Rising Stars: Meet Claire Ward of Shelby Township Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Ward.

Hi Claire, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

My journey began in high school, when I battled moderate to severe acne that covered my forehead. I saw multiple dermatologists, tried Accutane, prescriptions, topicals—you name it. But nothing gave me lasting relief. I felt helpless, frustrated, and insecure. I hated looking in the mirror.

Makeup became my safe space. I discovered that I could cover up my acne and gain back a little confidence. I got good at it, too—so much so that classmates started asking me to do their makeup for school dances. That passion led me to attend a freelance makeup artistry school, where I fell in love with helping people feel confident and beautiful.

But I quickly realized that makeup can only do so much. The canvas—the skin—matters just as much. That’s when I decided to pursue esthetics. I balanced esthetician school with community college, where I studied to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)—a deal I made with my parents, who wanted me to have a stable backup plan.

Once I was licensed as an esthetician, I began working at a massage spa part-time while completing my PTA degree. I’ve always loved health and wellness, and working with patients helped me understand the body in a deeper way. I eventually became a clinical manager/PTA, but the job was high stress and physically demanding—especially after I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and needed multiple surgeries. At one point, I could barely drive or walk without pain.

Through all of this, my dream of owning my own business never faded. In 2021, I took the leap and opened my own spa, Rosebud Beauty by Claire, with zero clients. I worked part-time as a PTA and part-time on my business while recovering from surgeries, planning my wedding, and rebuilding my health.

My own healing journey led me to explore the root causes of my skin conditions—from acne to rosacea to eczema—and I was able to clear my skin without dermatologists. That experience shaped my current approach: holistic, whole-body skincare that goes beyond the surface.

In 2024, I officially left PTA work to pursue my business full time. Every day, I continue to learn, grow, and pour my passion into helping women feel confident, radiant, and at home in their skin.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely—there were a lot of struggles. My health was a major obstacle as I was trying to grow my business. I went through periods of depression and anxiety, dealt with autoimmune issues, and experienced extreme fatigue likely related to liver stress from my surgeries and past medications like Accutane. On top of that, I had to take significant time off to recover from multiple hip surgeries, which made staying consistent very difficult.

Balancing my job as a PTA while launching and growing my business was another huge challenge. There was barely any work-life balance—I was constantly trying to give 100% to both roles, and it was exhausting.

Starting with zero clients was also incredibly scary. I walked away from a stable income to take a leap of faith that I could build something from the ground up—and I did it in a time when the spa industry was still recovering from a global pandemic and economic downturn. Spas were closing all around me, but I chose to bet on myself and my vision.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed esthetician and owner of Rosebud Beauty by Claire LLC. I offer a range of skincare and facial services that focus on treating holistically and integratively. I am known for giving extremely relaxing facials, treating rosacea/sensitive skin, acne, and mature/aging skin.

I also offer brow services. I do brow laminations to create a fuller and tamed appearance to eyebrows. Tinting, staining, and waxing. I am known for helping people achieve eyebrows that look clean, full, and natural.

Lastly I offer lash services. This includes lash extensions (I specialize in more natural looking extensions that are subtle but enhancing to the eyes) and Lash lift and tints (which I customize to each individual based on their eye shape, lash length, and the goals of my clients). During these services I focus on maintaining hair health and integrity. I also pride myself on making any and all of my services extremely relaxing for the clients so they can recharge and relax.

I am to have long lasting relationships with all my clients where I can be their go to person for any and all beauty needs for their face. If I don’t offer a service I had a network of beauty professionals I refer them to. The relationships and bonds with my clients are strong because I do my absolute best to support them in any way I can. Their happiness and comfort are of the upmost importance to me and I feel they can sense that. They are so much more than a paying client to me because I genuinely love spending time with all my regular customers and appreciate them and their support more than I can express.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
They can visit my website at www.rosebudbeautybyclaire.com where they can get any FAQs answered and learn about the services I offer. They can reach out through the contact info on the website so I can answer any unanswered questions for them. There is also a link on the website where they can book a session with me. If they would like to collaborate my contact info is also on the website. Follow me on my social media pages on Instagram and Facebook @rosebudbeautybyclaire to see more about me and my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.rosebudbeautybyclaire.com
• Instagram: Rosebudbeautybyclaire
• Facebook: Rosebudbeautybyclaire