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In this episode, Katarina Forster sits down with Jena Mehlberg, a seasoned beauty industry professional and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of hands-on experience.

Jena’s journey in beauty began early. Inspired by her mother, who owned a massage therapy business, she launched her own mobile beauty business at just 19 years old. Over the years, she grew that mobile venture into a successful brick-and-mortar salon, which she owned for eight years before selling it to pursue her next chapter in tech.

Having worked in nearly every role — employee, renter, salon owner, and employer — Jena brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to the conversation. With a degree in Business Management and a passion for blending beauty with business strategy, she has spent the past three years coaching beauty professionals across the country.

In 2024, Jena began building her own CRM platform designed specifically for the beauty industry, aiming to bridge the gap between beauty and technology. Her mission is to create tools that elevate the client experience while empowering beauty pros to grow, streamline, and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Beyond her work in salons and software, Jena has spoken at conferences nationwide, sharing her expertise on entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, diversity in beauty, and creating authentic client experiences. She uses her platform to advocate for greater representation industry-wide. Outside of work, she is a proud mom to her son, Hayden, who already mirrors her entrepreneurial drive and love of travel.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Building long-lasting client relationships
• The deeper emotional meaning behind beauty services
• Jena’s shift from service provider → educator → tech founder
• Client retention strategies that actually work
• How automation can support human connection
• The future of beauty with AI and emerging technology
• The importance of constant education and mindset work
• Creating emotional and transformative experiences for clients
• Navigating growth and adaptation in a fast-changing industry

This conversation is packed with insights for beauty professionals at every stage, whether you're behind the chair, educating, or building something new.

Connect With Jena

Salon Software: https://salonflow.io/home

Mastering Beauty Academy: https://www.catalystbeautygroup.com/mba

Instagram: @jenamehlberg
Facebook: Jena Mehlberg

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

In this episode of Unwritten Beauty Talks, host Katarina Forster sits down with Dr. Dave Stachura and Tiffany Underwood from Factor Five Skincare to explore the science behind growth factors, stem cells, exosomes, and clean beauty.They discuss Factor Five’s mission to create effective, clean skincare products without fillers or unnecessary additives, the science behind their formulations, and how their products address a wide range of skin concerns. The conversation also delves into how skincare treatments promote healing, collagen production, and client confidence, while highlighting the differences between stem cells, growth factors, and exosomes.

• Factor Five Skincare focuses on growth factors and stem cells to deliver effective skincare solutions.
• Their mission is to provide clean, additive-free products without compromising results.
• Understanding the differences between stem cells, growth factors, and exosomes is key for informed skincare decisions.
• Skincare treatments often involve controlled disruptions to promote healing, collagen production, and skin renewal.
• Factor Five products are designed for a wide range of skin types and concerns, including sensitive skin.
• Their eye and lash cream is highly effective and safe for daily use.
• Retinol can be safely included in skincare for sensitive skin when formulated correctly.
• Exosomes need to be stabilized for effective use in topical skincare products.

Dr. Dave Stachura – Chief Operations Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at Factor Five Skincare and SpecBio, Dr. Stachura leads the science behind all Factor Five formulations. He holds a BSc in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by postdoctoral training at UC San Diego. His career focuses on genetic control of adult stem cell biology using hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). Dr. Stachura has several patents, published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, contributed two book chapters, and edited an immunology textbook. He continues research in stem cells, immunology, exosomes, skincare, and wound healing and founded Philanthropic Pharma, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company aimed at discovering new treatments for human diseases.

Tiffany Underwood – Director of Education at Factor Five Skincare, Tiffany works closely with professional partners and brings a strong clinical perspective to the team. A licensed esthetician and founder of SkinCo, she blends biology, product formulation, and advanced esthetics to deliver results-driven treatments while empowering professionals to stay connected to their “why.” Inspired by her journey with cancer.

📸 Instagram: @_skin_co
📧 Contact: david@factorfiveskin.com

🔗 Connect with Factor Five Skincare:

🌐 Website: Factor Five Skincare
📸 Instagram: @factorfiveskin

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

In this engaging conversation, Tash Bennett, a seasoned skin therapist from Australia, shares her insights on skincare — particularly focusing on the differences between Australian and American practices. The discussion explores a wide range of topics including training regulations, popular treatments, the importance of consistency in skincare routines, and stress management for better skin health.

Tash emphasizes the importance of using high-quality products and supplements, while providing valuable, science-backed advice for maintaining youthful, resilient skin as we age. The episode concludes with a heartfelt reflection on authenticity, self-love, and the true meaning of beauty — reminding us that aging gracefully begins with balance and inner confidence.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Tash has been a skin therapist for nearly 30 years, inspired by her own acne journey.
• Australian skincare training is more rigorous and regulated compared to the U.S.
• Treatments like dermaplaning are less common in Australia due to differing philosophies.
• Overdoing treatments can damage the skin barrier and hinder long-term results.
• Consistency in skincare routines is key for healthy, glowing skin.
• Stress management plays a critical role in maintaining skin health.
• For mature skin, SPF, antioxidants, and retinol are essential.
• Injectables can have mixed outcomes and aren’t right for everyone.
• High-quality supplements, especially EFAs (essential fatty acids), support skin from within.
• True beauty is about authenticity, confidence, and self-love, evolving beautifully with age.

🌿 About Tash Bennett

Tash Bennett is the founder and lead skin therapist behind Skin & Body Lounge by Natasha in Brisbane, Australia. With nearly three decades of experience, she’s a self-confessed skincare junkie with a passion for skin health, holistic wellness, and helping clients feel confident in their natural beauty.

Tash specializes in skin needling and sculpting lymphatic facial massage, blending clinical expertise with holistic techniques to achieve real, lasting results. Her approach combines science, intuition, and a deep respect for the skin’s natural rhythms — creating a space where education and self-care meet.

🔗 Connect with Tash Bennett

🌐 Website: www.skinandbodylounge.com.au

📸 Instagram: @skinandbodyloungebynatasha

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

In this episode of Unwritten Beauty Talks, Katarina Forster sits down with Arielle Moody, the founder of Mama Sol, a clean skincare brand redefining mineral sunscreen for modern women and mothers. Arielle shares her inspiring journey from beauty industry expert to brand founder, opening up about how pregnancy sparked her mission to create non-toxic, luxurious sunscreens safe for both moms and families.

The conversation dives deep into product development, ingredient transparency, and the truth about sunscreen misconceptions — while also exploring Arielle’s spiritual side, from her experiences with manifestation to how a psychic reading affirmed her entrepreneurial path. Arielle emphasizes the importance of trusting your intuition, building a supportive team, and prioritizing self-care while balancing business and motherhood.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Arielle’s journey began with a mission to create safe, non-toxic skincare for her family.
• Pregnancy inspired her to rethink ingredients and demand cleaner beauty standards.
• Manifestation played a powerful role in her success, validated by her psychic reading.
• She highlights the importance of making sunscreen luxurious, effective, and enjoyable to use.
• Common misconceptions include relying solely on tinted moisturizers for SPF protection.
• Zinc oxide remains the gold standard for broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
• Building a strong, supportive team is key to sustainable entrepreneurship.
• Trusting your intuition and timing can open unexpected doors.
• Self-care rituals like meditation and movement help maintain balance and clarity.
• True beauty is about alignment, surrender, and joy, not perfection.

🌞 About Arielle Moody

Arielle Moody is a mother, beauty industry veteran, and the founder of Mama Sol, a mineral sunscreen brand created with safety, efficacy, and self-love in mind.

While pregnant with her first child, Arielle was shocked by how many toxic ingredients were hidden in everyday skincare. After testing countless natural sunscreens that left white residue or heavy textures, she set out to create one that felt lightweight, clean, and luxurious — something she’d actually look forward to applying daily.

Before launching Mama Sol, Arielle spent years shaping the beauty industry as a sales trainer for brands like Smashbox, Dr. Perricone, and Bite Beauty, later becoming Head of Product Development for Skinn Cosmetics and Head of Sales for a leading cosmetics formulation company.

📚 Book Recommendations from Arielle

1. Infinite Possibilities – Mike Dooley
2. Conversations with God – Neale Donald Walsch (not religious)
3. Journey of Souls – Michael Newton
4. Becoming Supernatural – Dr. Joe Dispenza
5. Ask and It Is Given – Esther & Abraham Hicks

🔗 Connect with Arielle & Mama Sol

🌐 Mama Sol Website
(if available – optional to add)
📸 Instagram:

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

In this episode of Unwritten Beauty Talks, Katarina Forster sits down with Megan McCue, a medical speech-language pathologist and author who bravely shares her personal experience with Botox and the serious side effects she faced.

Megan opens up about developing iatrogenic botulism after receiving a small dose of Xeomin and how that experience led her to advocate for informed consent, transparency, and patient education around botulinum toxin injections. Together, Katarina and Megan explore the medical community’s response to toxin-related symptoms, the importance of understanding neurotoxins, and how patients can make safer, more informed decisions. The episode also touches on holistic alternatives to Botox, redefining beauty beyond aesthetics, and embracing confidence and wellness from the inside out.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Megan shares her personal journey with Botox and its long-term side effects.
• The medical community often overlooks or dismisses toxin-related symptoms.
• Botulinum toxin can spread beyond injection sites, causing neurological issues.
• Informed consent is essential before any neurotoxin procedure.
• Many individuals experience lingering health impacts after Botox injections.
• Education around Botox safety and side effects is still limited.
• There are effective holistic and non-toxic alternatives to support graceful aging.
• Open, honest communication between patients and injectors promotes safety.
• Awareness of neurotoxin risks is growing within both the beauty and medical fields.
• True beauty is defined by confidence, kindness, and inner health — not perfection.

