Written by: Samantha Campanale

When people talk of beauty, certain things come to mind - makeup, hair colour, or designer outfits - limiting the concept of beauty to something superficial. Nadia Lam, the founder and head esthetician at Tamara Lee Beauty, however, disagrees with that notion by saying that “It’s not about the outer beauty that counts, but how beautiful you are on the inside that makes your true beauty shine.”

I had the honour of sitting down with Nadia at Kaspace in Leslieville to uncover her story about how she has become one of the best beauty clinics in the East end in just two years. Located on Pape Ave in Riverdale, Tamara Lee Beauty, previously known at Nadia Tamara Lee Cosmetics, built her 5 star reputation and large client base purely off of repeat and referrals.

HER STORY

It was hard to tell whether it was the floor to ceiling windows in the cafe or her intense passion when she spoke combined with her flawlessly glowing skin that was making Nadia beam with light. Whatever it was, I spent over an hour absolutely captivated by her knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the skin and her excitement to educate me on all that she knows. With over 19 years of experience in the industry, it would be nearly impossible for me to take it all in... but I listened closely, transfixed.

In the early stages of her career working as a makeup artist for high-end brands like MAC cosmetics and Lise Watier, Lam quickly discovered that healing impurities from the inside rather than covering them up on the outside is what resonated with her most. Lam’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to open up her own business at Bloor and Avenue renting a room in a medical clinic. After her clientele began to grow, she decided to move to a larger location in the East End so that she could expand her business and do more for people.

“Your skin is your biggest organ and it acts as a messenger. Whatever is going on inside, shows up on your skin last,” Lam explains as we sip on Kaspace’s delicious signature lychee cactus pear juice. Whether it be acne, rashes, dryness or oily skin, your body is trying to tell you something.

THE TREATMENTS

With a background in ayurvedic medicine, Lam’s holistic beauty boutique has based its philosophy around healing naturally for every individual mind, body and soul. Each tailored treatment plan is created based on an understanding of their diet, lifestyle, ethnicity and skin type, ‘Dosha’ body constitutions, habits, stress levels, and more. During every session, Lam and her team incorporate massage, facial yoga, and meditation to relax and open up the skin to allow oxygen to enter and toxins to release for optimal results.

“Just like how you exercise, massage, and practice yoga for your body, it’s important to not forget about your face. Movement and massage impart a lot of oxygen into your skin, drains your lymph nodes, and tones the muscles, which in turn, helps with aging and combating other unwanted impurities” says Lam. With a full team of specialists at her clinic, they are able to provide a tailor-fit solution to each individual’s needs, reaping far superior results than regular regimens. After every session with a client, it is mandatory that they conclude with a quick overview of their progress and any recommendations moving forward. Educating her clients so they go home with a better understanding of their skin is essential to the success of the treatment.

THE PRODUCTS + SERVICES

At Tamara Lee Beauty, Lam’s mission is to remove the narrative that taking care of your skin is a luxury. “Your skin is your biggest organ,” she laughs. “People of any age, any gender, any race, need to take care of their skin.”

Lam has constructed her business through an all natural and holistic approach. Every single ingredient she uses on her clients has been carefully considered and serves a purpose. Venturing into creating her own skincare line, Lam has developed her own scrubs, toners, serums, treatment oils, and lip balm and sells them in-store or online. Each and every one has been tested on herself first and then put through an extensive case study with people of all different skin types. Her products help with hyperpigmentation, fine lines, acne, scarring and more.

If you check out her website you will find all natural makeup, isotonix supplements and a wide variety of services ranging from skincare treatments and masterclasses to cosmetic maintenance and wellness practices. She has it all!

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Working on opening up a second location on Kingston Road, Lam’s plans for the future sounds exactly like what this world needs… a one-stop shop for holistic healing, education, relaxation, and organic groceries. Think, St.Anne’s spa meets a fitness facility for your mind, body and soul.

As we take our last bites of our mouthwatering brunch, Lam leaves me with one last profound statement, “My goal is to bring out total health awareness, and harmony… to not only my clients but myself and my staff, as well. Because everything starts with you and ripples outwards.”

COVID-19 Update:
With her physical clinic at Pape + Danforth temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, Tamara Lee Beauty is offering online wellness consultations and a plethora of amazing beauty, skincare + wellness products, now 20% off online until April 15th. ⁠Shop Tamara Lee Beauty online here.

Tamara Lee Beauty: Where wellness meets beauty

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