In Conversation: Kathlyn Sanga
Licensed Holistic Esthetician & Founder of The Skincare Geek
“I am a Licensed Skin Therapist/Esthetician working based in San Diego, California with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. I believe in a holistic approach in wellness."
Her morning & evening routine.
I usually start my mornings with a sip of warm water with lemon. Then, I do my morning skincare routine to wake me up. I end my morning ritual with a meditation to jumpstart my day.
In the evening, I wind down by doing my evening skincare routine. The process itself helps prepare me my body and mind to start relaxing for bed.
How she nurtures her connection to self.
Gaining the habit of doing a daily meditation practice definitely helped me nurture the connection with myself. By being more mindful, I’m able to catch myself when I feel strong emotions.
This whole pandemic got us all into doing a lot of inner work. It was such a pivotal period for me in terms of getting to know myself and how much I can endure by myself.
Doing simple self-care practices like reading books, giving myself facials and taking beach walks & hikes truly nurtured my connection to self.
On cultivating healthy habits.
Practice mindful breathing. Drink water more. Eat more greens. Do exercises like yoga, Pilates or just simply walk around your block; just make sure you’re moving, not only physically but mentally as well.
Oh, and talk. Have a simple conversation. Talk with your friends, family or whoever you can.
Indulge in life’s simple luxuries. Mind - body - spirit: it is one unit so make sure you’re able to address your mental health, physical health and spiritual health as well.
Lastly, create boundaries. Don’t feel guilty or selfish for having “me” time. Always remember, you can’t fill someone else’s cup when yours is empty.
Tell us something you love about yourself and what you do.
I love that I’m self-aware. I wasn’t before but I realize this trait comes with maturity and experience. I also love how passionate I can be and the drive to want others to achieve their best selves. This is what I enjoy most about my profession. It’s not just about skincare, it’s about making people discover their best selves. I love and enjoy being able to guide people in their skincare routines through a holistic approach and helping them rediscover the value of self-care.
A message to her younger self.
Dream big but stay present and always be grateful. The moment you start your day with an abundance and grateful mindset, the more blessings you attract your way.
Learn how to say “no” and be okay with it.
“I also love how passionate I can be and the drive to want others to achieve their best selves. This is what I enjoy most about my profession. It’s not just about skincare, it’s about making people discover their best selves.”
How her wellness journey came to be.
I work in an exclusive wellness retreat spa — Golden Door. Being in that kind of environment alone has inspired me to think about being more health conscious.
Seeing how much restarting can heal someone, I got inspired to just practice what we were preaching at work. It wasn’t till February 2019 when I had a crazy outburst of acne that made me realize how much I was neglecting myself. Whatever I was going through, it manifested on my skin. I never experienced such a breakout so I empathize for the people who have been struggling with this condition for years. That’s when I decided to go on a complete mind, body and skin detox. I actually wrote about it on my website, The Skincare Geek.
Looking back, my acne was caused by so much repressed stress and anxiety that I barely got enough sleep and I just wasn’t eating right. I didn’t want a quick fix anymore. Thus, this whole holistic approach. It has transformed my overall health and outlook in life. Not only did this wellness journey heal my skin but it has made me become more comfortable in my own skin — literally and figuratively.
It helped me figure out my coping skills and know more about myself. Through this journey, I dug deeper within me and learned to live and accept the imperfections that I have while continuously evolving as much as I can. It made me appreciate the basic things in life even more.
The thing is, when you get to the point that you’re comfortable in your own skin, you become confident because you realize how imperfectly perfect you are. Your situations don’t define you, it’s your choices that do.
Her favorite skin care brands.
Ling Skincare
Vinter’s Daughter
Herbivore
Glossier
Odacite
Eminence Organics
Elta MD
CosRx
“When you get to the point that you’re comfortable in your own skin, you become confident because you realize how imperfectly perfect you are. Your situations don’t define you, it’s your choices that do.”
Top 3 books.
You are a badass by Jen Sincero
Sapiens The Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harrari
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
Her ideal Sunday.
I like starting any day, especially Sundays, with meditation and then I do my skincare afterwards. I also make myself my own chai latte in the morning. Depending on how I feel, I practice yoga either in the morning or before dinner.
I also like doing facials on myself during Sundays while listening to my favorite playlist. Sundays are either family time or ‘me’ time, but since I’m alone, it’s usually the day I spend the most indulging myself in self-care.
Get to know more about Kathlyn here.