To tell you the truth, I didn’t know I was about to meet one of our most inspiring Players the day I asked Tammy Duncan if she did lash lifts. We were on a Zoom call, it kind of came up, and she said yes. So I said, well then you have to compete in The Skin Games. And she was all in.
Tammy is the esthetician behind Skin by Tammy Duncan in Oklahoma City. In TSGx she competed in four categories: Compassionate Esthetics, Age Management, Acne, and Lash Lift. Four categories! That is a lot to take on, and she showed up for every single one of them.
Where it all started
Tammy was selling BeautiControl Cosmetics when she was offered a spot working at a skin counter in the mall. She says the second she stepped into that role, she knew without a doubt that skincare was what she was meant to do. I love that, because so many of us have that exact moment, you know, where something just clicks and there’s no going back.
What I really appreciate about Tammy is how she treats a client. She looks at the whole person, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. Diet, lifestyle, environmental stressors, medications, allergies, what you like and what you don’t like, and what you are truly willing and ready to do. That last part matters so much. You can have the best protocol in the world, but if your client isn’t ready for it, it’s just not going to work.
The part nobody sees
So here’s something a lot of people don’t realize about competing. Tammy’s biggest challenge had nothing to do with the treatment room. It was the tech. Using the computer, getting online, posting videos and photos, and then speaking on camera and pronouncing all that complex product knowledge.
Tammy has a stutter, and she told us she was terrified she was going to say or do something wrong. But she pushed through her fears and she kept going. And honestly, that is what this whole competition is about for me.
She also didn’t do it alone. Tammy says the support from the entire Skin Games community and our Ambassador Program was unmatched. Whenever she had a question, fellow Players stepped right up with answers. They even helped her create QR codes and figure out the logistics so she could compete at her best. She said she couldn’t name just one person without leaving someone out, and believe me, I understand that one.
That was actually the thing that surprised her most. Everyone was competing to win, and everyone was still so supportive and encouraging and willing to help each other out. She called it a true sisterhood and brotherhood, and I couldn’t have said it better.
What changed for Tammy
This is where it gets really good. The skincare brands Tammy was using believed in her enough to sponsor her. Her before and after photos showed real transformation. And on a personal level, she got to a point with her own skin where she didn’t see her scars anymore. That one gets me every time.
Then there’s the business side. Tammy says the impact on her business was immediate. Thanks to the networking, the resources, and everything she learned about products, her online presence is bigger, her knowledge has skyrocketed, and she was able to confidently raise her prices. She was also offered a position as the esthetician at M&K Willow Salon. And through the competition she was able to give $3,000 back to her favorite local charity at home.
Here’s how she put it:
“I came into this journey one way, but I walked out bigger, better, brighter, happier, healthier, and elevated in every single area of my life.”
Her honest take
We asked Tammy what she would tell a fellow skincare professional who was on the fence about entering. She said she’d hand them the QR code and have them sign up on the spot. In her words, The Skin Games changes how you think, how you care for your clients, how you choose products, how you view yourself, and how you run your business. Her answer was basically: do it 1,000%.
And when we asked her to finish the sentence “For me, The Skin Games was…” here’s what she said:
“…life-changing, soul-growing, and deeply transformative. It made me a better esthetician and a stronger businesswoman, and I am so honored, humbled, and grateful to be part of this community. I want to be part of it again, again, and again!”
Her advice for a first-time Player is so simple, and it’s so true. Be yourself. Get active in the Instagram groups, ask questions, show up, and be fearless. She says it’s completely okay to make mistakes, because that’s how we all learn and grow. She’s made plenty of her own, and the key is to just keep showing up.
A little more Tammy
The skincare myth she wishes would disappear? That getting a chemical peel means your skin is going to peel off like a snake. Modern treatments are so much more refined than that.
In her treatment room, Tammy plays a calming ocean soundscape to take her clients into total relaxation. And for her own pre-competition hype, she listens to anything by Inga Rose.
What’s next
Tammy is coming back for the 2027 Skin Games, and she’s partnering with some unique sponsors to learn new techniques, apply new sciences, and use innovative tools. I can’t wait to see what she brings.
Tammy, thank you for being so open with us and for showing everyone what it looks like to just keep going. And if you’re reading this and you’ve been thinking about entering, take it from Tammy. Don’t hesitate. Just jump in with both feet.
Follow Tammy on Instagram at @skin_by_TammyDuncan.
Game on,
Jennifer