Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Miller.
Hi Taylor, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Salem, Oregon, which makes building my business here especially meaningful to me. Salem has always been home, and I feel incredibly grateful that I now get to serve the community that raised me. I’m also a proud Oregon State University alumna, where I studied Nutrition and Public Health, Go Beavs!
My relationship with skincare started long before I ever imagined it would become my career. I struggled with my skin for most of my life, beginning in elementary school and continuing well into my thirties. It affected me deeply and became a huge source of insecurity. I tried just about everything I could think of… countless dermatologists and estheticians, topical and oral antibiotics, and even Accutane. I was desperate to understand my skin and, more than anything, to feel comfortable in it.
Eventually, I decided to go to esthetics school. At the time, it was very much about healing myself. I wanted to study the skin, understand what was happening, and finally find a solution to something I had spent so many years struggling with.
But somewhere along the way, that desire to heal myself became something so much bigger.
I discovered that I have a deep love for caring for other people. What started as a personal passion became a calling. I don’t just love skincare! I love the relationships, the trust, the conversations, and the opportunity to help someone feel more confident and cared for. I truly believe I was called to do this work, and I feel incredibly grateful every day that I get to.
That journey eventually led to The Aesthetic Laboratory. What began as my own search for healing has grown into a six-person team, including myself, two estheticians, and three client coordinators. Watching The Lab grow and knowing that we are able to care for more women because of that growth is something I don’t take for granted. I am so grateful for the support of our community and for every person who has trusted us with their skin, their stories, and their time.
Outside of The Lab, my greatest role is being a mom. I have two daughters who are my whole world, along with an incredibly supportive husband, two dogs, and one cat. They are the people who keep me grounded and remind me that while building something I love is incredibly rewarding, the life I’m building it for is even more important.
Looking back, it’s pretty incredible to think that the insecurity I once felt about my skin ultimately led me to the work I feel most passionate about. I went into esthetics school hoping to fix my own skin, and I came out with a career that allows me to help other women feel more at home in theirs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been seasons where it has been incredibly hard, but honestly, I’m grateful for every difficult chapter because, as cliché as it sounds, those experiences have shaped me into the woman I am today.
When I was first starting The Aesthetic Laboratory, I was working three jobs to make it work. I was a fitness instructor, working at a winery, and simultaneously trying to build my business. I didn’t have a lot of capital to invest, so when I opened my first little suite, I decorated it with things I already had at home and put as much money as I could back into the business.
I also didn’t have a huge amount of family support during that season, so I leaned heavily on friendships and the community around me. I learned very quickly that sometimes your community becomes your family, and I will forever be grateful for the people who showed up for me, encouraged me, and believed in what I was building before it looked anything like what it does today.
And I was doing all of this while being a mom. My girls have always been my priority, so building a business meant learning how to work incredibly hard while still making sure they felt loved, supported, and present in my life. There were definitely seasons of exhaustion, doubt, and wondering if I could really make it all work.
But I kept going.
Now, when I look back, I don’t wish away any of those hard seasons. They taught me perseverance and the importance of surrounding myself with good people. They made me stronger, but more importantly, they made me more myself.
And for the first time in my life, I can honestly say something that feels really powerful: I love her.
I love the woman I’ve become. I’m proud of how hard she has worked, proud of what she has built, and incredibly grateful for every version of her that got me here.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Aesthetic Laboratory, affectionately known as The Lab, is a skin-focused esthetics studio in Salem, Oregon, created with the belief that beautiful skin starts with healthy skin. My tag line is “Where the art and science of skin bond.”
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To believe in yourself. I wish I had a better lesson or piece of wisdom to share, but it all came down to a little knowing inside of me that knew I could do this. That I was capable of building this dream into a reality. I think it’s important to listen to your own creative gifts and use them to help others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aestheticlaboratory.square.site/
- Instagram: @skinprofessortaylor
- Other: Business insta: @theaestheticlaboratorysalem