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Website: www.iatrogenicbotulism.com

📚 Author Page: Megan McCue on Amazon

📸 Instagram: @botoxtruths

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

Summary

In this episode, Katarina Forster shares a personal update about her life, reflecting on her journey of growth, healing, and the challenges she has faced. She discusses her plans for a new business venture, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive community and prioritizing health and wellness. Katarina expresses gratitude for her audience and outlines her future plans for engagement and content creation.

Grow Therapy and Yoga have been my healers during this journey.

Just my little note for you if you are going through anything at all, I am sending you the biggest hug and praying for you or putting out into the universe that you heal and you find your purpose and what you were made and put on this planet to do that in some way shape perform your goal. Your dream helps and supports other others, and it makes you feel fulfilled and loved because you are worth it.

YOU ARE LOVED XOXO Katarina

Books:

worthy jamie kern lima

Light is the new Black

The body keeps score

Hurt People hurt people

The audacity queen

profit first

teamwork book by natalie dawson

I did read all of Crescent city I love it lol

Keep checking my website and IG for updates!!! XOXO love you all I couldn't do it without you!!!

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

Summary:
In this solo episode, Master Aesthetician Katarina Forster breaks down the difference between truly sensitive skin and what she calls sassy or reactive skin. She explains why so many people mislabel their skin, when in reality, they’re dealing with a compromised skin barrier — something that can be trained and strengthened over time, just like a muscle.

Katarina shares practical strategies for helping reactive skin become more resilient, from gentle skincare swaps to impactful lifestyle adjustments. She emphasizes that it’s not about selling a 10-step routine, but about small, sustainable changes that protect and repair the barrier.

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between sensitive, reactive, and compromised skin.
• Why your skin barrier is like a muscle — and how to “train” it to become stronger.
• Everyday habits that harm the skin (think: super-hot showers, skipping post-workout cleansing).
• The power of hypochlorous acid spray (including a story from one of her hot yoga instructor clients).
• Ingredients in skincare and makeup to avoid — especially fragrance and comedogenic culprits.
• How diet and lifestyle affect skin sensitivity: artificial sweeteners, additives, and why omega-3s support balanced oil production and proper cell turnover.
• Why repairing skin takes patience, and how building confidence in your skin is a gradual journey.

Resources & Links

• Mixi Mist (Your Honest Glow) — a fragrance-free hypochlorous acid mist that helps calm, protect, and repair reactive or compromised skin. Shop Mixi Mist here
  
  
• Clearer Skin Recommendations — a curated collection of my trusted product picks for building stronger, healthier skin. Explore the collection here

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.

Send us a text

In this episode, Katarina Forster dives into the top skincare treatments trending this fall, focusing on boosting collagen and achieving a radiant glow before the holiday season. She shares practical at-home tips and advanced skincare solutions including microcurrent devices, red light therapy, dry brushing, and retinol, while also covering professional treatments like chemical peels and microneedling. You’ll learn how to prepare your skin properly, which products actually deliver results, and how consistency makes all the difference for long-term skin health.

Takeaways

• Focus on collagen production as we head into the holidays
• Microcurrent devices help lift and tone facial muscles (Pure Lift
  – use code KATARINA10 for 10% off)
• Red light therapy is effective for acne + anti-aging (Lummox $260 off
  | Shop curated red light devices
  )
• Sleeping on your back helps prevent fine lines & creasing (Shop my picks
  )
• Dry brushing promotes lymphatic drainage & exfoliation (Curated favorites
  )
• Retinol is essential for skin cell turnover
• Chemical peels improve skin texture & tone (SkinBetter Pro Orders
  )
• Collagen-boosting treatments should be done consistently
• Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis
• Prep your skin properly to enhance treatment results
• Consistency = long-term glowing skin

Shop + Resources Mentioned

• Pure Lift Microcurrent Device – Shop here
  (Code: KATARINA10)
• Red Light Therapy – Shop curated devices
  | Lummox $260 off
  
  
• Sleeping on Your Back Tools – Shop here
  
  
• Dry Brushing Favorites – Shop here
  
  
• Volume Cream – Your Honest Glow
  
  
• SkinBetter Professional Orders – Order here
  
  
• Factor Five (For Professionals) – Use code KATARINA20 for 20% off

Titles

• Fall Skincare Trends: Get Ready for the Holidays
• Achieve Glowing Skin with At-Home Treatments

Keywords
skincare, fall skincare trends, collagen production, anti-aging, at-home treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, skincare routine, glowing skin, beauty tips

📲 Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @your.master.aesthetician
• Jacksonville Florida Spa: @your.honest.glow
• Website: yourhonestglow.com (code UNWRITTEN for 10% off)
• Podcast: Unwritten Beauty Talks – available on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms
• If you are a professional and wanting to carry factor five skincare use code katarina20 for 20% off.