August 2020 - February 2026 What a journey it’s been. I’ve had eczema since I was a kid and started getting acne in my late teens through my 20s. I cannot begin to explain the feeling I get looking back at these pictures. I was in a really dark place mentally and emotionally. The state of the world, the safety of my people, and the prison of my mind had completely worn me down. Sometimes I catch myself moving like I’m still there. Still the girl doing her skincare in the dark, still avoiding pictures and mirrors, still feeling unlovable. And although through education and years of dedication, I am lightyears away from there... I’m still healing. I’m still finding the broken parts of myself and learning to mend them. I became an esthetician because of this journey. It’s funny looking back at how things came to be and realizing every hardship led you to the life you have. And that’s why you have to appreciate the hard times. Without them how could you truly feel the depth of the good? #acnejourney #shaielexis