Glow Getter Spotlight: Amy Atkinson

"My name is Amy Atkinson, and I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I still reside and work as a Medical Aesthetician at SKIIN By Amy. I’m 36 years old and ever since I can remember, my love for everything beauty related has always been my passion."

Hi Amy, thank you for sitting down and chatting with us today. We're so excited to spotlight you as our Glow Getter. Tell us a little about how you fell in love with the skin and beauty industry.

Hi! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share a little about myself and my story, I’m very grateful and excited. I have always had a love for makeup and skincare since I was a little girl. In my parent’s basement you can find a picture of me, 12 years old with a facemask I mixed up together using just ingredients in the kitchen. I always looked forward to mom coming home from the grocery store with her magazines Cosmo, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, Vogue etc, just to look at and admire these beautiful women with perfect skin and perfectly placed makeup.

I can say my admiration for the beauty industry started at around the age of 12. I idolized these women at such a young age, and thought if they can have such beautiful skin, then when I grow up I can too. So ever since the age of 12 I really took pride in looking and feeling my best self even at such a young age, it’s kind of funny to think 12 years old and thinking that way, but I truly did. My friends would always ask me to do their makeup, and I loved it. Teaching and sharing with them something new I learned or bought like Maybelline’s new blue mascara, I remember that fad back when we were in our early teens.

We admire your ambition! How did you come about starting your business Skiin by Amy? Tell us a little bit about your come up. 

I realized how much I loved sharing my knowledge for skincare and makeup to friends and family and later on when Winnipeg was graced with Sephora I jumped at the chance to work there. Working there is what truly catapulted my love for the beauty industry and I enrolled into an esthetics program here in Winnipeg. 

At the time I’ll be honest I wanted to go into a skincare technician course, but there was no such thing yet here at that time. So I did the esthetician course, but I really only loved learning about facials, microdermabrasion, radio frequency and makeup application. I can remember sneaking into the facial room during class when all the students were practicing nails, which I was absolutely horrible at, and just practicing on myself and a couple friends I made in school, practicing with anything to do with skin on our faces. During my time in school a new med spa was opening in Winnipeg and I was offered a full time position. I honestly couldn’t believe it, I remember dreaming of this and now I am going to be doing it. So I did hands on training with the Laser Company Candela, and the regional trainer told the owners of the new med spa of a skincare line that would be amazing with the lasers we were going to provide our patients.

So in 2016 I was flown out to Toronto to The Plastic Surgery Clinic and was trained on the Miracle 10 Skincare, and as well did hands on training with the Miracle 10 Facial Peels. It was honestly one of my most exciting times in my life, when your dreams are finally coming true. The Miracle 10 team was so amazing to us, and they left such a positive lasting impression on me.

Fast forward 4 years the company I was working for was sold and I thought okay I’m going to open my own Med Spa. But its 2020 and we are in a pandemic, businesses are closing left and right and I’m going to open my own business?!  People thought I was crazy, but for 6 months when were stuck in our homes I dove straight into personal development courses. I can truly say that was a big part of how I was able to have the mindset to open my own business and especially during a pandemic. Owning your own business I’ve learned its 80% mindset and 20% strategy. But I did it, come August 2021 I found the space to call SKIIN By Amy home, and by November 1^st 2021 I was officially open.

Congratulations on such a successful business at SKIIN By Amy  - you're quite the entrepreneur. What made you want to go into the skincare industry? What's your motivation?   

Thank you for such a kind compliment, I love my job. I love skin and I love helping other woman achieve beautiful skin.  Just getting messages from my clients the following day saying how amazing their skin looks is truly why I do what I do. I want every girl and woman to feel confident on the inside but the outside too.  It’s not vain to want to look your best; we get one face so why not treat it like your bff. Bringing on Miracle 10 was a no brainer when opening SKIIN By Amy, because I saw the results at the past med spa I worked at and I knew bringing it in and with my services it would go hand in hand by giving my clients the best skin results. Helping woman feel their absolute best, feeling confident in their skin is the driving force behind why I get up every morning.

We're here for spreading confidence and knowledge! what’s something you do to practice empowerment among your clients?

I am always an ear to listen to them, but my clients become my friends, it’s actually quite funny how many friends I’ve made over the last few years, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. These woman trust me, and I think that is the greatest compliment someone can give. Trust isn’t given, it’s earned, and I am so humbled and happy to know they trust me fully with their skin.  When someone trusts you with something that can be so personal, I am here for their skin but as a friend to guide them on their journey to beautiful, healthy skin.  No one’s skin is perfect, but I get pretty darn close to getting it there.

We agree, trust is everything - this is something we pride ourselves with. How do you make time for your skincare routine?

