Testimony of Faith: Andrea Pearson
My earliest skincare memory happened on a crisp fall morning in Upstate New York. Fall was coming to an end and winter was coming in like a lion. My mom was an early bird and there we were, six in the morning at the bus stop. I was complaining about how cold I was as I tried to hide my hands and face in her coat that she had undone for that exact purpose. Out of nowhere, my mom reached into her bag. When her hand emerged, it was coming straight towards my face, and it had a big clump of Vaseline in it. She then proceeded to slather all of it onto my face. I was upset, but at the same time I realized that the brunt of the chapping wind had ceased. I looked at my reflection in the window. I looked like a glazed doughnut. With an attitude and a tad bit of curiosity, I asked “what would make you do that?” She told me it locks in the moisture and protects our skin from the harsh winds. As we ran errands, people kept asking me why I was so shiny. Talk about embarrassment. I still laugh when I think about it. I grew up in the salon, literally. My sister Shawanda, a master stylist, graduated from high school at sixteen, and after seeing a commercial on tv went straight to beauty school. Not only was she my sister but most times my babysitter. So, I spent many days and nights at the salon. Watching women come in one way and leave another, I fell in love with transformations.
After high school, my sister saw my interest in beauty, and I started working for her at her salon. My sister was really my first mentor, but I was young and didn’t see it. At 19, I found myself pregnant with my first daughter and in a very abusive relationship. I kept the abuse to myself. However, it showed in my work ethic. My sister noticed my poor performance and suggested I go get my nail license. I was 19, pregnant, in a very physically and verbally abusive relationship, and in nail school. It was in that school that I started gaining some confidence about my abilities. I slowly started forming a new vision for myself. I left the relationship. Eventually, the ebbs and flows of life took me down an intense journey of self-care and self-improvement. One day, I decided to go get my first facial. Everything about that interaction was of high quality. So, of course, I returned, bought all the recommended products and tipped. When I came for my follow-up appointment, the Esthetician was no longer with the company, so they suggested another Esthetician who came highly recommended. Upon leaving, my skin was drier than it was when I arrived, and I was pretty much gray. That experience taught me the importance of a therapeutic touch, customizing each service and the importance of knowing how to work with all skin types in the treatment room. I thought, “If she could do it, so can I.” I would commit to doing my best to make every client experience therapeutic touch and leave feeling how the first esthetician made me feel.
Later, I relocated to the DMV area to attend esthetics school. Thirty days into the program, my mom came down from NY to visit me. We talked about how focused I was and how proud she was of me. However, during that visit she passed away. It took everything in me to finish Esthetics school. In the same time period, I lost my mom, went through a custody battle and became homeless for months. However, God’s hand was in it. I never failed a test. In fact, I was a top performer. I came out of school working at a high-end spa. Today, I am a senior level Esthetician and trainer in luxury hospitality. I am still committed to doing my best to make sure every client experiences my therapeutic touch and leave feeling as good as I felt during my first esthetic treatment. I’ve found purpose and ministry in this career. If I knew that I would go through all I went through to end up here, I wouldn’t change a thing because my vessel is full and overflowing and what pours out into others is of high quality. For that I’m grateful.
About Andrea:
Andrea Pearson is a Senior Esthetician and trainer licensed in both the District of Columbia and Maryland. Follow her journey on Instagram (@Ask4Andrea).