Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Gossert.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Amanda, and I am the owner of Skin Invidia LLC, which I founded in February 2019.
People often think my story is about skincare, but it’s really about perseverance, advocacy, and creating a business built on purpose.
Before opening Skin Invidia, I worked as a contract esthetician in a dermatology office. It was an incredible opportunity and gave me a strong clinical foundation during my first two years in the industry. I learned so much about skin health and patient care, but over time I realized something was missing.
I wanted to provide more than quick appointments and standardized treatment plans. I saw clients struggling with acne and other skin concerns who needed education, individualized care, and someone willing to truly listen. I wanted to teach people about ingredients, explain why their skin was behaving the way it was, and create customized treatment plans instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. That realization sparked something in me. I began researching, planning, and dreaming about creating a space where I could care for clients the way I believed they deserved.
From the very beginning, I knew this wasn’t just a job. My passion has never been simply performing treatments it has always been helping people achieve healthy skin and restoring the confidence that comes with it. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone look in the mirror and finally feel comfortable in their own skin.
Like many entrepreneurs, my beginning was far from glamorous.
I started Skin Invidia in a small, 200-square-foot room with limited resources. I purchased only the essentials: a small skincare inventory, a budget-friendly hydrafacial-style machine, and focused on treatments like dermaplaning and customized facials. Every dollar I earned went right back into the business. I was also pregnant!
As my clientele grew, I moved into a larger, 600-square-foot space. Then, just as things were gaining momentum, COVID-19 forced businesses across the country to shut their doors.
Instead of giving up, I adapted.
I created “Skin Fix Boxes,” essentially a facial in a box, filled with professional products and instructions. I personally delivered them to my clients’ front porches, and at the end of each month we met together on Facebook Live so I could guide everyone through their facials from home. Those Skin Fix Boxes didn’t just keep my clients connected, they paid my rent during one of the most uncertain times of my career.
When we were finally allowed to reopen, many of my clients were nurses, teachers, and other hardworking professionals who had spent months caring for everyone else. My treatment room became more than a place for skincare—it became a place where people could breathe, relax, and take care of themselves while we navigated an incredibly difficult season together.
As the business continued to grow, I expanded again into a much larger location with two treatment rooms, a waiting area, and four rental suites for other beauty professionals. The rental spaces filled quickly, I hired two employees, and for the first time I felt like everything I had worked so hard for was coming together.
Then everything changed.
Maryland proposed legislation that would remove several services from an esthetician’s scope of practice, including chemical peels, microneedling, and dermaplaning, services that were the foundation of my business and the businesses of so many other estheticians.
I was rattled.
Rather than waiting to see what would happen, I made the difficult decision to relocate my business to West Virginia so I could continue serving my clients. I closed my rental suites, downsized my business, and accepted a significant financial loss in order to keep moving forward.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Alongside two other estheticians who shared the same vision, we founded the Maryland Esthetician Alliance. We organized, educated, raised funds, hired a lobbyist, and traveled to Annapolis to advocate for our profession. We spoke before legislators and fought to protect not only our own businesses, but the future of esthetics throughout Maryland.
After months of hard work, we successfully helped pass legislation that preserved and expanded our scope of practice.
Looking back, that experience changed me far more than it changed my business. It taught me that leadership sometimes means stepping outside your comfort zone and fighting for something bigger than yourself.
About a year ago, I moved Skin Invidia back to Maryland, and today my business is busier than ever.
Ironically, success now looks very different than it once did.
For a long time I believed success meant getting bigger more rooms, more employees, and more growth.
Today, success means balance.
I’ve intentionally simplified my business back to one treatment room so I can continue doing what I love while also being present for my family. I don’t measure success by square footage anymore. I measure it by the quality of care I provide, the relationships I’ve built, and the life I’ve created for my family.
At Skin Invidia, I specialize in corrective skincare, acne treatment, and microneedling. Every treatment plan is customized because I firmly believe there is no universal skincare routine. What works for one person may be completely wrong for another, which is why I encourage people to look beyond social media trends and influencer recommendations. Healthy skin starts with understanding the individual sitting in front of you.
If there’s one thing I hope people remember about Skin Invidia, it’s that my mission has never been about creating perfect skin.
It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin.
Whether someone comes to me with acne, aging concerns, pigmentation, or simply needing a place where they feel heard, my goal is always the same: to provide exceptional care, educate them about their skin, and help them leave feeling seen and more confident than when they arrived.
I am proud of every decision I’ve made throughout this journey the good ones and the difficult ones because every challenge taught me something and helped shape the business I have today.
Skin has always been the reason people walk through my door, but “feeling comfortable in their own skin and feel seen” is what they leave with. That’s the legacy I hope to continue building for many years to come.
Pricing:
- 3 microneedling treatments for $900 (Value $1200)
- Glowshow New $150
- Glowshow Signature $185
- Glowshow Platinum $210
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skininvidia.com
- Instagram: @skininvidiallc
- Facebook: Skin Invidia LLC
