Hi, I’m Sara Elizabeth, founder and owner of the Sara Elizabeth Skincare boutique in San Diego, CA and the Sara Elizabeth Advanced Botanical and Herbal Skincare lines.
I am an herbal skincare expert with over 20 years in the industry. Though the hype around slow beauty and natural and botanical skincare is new, the wisdom behind the methods and products that are genuinely effective is well-established. I know because I’ve used them for years with my San Diego facial clients and in my luxury skincare line. Now, I want to share them with you through this beauty blog so you can separate marketing hype from proven methods — and get the most out of your herbal skincare!
But before we dive into the finer details of herbal and holistic beauty, I want to share more about my background and experience. I began my career back in the 1990s rather traditionally, first working for global beauty brand Estee Lauder. I helped with new store openings and educated clients on Estee Lauder’s philosophy and product line. I was eventually promoted to business manager for the Estee Lauder counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Diego, California.
My experience with Estee Lauder sparked my interest in high-quality skincare, so when an opportunity arose to attend the Atelier Esthetique School of Esthetics in New York City, I jumped at it. There, I was introduced to skin guru Ling Chan and immersed in age-old skincare methods that still inform my work. I also worked under Christine Chin, a renowned celebrity facialist whose client list includes top names in fashion and entertainment, including models, editors, and designers.
I moved to San Diego in 2001 and opened my namesake skincare boutique, where I began honing my skills as an esthetician and herbalist. During this time, I also trained under skincare sensei master Shogo Mochizuki, traveling to the Rocky Mountains to learn his 500-year-old Japanese muscle reconstruction massage technique.
Over the years, I’ve used my experience with Eastern and Western skincare philosophies, technical training, and education to develop a series of signature facials and skincare treatments tailored to modern lifestyles. In my San Diego facial studio, I help women and men of all ages and ethnicities address various skin health concerns, from acne to anti-aging.
In 2015, I introduced the Sara Elizabeth Skincare collection to help my clients continue their beauty self-care at home. I worked closely with a top chemist to develop my Advanced Botanical line (now available online and at select retailers for those who can’t make it to my studio), which features products designed to address the common challenges I see daily in my studio, all while being sustainable and natural. Most recently, I’ve also introduced my new Herbal Skincare line, which comes directly from my apothecary, where I use herbs, oils, and resins to achieve complexion perfection for my clients.
In my next post, I’ll share more details about my skincare philosophy and approach to “slow beauty.” In the meantime, feel free to browse my site to learn more about my signature San Diego facial offerings and natural, non-toxic botanical skincare offerings.
In beauty and health
