21 Questions with Aesthetician Amy Adams

One of the greatest joys of owning Amy Adams Aesthetics has been watching this little skincare studio grow into something much bigger than facials. It's become a place where skincare lovers gather, where busy moms can catch their breath for an hour, where professionals finally have permission to slow down, and where complete strangers often leave feeling like friends.

Yes, we care deeply about healthy skin, but we're also building a community rooted in education, connection, and self care. My hope is that every person who walks through my door feels seen, heard, cared for, and just a little lighter than when they arrived.

Over the years, I've realized many of you know me as your esthetician, but not necessarily as the person behind Amy Adams Aesthetics. So I thought it would be fun to answer twenty one questions that share a little more about who I am, what inspires me, and why this work means so much to me.

Whether you're a longtime client or you're just discovering Amy Adams Aesthetics, I'm so glad you're here.

Healthy skin may be what brings us together, but genuine connection is what keeps us coming back.

1. Before we talk skincare... who is Amy in three words?

Curious, intentional, and tenacious. I'm someone who's always asking questions and looking for better ways to do things. Whether it's researching a new ingredient, refining a treatment protocol, or finding a more thoughtful way to care for my clients, I believe there's always something to learn. I'm intentional about the way I run my business and the recommendations I make, and I'm incredibly tenacious. If something matters to me, I'll keep learning, refining, and showing up until I get it right. That mindset has shaped not only my business but also the way I approach my life.

2. What made you fall in love with skincare in the first place?

This question always makes me laugh because, honestly, it started with my parents.

My mom is a non-practicing cosmetologist, and some of my earliest memories are of her blow-drying and curling my hair into long, voluminous styles. She was always experimenting with different shampoos and styling products, and she taught me early on that the quality of the products you use can completely change the outcome at hand.

My dad, on the other hand, was a Tank Battalion Commander in the Marine Corps. He was tall, athletic, moderately tattooed, and carried himself with a quiet confidence that naturally commanded respect. What people didn't expect was how meticulous he was about taking care of himself. I've never seen him without perfectly combed hair, and to this day, I'm convinced he still applies Eucerin lotion to every inch of his body twice a day. Watching him taught me that caring for yourself isn't reserved for a certain type of person. It's a habit, a mindset, and a form of self-respect.

Looking back, I realize they both taught me the same lesson in very different ways: taking care of yourself isn't about vanity, it is about self love and self respect. That perspective stayed with me, and over time my curiosity about beauty evolved into a passion for skin health, science, and helping people feel confident in their own skin.


3. Did you always know you wanted to own your own business?

Yes...and no. lol

Believe it or not, my original plan was to become a polygraph examiner for the FBI. Growing up, I was fascinated by criminal psychology and behavioral profiling. I devoured books about serial killers and was especially intrigued by the work of John Douglas, the original Mindhunter. Looking back, I think I've always been curious about understanding people and what makes them tick.

Eventually, I shifted gears and earned my degree in Communications and Marketing because I figured if I ever owned a business, I'd better know how to build one. That decision opened the door to an incredible opportunity. I became the first employee of a startup PR agency in Las Vegas, where I wore just about every hat imaginable while helping launch a multimedia company spanning public relations, publishing, web, photography, design, and events.

After years of running at full speed, I hit burnout. I took a step back, bartended for a while, and unexpectedly found my way into skincare.

Did I always know I'd own my own practice? Honestly, no. In many ways, I felt called to it. The more I worked in the industry, the more I saw a gap between treating people as individuals and treating them like appointment slots. I knew there had to be a better way.

To me, skin health is healthcare. My goal has never been to simply perform treatments, it's to educate, build trust, and create a place where people feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for. That's the kind of practice I set out to build, and it's the one I'll continue building every day.

4. What's one thing people are always surprised to learn about you?

I usually tell people that I drove a tank before I ever drove a car. 

Growing up in a military family gave me some pretty unique experiences, but that's usually the one that catches people off guard. The second? When I bought my first car at 16, it was a manual transmission even though I didn't know how to drive a stick shift.

Why? Because it challenged me. At the time, very few women drove stick shifts, and something about that made me want to learn. I've always been drawn to proving to myself that I can do hard things, especially if someone says I can't. 

Ironically, that mindset has come full circle. Back then, I wanted to prove that women could do things traditionally associated with men. Today, I spend a lot of time encouraging men to embrace something traditionally associated with women: taking care of their skin. 

5. Coffee order?

Yes, please! A tall dirty chai latte with soy milk always hits.

