Women In Wellness: Erica Marie Gatt of EM Skin On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

Eat Smart: your body is your temple. you are as healthy as what you’re putting in your body. Choose foods that are colorful, fresh, and not processed. Being mindful about what you are consuming is helpful. Eat when you are hungry and keep fresh foods like leafy greens, carrots, apples, raspberries, and avocado is helpful for the overall function of your body, mind, and skin!

As a part of our series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing (Erica Marie Gatt, Esthetician and Founder of EM Skin). www.emskinla.com

Skin health guru Erica’s decade’s worth of experience working as an esthetician and makeup artist has shaped her foolproof, fuss-free beauty philosophy. She believes that curating thoughtful, streamlined skincare regimens for her clients is key to achieving effortless natural beauty and an overarching sense of empowerment, confidence, and well-being. As someone who loves the outdoors and being active, Erica recognizes the link between health, wellness and beauty and embraces a holistic approach that puts equal emphasis on both an inner and outer glow.

Erica honed her talent and channeled her passion under the tutelage of celebrated Los Angeles esthetician Gina Mari after having spent years as a makeup artist. Acknowledging that the optimal canvas for makeup is clear, toxin-free skin, Erica gained invaluable experience working on a myriad of skin types with a range of needs, while learning from the industry’s top beauty mavens.

In 2019, Erica launched her business EM SKIN, bringing a Beverly Hills medical spa sensibility to the South Bay where clients can always expect highly bespoke, transformational treatments that cleanse, hydrate, detox and sculpt using state of the art machines, the latest technologies, and medical and science-based products. Stepping into her intimate, beach-meets-chic studio is an experience that is simultaneously spirit lifting, skin firming, and anti-aging. Erica offers a tranquil retreat in the heart of Hermosa beach that calms both the mind and the skin, while delivering game-changing results far glowier than any filter can produce.

Erica has worked on famous faces including Travis Barker, JoJo, Paula Abdul, Lea Thompson, Vanessa Hudgens, Sofia Vergara, Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, and many more. Her work can also be seen in various print campaigns for Hugo Boss, Victoria’s Secret, Latisse, Neiman Marcus and has been featured in publications including Vogue, Elle, InStyle, Marie Claire, and GQ.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I began my career as an assistant and professional makeup artist and after spending several years in the beauty industry I discovered that I was more drawn to skin aesthetics and caring for the skin on a deeper level. Over a decade ago I began my career in skin aesthetics and honed my skills working under Los Angeles Esthetician Gina Mari. Since then, I dedicated the last 7 years perfecting my approach to skin aesthetics and opened my first location in 2019 in the South Bay and most recently opened my new bespoke facial studio located just steps from the ocean in Hermosa Beach. This past year has been all about growth and expansion for EM Skin through the launch of our newest location and expanding my team.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Each time I see a client I customize a skincare treatment to meet their specific needs at that time. I also keep an eye out for any irregular moles, unwanted bumps on the neck or face. My longtime client came in for an oxygen facial prior to her wedding and noticed a lump on her neck.

I never had noticed it before and suggested she see a doctor when she returns from her honeymoon. After returning from her wedding celebrations, she did in fact discover that the lump cancerous, and she went straight into surgery and is thankfully now cancer-free.

I share this story because I am grateful that I have been able to help guide clients to make healthy skincare habits, but also keep a watchful eye for anything that may look suspicious or be a health concern. At the end of the day, I am in the business of wellness, so I take that very seriously.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I began my career as a professional makeup artist and along the way fell in love with skin aesthetics. In my earlier days I found myself in situations where I was taken advantage of and had a difficult time placing boundaries to safeguard myself and my career. I have since learned that it’s important to stay true to yourself, work with people that are aligned with your values and goals.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I am in the business of helping people feel good. If you feel good about how you look, you often feel better all the way around. It’s amazing how taking better care of yourself from pampering your skin, applying sunscreen, fueling your body with leafy greens, daily movement, meditation and getting monthly facial treatments can improve your motivation and outlook on life. I am grateful I get to be part of someone’s moment of self-care.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?

Daily Movement: exercise releases serotonin which makes us feel good, have increased energy and sleep better at night. Not only does daily movement help with feeling good, but it also helps improve the health of your skin through enhanced blood circulation.

Sleep: Getting a restful night’s sleep (7–8 hours) will work wonders for your entire body including your skin.

Drink H2o: Drink more than 64 oz of water a day. This will hydrate your cells and make your skin look plump and bright! Drinking water helps remove toxins from your body and reduce inflammation.

Eat Smart: your body is your temple. you are as healthy as what you’re putting in your body. Choose foods that are colorful, fresh, and not processed. Being mindful about what you are consuming is helpful. Eat when you are hungry and keep fresh foods like leafy greens, carrots, apples, raspberries, and avocado is helpful for the overall function of your body, mind, and skin!

Realistic Skincare: Create a routine and stick to it! The best way to achieve skincare success is creating a routine that is realistic to achieve each day. If that means using 2–3 products and seeing a skincare professional, each month or every 2 months than make that happen. If nothing else cleanse and apply sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays and future aging.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Promote self-care and self-love. We live in such a chaotic society that most people put everyone before their own health and wellbeing. If we take the time to care for ourselves, we are much better mothers, wives, friends, daughters etc.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

I don’t have 5 things, but the best wisdom someone shared with me was — to be patient, enjoy the process and don’t worry about the future. Essentially stay in the present and enjoy each moment and learn from mistakes as you go — they make you stronger.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health is a massive issue globally and one that I have personally experienced in my own family. Mental health issues lead to so many issues in our country and we must find ways to help support and lift these individuals up so they can also live full and vibrant lives.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

My website www.emskinla.com

Instagram @ericamarieskin

Tik Tok @ericamarieskin

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.