Beauty with Kellie

You would think a professional who has been public speaking in the beauty industry for over 15 years would eventually get comfortable doing it.

NOPE! Not this girl right here. 🥴

Every time I teach a class, whether it’s one on one or in a VERY BIG public setting such as at the International Spa Conference that was held in Las Vegas over the weekend, I get INSANE anxiety that makes me physically sick, but… I do it scared anyway.

It would definitely be easier to avoid these experiences all together, so why do I keep pushing?🤷‍♀️

I’ve been told time and time again that keeping myself small serves no one including myself. I have an inner push to serve, to give back what I have been given. I VALUE this industry and all the relationships that I have made and continue to make SO MUCH. I love exchanging knowledge and wisdom with other beauty professionals. I love building genuine relationships and I love pushing myself past this discomfort to see what I’m capable of.

In the meantime, I continue learning and developing a deeper understanding of the things Im curious about. I practice and prepare, while also utilizing tools I’ve picked up like full body shaking, dancing, meditation, breath work and many others that help me cope with the nerves that come with these exciting experiences.

A special thank you to and for this AMAZING opportunity to speak at

And a BIG thank you to all my friends, family and peers who keep supporting and pushing me along a path that brings so much joy and satisfaction to my life. 💗

Keeping my focus on the vision and welcoming the me of 2023 ☺️New opportunities, new experiences and lots to look forward to.

Who is going to be at the
International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC) in June?! I am scheduled to teach TWO classes at this year’s event🥰

Speaking in front of an audience this size is a first time experience for me, so I’m feeling both exhilarated and terrified at the same time! EEK 😬😆🤦‍♀️

When I’m not in class you will find me at the booth! I will post details about the classes and our booth as it gets closer, but in the meantime, feel free to check out our blog and YouTube channel linked in my bio.

It’s been a good start to 2023. Between my various roles as Director of Education for , Owner/Esti and my home life, so much of my time is occupied but I feel in alignment. I do also need my “me time” so you probably won’t see much of me around here for a minute.

I do hope to connect with some of my beauty peeps IN PERSON at the conference in June😁

DM or let me know in the comments if you will be attending!

Please take a few minutes to show your support for by voting for us in The Union’s Best of Nevada County 2022!

We are nominated in the following Personal Care Categories:

Aesthetician: Kellie Swallow
Day Spa: Me Time Sanctuary
Makeup Artist: Bri Shanta
Massage Therapist: Danielle Lemonnier

Just click the link in my bio to place your votes. You will need to vote in at least 5 categories for your vote to be counted in the final tally. We appreciate your support! 🙏 💗

Let this be your sign to pause and play if your are feeling a little over committed to your to-do list today 😊

It’s no secret that I have a tendency to get caught up in my work(even on my days off). Today, my youngest son asked me to “pretend play” with him. He wanted me to be a princess and he would be a prince and then we could dance together🥰

Then my oldest son jumped in and wanted to be the photographer. ( he actually wanted to have a competition of who could take the best photo, but we went with it).😆

I had a million things on my mind that that needed to be done and my immediate reaction was about to respond with a phrase I say way too often “maybe in a little bit,” BUT instead I paused. I took a look at that little smile, feeling his anticipation and excitement as he tugged at me to join in and play. I couldn’t resist. My heart finally took over and shut out my minds chatter of all the things I should be doing.

Ive learned that in moments when I feel overwhelmed and too much needs to be done before I can xyz, that is the exact time when I need to pause, to breathe, dance, laugh, get out in nature, or utilize any other tool I can that will help me get out of my busy thinking head and back in to my wise and aware, feeling body.

In these moments, I give myself permission not to respond to my to-do list. All the tasks and planning will be waiting for me when I get back to it.

I never regret taking a moment to pause. Simple moments like today, dancing and laughing with my kiddos (even just for a few moments) make my heart expand and bring back my pulse that EXPERIENCES life vs simply going through the motions.

Can you remember the last time you played? If the answer is no. Now is the time😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qTo0neUlZs

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Mental Health Check💗How are you all doing out there, really?

I personally have been experiencing lots of overwhelm and frustration these past few weeks.

The “vid” hit my home recently and has really challenged me beyond what I even thought I was capable of.

