My Story

Meet Bess

The hands, heart, and intention behind every treatment at illuminaé.

illuminaé by Bess
A Lifelong Path

Hi, I'm Bess.
Welcome to illuminaé.

illuminaé was born from a place of struggling, healing, and recovering. I was (and still am) on a journey learning how to take care of myself. After having my kids, I found myself searching for something that made me spark. Something I could expand on, grow with, and actually feel proud of. Skincare had always been my quiet hobby. It turned out to be the one thing I kept coming back to.

My practice is rooted in clinical-grade Korean skincare, a philosophy built on patience, nourishment, and working with your skin rather than against it. But what happens in my chair goes beyond product and technique.

Every time a client is with me, I'm listening. I'm learning their lifestyle, reading their energy, gauging whether they need to talk or just be still. I'm asking myself: what does this person need today? What is their spirit carrying? What is their skin telling me when I touch it? I connect on different levels. I use my empathic nature to meet people where they are.

My clients come to me at every season of life. Some exhausted from work, from life, from giving everything to everyone else. Some are teens and young adults navigating acne, sensitivity, and skin that feels unpredictable. All of them leave with skin that feels soft and cared for, and a soul that feels a little lighter.

That's what I'm here for.

The Space

This space has held many versions of me.

It started as my office, a place to think, to work, to decompress. A room where I came to meditate, to seek guidance, and to quietly figure things out. When I entered esthetics school, it became my lab, where I practiced on friends and family, learned through touch, and fell deeper in love with the craft.

Today, it's open to you.

What was once my personal sanctuary is now a shared one. A place where you can set everything down and be genuinely cared for, held by the quiet, the care, and the intention that has always lived in this room. The same space that held my growth now holds yours.

You don't have to have it all figured out when you walk in. You just have to show up.

Restore. Renew. Reconnect.

Inside the illuminaé studio
My Philosophy

Three pillars of every ritual

I.

Honor the Barrier

Korean skincare teaches that the skin barrier is sacred. I work with it, never against it, choosing products and pressures that respect every skin tone and story.

II.

Tend the Nervous System

A facial without rest is just a transaction. Energy, breath, and intention are woven through every session to soothe the deeper layers a serum cannot reach.

III.

Restore Your Glow

Your radiance is not manufactured here. It's uncovered. Every visit is designed to leave you softer, calmer, and more rooted in the beauty already yours.

"Slow skincare with real results. Patient with the process. Precise with the timing. Always personal."

Rooted in Korean skincare philosophy, I use clinical-grade formulations that honor your barrier rather than fight it, so your skin can return to its most resilient, radiant baseline.

And then, when your skin is ready, I introduce targeted actives that refine, resurface, and renew. Drawing from an intentionally curated collection of global skincare, each line is chosen for its integrity, its efficacy, and its respect for the skin. Not trends. Not gimmicks. Just formulations that deliver.

Not aggressively. Not all at once. But strategically, in conversation with what your skin is telling me right now.

Training & Credentials

Knowledge is the foundation. Intuition is the guide.

I am a Licensed Esthetician, a Korean Clinical Skincare trained practitioner, and a Certified Reiki Master. My advanced training spans acne therapy, facial and body sculpting, facial massage, lymphatic drainage, LED light therapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical treatments. Each discipline chosen with intention, in service of one thing: skin that is genuinely cared for.

Beyond the studio, I've built hands-on experience across both wellness spa and medical spa environments. Working across both worlds gave me a range and depth that shaped how I show up for every client at Illuminaé.

I'm always learning. Skin is always evolving, and so am I.

Begin Your Ritual

Come as you are.

I'll meet you with care, curiosity, and a quiet room ready for your return.

Reserve Appointment →