring for yourself should not be.

Whether you are seeking results, rest, or simply a quieter relationship with your skin, I will meet you exactly where you are.

Thank you for being here,

Renée