Meet Kirsten Kelly–a wildly successful hairstylist and makeup artist based in Nashville whose star-studded clientele has included the likes of Miley Cyrus and Hunter Hayes. When she’s not making people look their outwardly best, she’s blogging about a few of her favorite things: health, beauty and wellness.
We met Kirsten at REN when she was visiting for a skin check (learn more about her experience below). She shares the REN passion for skin care–after all, she knows first-hand how important one’s complexion can affect a host of factors, from self-esteem to wellness indicators.
In the months to come, Kirsten will be a guest blogger, offering her opinions on topics ranging from skin care essentials and her thoughts on products we carry to how your diet can affect your skin.
Don’t Think You Need Regular Skin Exams? This May Change Your Mind.
I think most of us agree that skin care is the backbone of any beauty routine, yes? If we don’t take care of the skin we’ve been given, no amount of foundation, concealer, primer (OR BOTOX!) will be able to achieve the same results as well-loved skin.
But it’s not all wrinkle and fine-line prevention. It can be cancer prevention too.
**DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO INSTILL FEAR. I do not believe in fear-based living. This is simply to educate and act as a reminder to be aware of our health. I aim to empower you with confidence and tools, not threaten your safety or well-being.
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The story: I hadn’t been to a dermatologist in roughly six years when I was connected with Dr. Lee at REN Dermatology. Isn’t she so cute?
I was so excited! I wanted to get her advice on what creams I should be using, how I could improve my skin care routine and ask her what her favorite drugstore beauty products were! I am a skin care fanatic.
She was incredibly helpful in answering all of these questions and more. We chatted about skin care lines, drugstore options, Retinol and on and on. I felt like I was being educated by a pro, and that felt awesome!
Yet, ultimately… I left with a brick in my stomach. After a general skin exam, Dr. Lee explained that she found a small, irregular-shaped, very dark spot on my right cheek. Not a great thing to find.
The spot:
(note: this photo is not to be used to self-diagnose. I just want you to be a part of the journey I was on :))
I had no clue it was even there! It was disconcerting enough to Dr. Lee that she took a biopsy and had it tested to make sure it wasn’t cancerous.
{CANCER?! I’m 26 years old and take great care of my skin. I avoid the sun except for a couple months out of the year. How am I even a candidate for this?!}
Though it was a serious shock, Dr. Lee was incredibly gracious and encouraging throughout the whole process. It was very, “this could totally be nothing at all, but we should still check it out,” kind of conversation. And I’m so glad we did! The REN office made every step seamless and as stress-free as possible. They even helped me find the right pathologist.
From Dr. Lee herself to REN’s lovely office manager and licensed aesthetician Kara, everyone was so caring and encouraging! A potentially nerve-wracking situation was handled with grace and peace. After the biopsy was sent away, about a week passed by. I think Dr. Lee called me THE SECOND she got the results from the pathologist. I could literally hear the emotion in her voice as she told me the news…..cancer free!!! It was merely a highly pigmented (though suspicious) spot. WHEW!
That brick in my stomach? Yeah, I threw it right out the proverbial window, thank you very much! (And the biopsy was so well executed, I don’t even have a scar left!)
Moral of the story: I never would have thought to get a skin exam at my age. As it turns out, it was slightly providential that I wound up in Dr. Lee’s office. I’m so glad to have learned what I did because now I have a sense of awareness (not fear…) that I lacked before, and for that I am thankful.
No matter where you’re at in life, get regular check-ups if you haven’t already! Don’t live in fear, live in awareness. Trust that you have what it takes to handle where you are and what is happening in your life. And let REN help!
We want to hear from you! Let us know if you’ve been through something like this. What helped you keep your chin up through it all? What did you walk away learning from it? I’m sure your story can help someone else with their situation.
Until next time,
K.K.
Kirsten Kelly, a flourishing stylist based in Nashville and Los Angeles, has worked as a hair and makeup artist since the age of 17. Upon graduation from cosmetology school she began working in a salon, which she soon realized was not the right fit for her. Fortunately for Kelly, several of her friends who worked in the music business at the time began hiring her as a stylist for their artists’ album-packaging photo shoots. Before she could blink, her clientele had grown as quickly as her makeup kit.
As a result, Kelly’s talent and connections sent her to Los Angeles for nearly two years where she worked with Miley Cyrus, and a few others along the way, as a hair stylist. From star-studded events to exquisite hotels and jet planes, she was living quite the lifestyle for a 19-year-old, Southern girl. However, these experiences led Kelly to a profound and life-changing realization— no matter how glamorous, famous or beautiful, if a person doesn’t take care of matters of the heart, all is empty. This conclusion became the foundation for Kelly’s mission in her work. She is passionate about helping both men and women in the entertainment industry find true beauty in who they are, rather than in a perfect exterior.
Back in her hometown of Nashville, she now works with some of the most influential managers, record labels and artists in country music: all while using her experiences to balance outer beauty with inner beauty (and great skin care!).
Healthy, confident, whole and beautiful are all keywords that you can expect to hear from Kelly. To follow her work, musings and product reviews go to Kirsten-Kelly.com.