When I first became an esthetician, I never pictured myself as someone who would compete.

That just wasn’t part of the plan.
I was focused on building a business that felt honest, showing up for my clients, and juggling life as a mom of five. I was pouring everything I had into my work-researching ingredients, fine-tuning protocols, and helping people feel safe in their skin again.

I didn’t need a stage. I just needed to make a difference.

But in 2023, something happened that completely shifted my path.

I got a message-a DM, actually-from someone I never expected to hear from: a judge from The Skin Games.

She told me they had been watching my work, seeing what I was doing with my clients, and they thought I should apply.

And honestly? I was shocked.
In the best way.

I remember just sitting with it for a second-rereading the message. This person didn’t know me… but they saw me. They saw the work, the heart, the effort I was putting in, and they believed I belonged on that stage.

I didn’t hesitate. I was excited.
I said yes.

And that one message cracked something wide open. It was the start of a journey that would challenge me, celebrate me, and completely change how I see myself in this industry.

So I applied.

Not because I felt ready-but because deep down, I knew I was being called to grow.

So… what is The Skin Games?

The Skin Games (often called TSG) is an international esthetics competition and educational platform. Think of it as the “Olympics of
Esthetics,” where licensed professionals showcase their skills,
creativity, and results across multiple categories.

It’s not just a competition—it’s also:
• A case study challenge where estheticians work with real clients over 8 weeks.
• A live event & awards weekend featuring education, networking, and recognition.
• A community movement that raises the bar in the beauty industry by highlighting professionalism, ethics, and innovation.

Facets of The Skin Games

Here are the main components that make up the experience:

1. Case Study Competition
• Professionals choose categories such as: Age Management, Acne, Holistic, Open
Medical, Pigmentation, Hair Removal/Waxing, Makeup, Oncology, etc.
• They document client progress with photos, videos, and treatment logs over an 8-week period.
• Submissions are judged by an international panel of experts.

2. Live Games & Awards Weekend
• Finalists present their work live in front of judges.
• Hands-on demos, Q&A, and client testimonials are part of the scoring.
• Culminates in a red-carpet awards gala where winners are announced (e.g.,
Esthetician of the Year, Top 3 per category, Spirit of the Skin Games).

3. Education & Networking
• Workshops and training sessions with top brands and educators.
• Opportunity to meet industry leaders, form partnerships, and gain mentorship.
• Access to the latest innovations in skincare, waxing, wellness, and technology.

4. Recognition & Advocacy
• Promotes the professionalism of estheticians and the importance of results-driven skincare.
• Encourages advocacy for industry standards and client safety.
• Provides global exposure through media, social platforms, and sponsors.

What it Means to Licensed Professionals

For estheticians, cosmetologists, wax specialists, and makeup artists, The Skin Games is more than just a contest:
• Credibility: Competing (and especially placing) elevates your reputation as a serious, results-driven professional.
• Marketing Power: Documented case studies become powerful content to showcase on your website, socials, and portfolio.
• Professional Growth: Pushes you to elevate your skills, try new modalities, and stay accountable.
• Networking: Connects you to a global community of peers, mentors, brands, and potential business partners.
• Visibility: Being featured by The Skin Games puts you in front of international
audiences, media outlets, and potential clients.
• Confidence: Walking through the process builds pride, resilience, and belief in your craft.

Why You Should Sign Up

1. Stand Out in Your Market – Competing sets you apart from local competition and builds client trust.

2. Career Opportunities – Many alumni go on to become educators, brand ambassadors, and speakers.

3. Personal & Professional Validation – You’ll see just how far your skills
have come, while being inspired to keep growing.

4. Legacy Building – For many, it’s about being part of something bigger: raising standards in the beauty industry.

5. Fun & Inspiration – It’s a thrilling, uplifting community experience that reignites passion for esthetics.

What I want estheticians to know

If you're a solo estie thinking, “That’s not for me,” I want you to know something:

It is for you.
You are enough.
You are seen.
You are not too small, too new, too quiet, too different, or too late.

You belong here.

You belong in rooms where your work is celebrated.
You belong in conversations about results, technique, and leadership.
You belong in spaces where growth is honored, not gatekept.
And you absolutely belong on the stage-even if your voice shakes the first time you step up.

The Skin Games isn’t about being the best in the room.
It’s about being better for your clients, better for yourself, and surrounded by a community that genuinely wants to see you win.

I don’t compete because I have something to prove.
I compete because I believe in the power of this work.
Because I believe that estheticians-especially solo esties-are changing lives every single day.

I compete because I love this industry.
I love what it stands for when we lead with heart.
And I believe in us-the ones who stay late to study, the ones who remember every client’s birthday, the ones who cry when their clients cry.

We are more than lashes and peels.
We are educators, healers, skin strategists, and space holders.
We carry knowledge in our hands, magic in our hearts, and compassion in every interaction.

What this means for my clients

Every case study I’ve submitted, every advanced protocol I’ve studied, every skin challenge I’ve tackled through The Skin Games-all of that comes back to my treatment room here in Modesto.

Because this isn’t just about trophies.
It’s about becoming the kind of esthetician my clients deserve.

The kind who stays curious.
The kind who keeps growing.
The kind who takes what she learns on an international stage and brings it home to her community — to the real people who show up, week after week, trusting me with their skin and their stories.

Whether you're coming in for:

• A custom Procell microchanneling treatment to jumpstart collagen and heal deep damage
• A precise, comfortable Starpil Brazilian wax that respects your skin and your boundaries
• Support with pigmentation or post-inflammatory scarring
• Solutions for hormonal acne that won’t respond to anything else
• Or just a quiet hour to reset, breathe, and feel genuinely cared for...

You’re not just getting a treatment.
You’re getting all of me.
My education. My experience. My heart.

Because I don’t just want your skin to glow-I want you to glow.

– Brenda Hogsett 💕
SKINTASTIC | Modesto, CA
Licensed Esthetician | Procell Certified | Starpil Educator | 9x International Award Winner

📍 Looking for results-driven skincare in Modesto, CA?

SKINTASTIC is located inside LUXX Labs at 2401 E Orangeburg Ave, Suite 580.
Brenda offers custom facials, acne treatments, barrier repair, Starpil waxing, Procell therapy, and more with a heart-led approach to real, lasting results.