The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sarah Woods is opening her new business, Roam Natural Skincare, in Sisters.

Woods, born and raised in Eugene, vacationed with her family to Sisters and fell in love with the area.

“It was always a ritual for my family to come over and vacation and we love the area,” said Woods.

Woods, her husband and two kids made the move in November to Central Oregon, currently living in Bend.

Woods began her career as an esthetician while she was in college at the University of Oregon in Eugene. She was studying interior design at the time, but was feeling the need for something new and different, yet creative. She began working on the front desk at the Aveda salon in Eugene, where she was able to learn the tools of the trade.

“It was a really well-rounded salon experience; I got to know every part of how it worked it was a start-to-finish training in a salon,” she said.

Woods also attended cosmetology school in Springfield to become licensed as an esthetician, doing all things from facials and waxing to natural nail manicures. She was then hired at Aveda as an esthetician and nail tech and worked there for 14 years.

“Back when I was working there, I really learned the foundational ingredients of products and had to mix the ingredients myself, it didn’t come pre-packaged where you squeeze it out and use it, we mixed the ingredients for facials,” she said.

Woods worked with herbs, oils, clays and a variety of other elements to create the products for facials.

“It was helpful to know the rules of it all first and then build up the skills over time,” she said.

One of the reasons Woods found being an esthetician so appealing, and why she stuck with it, is the creative aspect of the work and not doing the same work every day.

“I never do the same thing every day and it gives me a chance to meet people and take care of them and every service is different,” she said.

This type of field also allowed her to understand the sourcing of a product better and gain the education behind a brand and where it comes from.

“A common buzz word in the skincare industry right now is ‘green beauty’ and these ‘indie’ beauty brands that source environmentally friendly and from all-natural ingredients, I especially see that in Central Oregon,” she said. “I lead my practice with an ayurvedic approach to treating the skin and body through education and the latest plant-based science and technical modalities.”

Woods decided to open up her own business in Sisters because she’s always had a connection to the community and she felt as if now was the time in her career to fly on her own. “I’ve been in the treatment room for 16 years and once you do something for so long you have confidence in what you do and my ultimate goal is to have a high level of professionalism and quality of service that sets me apart,” she said. “The Aveda salon really provided culture training in this industry and groomed me to do this.”

Woods came from her job in Eugene and worked for a while in Bend, and then decided to embark on finding a space in Sisters for her own business.

“Sisters felt like the right place to be and the building is what I look for — a mixture of old and new style. I really wanted to create a space for people to come and take care of themselves,” she said.

Roam Natural Skincare is located in the downstairs corner complex of the brick building located at 392 E. Main Ave.

“I think Sisters is ready for a place like this and I hope to bring what more of the community is looking for locally,” she said.

Roam Natural Skincare will offer facials, sugaring, waxing, tinting, natural nail manicure and pedicures —all services which Woods is licensed in.

“Over recent years I have really focused on skin and facials and will be bringing in an herbal tea blend for facials and steams as well,” she said.

Roam will also carry lines of various products including a natural skincare and makeup line, and lifestyle items such as candles and bath bombs.

Woods is currently accepting new clients with the opening of her new business and will have procedures in place for each visit in regards to COVID-19 safety precautions.

Roam Skincare will host a grand opening event on July 2 from noon to 5 p.m., where Woods will have a raffle for a free service and will be giving away a gift basket of products.

For more information visit www.roamnaturalskincare.com.