Beauty is bliss

This esthetics professional has set out to educate and improve lives

Wilcox is devoted to her family and her clients. —

Photo courtesy Rebecca Wilcox

Born and raised in the Nelson area, Rebecca Wilcox has returned to her home town to open SkinBliss Laser and Body Clinic.

She commenced her cosmetology studies in the Okanagan, after which she took an overseas journey and got a taste of what the world has to offer. She returned to Vancouver, where she worked in spas for a few years and was presented with an amazing opportunity.

“I was lucky enough to get a great job with one of the top laser cosmetic surgery centres in Yaletown,” said Wilcox, “studying under a top dermatologist, Dr. Chih-Ho Hong, who taught me so much about the industry.”

Wilcox took to the medical esthetics field immediately, and over the past five years she also had the opportunity to work with famous dermatologist Dr. Frances Jang. While she enjoyed the big-city life, she missed her family and friends back home.

“I wanted to have the power to do the things that really made me happy,” she said. “The years of living and working in Southeast Asia and Africa had never been far from my mind . . . there are so many people that are less fortunate. Charity work is something that I hope to do a lot of in the near future—with having my own business now, (I have) the control to come and go as I need.”

Charity begins at home

In addition to these charitable goals, Wilcox also wanted her daughter to experience the relaxed Nelson lifestyle and clean mountain environment.

“I wanted her to have what I had growing up,” said Wilcox, “real, honest, healthy fun.”

She opened SkinBliss Laser and Body Clinic with a determined attitude and a passion for the industry. Her 20 years of experience prepared her to take a leadership role and to control the future she is able to provide for herself and her daughter.

“My biggest challenge has been . . . having to learn all that comes with running your own business, actually sitting down and doing the paperwork part of the business, the bookkeeping, taxes, et cetera,” she said. “I’m a hands-on person that likes to be working doing treatments and seeing clients, not sitting in front of the computer.”

A mission to educate

With the challenge comes reward. Wilcox relishes the time she gets to spend with her loved ones enjoying the great outdoors and a quality of life that she could never have made time for in the city. Her clientele base is different in the Kootenays than it was in Vancouver, but she approaches the subject with a positive outlook.

“Clients around this area are not sure about the laser technology and what it can do,” she said. “I need to educate clients on the awesome possibilities with laser treatments, and how they can change people’s lives.”