The Story
Transitioning from a seasoned surgical nurse to a passionate cosmetic and skincare nurse, my career reflects a profound love for helping others embrace radiant, healthy skin. With over 15 years of surgical experience, my journey into skincare began after a personal health scare involving melanoma. This pivotal moment ignited a deep curiosity about skin health, resilience and transformation through conscientious care, highlighting the crucial intersection between health and beauty.
Immersing myself in skincare, I blended medical expertise with a passion for aesthetic enhancement. Witnessing the transformative impact of proper skincare on my own skin renewed my confidence and self-love. My commitment to skincare is both professional and personal, empowering individuals to cherish and nurture their skin.
As a dedicated cosmetic and skincare nurse, I aim to share the knowledge gained from my transformative experience. Every consultation, treatment, and recommendation is infused not only with science backed research, but with a genuine desire to help others love their skin as I have grown to love mine. Together, let’s make skincare a celebration of our unique and beautiful selves.
My promise to you is to create a customized skincare plan that’s made just for you and your concerns. It won’t happen overnight, but with patience and consistency, together we will transform your skin.
"Aging gracefully isn't about fighting time, it's about embracing the journey and arriving to your destination healthy."
Maddie Genest – Founder
Q&A WITH MADDIE
What inspired you to transition from a surgical nurse to a skincare specialist, and how has your medical background influenced your approach to skincare?
A personal melanoma scare sparked my transition from surgical nursing to skincare. This experience revealed the transformative potential of proper skincare. My medical background enables me to merge scientific knowledge with a holistic approach, emphasizing both health and aesthetics.
Can you share a personal skincare journey or transformation that has significantly impacted your beliefs about the power of proper skincare?
Facing melanoma prompted me to embrace diligent skincare, leading to unexpected transformation and renewed self-love and confidence. This personal journey solidified my belief in skincare’s power, motivating me to share my experience and knowledge with others.
In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about skincare that you often encounter, and how do you address them in your practice?
A common misconception is that skincare is only about appearance. I emphasize its importance to overall health, especially gut health. Your skin is the largest organ we have, it’s essential to look after it like you would your heart. Another myth is the one-size-fits-all approach. I educate clients on tailored routines based on skin types, concerns, and lifestyles. Education is key to dispelling myths and promoting informed skincare choices.
As someone who has faced a health scare related to melanoma, how has that experience shaped your perspective on the importance of sun protection and overall skin health?
My melanoma scare underscored the critical role of sun protection in preventing skin issues. I emphatically emphasize the significance of daily sunscreen use and protective measures. Glass windows transmit up to 70% of UV radiation incident on them. That includes cars and buses. That’s more than 50% of UVA rays being able to penetrate windows onto your skin when you think you might be safe. Educating people about sun protection is one of the most important things I can do daily.
How important is the gut microbiome in relation to skincare, and how do you incorporate this understanding into your skincare recommendations?
Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between gut health and skin, I emphasize the significance of a balanced gut microbiome as backed by science. I integrate this understanding into skincare recommendations by highlighting the impact of diet, probiotics, and overall gut wellness on achieving and maintaining healthy, radiant skin.
What are your top skincare tips for someone looking to establish an effective and sustainable skincare routine, and how do you tailor your advice to individual skin types and concerns?
Start with the basics: cleanse, moisturize, and protect. You can get all the treatments in the world, but if you don’t continue care at home, it might all be for waste.
Tailoring advice involves understanding individual skin needs, their education levels and filling in the blanks of what they might not know. For example when treating acne or oily skin, robbing it of moisturizer won’t actually make the problem go away, it may actually increase oil production. Oil isn’t the enemy, you need to tackle the root of the problem- oil production, and then over time with good skincare products, gut microbiome maintenance and continued education, you can get the skin you want.
Regular assessments allow adjustments based on changing seasons or evolving concerns, getting results isn’t a race, it takes time and patience to get them right.
Who is Freyja?
Let’s delve into this name, shall we? Allow me to introduce Freyja (Pronounced Freh-ya), Freyja is a Norse goddess radiating unparalleled luminosity and grace, embodying love, beauty, and strength.
Daughter of the sea god Njord and sister to Freyr, she reigns in the halls of Asgard from her celestial home, Sessrúmnir. Adorned in falcon feathers, symbolizing elegance and fierceness, Freyja epitomizes allure and grace. Her signature necklace, Brísingamen, is of such beauty that it commands the envy of all.
Beneath her ethereal exterior, Freyja has a vast, compassionate heart, welcoming fallen warriors into her realm, Fólkvangr, and preparing them for Ragnarök. In Norse mythology, Freyja is a radiant symbol of love, power, and extraordinary grace.
