Skin & Sage is Seattle’s home to sustainable self-care, making the luxury of high-end spa services something regularly attainable and better for the environment. We believe that beauty is a blend of inner serenity and outer radiance and couldn’t be more thrilled to create an experience that brings this to life in Seattle. 

Q: You just opened a spa in Seattle - what inspired you to do this? 
MR: I spent most of my career in a pretty demanding tech position, and when I became a parent I knew something needed to change. I wanted to get plugged into my community and do hands-on work where I got to connect with people on a more personal level. I decided to shift gears to focus on making wellness and self-care more attainable for others, so when the opportunity to get my esthetician’s license and fill a gap in my own neighborhood came up, I jumped at it.

Q: Skin & Sage talks a lot about self-care - what does self-care mean to you? 
MR: Self-care means remembering to refill your own cup before you try to pour it out to others. It’s not selfish, it’s basically the maintenance of self through doing things to help you feel your best. Sometimes that’s the relaxation that comes from feeling taken care of and other times it’s the confidence that can come from beautiful skin - most of the time it’s both!

Q: You’re offering wellness memberships at Skin & Sage. Tell us a little about what that kind of membership means and why you chose to offer it?
MR: We’re founded on the principle of sustainable self-care. This means making a commitment to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, but also to make getting these services something that clients can regularly work into busy schedules. We believe our services are at their best when done consistently, so we wanted to make sure people got a bit more bang for their buck when they decide to make the commitment to caring for themselves through a membership. 

Q: You just opened your doors this month and have already been pretty booked solid - congratulations! What has been your most popular service? 
MR: Thank you! It’s been great so far and we’re so grateful to everyone stopping in to check out the space. Our most popular services have been the Sage Signature Facial, which is totally customized to meet your skin’s needs on the day of service, and our Eye Poppin’ Package, which includes five brow & lash treatments in one.

Q: Do you plan on opening other locations in the future? 
MR: It’s not at the top of mind since we’re still in our first official month - but not out of the question for later down the line!

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?
MR: I think you need to trust your gut and do the thing that might be scary in the beginning. Taking action comes with risk, but so does inaction when you’re in a situation where you’re not happy with the direction you’re growing.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments of your career?
MR: When I first started training in esthetics, I remember being so scared to touch other people’s faces. It was so out of my comfort zone to be that intimate with someone who is essentially a stranger. The first time I cleansed someone’s face, I was so nervous I spent most of the session asking them if they were okay or if what I was doing felt right. Now giving facials is one of my favorite things to do, and I think it’s because of that level of connection that used to feel so foreign. 

Q: At the start of your career, what do you wish you had known?
MR: I wish I knew things didn’t have to be on a strictly linear path. I get to decide what I want my life to look like and prioritize the things that make me happy. Nothing wrong with climbing a corporate ladder (I certainly did for a while!), but when you realize you’re unhappy, you have a duty to yourself to change something. Even and especially if it’s not something that you’ve written into your script for yourself. 

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue their dream and start a business?
MR: One of my passions is mentoring young women in their entrepreneurial journeys. I would say it’s most important to feel passionate about the work you’re doing, and to find a stellar team that will share that passion with you. 

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?
MR: Coming from someone who barely had any in the past, I’m so grateful now that my work has become a source of fulfillment in my life. As a business owner I obviously dedicate a ton of time and energy to my business, but now I can bring my son to work and get some things done while he plays in the waiting room. Our location is in my neighborhood, so I don’t spend much time commuting, and I get to see my neighbors and friends every day as they walk through the doors. Because so much of my work is hands-on, I don’t feel as much of a need to bring work home with me or work insane hours to be successful.