Meet Maggie Richard and Maureen Garrett

We recently connected with Maggie Richard and Maureen Garrett and have shared our conversation below.

Maggie and Maureen, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Maggie: Where does your resilience come from?

My resilience is deeply rooted in my immigrant story. I moved to the U.S. from Poland with my parents and younger brother when I was 11. We didn’t speak any English and were suddenly thrown into a new world; new school, new culture, new everything. One minute I was top of my class in Poland, and the next I couldn’t understand what was being said around me. I still remember my first teacher giving me the watch off his wrist on my first day, something I will never understand, and then seeing the same teacher lose his temper and throw desks when he was angry. It was a whirlwind.

Middle school was tough, I was bullied and still not knowing the language I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. But you either sink or swim, and watching my parents take the leap of faith to start over in a new country with two kids and only $500 in their pocket gave me a deep sense of purpose. They sacrificed everything so we could have a better life, and I’ve carried that with me ever since. My drive to succeed, to keep going no matter what, comes from knowing that I owe it to them and to that brave little girl who walked into school without a word of English and kept showing up anyway.

Through all of it, I’ve learned that real resilience isn’t about being unshakable, it’s about showing up with heart, even when things feel heavy. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind, but it can mean everything to someone else.

Maureen: How did you find your purpose?

As a nurse, I’ve worn many hats: bedside nurse, educator, quality manager, and director of a children’s hospital. Each role was fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging—but none truly felt complete until I found aesthetic nursing. It’s the first time I’ve been able to fully combine my creative side, my love for science, and my deep compassion for others.

I’ll be honest—I’m not a “boogie” individual and didn’t always prioritize self-care, so I was initially skeptical about this field. But a friend needed a dependable nurse, and I agreed to help. Out of curiosity, I shadowed an excellent injector—and I was instantly hooked. I realized I could help women feel more confident using both artistic vision and technical skill, challenging both sides of my brain in the best way.

As a more seasoned nurse entering aesthetics, I’ve made it my mission to remove the intimidation factor that often surrounds med spas. I want to educate women about their options, meet them where they are in their aging journey, and never push them toward anything that doesn’t feel right for them.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

We’re both registered nurses who met while working together at another med spa. From the beginning, we knew we shared something special, a deep respect for patient care, a love for aesthetics, and a desire to create something more personal. That connection led us to open The Aesthetic Journey in San Clemente.
With our hospital backgrounds, we bring a strong clinical foundation to our work, but what truly defines us is the experience we provide. Our patients aren’t just a quick appointment, they’re part of a community. We take time to listen, educate, and guide them through their aesthetic journey with care, intention, and honesty.
We offer a range of treatments, from injectables like Botox, dermal fillers and biostimulants to Sofwave, microneedling, and skincare, but our true focus is on delivering natural-looking, long-lasting results. We believe in aging gracefully, feeling confident, and making empowered choices.
Right now, we’re focused on growing our practice while staying rooted in our values: connection, trust, and quality care. It’s an exciting chapter, and we’re building it side by side, with a shared vision and a lot of laughter along the way.
We love what we do, and we’re building this business together with heart, purpose, and a whole lot of respect for the journey, both our own and our patients.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

At The Aesthetic Journey, we help people feel confident in their skin through personalized, natural-looking aesthetic treatments. What makes our practice special is the experience, we combine medical expertise with a warm, welcoming environment where patients feel seen and supported.
One of the most exciting treatments we offer right now is Sofwave. It’s a non-invasive skin tightening and collagen-boosting device that gives beautiful results with zero downtime. Our patients love how it lifts and smooths the skin subtly, but powerfully. We’re seeing amazing results, especially when paired with biostimulants like Radiesse, and it’s become a signature part of our approach to graceful aging.
We’re also in a season of intentional growth. We’ve been refining our offerings to focus on the treatments we believe in most, those backed by science, with proven results. Our brand is all about authenticity, education, and creating a space where people can feel good about investing in themselves.
Whether it’s someone’s first Botox or they’re exploring full-face rejuvenation, we guide them every step of the way. We want people to feel like they’re in trusted hands, and to walk out feeling refreshed, never overdone.
What we love most about this field is that it’s rapidly evolving. New techniques, technologies, and evidence-based treatments are always emerging, and we take that seriously. We invest time, energy, and resources into ongoing training and education so we can stay ahead of the curve and offer our patients the safest, most effective, and most current options available.

– Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

This industry is full of shiny new things—new devices, new products, new partnerships. And while that can be exciting, we’ve learned the importance of pausing before jumping in. We take the time to do our research, ask the hard questions, and say no when something doesn’t align with our values or standards. Not every decision will be perfect, but mistakes aren’t failures—they’re learning opportunities. They’ve helped us refine our focus and stay committed to what really matters: treatments backed by science, results that are natural, and a patient experience that feels personal and honest.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We’re always open to connecting with others who share our values. We’re passionate about women, women’s health, and supporting other women-owned or women-led businesses. We love collaborating with brands and professionals who align with our mission: to empower, educate, and uplift others through authentic connection.

We’re especially drawn to businesses that complement what we do, whether it’s through wellness, beauty, lifestyle, or health, and that believe in the power of collaboration over competition. We’ve hosted pop-ups, joint events, and community experiences that highlight each business and bring something meaningful to the people we serve. When we work together, everyone grows, and that’s what we’re all about.

If you’re reading this and feel like your business meshes with ours, we’d love to hear from you. You can connect with us through Instagram @theaestheticjourneyoc or send us a message through our website. We’re excited to keep building a community of strong, supportive women who lift each other up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aestheticjourneyoc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aestheticjourneyoc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aestheticjourneyoc

Image Credits

Photography by @makenzieraephotography and @megankayphoto_