Megan Niño | Episode 013
Glow Up Secrets: Wellness Rituals, Skincare Hacks, and Life on a School Bus with Megan Niño
Glow Up Secrets on Wheels: Wellness, Skincare, and Schoolie Life with Megan Niño
Sanctuary in Simplicity: Megan Niño’s Holistic Path
On episode 13 of The Dean’s List, host Alison Dean sits down with Megan Niño—known online as Beauty Loves Nature—to uncover the mindful practices behind her thriving facial business, Sacred Facials. Far more than a studio owner, Megan is a devoted practitioner of holistic beauty who embodies her values in every dimension of her life—even down to where and how she lives. Her journey from LA eco-makeup artist to Idaho-based sacred facialist is packed with insight for anyone seeking a more grounded, glowing existence.
Discovering a Calling: Healer Roots and Holistic Aesthetics
Megan’s passion for holistic skincare is rooted in her family’s lineage—her mother, an herbalist, has handcrafted organic products for decades. After stints in LA and San Francisco’s vibrant beauty scenes, working for Laurel Skin as a holistic esthetician in 2015 marked a turning point. “I didn’t know I was a lightworker or a healer until I started working there,” Megan reflects.
Her education is ongoing and immersive. Certified in Dr. Vodder’s manual lymphatic drainage and trained in gua sha, Megan’s craft is a living, evolving practice. Mentors and journeys—to places like Greece, Costa Rica, and Arizona’s Esalen and Tassajara—spark new rituals, from herbal poultices to fascia release. “Perfecting the craft means practicing it over and over until it’s perfect,” she says.
Defining Wellness Beyond Skin
For Megan, wellness is “a lifestyle” anchored in minimalism and potency. Her personal self-care is refreshingly simple—“three to four products a day max,” focusing on organic, raw, whole-plant ingredients. This pared-back approach extends to daily rituals: nourishing food, supplements, physical activity, a touch of biohacking, and, unexpectedly, plenty of tree hugging and time grounding barefoot outdoors.
Ritual, Megan suggests, is the key to cultivating balance—whether starting the morning with a positive affirmation, or processing life’s unpredictability through daily self-care and mindfulness. “I’ve simplified my life so much,” she shares, “and I’m very happy with what I’ve created.”
Living on a School Bus: The Tiny Home Transformation
A standout thread in Megan’s story is her choice to live, with her husband Leo and two cats, in a self-converted school bus. Far from a social media fantasy, bus life involved real grit—raising the roof, doing hard labor, and stripping life down to essentials. The payoff? “It’s created more space for me to practice stillness, meditate, and listen for answers,” Megan says. Both materially and emotionally, the move has “lightened the load.”
As Megan and Alison reflect, shedding “stuff” is as freeing for the soul as it is for living space—allowing for more meaning, connection, and presence.
Balancing Entrepreneurship with Self-Care
Running a service-based business can be all-consuming, especially when starting over in a new state post-pandemic. Megan credits “consistency, will, and self-trust” for her ability to grow again from scratch. She underscores the importance of rituals—not as rigid routines, but as flexible touchstones that fuel her work for others.
“Be disciplined, but not strict,” she advises. Rituals nourish the entrepreneur as much as the business, and every challenge—whether a difficult client or new feedback—offers a learning opportunity.
Embodying Healing: The Sacred Facial Experience
Sacred Facials isn’t just a skincare studio—it’s a haven where Megan blends intuition, healing touch, and organic products to hold transformative space for clients. Her reward? Witnessing deep relaxation and emotional release: “Seeing someone’s stress melt away touches my heart,” she says.
She’s continually guided by authenticity—using the products she sells, building genuine relationships, and, above all, creating lasting, positive impact in her clients’ lives.
Looking Ahead: Building a Holistic Community
Megan dreams of expanding Sacred Facials into a broader wellness community—a space in nature where like-minded souls come together to heal and grow. With the world rapidly changing, she’s optimistic: “People are believing they can heal themselves—and doing it. My work is part of that, which is really exciting.”
Ready for a Glow Up—Inside and Out? Megan’s journey reminds us that wellness flourishes where simplicity, authenticity, and intention meet. Whether you’re curious about starting a skincare ritual, exploring holistic entrepreneurship, or just eager to downsize, her story is luminous proof: a beautiful life is built one small, mindful choice—and sometimes, one school bus—at a time.
Megan also shares a special 20% OFF for new clients who mention this episode. Book your next holistic facial at Scared Facials
Follow Megan:
Instagram: @BeautyLovesNature | @SovereignArtistsBus
Website: SacredFacials.com
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The Dean's List Podcast Youtube
Instagram: @official_deanslist
Tiktok: @official_deanslist
Notable Mentions:
Laurel Skin (@LaurelSkin): Where Megan began her holistic skincare journey.
Cecily Braden: A top industry mentor in holistic modalities, including Gua Sha and lymphatic drainage.