We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karina Grigoryeva. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karina below.
Karina, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
I came into skincare world into 2020. I’ve been always passionate about helping people and it’s one of the reasons I became a certified Face Reality acne expert to help those who struggle with acne condition or compromised skin.
There was a moment that shifted everything for me — a moment when skincare became more than just beauty and self-care and my role as an esthetician became something much deeper.
In 2022 I witnessed my ex-boyfriend being incarcerated and that changed the trajectory of my life.
Up until then, I had been passionate about skincare — yes — but I hadn’t fully realized the healing power it could have beyond the surface. That moment reminded me that care is a basic human need, and for many women who have been incarcerated, it’s something they’ve been deprived of — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
From that day forward, I committed not just to offering facials, but to creating a safe, affirming space where women could feel human again. I began working with organizations supporting women reentering society. Many were mothers trying to rebuild their lives, often judged harshly, often forgotten. I knew I could offer more than skincare — I could offer mentorship, care, and dignity.
The lesson?
You never know what someone is carrying. You never know how much one act of kindness — one hour of care — might mean. Sometimes the world gives you a career, but life gives you a calling. That moment helped me find mine.
After that, I couldn’t go back to just offering services — I started volunteering more, mentoring young mothers coming out of the system, teaching them not just skincare but how to feel worthy again. I built workshops on confidence, job readiness, and self-image, rooted in both beauty and healing. I even restructured my own business to include sliding scale sessions for women reentering society.
Karina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Karina Grigoryeva — a licensed esthetician, acne specialist, and the founder of SKIN Stories NYC, where skincare meets storytelling, healing, and transformation. My work is rooted in both science and soul — I help people reclaim their, regain their confidence, and often, parts of themselves they’ve forgotten.
My journey into skincare wasn’t just professional — it was personal. I struggled with acne and skin picking as a young adult. Like many others who struggled with skin conditions I left feeling ashamed of my skin. That struggle sparked a deep curiosity in me — not just about how skin works, but about how our skin holds emotional weight. The breakouts, the hyperpigmentation, the scars — they all told stories. And I wanted to help people to be seen and rewrite those stories.
That passion led me to train as a licensed esthetician, where I eventually specialized in acne-prone and sensitive skin. Through SKIN Stories NYC, I offer customized facial treatments, long-term skin coaching, and medical grade skincare products recommendations. I also emphasize education — helping clients understand what’s happening beneath the surface, so they can make informed choices for their skin and overall health.
But SKIN Stories NYC is about more than facials.
I’m also a youth mentor and a dedicated volunteer working with formerly incarcerated women and men — especially mothers — who are reentering society. Many of these people are rebuilding their lives from the ground up. For them, skincare is more than vanity — it’s a tool for restoration, self-respect, and re-identifying who they are beyond the system that tried to define them.
What sets me apart is the holistic approach I bring to my clients. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all routines or harsh, trendy treatments. I believe in compassion, consistency, and collective. Whether I’m helping a teenager manage cystic acne or supporting a mother reentering the workforce after incarceration, my goal is the same: to create a safe space for healing — through skin, through story, and through care.
I’m most proud of the trust my clients and mentees place in me. Many of them have never felt truly seen — either by professionals, by institutions, or even by themselves. When someone tells me, “This is the first time I’ve felt hopeful about my skin,” or “You helped me feel confident,” I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
To potential clients, collaborators, and community members:
SKIN Stories NYC isn’t just about skin. It’s about transformation. It’s about the belief that everyone — no matter their history, their trauma, or their current circumstances — deserves care, a right to have chances and fresh start. That’s the story I’m telling but if you’re reading this message it becomes OUR story.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My name is Karina Grigoryeva, and I’m the founder and CEO of SKIN Stories NYC. I’m a licensed esthetician, acne specialist, youth mentor, and proud immigrant woman who came to the United States 14 years ago from Saint-Petersburg, Russia with a suitcase, a dream, and no safety net like many other immigrants.
When I arrived in the U.S., I didn’t have a family here. No financial support. No built-in network. I had to build everything from the ground up — improving my English, navigating new societal systems I didn’t understand, taking whatever jobs I could to survive. It wasn’t easy. But those early struggles taught me something I carry into my business every day: resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of showing up — even when you’re fearful.
I don’t just treat skin — I treat the story behind it. I listen. I educate. I offer a safe, judgment-free space for anyone who has ever felt unseen, ashamed, or overwhelmed by their skin and their circumstances.
I’m proud that I built all of this from nothing. That I didn’t give up when the odds were against me. That SKIN Stories NYC has become a space of transformation — not just for my clients, but for me too.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
For me it’s emotional Intelligence and empathy. The field I’m in is always about people — their pain, their insecurities, their trauma and healing. Whether someone is struggling with acne or reentering society after incarceration, they need to feel seen without judgment. Being able to listen to their stories, to hold space without fixing, and to offer care that’s rooted in compassion — that’s the foundation of everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skinstoriesnyc.com
- Instagram: @skinstoriesnyc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-grigoryeva-59ba98296/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/skin-stories-nyc-new-york
Image Credits
Photographer: Gustavo Marmol for the photo in a pink blazer