After 25 years as a successful makeup artist, 18 of which she spent as personal assistant to Mary Kay (yes, that Mary Kay), Susan Posnick got news that would forever change her life — she had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
“Right away, I knew that my life would be taking a big turn and that the most important thing was to take care of myself.”
But what Susan Posnick did not realize then is that her battle with skin cancer would lead her to develop her line of sunscreen products and natural cosmetics but also to save lives in the process.
“I started to gather inspiration by going to several trade shows during what we now call the beginning of the mineral makeup movement—but I wanted to create something that protected the skin but also had an artistic feel, with quality brushes,” Susan reminisces.
Since then, Susan Posnick has turned her idea into a successful company that she is proud to say has highly loyal customers. Roughly 90% of her original customers continue purchasing her products.
COVID-19 was another major inflection point. By then, Susan decided it was time to step back from leadership at her company and leave it in the hands of her trusted managers.
Then, all of a sudden, she got a call from a long-time friend who had recently spent some time in Yucatán, who said to her, “Don’t ask any questions; we are booking a trip.” After 48 hours in Yucatán, Susan knew the next chapter of her life would take place on this sunny peninsula.
Not wasting any time, she purchased a house in La Ermita and set her mind to making it her own and learning the language and customs of her new city.
“I study every day and make an effort to speak with everyone I have the chance to. Speaking the language magically opens up an entirely new world.”
When it comes to Mérida’s expat community, Susan has only nice things to say but admits that some seem to be stuck inside “the gringo bubble.”
These days, Susan spends much of her time exploring the city and experimenting with preparing Mexican cuisine — having developed a particular taste for Oaxacan food.
“There are so many things I have had an interest in throughout my life, and it’s so wonderful to finally have the time to focus on neglected hobbies like gardening. I don’t exactly have a green thumb, but Yucatán has helped with that too… everything seems to just spring up here like by magic.”
“I have always been one with a zest for life, but there is just something about Yucatán. Perhaps it’s the light or the warmth, but I find myself grinning all the time. This is a truly magical place.”
Online: susanposnick.com
