Hey y’all. I’m Crystal — the heart, hands, and dreamer behind The Pamper Cottage.

My story with skin began more than thirteen years ago, though not in the way you might expect. I was not that far into my military career when, during a training exercise, I fell face-first onto razor wire. The medic did what we could in the moment — a few alcohol wipes, a wince, and the stubbornness to keep going — but a few days later, my skin erupted in painful breakouts. From ear to ear, across my jawline, under my chin. I had never experienced anything like it.

When I went to the Army dermatologist, his only advice was to wash better with antibacterial soap. I remember standing there thinking, that can’t be right. I had always taken care of my skin, even if I didn’t know much about it. So, I took matters into my own hands.

I found a spa in Colorado Springs that was far beyond my budget at the time, but I went anyway. I was a single mom of two tweens, barely making ends meet, but I knew I had to find my face again. Week after week, that esthetician worked her quiet magic. Eight visits later, my own face was looking back in the mirror once more — no scars, no trace of what had happened. But more than that, I felt beautiful again. I could smile. I could take pictures with my friends. I could see myself.

I no longer remember her name, but I have never forgotten how she made me feel. I promised myself that one day, I would be that woman for someone else.

Years later, after fifteen years of service in the Army and Air Force, I hung up my uniform and began a new kind of mission — to help others feel at home in their skin. I studied esthetics and makeup artistry, earning licenses and certifications along the way. My husband and I traveled the country in our RV, chasing both adventure and purpose. Each stop brought a new layer of learning, a new shade of gratitude.

Eventually, our travels led us to Greenville, South Carolina — a place that felt like the kind of home we’d been searching for all along. Here, the dream that had been quietly growing for over a decade finally bloomed into The Pamper Cottage: a fairytale-inspired studio where beauty, comfort, and care come together in the softest ways.

This work is deeply personal to me. Every facial, every moment of touch, every quiet breath in that room is a promise kept — to the wounded woman I once was, and to every Visitor who walks through my door.

Because beauty isn’t something we create. It’s something we remember.

With glowing wishes,

Crystal