Beatriz is a nurse, but her first contact with the beauty field came well before hospital work. In 2018, she began doing makeup at her mother's salon, amid the scent of cosmetics, lively conversations and mirrors full of hopeful reflections. It was there that something awakened inside her: a deep admiration for the transformation that aesthetics can bring about.
That world of brushes, colors and self-esteem captivated her. From then on, she knew she wanted to follow a path that combined caring for others with beauty – something that kept alive the lightness she felt there.
The desire to care beyond the hospital setting
Over time, the aesthetics specialty crossed her path naturally. Her experience as a nurse gave her a solid foundation, but she knew she wanted more. The hospital environment, while noble, was also heavy. Seeing patients' constant suffering, dealing with difficult diagnoses and being surrounded by anguish took an emotional toll on her.
She wanted to care, yes – but she also wanted to see smiles, to be part of lighter stories, of self-esteem being reborn.
That desire intensified when she realized she was not alone in the dream. Her best friend, with whom she had always shared confidences and projects, also wanted to move into aesthetics. Together, they decided to pursue an excellent education and found in Nepuga the ideal place for this new stage. They joined forces, courage and goals and set off on a transformative journey.
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Beatriz's routine is not easy. She works a 24×72 hospital schedule (24 hours on, 72 off), and in the breaks between shifts she uses every free moment to stay involved with beauty.
She still works as a makeup artist at a beauty salon and, when she has time left, gives facials to family members. Her pace is intense, but she is driven by passion. She doesn't allow herself to stop, because she knows she is building something bigger.
“People arrive sad and insecure, but leave happy, transformed”
The transition to the aesthetics specialty has been, for her, more than a career change – it is a reunion with her essence. When she talks about the hands-on classes at Nepuga, her eyes light up. “Being in an environment with many specialists lets me exchange experiences I could never have on my own,”she says enthusiastically. For Beatriz, each class is an opportunity for growth, not only technical but also human.
What delights her most about aesthetics is the emotional impact it has on people. Used to seeing patients arrive fragile and ill at the hospital, she was surprised by the difference in the aesthetics setting. “Here, we treat well-being, the mind, beauty. People arrive sad and insecure, but leave happy, transformed. And that is very rewarding for the person on the other side, too.”
Aesthetics goes far beyond vanity
Beatriz believes aesthetics goes far beyond vanity. For her, it is an extension of care – a way to promote emotional health and self-confidence. She already experiences this in practice, even in simple services like a makeup session or a facial. “When the client looks in the mirror and smiles, we know we're on the right track,”she says with conviction.
With her determined and welcoming way, Beatriz has become an enthusiastic advocate for the field. Whenever she can, she encourages others to discover the world of aesthetics. “Come. The environment here is different, light, human. It's a field that gives you health too, that brings joy to the one who cares and the one being cared for.”
Despite the rush between shifts, makeup appointments and studying, she doesn't complain. On the contrary, she feels more alive than ever. She is walking a path that makes sense for her soul: caring for people in a holistic way, promoting not only healing but also beauty, self-esteem and well-being.
For the future, Beatriz dreams of combining everything she has learned in nursing with the aesthetics specialty. She wants to offer complete care, where the clinical eye and the aesthetic touch go hand in hand. She wants to open doors, impact lives and keep evolving, always with the same love she felt back then, among makeup and mirrors in her mother's salon.
And so, with dedication, empathy and courage, Beatriz is redrawing her professional path – and also transforming the lives of those who pass through her hands.
Mariana Lucera
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