I’ve continued juggling running my business(from home), updating and rescheduling clients, caring for my young family and their schooling from home, while also trying to get myself well. It’s been a lot.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again, I could not do everything I choose to do without support.

In addition to my husband and mother-in-law who stepped up to help me care for the kids when I was the sickest, I’ve also met via phone or zoom with my therapist, my business advisor, my accountability group and have had daily check ins with various close friends and family members that I consider my support team.

These connections really anchor me and boost my inner confidence during the challenging moments in life. These amazing humans also remain in my corner and cheer me on for those moments that deserve celebration.

Everything is figuroutable when we have a good support system. If you don’t have one already or aren’t getting the support you need from it, I highly recommend you start upgrading the people you choose to keep around you.

Either in comments or if you are more of a private person, send a me a DM and share what’s going on in your life right now.

When we connect and share our truths, it helps us see and feel that we are not alone in our experiences. Good or bad, happy or sad, I’d love to hear from you💗

Why is my client’s skin not peeling?!😩

Sometimes you do everything right and clients report not peeling the way you both had hoped for. Maybe they didn’t follow after care instructions or maybe their health and other outside factors are contributing to the resistance of the skin peeling. No matter the reason, lack luster results are disappointing for everyone involved.

Before throwing in the towel and telling your client that there is nothing else you can do, here are a few tips I’ve personally experienced that produce an effective peel outcome:

👉Check to ensure your peel solution has not expired. Though shelf life can vary (usually 1-2 years), when opened and exposed to air, many peel solutions will lose their strength over time. I usually replace my solutions every 6 months if I haven’t gone through the entire bottle.

👉Make sure your client is using recommended products at least two weeks prior to peel.

👉Have your client use an approved retinol product at least one week before the peel.

👉Use pure acetone to degrease skin or layer the degreasing solution that comes with your peel product (always check with manufacture to ensure client safety when adjusting your protocol).

👉Use gauze when applying degreasing solution and make sure to use a firm pressure, working the product in multiple directions, to ensure it is getting through the skin layers.

👉Wait the recommended time or longer in between peel application layers.

👉Watch for skin frosting as an application stopping point.

👉 Make sure client waits recommended time post peel (usually 4-6 hours) before they get skin wet or begin their aftercare routine.

👉Check in with the peel manufacturer to ask if they have additional recommendations, but DO NOT attempt any advanced peel techniques that you don’t feel adequately trained to do.

Hope this helps! Would love your feedback in the comments 😁

A little over a decade ago, I decided to make a career change and enrolled in beauty school on a whim. It didn’t make sense to anyone in my life at the time, but I did it anyway.

I unexpectedly entered an industry that forever changed my life.

That decision I made 13 years ago, put me on a path to a much healthier lifestyle. Taking better care of myself became a priority I was very unfamiliar with.

My hobbies quickly shifted from unhealthy weekend escapades to spending more of my time practicing yoga, enjoying nature and taking occasional solo adventures. I was enjoying getting to know the self I was becoming.

One day on my way to a regular yoga class, l stumbled upon a flyer posted in my favorite yoga studio that said, “Qoya is wise, wild and free. So are you.”

The words lit me up inside. I had no idea what Qoya was, but I knew I had to make it to that class and so, I did.

From the very first class, something inside me shifted. It was a profound and life changing practice that complemented who I was becoming both personally and professionally. I also knew that eventually I would want to share this practice with others.

Becoming a Qoya Teacher didn’t make sense anyone surrounding me at the time, but as the pattern would continue, I did it anyway and 7 years ago today, I taught my first Qoya class.

Though I didn’t realize it at the time, the practicing of Qoya is what brought my worlds of beauty, self-care and soul-care, together. I kept envisioning a space for women to connect within and deeply nourish themselves from soul to skin. Not a salon or spa, not a yoga studio but something in between. I just kept taking the next right steps, knowing that everything was working in divine timing.

Fast forward to 2020. A vacant space that I had been drawn to since moving to Penn Valley, CA was offered to me. My body gave me the ok by signaling a pulse deep with in my bones. It did not make sense to anyone surrounding me at the time to open a business mid pandemic, but guess what? I DID IT ANYWAY!

The moral of this story is, even when it may not make sense to anyone looking in from the outside, trust YOUR process and do it anyway. 💗
@ Me Time Sanctuary

How are you spending your Memorial Day weekend?