Hello and welcome, My name is Maggie Sunshine Wallace, and I’d love to share a little about my journey.

Certificates:

I hold a degree in Anthropology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, with minors in Art History, Fine Art, and Archaeology, along with a certificate in Esthetics from the Aveda Institute of Minneapolis. I’ve been a licensed Esthetician for over a decade, with experience ranging from dermatology clinics to working with a wide variety of professional skincare lines.

Journey:

My journey after school led me to working in a wide variety of settings. I began in a spa that was membership based, where I was doing 8 facials a day. Although this was a lot of facials, it was also like having an intense school-after school in the real world. I was here for a year, when I was lucky enough to get a job at a high end spa in Minneapolis, in an old house that had been completely restored. I worked here for 2 years, until I decided it was time to return back home to Lincoln, Nebraska to open my own practice. This old house that I worked in would set the stage for the setting I would desire for the rest of my career. Getting treated and healing in an old house that has a whole history before being a business, with kids growing up there and meals being cooked, that life seeps into the walls and creates a warm and inviting place, making it feel like going home after a long day.

The problem with starting your own business on a low budget is something many small business owners might understand: where do you rent a room at? Many places are happy to charge you an arm and a leg before you have a steady clientele. So I began to ask around about different places I could rent, considering getting a second job to pay for all the expenses (a risk I was ready to take). It was during this time of planning what to do, that I found the Sage House. The Sage House was a gorgeous old house that was owned by Alene, someone who would become a dear friend. One day I had heard that a room might be for rent in this community driven place, at a price I could afford, and I couldn’t land there fast enough. The room was beautiful, with original wood floors and huge windows. It was a dream come true. While I stated my practice there I also worked full-time at Sutton Dermatology, which I would consider intense medical grade aesthetic and dermatology related aesthetic training. I shadowed the dermatologists and aestheticians there for 6 months, seeing everything from mole removal to laser treatments to botox and filler injections. I learned a lot, and felt more well rounded having come from such a holistic background. I was only there for 6 months however, before I was ready to fully commit to being a full-time business owner.

I spent many years in the upstairs of Sage House, and honestly I probably would have stayed there forever. Until one night on one of the coldest days of the year, a fire broke out and burned the entire house to the ground. I, and many other business owners lost everything that night, and on top of that my dad was going through very serious health issues. It was hard, but the community showed up for me and I will forever be grateful for that. I took a few months off to recuperate (my dad got better too!), and I found a room for rent downtown. I spent 3 years downtown, adjusting to the faster pace of swiping parking spots while they were open, and adjusting my music to drown out the group therapy bikes, but I was also ready to find my long term landing pad again. I knew now what I desired, a room in an old house. A house that held memories of a family at one point, with windows and life. A house with a garden and color, a place that felt like home when people walked in, and not so clinical.

In comes Bella Spa, the space I am in now. Bella is a spa owned by two holistic and grounded women in an old house with a garden teeming with wildlife. A place I had been praying for after Sage burned down, and a place that is seeming to be more and more rare. That is where I am today.

Philosophy:

Many modern products disrupt that balance, relying heavily on fillers, preservatives, and harsh actives that can keep skin in a cycle of irritation. This is why it is deeply important to me to create my own fresh, in-house treatments. I handcraft masks, serums, and botanical distillates using organic, non-GMO, plant-based ingredients. Whenever possible, I highlight native Nebraska herbs and work with locally sourced plants and herbalists. There is something powerful about using ingredients that grow in the same environment we live in, ingredients that are fresh, active, and connected to the land around us. Each mask is made with intention, often in small batches, to preserve the vitality of the plants and ensure your skin is receiving ingredients in their most effective form. This approach allows me to move away from overly processed skincare and toward something more alive, supportive, and in tune with the skin’s natural function. At Sunshine Esthetics, my goal is simple: to help you feel confident and at home in your skin. I welcome all skin types and conditions, and every treatment is designed to restore balance, support your skin barrier, and highlight your natural beauty.