How One Woman Bridged Her Love For Skincare + STEM
By Natalie Milhouse | June 21, 2019
SKIN.
The largest and most essential organ in the body. Often yearning for love and compassion, skin is a part of our identity our biological makeup, and mastering how to nurture it is key. We talk skin with Jadel Davis, Owner of the beauty blog “Start With Skin.” Jadel blends her two passions - skincare and science- to address trends and start dynamic conversations while adding her scientific expertise to bridge the gap between how we continue to perceive and care for it.
Q
IT HAS TAKEN YEARS TO REWRITE THE PERCEPTION OF BEAUTY, AND WE ARE STILL ON THAT JOURNEY. TELL US YOUR APPROACH AND HOW YOU IDENTIFIED A WAY TO SHIFT THE SKEWED PERSPECTIVE.
A
(JADEL)
As long as I can remember, I’ve heard the saying, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’ However, I’d never been told I could be the beholder. When I realized that and truly believed it, I gave myself permission to move and express myself differently and more freely. So many of us want to disrupt the current beauty standards. Still, because we don’t see many people ‘disrupting’ the standard, we believe we’re one of the few and chicken out on freeing ourselves from the notion that we must adhere to one type of beauty. I think if you don’t see it, be it. You never know who’s also questioning themselves in a room, and just by being your freest self, you unleash someone else. So, in everything I do, I try to live out the beauty standard I want to see in hopes of affirming someone else, letting them know that you can be and are considered beautiful.
Q
WHAT INITIATIVES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO INSPIRE THE YOUTH?
A
(JADEL)
To inspire youth and particularly build confidence in young girls, I recently wrote a children’s book called “Nadia Goes to the Great Fishing Hole.” It’s based on my journey to becoming a chemical engineer and symbolizes the fear and doubts I had during my journey to this great place called college, haha. However, instead of writing a story of my step-by-step journey to becoming an engineer, I wrote a story that symbolizes the lessons and obstacles I overcame without focusing too much on having to be an engineer. I love STEM, but I’ve also seen too often that parents, many with good intentions, place a lot of pressure on their children to choose ‘lucrative’ or ‘smart STEM’ careers. However, I didn’t want my book used like that. I want the book to foster agency and show girls to take risks and that it’s okay to be scared and yet keep going.
#YOUBELONGHERE CAMPAIGN
Jadel’s Summer 2019 “You Belong Here” series mirrors her own journey while bringing a sense of sisterhood to the forefront by showing women that not only is there space in STEM but there’s a team of women here to uplift you along the way. Check out Jadel’s blog to learn more about each woman and how STEM leads them to break barriers in the beauty industry.
Q
IF YOU HAD TO PICK THREE KEY LEARNINGS THROUGHOUT YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH STEM AND BEAUTY, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
A
(JADEL)
I’d say learning to take ownership of my own path, getting comfortable with estimation, and taking risks are three big ones I learned in STEM that carried over into all areas of my life, even beauty. In engineering, few things are truly exact or ‘perfect’; even when the math works, it’s based on a model, not real life. But you either make a decision to use what you have or stay stagnant and keep trying to perfect something good enough. Good enough is good enough. It’s a constant battle, but I live out those lessons even when deciding to write a blog on the skinny or going bare-faced to work. It comes to a point where I must say, this is good enough. I am good enough.
Q
WHAT TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS SHOULD WE BE EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF SKINCARE BLOB, START WITH SKIN?
A
(JADEL)
I will say look forward to more conversations around the synergy of fitness, mental health, and skincare, as well as breakdowns on some of the trends like Niacinamide and pH-balanced products. I can’t wait to get a little more nerdy with y’all.