This is actually so funny to me because skin care becomes before anything else I do, if it be the start of the day or the end. I will always have time for my skincare; it’s just a part of me. Amy and no skincare I’m actually laughing while typing this.  Because I do take such good care of my skin with my skin care routine I don’t wear makeup to work anymore. So that literally saves me 20 minutes every morning. 

Miracle 10 has changed my skin so much for the better and I do treat myself to my treatments I offer here at SKIIN, I don’t even have to wear concealer under my eyes anymore. But, 10 years ago I wouldn’t step foot out of the house without makeup because my skin had blemishes and was uneven, so like most anyone would, I  didn’t feel confident enough to go out in public without makeup on. Now at 36 years old my skin is in the best condition it has ever been. But I do take the time which isn’t a lot in the scheme of things. 5 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night. 

In the evening because I do use the Miracle 10 Platinum Collection I do have a different routine nightly only because I do have sensitive skin, so when using actives like salicylic acid, retinol, lactic acid etc. I do need to rotate some of my night products and not use them all on my skin in the same evening. But the Platinum Collection has been a game changer for my skin, they work wonders, so for me it was trial and error to find out the exact order and what I could use let’s say the evening I use the Platinum Stem Cell Serum, I won’t be using my Platinum Renewal Complex.

I’m obsessed with Miracle 10 and the Platinum Collection and what it has done for my skin, but my steps are a little more different because I created my own routine that works the most effective way for my skin without causing any irritation to it. And honestly, everyone’s skin is so different so what works for your friend might not work for you. Or an influencer you follow, her steps might look great and work for her but may not for you. 

I think it’s so important to be on a good skincare line but also have someone trained in the skincare line to help you, so you get the best results possible for your skin.

Are you someone who likes to follow each skincare step every night? What are some of your favourite Miracle 10 products?

Some of my favourite Miracle 10 products, where do I even start? Okay so I’m in LOVE with Rich Moisture, living in Winnipeg it gets to - 50 degrees Celsius. so you can imagine what that does to anyone’s skin. Rich Moisture I can’t live without it. I’ve used many moisturizers throughout the years but nothing compares.

I love Enzyme, even though I have such sensitive skin it makes my skin glow and takes off all the dead skin cells with just one use. It’s my go to, and I tell all my friends and family they need it in their life.

I also am loving the Platinum Collection and the Platinum Stem Cell Serum, because even though we don’t see it, pollution is all around us and its ageing our skin, but when using this serum that contains not only 1 but 3 plant stem cells to boost our skin’s resiliency, and protect against environmental damage (pollution/free radicals) it’s a must and helps protect, nourish and rejuvenate my skin. One more that I can’t live without and it’s my last step in my daily skincare routine is my Miracle 10 SPF30.

What are some of your core values that remind you remind yourself everyday- especially during stressful times?

 Life is tough, but I’m tougher. I think especially opening a business during a time like this, you need to remind yourself daily and speak it into existence that you are worth it, you can do anything you put your mind to and you are loved. I say positive affirmations daily out loud when no one is around. Because we are what we think/believe we are, so when I say I am successful, I am happy, I am loved, I love, I am grateful etc it becomes my reality. I also have a grateful journal, and for the past 3 years every night before bed I write down the date and 3 things I am grateful for that day.

I love doing this and it has helped me a lot during difficult times. Living in gratitude is the highest state of living, and I am so grateful for so many things big or small and even being this month’s glow getter. Living in gratitude changed my life and especially during stressful times.  If it won’t matter in 5 years don’t waste more than 5 minutes on it. Every morning when I wake up I’m grateful for another chance at becoming the woman of my dreams.

What can you not leave the house with/ what must you always have immediate access throughout the day?

So, currently in my bag is my M10 SPF, I never leave the house without it. I have my lip liner and lip balm. I don’t usually wear lipstick I use a lip liner and it lasts much longer, and then I apply lip balm over top. I also have my aluminum free deodorant by secret in coconut. I always carry granola bars on me, well actually a box ha-ha, and today I have in my bag Nature Valley packed Energy Bars in Almond Butter & Blueberry. Also my wallet and my hair brush. I’m at work so my bag is pretty simple today.

Here at Miracle 10, we love to define a Glow Getter as someone who isn’t afraid to be their true, authentic self. In your words, what does it mean to be a Glow Getter?

A Glow Getter to me is someone who no matter what life has thrown at them, they always stay positive and know in life there’s blessings, and there’s lessons.  But our lessons are what truly make us who we are; they make us strong and show us how resilient we truly are. Life isn’t easy; we all go through our own ups and downs but its how we come out of it. A glow getter is a woman who shines so bright and who strives to make a difference in the world, a positive impact, whatever it may be to her. She is kind, she is strong, she is funny, and she loves and is loved. She is a Glow Getter!