The Story Behind Awaken Esthetic
I'm Charisse. I’ve been working in beauty and skincare for 18 years, and I can tell you this: most people don't just need better skincare. They need permission to slow down.
I started as a makeup artist, learning how to really see people's faces and understand what they wanted to feel when they looked at themselves.
That led me into esthetics, then medical aesthetics, where I got deep into the technical side: laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, all of it. I also became a certified esthetics instructor, teaching students the science and technique behind good skincare. I still work in a med spa doing advanced treatments alongside running my own practice.
But skincare isn't my only background. I'm also a singer. I spent years performing in a band, recorded an album, and learned how powerful the human voice can be as a healing tool. That part of my life has always run parallel to my work with skin, even when I didn't realize how connected they were.
I know the clinical world. I know what works. But over the years, I kept noticing the same thing: clients would come in stressed, holding everything in their face and body, and no amount of exfoliation was going to fix that.
So I trained in Reiki. Then sound therapy. And suddenly, everything clicked. The voice I'd been using on stage, the presence I'd learned through performing, the understanding of vibration and resonance: it all had a place in this work. Not because I wanted to abandon good skincare (I still believe in active ingredients and results), but because I wanted to offer something most estheticians can't: treatments that work on your skin and your nervous system at the same time, often using my own voice alongside singing bowls and tuning forks.
Certifications & Training
Esthetics Foundation
Licensed Esthetician, States of North Carolina and New York
600-hour Esthetic Program, Aesthetic Science Institute
Advanced Skincare Training
Certified Professional in Skin Biology and Chemical Peels, PCA Skin
Energic Wellness
Reiki Ryoho Level 1 & 2 Certification, International Center for Reiki Training
Certificate in Sound Healing Immersion, Sama Integrative Wellness
When you come see me, you're not just getting a facial. You're getting an hour where your body remembers it's safe to relax. Where tension releases from your jaw. Where your skin gets the care it needs, and so does the rest of you.
I'm still the esthetician who knows her acids and can give you glowing skin. I've just learned that real transformation happens when we address what's underneath.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Schedule a consultation online. We'll talk through what's happening with your skin, your stress levels, and your goals. I'll recommend the approach that makes sense for you.
