The Reasons Why Our Experts Chose Their Professions

You rely on experts in every field to answer your burning questions—be it skin care, style, or medical-related—but have you ever wondered how these pros landed in their respective careers to begin with? Us, too. We’ve enlisted five Skincare.com consulting experts to reveal the reasons they picked their individual professions, and we’re sharing their personal stories with you below. Ahead, get a glimpse inside their fascinating journeys, one that ultimately led them to the career of their dreams.

Dr. Michael Kaminer, Consulting Dermatologist for Skincare.com

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

“I'll start with the easy part. The most rewarding aspect is helping people on a daily basis. One of the nice things about dermatology is that many of the problems we see are easily fixed. Whether it is with medication or surgical intervention, dermatologists are often able to solve problems that are troublesome to patients. You can't imagine how gratifying that is.”

Why did you choose dermatology as a profession?

“In terms of choosing dermatology, that is a bit more complicated. My initial training was as a surgeon, and I was looking for a career that would allow me to combine my surgical interests with research, and a field that had interesting biology. I had also suffered from pretty bad acne as a teenager, so dermatology was on my shortlist of specialties to consider. Who knew that cosmetic dermatology would become so important to the field in just 15 to 20 short years? When I started my training, there was almost zero cosmetics in dermatology. How times have changed! Because of the hands-on aspects of cosmetic dermatology, I can satisfy my interest in doing things that are surgical, help patients almost instantly, and participate in a host of clinical research trials that have hopefully advanced the field in a significant way.”

Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, Consulting Dermatologist for Skincare.com

Why did you choose dermatology as a profession?

“I was always a big research nerd! In dermatology, there are a ton of complicated autoimmune diseases that were fascinating to me early in my career. Some of my work allowed me to travel the world and present my findings to some of the top dermatologists abroad. The more I learned about the field, the more I realized how diverse and interesting it was.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect about your job?

“Now that I am in private practice, my days are always super interesting and incredibly diverse. I can diagnosis a mystery rash that may be due to a rare infectious disease, treat a child with eczema or acne, laser old scars that can be debilitating to the patient, or utilize the newest technologies for skin rejuvenation. Every patient room is a surprise and a new exciting adventure.”

Mzia Shiman, Celebrity Esthetician & Decleor Brand Ambassador

What drew you to this field?

“Ever since I was a little kid, I remember paying very close attention to my skin. I was obsessive about my skin and skin routines, and would even create my own products. Growing up in Russia, I used any natural ingredients I could get my hands on—cornmeal for scrubs and exfoliators, yogurt and cucumbers for masks, rice for creams, etc. I also made it my mission to help my friends with their skin, whether they were suffering from acne or were simply interested in basic skincare. We would sit down and give each other facials in our pajamas. As I got older, my interest in skin care continued to develop. I pursued my dream, no matter where it took me, and that’s how I ended up becoming who I am today.”

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is the fact that I am successful in the field work that I love. I am a busy, New York-based esthetician and am honored to work with some of the most beautiful women of the world. Being able to enhance my clients’ beauty and make their skin look healthier and more youthful is truly my dream come true.”

Vanda Serrador, Facialist & Body Care Expert to The Body Shop

What drew you to this career?

“After suffering a car accident at the age of 17 and seeing how my mother treated my scars, I found it fascinating that she did it with the power of plant oils that came from the earth. I also realized I could connect to people's skin concerns and so I wanted to treat others like my mother had done for me—with understanding, love, and care. I am a caring and motivational person by nature.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

“I am still in love with my job after 20 years! I think it has to be the giving and sharing, the opportunity to always be learning, to pass on my expertise and motivate people to also learn about the connection between their skin and themselves.”

Jennifer Hirsch, Beauty Botanist to The Body Shop

What drew you to this career?

“Plants. And to answer the question why, I’ve got one of those enquiring minds that is charming in a four-year-old, but tedious in an adult! And since most of my questions revolve around plants—like who looked at fungi and thought ‘Bet that’s tasty?’—ethnobotany, the study of people and plants, is a no-brainer. You might look at a tube of Spa of the World Moroccan Rhassoul Body Clay and think ‘lush.’ I look at it and wonder ‘Who looked at clay and thought I know, I’ll spread that on my skin,’ followed closely by ‘’How does that work?’ We are designed to use plants…in our bodies and on our skin. We’ve been doing it for centuries, and sharing that knowledge from one generation to the next, one woman (and the occasional man) to another. That sense of connection across time and place gives me goose bump and raises more questions. I have, without exception, the best job in the world.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

“For me it’s all about connections, whether it’s handing a grower or collector the finished beauty product containing their botanical ingredient (there are smiles I’ll never forget), or helping someone discover a plant ingredient that solves a skin challenge. We love stories. It’s how we record ourselves and define our place on the planet. So, being able to share with someone the story of a botanical ingredient, of the people who’ve handled it on its way to the bottle on a bathroom shelf, but also of the people who used it on their skin millennia ago. Now that’s magic.”