6. Beach day, hiking trail, or staying home with a good book?

Beach day, always. SPF check.

7. Have you ever struggled with your own skin?

I was fortunate not to struggle with acne or major skin concerns growing up, but that doesn't mean I've been immune to change. These days, I'm right there in the trenches with many of my clients as I navigate the joys of perimenopause. Suddenly, collagen doesn't seem to replenish itself the way it used to, my skin behaves differently than it did even a few years ago, and I'm constantly adapting my routine from how I see myself in a zoom meeting.

In a way, it's made me an even better esthetician. I'm not just recommending treatments and products based on what I learned in a textbook, I'm experiencing many of these changes firsthand. It reminds me that skin is never static. It evolves with our hormones, our health, our environment, and our age. 

8. If everyone could only change ONE thing about their skincare routine, what would it be?

Play the long game. Healthy, glowing skin isn't the result of one miracle product or viral trend, it’s about building a skincare routine that is suitable for your specific skin type. Once you have your routine, you really don't need to change it much- it’s like your diet, once you find what helps your body perform optimally, you don't really stray too much from that because you don't want to derail your results. Same with skincare.

9. What's the biggest skincare myth you wish would disappear forever?

That every skin concern needs to be exfoliated away.

I use an analogy in the treatment room that usually gets a laugh, but it's memorable because it's true. When you see a pimple or irritation, your first instinct shouldn't be to scrub it, pick at it, or throw every active ingredient you own at it. Think of your skin like a crying child. You wouldn't push a child away or make them more uncomfortable in hopes they'd stop crying—you'd comfort them, protect them, and give them the time and support they need to feel better.

Your skin isn't all that different. When it's inflamed, compromised, or stressed, it needs nourishment and support before it needs correction. That's why one of my favorite things to tell clients is, "When in doubt, hug it out." More often than not, your skin will reward you for being kind to it.

10. What's one skincare product you think almost everyone should own?

A good hydrator. We spend so much time chasing anti-aging and acne-fighting ingredients that we forget healthy skin starts with proper hydration. When your skin is hydrated, it's calmer, stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to respond to everything else you're asking it to do.

11. What's your favorite treatment to perform—and why?

Probably my lymphatic massage or HydraFacial with Britenol & Red Light Therapy. Depends who’s asking. ;)

12. What has been the most rewarding part of building Amy Adams Aesthetics?

Honestly? Being the bougiest babe. I don't have kids, and I'm single at the moment, so I happily invest in beautiful skincare, luxurious spa touches, and little details that make life feel comfortable. I love spoiling both myself and my clients because I believe everyone deserves to feel cared for.

13. What's one lesson entrepreneurship has taught you about yourself?

Nike was right: Just do it. You'll never have all the answers, the timing will never be perfect, and confidence usually comes after you take the first step, not before.

14. Winning Best of North County is a huge honor. What does this recognition mean to you?

I prayed for this award from the very beginning of opening Amy Adams Aesthetics. Of course, I wanted the recognition, but I also wanted my pursuit of it to come from a place of purpose rather than ego. So when I learned I had been anonymously nominated (and I still have no idea who did it—seriously, please come forward!), I felt incredibly honored and deeply grateful.

To me, being the "best" has never been about finishing first, second, or third. It's about making every client feel like they're receiving my very best in that moment. It's about showing up fully present for every person who walks through my door and creating an experience where they feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for. If I can do that consistently, then I feel like I've already won.

15. What's something you're currently learning or trying to get better at?

Pilates. It looks graceful until you realize your muscles are shaking in places you didn't know existed.

16. What's your biggest pet peeve?

Tardiness.

17. If you weren't an esthetician, what do you think you'd be doing?

Oh, who knows… a cat rescuer.

18. What's one small thing that instantly makes your day better?

Coffee and slow mornings on my patio.

19. What's something you're obsessed with right now?

Love Island and RHORI—don't judge me. I caught myself influenced into buying crackers because of Alicia, which is hilarious because I spend half my career telling people not to be influenced by social media.

20. What do you hope every client feels when they leave your treatment room?

Cared for. Beautiful skin is important, but people will always remember how you made them feel. 

21. Finish this sentence: "Beautiful skin is..."

Uniquely you. You already have it, I just help it to be more visible. 

Beautiful skin may be what brings us together, but it's the conversations, the trust, and the community we've built that make this work so meaningful. Thank you for being here and for allowing me to do what I love every day. I can't wait to continue growing & glowing with you. 

-Amy