Rachel McArthur on Rebuilding Confidence After Adversity

Confidence is not something we are born with, it is something we rebuild time and time again. In the final instalment of Hinton Magazine’s four part interview series, skincare expert Rachel McArthur opens up about the emotional side of beauty and what it truly means to heal after hardship. Drawing from her own life experiences, Rachel reflects on how loss and resilience shaped her understanding of confidence, compassion and care. For her, every treatment is an act of service and every client is a reminder that beauty is never defined by perfection, but by courage and faith.

How has your own story shaped the way you help clients rebuild confidence?

I believe being really patient with my clients in a way that they don’t feel judged or embarrassed is so important. Every single person has beauty and we are all unique. God made each of us special. After losing my mother at 11 years old and not having someone to talk to or share important things with or ask questions to was so difficult. So I understand the importance of being there for people. I try to encourage and help my clients see the positive side and find the beauty within no matter what they are dealing with. 

What does confidence mean to you in the context of skin and personal identity?

Confidence is at our core. Many people do think their identity is how they look but I believe that the lord has truly blessed each of us with our own unique skin and bodies and it’s important to take care of and maintain it out of care, not identity. 

How can someone begin to reconnect with their body after illness or surgery when they feel disconnected?

First with the simple awareness to do so and then setting small, intentional steps to care for yourself. 

Do you find that skincare routines can become acts of self compassion rather than vanity?

Yes, Yes, Yes! It’s literally why I do what I do. Of course we all want our skin to glow and be healthy but caring for yourself with the right intention and awareness changes everything! 

What is the most rewarding transformation you have witnessed in a client’s confidence journey?

The first one that comes to mind is a girl with severe cystic acne who had been through some horrific circumstances and was suicidal. I partnered with a licensed therapist and helped to set clear intentions and instructions on how to properly care for her skin at home alongside talk therapy. I performed a combination of cranial sacral therapy and extensive skincare treatments and her skin began to heal. She needed to be heard in a safe space. This combined with a multi-disciplinary routine that includes talk, touch, treatments and prayer. True healing happened and it’s such an honor to be blessed to work this way. 

How do you help clients reframe scars or visible differences as part of their story rather than something to hide?

Being I also have a lot of scars both internally and externally, it has allowed me to speak with deep experience and education to shed light on the fact that we are not what we’ve been through. It is not our identity and many people simply don’t know that and have to learn to think differently. I have seen so much healing occur when someone is given permission to share and feel heard and is committed to rewiring their brain to understand that beauty and worth doesn’t come from circumstance. 

Why is it important for people to see role models in beauty who have lived through adversity?

We all want and need someone to look up to. When we can connect with someone who we feel can really understand what you’ve been through, and see that they have survived and even thrived, it allows the brain to know it’s even possible. It gives hope and hope is so important. 

If someone reading this is struggling with their self image what would you want them to know right now?

You are not alone. You are not what you’ve gone through and you are lovable in spite of what you’ve gone through. You are worth taking care of yourself. You deserve to be seen, heard, loved and respected. The very first step to change is simply to have the desire to do so and becoming curious is the first step. Pray for knowledge, pray for understanding and pray for courage to keep taking another step one day, moment or breath at a time. I believe the lord hears every prayer. Don’t give up.

In Rachel McArthur on Rebuilding Confidence After Adversity, Rachel explores how true confidence comes from self acceptance and grace. She shares stories of clients who have rediscovered themselves through trauma informed care and the simple act of being seen. Her approach blends science, spirituality and compassion, helping clients find strength in their scars and peace in their reflection. As this four part series comes to a close, Rachel leaves readers with a message of hope. Healing, she reminds us, is not just about skin, it is about heart, connection and remembering that every mark tells a story worth honouring.