Erica Choi

“Beauty is the realization of inner strength and I believe in using this power to empower others.”

Please briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Erica Choi, and I am the founder of SUPEREGG and a NY-licensed esthetician. My career has mainly revolved around art direction and digital design for luxury brands in the fashion, beauty, and hospitality industries the past 10+ years, and I am excited to introduce to you this wonderful new world I am building. I’ve always believed maintaining healthy balanced skin is a connector to a larger holistic sense of well-being, and I am elated to build a community where we can share and have these kinds of conversations.

What is a typical day for you like?

My days the past few months have been vastly different from those when I held a full-time position at a corporate company. I now enjoy the flexibility of working on my own terms; however, the only downside is that the workday never really ends. So I’m extremely blessed to be doing what I love doing every day. I like to believe juggling creative projects for Egg Canvas with my full-time job in the past has trained me for the entrepreneur life. To avoid burnout (even though it’s inevitable at times!), I set my own boundaries when I’m going to take time out of the day for myself. Usually, it’s close to bedtime when I make myself a cup of herbal tea, do some reading, and perform my skincare routine.

“Beauty is about being comfortable, happy, and mindful in one’s everyday decisions. I am always striving to be a better version of myself, however accepting and loving myself for just the way I am is also important.”

How has your background and experience shaped the person you are today? 

I was born in Busan, S.Korea, and came to the States when I was two. I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey and lived in Rhode Island while I went to RISD. I then moved to New York upon graduation and have now lived here for 12 years. My education and career path have been pretty linear as I had clear set goals, however, it has never been so in terms of my emotional and mental health. Through several occurrences of bullying and difficult life encounters, it’s brought me the strength and ambitions to where I am today.

Does balance play a role in your life?

Life is about the gentle harmony of balance, whether it be the big things or little things, good things or bad things. It applies to all things in life and how maintaining good balance leads to a holistic sense of wellbeing. I have a notebook that has the blurb, “Know your own happiness” on the cover. It has taken some time for me to realize that it is impossible to please everyone, do everything, and be everywhere at all times. Being kind to myself allows me to be kind to others. Just as if you should treat others as you want to be treated, it’s important to treat yourself as you would treat others as well.

What are some tips on maintaining balance and taking care of your well-being?

Looking at the big picture, then addressing it by looking at the small picture/s. Taking it day by day, even hour by hour or minute by minute, if necessary. Being stretched too thin often takes a toll on my mental capacity and even if I want to be an ambitious, hard-working person, sometimes I need to believe in the power of saying no. It is now about being wiser in how we use our time and energy.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is about being comfortable, happy, and mindful in one’s everyday decisions. I am always striving to be a better version of myself, however accepting and loving myself for just the way I am is also important. Beauty is the realization of inner strength and I believe in using this power to empower others. As an introvert and empath, I believe beauty to be in quiet strength and in the power of being a good listener.

How has your perception of beauty evolved over the years?

After a series of unfortunate events that took a toll on my self-confidence in my childhood, it has been a long journey to recovery in adulthood. In my 30s, I am finally finding my place and learning to love myself for me. Regardless of the beauty in one’s outer appearance, it is about the way one carries oneself, the charisma and kindness one exudes, and the way one makes others feel. This kind of beauty, respect, and wholesomeness comes from deep inside. 

Are there any beauty tips from your culture that you can share?

I’ve always admired Korea’s skin-first philosophy of taking care of skin before it needs to be treated. Instead of trying to solve skin issues or reverse aging after sun damage or irritation, Korean culture cares for it in a gentle, consistent way so we can keep it as healthy as possible. 

What are your beauty and wellness rituals?

My beauty rituals mark the beginning of each day and the end of each day. It allows me to reconnect with myself. As soon as I wake up, I wash my face and apply my skincare. If I have time, I like to apply a sheet mask and/or massage my face with ice globes. At the end of the day, I use my ZIIP or NuFace for a microcurrent treatment a few times a week. I drink a few cups of tea throughout the day, starting with black or green tea since it has caffeine, and transitioning to herbal tea in the evening. I love to light candles. I try to stretch and do a session or two of yoga a week especially since I spend so much time on the computer. But most of all, I try to listen to my body, see what my skin needs, and help nourish to the best of my ability.

What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?

To use sunscreen every single day. Whether indoors or outdoors, sun or rain, a generous amount should be applied. Cleansing, especially at night, is very important. I also pat my face dry instead of rubbing it with a towel. These are all easy ways you can prevent premature aging in the long run.

 What are you reading or listening to that has made a lasting impression on you lately?

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas have educated me immensely in regards to racial and economic injustices in our country. Atomic Habits by James Clear has taught me how small changes can help me to get one percent better every day. Eat A Peach by David Chang is a memoir about growing up in an immigrant family and the journey as well as struggles of dealing with mental health, which I empathize with very much. Second Life by Hillary Kerr and How I Built This with Guy Raz by NPR are podcasts that also continue to inspire me daily.

What are some conscious decisions we can make to help the environment and our planet?

Being more intentional in our daily actions will allow us to be more consciously responsible in terms of our consumption. Some examples are being mindful of recycling, using reusable items when possible, and being more mindful of the choices we make when purchasing needs and wants.

What is your personal or professional mission?

As an entrepreneur and esthetician, I want to touch people’s lives (figuratively and literally) and bring joy to those around me. I want to challenge myself, work to my fullest potential, and see the positive effects of working towards the greater good.

What does being a Good Egg mean to you?

Being a good egg means to be genuinely kind through actions and words. With the ability to see the beauty in the world and humankind, good eggs work towards cultivating gratitude, sharing empathy, and being mindful in how we live our everyday lives.

Make a wish for your future self.

I wish that I am happy, curious, and still learning. I hope that I am thankful for all that I have and the journeys I have gone through to be where I am today. I hope to see the beauty in the everyday and still believe each new day is an opportunity to reset and start anew.

 Follow Erica’s journey at @eggcanvas.