About coalitionskin

 what we do

CoalitionSkin was established in 2004 and has been in a commercial space Downtown Vancouver since 2010. Our passion is to offer services + products for the body + spirit. Our Vancouver location offers infrared sauna sessions, tarot, reiki, workshops, skin + body treatments and specialized waxing. As professionals that work on so many bodies we have developed the aim to de-stigmatize them and promote the perspective that bodies are not weird- they are fascinating. Over the years providing aesthetics services, our studio has become known as home of the best Brazilian-wax in Vancouver. Clients who have lived all over say “Best Brazilian-wax in the world!” We support individuals to do what they want with their body hair and are here to do it safely regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, +. We are certified skin therapists helping with skin issues by providing guidance of proper ingredients + supplements. Skin health is achieved by caring for the inside too.

Our witchy vegan gift-shop carries products to promote holistic health, self-healing and metaphysical education. We stock food-grade supplements, crystals, gua sha tools, pendulums, prints by local artists, ethically-harvested smudging supplies, menstrual cups, non-toxic baby powder, Himalayan salt lamps, mystic books, tarot + oracle decks, aromatherapy, tinctures, +.

 
Annik.jpg

Shop History + The Founder

Hola, I’m Annik, founder of CoalitionSkin. In 2002, lil 18-year-old-me became certified as a skin-therapist, wax-technician + as a group-fitness trainer. I then pursued a variety of education in biz, Pilates, yoga, holistic sports-nutrition, the science of cleansing/detox + Reiki. I love all things wellness inside + out. 

I spent several years building this biz from scratch, alone, in a workaholic type of way. Eventually I was able to hire help. I am grateful to now work with an amazing team of highly-qualified, caring + LOVELY humans.

In the beginning I was the only technician seeing clients, teaching in our fitness + yoga studio, and I was doing the entrepreneurial work + admin that goes on behind the scenes for any biz to run. I was working 80-90 hrs a week for years. I felt that that is what was needed to enable me to build a biz with no investors + no financial help. That schedule was unsustainable + took a toll but it was part of my path to make me realize I BIG-TIME needed balance in my life. 

Since I was 15, my gut knew I was destined to live in a warm surf town. (The opposite of where I’m from, haha- Toronto.) All my years of ridiculous work-overload was with the goal to build a biz that I could eventually work for with location-freedom. I relocated to the tropics in 2017. Now I work on biz growth, waxer-training + support, marketing, CEO + CFO stuff and I continue to provide services because people are my passion. I offer tarot readings, Reiki sessions, yoga + Pilates 1:1s, public classes + workshops within the community of Sayulita, Mx. I also teach a free yoga + innerwork series online.

I dearly miss being in the Vancouver shop + always look forward to times when I visit, to be with staff + our Vancouver clients in-person. If you became a client after I left Canada, and if I haven’t met you yet, I am excited to meet you soon.

  • Olivia

    Hello, my name is Olivia and I am a Wax-Specialist + Skin Therapist at coalitionskin A.K.A. The Pxssy Shop.

    I love helping people and making sure they feel happy and at ease. I began in this industry working as a spa therapist in 2015 and since working at CoalitionSkin I love working with hard-wax!

    I am passionate about creating a positive, caring atmosphere, and good vibes.

    It’s great to be part of a workplace that has a beautiful community and is in line with my values.

    Outside of work, I love to play guitar, sing, garden and create amazing food!

  • Katie

    Katie Ann has been a friend + client of CoalitionSkin since the early days, and since 2018 she has been working with us! She is our Shop Coordinator + Staff Manager. Clients may not meet her at the shop but she is always there for our team when we are seeking support.

    Blessing the team with a background in holistic medicine, she is an herbalist and managed a natural pharmacy for 10 years.

    Katie Ann is passionate about wellness, surfing, pole-fit and sun therapy. She is also a doula, pole-fitness teacher and garden witch! You can catch her hosting wellness workshops in our shop’s studio SACRED SPACE.

  • Sufiah

  • A sunny staff meeting in Victory Square

    Ese

    This medium black dog with a huge head is Ese. He grew up as our shop dog and loved to greet clients and receive all the hugs. Now he lives in Mexico with Annik but we are having trouble taking him off the website because he’s so damn beautiful.

    If you’re an animal-lover and would like to get involved with dog and cat rescue, please let us know! We are actively involved with organizations around the world to help adoptable dogs and pussy-cats by finding their forever homes, fostering pups, being flight-escorts to get dogs to their new forever home and by raising awareness on our Instagram @coalitionskin, about #adoptdontshop + #spayandneuter movements.

    As animal-lovers, our shop is dog-friendly so bring your pals!

    If you are currently fostering a dog, please stop by so we can take pics and help spread the word to our rad community!