Meet The Staff
Erica McDowell, Owner of SKYN Lounge®, has been in the skincare industry for 20 years. She is a licensed aesthetician and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Louisville. She is a member of the Younger Women’s Club of Louisville and Greater Louisville Outstanding Women. She has written numerous articles and has been featured in The Courier Journal, The Voice Tribune, nFocus Magazine, Today’s Woman Magazine, Kentucky Monthly, Her Scene Magazine, Skin INC., and Kentucky Healthy Woman.
Erin W., Spa Director – Erin joined SKYN Lounge as the Spa Director in April 2021. Originally pursuing a career in nursing, she discovered her passion was with aesthetics. Erin brings more than 10 years of experience in the cosmetics/skincare industry and five years of clinical spa management. A desire to help clients achieve healthier skin with more effective products is part of what lead her to SKYN Lounge. For her, she says having even the tiniest role in helping others find beauty where they thought they were lacking or where they couldn't see it is fulfilling and why she loves her job!
Melanie B., Lead Aesthetician – Melanie is a licensed aesthetician and joined SKYN Lounge in 2018. After nearly 10 years in the cosmetics industry, she transitioned to aesthetic skincare. Melanie was accepted into the founding SkinCeuticals Ambassador and Master Aesthetician Program for Summer 2020. She’s passionate about product ingredients and how they work, so she can help clients look and feel their best! While Melanie loves all of the services that SKYN Lounge offers, she has her favorites. She enjoys dermaplaning because of the instant gratification while there are corrective benefits with having a chemical peel. Getting to be part of a person’s skincare journey, helping them achieve and maintain ideal skin health is why Melanie loves what she does everyday.
Kim M., Licensed Aesthetician - Kim joined SKYN Lounge in 2018 as a licensed aesthetician. Graduating with honors from PJ’s College of Cosmetology in Louisville in 2017, Kim made it her mission to find a clinical spa that carried the best medical grade products, had a reputation of excellence in customer service that specialized in the areas that became her desire in school – treating mature skin and skin conditions, while also providing the opportunities for continued education. She finally found that balance with SKYN Lounge in 2018. Recognized as a leading aesthetician in the industry, Kim was accepted into the founding SkinCeuticals Ambassador and Master Aesthetician Program. Kim is extremely passionate about her client relationships. She understands that they have entrusted her to develop a synergetic plan of treatments and home care to achieve the skin they feel confident in and love!
Emily F., Licensed Aesthetician Emily earned her Bachelors of Arts in Business Management then started her career in aesthetics. She has always had a huge passion for skincare. She loves making her clients feel confident and beautiful in their skin! Her favorite services to perform are facials, dermaplaning, and brow and lash lift/tinting!
Caitlin R., Licensed Aesthetician - Caitlin has been a licensed aesthetician since 2019. Her love of skincare, beauty, and attention to detail are what motivated her to choose a career with aesthetics. Caitlin believes prevention is key for optimal skincare health. She enjoys focusing on anti-aging and brightening treatments, but is trained in a wide variety of services. Facials, dermaplaning, and lash lifts/ tints top her list of favorites. Caitlin is an avid ZO Skin Health user and can’t live without the Growth Factor Serum!
Michael Hughes, MD - Dr. Hughes was born in Columbus, OH and grew up in Annapolis, MD. He went to college and medical school at Wake Forest University. He trained in surgery at the University of Virginia and then transplant surgery at the University of Minnesota. He came to Louisville in 2010 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Louisville and was promoted to Associate Professor. He co-founded Koligo Therapeutics, which has been acquired by Orgenesis (ORGS on NASDAQ). He then left UofL in 2019 to create Vanguard Surgical, where he cares for and performs surgery on patients from all over the region with gastroparesis and chronic pancreatitis.