Meet Kass Goldsmith | Earth-Based Skin & Body Care Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kass Goldsmith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kass, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Joy and gratitude. Simple. Gratitude keeps me humble and mindful.. of myself, of others, of things I may not have otherwise been aware of. And joy.. well, joy is joyful. It’s light. Warm. Welcoming. Generous when harnessed to its fullest extent. These are what keep me going, especially with my brand. I love seeing people happy, bettering, and thriving. Being able to watch people grow to love their skin and bodies, see them glow when they make time to treat themselves, and then watch them turn around and spread that energy further.. I live for that.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

To understand what inspires my brand, you need to know that I have clinically diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. There was a point that disrupted my life. But now that I’ve not only been able to get to the root of a lot of what inflamed my mental health, but also have it under control in healthy, productive ways, I realize just how important mental health is and how easily it can slip through our fingers if we aren’t mindful enough.

The holistic well-being of others, mental health included, keeps me going. Watching people fall in love with their skin again, seeing the glowing before-and-after’s they send me, reading messages that they made time to have a mini-spa day at home just to use their new body scrub or whipped lotion, seeing them light up when they gift my products to others, and hearing them thank me for giving them a safe, recentering space makes it worth it to me.

The money from my sales helps fund donation projects to hard-working people who deserve thanks and a little reminder to remember themselves, too. Since 2020, SENSE has reached a huge population of healthcare workers; children and moms-to-be at a non-profit Community Baby Shower with The Tree of Life Center; a non-profit organization in North Florida that works to provide resources for underprivileged women, children, and families; and several others. All joy and gratitude, friend.

As a Pediatric ICU nurse by trade, knowing I wanted to make a positive difference in others’ lives–that was easy. What wasn’t easy was figuring out how to balance my own needs with those of others, and making sure that I was finding the time to refill my own cup the same way I was constantly encouraging others to. It took a few audacious reality checks for me to recognize exactly how burned out I was, followed by some ballsy steps outside of my comfort zone into an uncomfortable period of growth.

Nothing truly, wholly worth it is easy, and it never will be. I’ve learned to just accept that and take the step. And look where we are now. I might not have a paved path set out for me, but I’m good with the climb.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Well, I’m currently in Seattle, so I can walk you through an itinerary for a chill but fun day here.

1. Evoke Cafe Bar – for a croissant and a honey lavender latte (because this city of coffee broke me)

2. The Amazon Spheres – a rainforest greenhouse (one of the coolest architectural and botanical concepts I’ve ever seen)
3. Pike’s Place Market – for a lively walk among a huge number of vendors, crafts, and food of all kinds
4. The Fremont Troll – a huge sculpture of a troll perched under one of Seattle’s oldest bridges.
5. Golden Gardens Park – hiking, a dog park, and a beach all on Puget Sound.
6. Starbucks Reserve – trust me, there’s so much more than just coffee.
7. Queer Bar – great music, fun dancers, and an energetically, electrically accepting environment
8. Lola – amazing modern Mediterranean, and the best donut holes I’ve had in my life (with a mascarpone dipping sauce!)
9. Rhino Room – more great music and a cool underground jungle vibe, right across the street from Queer Bar
10. Molly Moon or Salt & Straw – for some pretty eclectic ice cream flavors that taste just as phenomenal
11. Gas Works Park – to have dessert on a hill on Lake Union with the skyline on one side and the sunset on the other.
12. Deep Dive Bar at the Spheres – for one of the classiest, vibiest cocktail hours I’ve ever had (it’s legitimately a whole mood)
13. Kerry Park – for a beautiful view of the city at night.

But hey, I’m not a Seattleite, so I’m definitely no pro at showing someone the city. If it were up to me.. well, let’s get lost.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The ones who deserve this shoutout are my three (3) best friends, my partner, and my therapist. My best friends–Oriana, Katy, and Ana–I honestly don’t know how they’re not sick of me, but they ground me and have never stopped having my back through all of my ups and downs. My other half, Vinny, has been a god-send and I’ve never felt so encouraged and supported by a partner in my entire life. Lastly, my therapist Sherdaun, without whom I might not have fully embraced what it truly means to push the limits of my comfort zone and challenge myself to endure discomfort in growth for the phenomenal internal transformation I never expected.

Website: sensebykass.square.site

Instagram: @sensebykass

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassandragoldsmith/