We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Kate Moshika and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My days are a balance between creativity, strategy, and connection, which are the three pillars that keep Moshika Beauty growing. During the week, I work remotely and stay closely connected with my team. Most of my weekdays are dedicated to operations, including planning launches, refining campaigns, managing partnerships with med spas and retailers, and aligning our creative direction. It’s the time when we map out what’s next for the brand behind the scenes.
On weekends, I switch into content-creation mode. That’s when I film product tutorials, educational videos, and behind-the-scenes clips that tell the story of our brand in a more personal way. I love using this time to translate our brand values — clean, conscious, and confidence-driven beauty — into visuals that truly connect with our audience.
I also attend in-person brand activations and educational events at our partner medical spas, where I lead product demonstrations and training. Those moments remind me that beauty is not just about products. It’s about community, empowerment, and helping people feel good about themselves inside and out.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kate or Dr. Kate, and I’m the founder and CEO of Moshika Beauty, a clean lash and K-beauty brand built on the belief that beauty should feel effortless, empowering, and safe for your skin and eyes. My journey began far from where I am today. I was once on track to become a medical doctor, but I took a leap of faith to follow my creative passion and build something that aligned with both science and self-expression. That decision turned into Moshika Beauty, a brand that bridges clinical innovation with everyday beauty rituals. After I started my career in the beauty industry as a influencer and Moshika has grown more stable, I went back to school and recently completed a PhD in Health Sciences instead of a Medical Doctor degree (MD) as the purpose of using my degree to further develop safer and innovative beauty products with the purpose of products for the future of Moshika.
What makes Moshika unique is our focus on hybrid innovation — products like our Limitless Lash Liner that combine skincare-grade ingredients with professional performance. We design for real people with real routines — whether you’re getting ready for work in five minutes or preparing for the runway, our products are made to simplify beauty without compromising quality or ethics.
Beyond the products, I see Moshika as a movement — one that celebrates diversity, conscious beauty, and the courage to reinvent yourself. Right now, we’re expanding our reach with new retail and med-spa partnerships,
preparing for upcoming brand activations, and developing our next generation of clean lash innovations.
At the heart of it all, my mission is simple: to help others feel confident, seen, and inspired — because true beauty starts with how you see yourself.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I used to believe that I had to look “perfect” — that beauty meant fitting into whatever was considered popular or trendy at the time. I thought being accepted or seen as beautiful meant changing parts of myself to match what others wanted to see.
But over time, I realized that no matter how hard I tried to fit in, I never felt fully comfortable. It was exhausting trying to be someone else, and it didn’t bring the confidence I was looking for.
Now, I’ve learned that true beauty starts with authenticity. I’ve embraced the idea that my uniqueness is my power — that taking care of myself from the inside out, mentally and emotionally, is what truly makes me glow. Confidence is the most beautiful thing you can wear, and once I stopped chasing perfection and started embracing who I am, everything — from my mindset to my brand — began to flourish.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to follow her heart a little more — and know that it’s okay. She’s going to be just fine, and everything will work out the way it’s meant to. Trust yourself, and care less about what others think. You are beautiful — and if someone can’t see it, that’s their blindness, not your flaw. It’s okay to be the unique one, because that’s what will make you shine into who you are meant to be.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Huda Kattan has been one of my biggest inspirations — both as a beauty founder and as a woman who built her brand with authenticity and heart. Her support for small creators has played a huge role in my own growth as a beauty influencer and entrepreneur. Through the opportunities and recognition I received from her brand, I began to see talents within myself that I didn’t even know existed.
I’ve been a fan of Huda Beauty since the very beginning of my career. I still remember saving up to buy one of their eyeshadow palettes — it felt like holding a piece of artistry and possibility in my hands. What I admire most about Huda is how deeply involved she remains with her community. No matter how successful she’s become, she has never made her audience feel unheard or disconnected.
As I step into my own journey as a beauty founder and CEO, her story continues to inspire me every day. I aspire to embody that same level of connection, authenticity, and purpose — to lead with heart, stay grounded in community, and always remember why I started.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Growing up as an only child in an Asian family, I was raised with a lot of expectations. Being both the only daughter and the only granddaughter came with its own kind of pressure. My parents are incredibly hardworking people — I definitely inherited that trait — but it also meant they were strict when it came to academics.
I was a good student and often received praise for my grades, which I loved at the time. But as I got older, I realized that constant validation had quietly become my biggest weakness. I began to tie my worth to achievement — to being the best, the overachiever, the one who never disappointed anyone.
When I made the difficult decision to leave medical school and follow my heart into the beauty industry, it was one of the hardest moments of my life. I felt like I had disappointed my parents and lost the praise and approval I had grown so used to. But that’s also when I learned one of my most important life lessons: to let go of my ego and the need for validation.
Rebuilding my life from that point forward was quiet and unseen — no applause, no grades, no recognition. But it was in that silence that I truly found myself.
Today, even when we close big deals or reach milestones with Moshika Beauty, I feel grounded because I know I’m no longer chasing praise — I’m chasing purpose. I give my best not for approval, but because I believe in the dream I’m building and the woman I’ve become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.moshikabeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moshikabeauty/
