Meet the Founder of Memphis Wellness Collective
Skincare expert Nathalie Pearce, founder of Memphis Wellness Collective, champions a holistic "beauty from within" approach and is passionate about helping clients look and feel their best.
Nathalie Pearce, founder of Veracity Skin Studio and Memphis Wellness Collective, is redefining holistic skincare. A leader in Memphis’s wellness community, she unites experts from diverse fields to promote a comprehensive approach to well-being. With a “beauty from within” mindset, Nathalie is on a mission to help her clients uncover the root causes of skin issues. Get to know our newest FACE of Memphis!
What first inspired your love of non-toxic skincare?
While in college, I worked in retail management and took a job with a cosmetics brand. I really enjoyed listening to people’s skin concerns and helping them find products to ease them. That eventually led to esthetics school and opening my holistic skincare practice.
I quickly learned from working in the skincare industry that many brands make empty claims and use cheap — sometimes harmful — ingredients without concern for consumer health.
Once that door was opened, I began learning about the number of toxins conventional skincare, body care, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products contain. There was no turning back!
Tell us about the journey to create Memphis Wellness Collective.
I opened my solo skincare practice, Veracity Skin Studio, back in 2017 in a storage room at my friend’s bridal shop, The Barefoot Bride. I knew then that it was just a stepping stone, but I’m forever grateful for the sustainable and steady growth it provided me.
In January 2020, after years of looking for the right space to expand my business, I signed a lease! The spring of 2020 was a wild ride, but with Michelle of Holistic Harmony and Health‘s moral support — and a commitment to being the first business to join the collective — we pressed forward.
Memphis Wellness Collective was bursting at the seams, so by the spring of 2021, it was clear we needed more space if we wanted to continue to grow. Naturally, when Alison Unterreiner of Āurum Acupuncture joined us with dreams of a holistic clinic of her own, we decided to combine our efforts, officially becoming business partners in April 2024. This partnership allowed us to move into our new location and made space for us to add five additional practitioners.
What is the “why” behind your business?
In my experience, healthy skin is an inside job. While topical skincare and skin treatments can help calm and revitalize the skin, one’s overall health must be addressed for lasting, long-term change.
Many skin issues are due to health problems, such as poor gut health, immune disorders, stress, or hormonal imbalances. While I’m always doing my best to expand my knowledge, these health issues are outside my scope of practice, and I strongly believe in practicing within that scope. That is where the idea of Memphis Wellness Collective was born. I wanted my clients to have access to different providers and modalities to help them get to the root cause of their health issues while also helping them find balance in the chaos of daily life.
Every process in our body is connected, and what we do to one part of the body affects the other. So, we offer holistic services that help balance your mental and physical states.
What is your favorite treatment to give and/or receive?
Oh, I love facial gua sha! Gua sha is the Chinese medicine practice of scraping with the intention of making space for chi, or energy, to flow. The pressure is modified for the face so you don’t see the sha marks that sometimes happen on the body. It is so incredibly relaxing while also brightening and firming — and making space for the proper flow of fluids.
Facial gua sha has become popular as a self-care routine, which is awesome, but I highly recommend a professional treatment! Not only will you feel relaxed from head to toe, but it will also help you learn what kind of pressure and technique to use at home.
What’s your top skincare tip for surviving winter?
Eat your water!
We all know we should be drinking water, but eating foods that are rich in water will help your body make the most out of that amazing hydration. Foods such as cucumbers, celery, and spinach, as well as most fruits and melons, are great sources of hydration. Quench, by Dana Cohen, MD, is a really great read on the topic of hydration.
An easy way to add environmental moisture during these dryer months is a hydration mist! Something like rose water (one that contains vegetable glycerin, an awesome humectant) works great, and you can use it all day long.
Occlusive moisturizers, like balm oil or heavy cream, will help prevent water loss. Botnia’s Wisdom Oil is a personal favorite for my skin in the dry winter months.
Red light therapy is a fantastic way to boost your mood during the short, dreary winter days. It is also amazing for cellular health, which translates to smoother, calmer, and happier skin.
What do you wish more people knew about self-care?
Self-care is so much more than a facial or a massage. Self-care is simply taking time to love and reconnect with one’s self. That can mean a lot of things! It could be a walk in nature, listening to your favorite song 20 times in a row, laughing with your best friend, pampering your body, or working out. It’s really just about taking time to do whatever makes you feel balanced and happy without judgment or expectation.
What does “beauty” mean to you?
Beauty is not an outward appearance; it’s what radiates from our souls. Sure, there are some exceptionally attractive people on this planet. But just like art, attractiveness is subjective. True beauty comes from within — it’s the compassion and kindness we show ourselves and others.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t compare yourself to others; there will always be someone smarter, stronger, and more talented. Instead, partner up with those people, learn from each other, and grow and improve together.
Name three things you can’t live without.
I don’t consider myself a materialistic person, but I’d rather not live without lots of houseplants, pretty rocks and crystals, and weird artwork of all kinds.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
If you could only travel to one place in the world? Olympic National Park
Three products you take everywhere? Code of Harmony Oil Cleanser, Lumion Miracle Mist, and Botnia Eye Cream
Favorite hiking spot in the South? Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
Favorite beauty food? Blueberries! They’re hydrating, packed with antioxidants, and good for the soul.
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Kate Feinberg
Kate Feinberg is a professional writer based in Nashville. She has more than 14 years of freelance writing experience covering travel, wellness, and lifestyle. A certified meditation teacher, RYT-200 yoga instructor, and integrative nutrition health coach, she brings a strong wellness perspective to her work. Kate is also a marathon runner and the creator of a plant-based food blog, Chef Kate F, where she shares nourishing recipes and mindful living tips. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her on the golf course, exploring new destinations, or combining both with golf-focused travel. She enjoys lake life on Percy Priest Lake.