Skin Ascension Day Spa

Rooted in faith

She studied the chemistry. Now she owns the formula.

Aaliyah, founder of Skin Ascension, smiling with her chin resting on her hand

Skin Ascension is a faith-rooted, Black woman–founded body care brand, formulated by a chemist and esthetician in Grand Rapids. We believe the women who understand the science should own the business, and the next generation should see the path.

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Our story

A beginning, a closed door, and a redirection.

  1. Rooted in faith

    Skin Ascension is rooted in faith, and built on Philippians 1:6: the confidence that God finishes what He starts. We believe caring for the body you were given is a way of honoring the One who made it.

    You won't find sermons on our labels. You'll find that faith in our collection names, in how we treat every customer, and in where a share of every sale goes.

  2. It began as a day spa

    Before there were jars and bottles, there was Skin Ascension Day Spa: a space for intentional, restorative care, led by Aaliyah as a licensed esthetician. The logo, the rose and rose gold, the name itself were all created for that spa.

    Day spa graphic: But first, skincare Day spa graphic defining ascension: the act of rising to an important position or higher level Day spa graphic: Face card never declines Day spa graphic defining skinvestment: investing time and money for healthy, supple skin Day spa graphic: We've got great chemistry Day spa graphic: Make every day a spa day

  3. A redirection, not an ending

    Then the season changed. What looked like an ending turned out to be a redirection: from caring for skin one appointment at a time to formulating the care itself, so it could reach people far beyond a single treatment room.

    Philippians 1:6 became the promise we held onto: what He began, He would finish. The chemistry degree that had been in the background moved to the front. Today every butter, oil, and room spray is formulated, bench-tested, and poured by hand in small batches, and the business is 100% founder-funded.

  4. Why “Day Spa” is still in our logo

    The Skin Ascension Day Spa logo

    We kept it on purpose. It's where we began, and we don't hide our beginnings; they're part of the testimony.

    It's also a promise. Every product is made to bring the day spa home: the slowed-down, cared-for feeling of a treatment room, in a ritual you can keep every day.

    We don't currently offer spa services. If that changes, you'll hear it here first.

Our rooted scripture

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”Philippians 1:6

From Saginaw to the formula sheet

Chemist & esthetician

Aaliyah smiling, wearing an initial A necklace

Aaliyah grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and earned her chemistry degree at Michigan State. She became a licensed esthetician because she wanted to understand skin from both sides: how the molecules behave, and how a person feels when someone takes care with them.

She builds Skin Ascension in the hours around a full-time career in health and safety management, with a simple goal: elevate your skin, and elevate the community around you.

  • ChemistryB.S., Michigan State University
  • SkinLicensed esthetician
  • HomeSaginaw roots, Grand Rapids based
  • Funding100% founder-funded

A lineage, not a first

Black women have been formulating, teaching, and building beauty businesses for more than a century. Skin Ascension stands in that line.

  1. 1910

    Madam C. J. Walker

    Entrepreneur

    Built a hair care company and a national network of sales agents, becoming one of the first self-made women millionaires in America, and gave generously to Black institutions.

  2. 1915

    Alice Ball

    Chemist

    Developed an injectable treatment from chaulmoogra oil for Hansen's disease that was used for decades. She was the first woman and first African American to earn a master's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi.

  3. 1918

    Annie Turnbo Malone

    Chemist and entrepreneur

    Drew on her study of chemistry to develop hair care products, then opened Poro College in St. Louis to train thousands of Black women in cosmetology and business.

  4. 1947

    Dr. Marie Maynard Daly

    Biochemist

    Became the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry, and went on to research how cholesterol affects the heart.

  5. 2026

    Skin Ascension

    Chemist, esthetician, founder

    A chemistry degree, a formula sheet, and a promise to hand the path forward to the students coming next.

Every product funds a young scientist

Giving back isn't a campaign here. It's written into the cost of every product, from the first batch.

A set amount from every body butter, body oil, and room spray goes to chemistry education for underserved middle schoolers, through our workshop, The Chemistry of Self-Care.

See the workshop

  1. You buy a jar or bottleThe give-back amount is built into the price, not added on top.
  2. It's set asideTracked as its own line item and held in a separate account, apart from business operations.
  3. It goes to the classroomLab kits, supplies, and workshop seats for students, delivered with community STEM partners.
  4. We report backTotals shared openly on this site and on the inserts in your order.

Built one step at a time

Small batches, tested in public, growing only as fast as the community asks us to.

  1. August 2026

    Founder Tasting

    An intimate first look at the collections at The Clique Space in Grand Rapids.

  2. October 2026

    First market

    Harvest & Harmony Market at RiverTown Crossings, October 24–25, with two limited editions.

  3. November 27, 2026

    Online launch

    The full collection available to order online.

  4. 2027

    West Michigan and wholesale

    Vendor markets across the region, boutique partners, and new formats like bar soaps and sugar scrubs.

  5. On the horizon

    A downtown home

    A Grand Rapids storefront with room for workshops, and local jobs to go with it.

83%

of guests at our Founder Tasting reserved a product before they left. That's the kind of trust we're building on.

Build it with us

A brand like this grows through people who open doors. Here's where you come in.

  • Stock Skin AscensionBoutiques, gift shops, and markets looking for handcrafted, founder-formulated body care for women and men.
  • Fund the missionSponsor workshop seats, recommend a grant, or connect us with a program for women founders.
  • Share the stageSpeaking, panels, and features on faith, Black women in STEM, and small business.
  • Follow the buildLaunch news and behind-the-scenes updates as the business grows.

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