In the business of beauty

By Beth Taylor

Mississippi-native Anna Skinner-Wilson moved to the Indianapolis area five years ago to take a job as a pediatric and neonatal intensive care nurse at Riley Hospital for Children. After a stint as a labor and delivery nurse at Community East hospital, she decided to make a career change.

“I enjoyed my job and still miss it, but I got burnt out. There’s just so much you can see over the years with children. And with all the changes in healthcare, I felt done,” said Skinner-Wilson.

She came up with an idea. A welcoming spa-like atmosphere where clients could come to relax and receive aesthetic treatments. They begin with teeth whitening. “The service usually costs $400-600 at a dentist’s office, but we use a self-application system with the same LED light, which reduces the cost,” she said.

The two teeth whitening rooms are designed to promote relaxation. Clients can listen to relaxing music and use aromatherapy products while they get their teeth whitened.

Across the hall in another private room, clients can try a body sculpting treatment. “We have The Firm system, which uses electrotherapy. Clients pick out the areas that they want to target, and the electrodes stimulate the muscles,” Skinner-Wilson said. One session results in the feeling of a good work out.

Clients can also experience a warming personal sauna treatment.  “It’s like a sleeping bag, everything is covered except for the head. We come in to put a cool cloth on your head and provide sips of lemon water while you relax and have your treatment,” said Skinner-Wilson.

Skinner-Wilson also promotes the Waist Away diet. The plan is a low carb plan, but is less restrictive than the Atkins plan. “By combining the treatments with the diet plan, you can experience real results,” she said. Wilson provides e-mail support and encouragement with a focus on health.

Wilson thought a gift shop would work well with her aesthetic treatments, so she added a retail component to the business. She promotes other small businesses and purchases products with philanthropy in mind. “We sell items that are primarily Indiana-made or Mississippi-made with a philanthropic component,” she said.

Beauvoir Aesthetics is the first shop in Fishers to carry the Frangipani skincare line made in Indianapolis. She carries Belief Bands, a faith-based jewelry line, and a prized selection of Arthur Court, a line of unique aluminum home entertaining gifts. “Every Southern girl has Arthur Court on her bridal registry, so I had to bring it here,” said Skinner-Wilson.

The lounge area is meant to be a place for patrons to relax. She envisions holiday shoppers stopping in to take a break, have a cup of coffee and enjoy a treatment. Wilson’s Southern hospitality and sense of humor creates a charming place to unwind. “I wanted to create a place where people can take care of themselves in a relaxed environment. We have no pretensions, and we’re reachable to everyone,” she added. Beauvoir Aesthetics grand opening happens Dec. 16.

Choosing a name with meaning

In French, “beauvoir” means “beautiful view.” The name is significant and nostalgic to Anna Skinner-Wilson, who grew up on the lovely Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Beauvoir House, located in Biloxi, Mississippi, was built in 1852 and was originally called “Orange Grove,” due to the Satsuma oranges being grown on the property. In 1873, Sarah Dorsey, a novelist, historian and wife of a wealthy Louisiana planter, acquired the property. She was an intellectually gifted woman, very forward-thinking and feminist in her views for that era. Upon seeing the house for the first time, Sarah exclaimed, “Oh, my! What a beautiful view!”, thus bestowing the name upon the grand home.

“Beauvoir House represents history, love, beauty and friendship,” said Skinner-Wilson. “More importantly, as it pertains to Beauvoir Aesthetics, it represents the same beauty, but also the intellect and resilience of the people who walk through our door. We sincerely hope you find the same relaxation and happiness from us that this lovely historic home brought to its owners throughout its storied history.”