A Legacy of Care
At the heart of every community are stories of resilience—lives shaped by love, hardship, and gratitude. For Dr. Candice Fortunato, founder of [Skin + Tonic] in Inspirada (skinandtonic702.com), the journey to opening her practice is one written not just in medical training, but in the quiet lessons she absorbed from her mother, a nurse who modeled compassion in every gesture.
“Gratitude has always been my compass, shaped by the lineage of women who came before me,” Dr. Fortunato says. Her grandmother, a nurse in the Philippines, made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States with her family of seven. Her mother followed a similar path of bravery, leaving her large family to immigrate on her own in the late 1970s.
Her mother began her nursing career at what would later become UMC in Las Vegas. Candice often found herself in the hospital lounge after school, sipping cocoa from Styrofoam cups while the sounds of charts flipping and nurses bustling filled the air. “Those small details imprinted on me: the rhythm of hospital life, the weight of responsibility, and the quiet dignity of service,” she reflects. “It taught me that care is sacred, and that even ordinary moments can be extraordinary when anchored in gratitude.”
A Path to Medicine
The influence of those afternoons carried Candice into medicine. She trained in both internal medicine and pediatrics, eventually working as a hospitalist for more than a decade and rising to vice chair at her hospital. “My mother showed me that service is not just an act, it is a way of life,” she says.
But in 2020, the pandemic forced a painful turning point. Both of her parents were hospitalized with complications from COVID-19. Initially barred from being at their bedside despite her position, she was escorted out by security until colleagues advocated for her return. She spent the following weeks by their sides, witnessing her mother’s intubation, her long fight in the ICU, and ultimately, her passing.
“That heartbreak could have left me hardened,” she says. “Instead, it broke me wide open.”
Candice describes feeling judged from all sides during the pandemic, where no decision seemed free from criticism. Yet, it was the small acts of kindness and grace extended to her that reshaped her perspective. “Gratitude was no longer just an idea; it became a lifeline,” she says. “It reminded me that even in the darkest moments, there are glimmers of humanity that can light the way forward.” With that shift in perspective, she dropped the fear of being judged and entered the world of medical aesthetics, choosing to create rather than retreat, to heal in a new way.
Healing Through Aesthetics
In the wake of her mother’s passing, Candice found herself searching for both focus and healing. That search led her into aesthetics. Having already released the fear of being judged, she stepped into the field with openness and intention. What began as skill refinement quickly became something deeper.
“My pivot into aesthetics was born out of dedication—and, at times, distraction,” she explains. “Patients were amazed by their transformations, but what they didn’t realize was the impact they had on me. Each appointment became more than a procedure; it was a reminder of connection, resilience, and shared humanity.”
Dr. Fortunato came to see facials and injectables as tools, not the end goal. “The true artistry lies in listening, honoring the whole person, and finding gratitude for each story shared,” she says. “Every client’s journey reminds me that healing and beauty are never one-size-fits-all; they are personal, layered, and profoundly human.” She adds, “This work is about restoring confidence, yes, but also about creating a safe space where people feel seen. To me, that is the most beautiful transformation of all.”
Building [Skin + Tonic]
When she opened [Skin + Tonic], Dr. Fortunato envisioned more than a clinic—it would be a sanctuary. “The treatment chairs are clinical, but the rest of the space was designed as a respite from the everyday hustle,” she says.
Every detail reflects intention: long-term treatment planning, thoughtful post-visit summaries, and staying connected with clients through in-person care, virtual consultations, and small gatherings. “We often say, ‘We’re in the long-term game with you,’” she explains. That commitment extends beyond aesthetics to health-forward guidance and heartfelt connection.
Her monthly newsletter, The (G)low Down with Dr. Glow Up, blends professional advice with personal storytelling. “It creates a stage where stories flow both ways,” Candice says. “I want people to feel seen, cared for, and uplifted—whether they’re sitting in our treatment chair or reading from home.”
A Mantra of Gratitude
For Candice, gratitude isn’t an abstract concept, it’s stitched into every interaction at [Skin + Tonic]. “We are grateful for the fabric we are weaving within our community,” she says. “Because for me, it’s more than just skin deep—it’s gratitude expressed in every interaction, every transformation, every story.”
Her mother’s legacy is alive in this work. What began in a hospital lounge with cocoa and chart notes has blossomed into a sanctuary where beauty, health, and humanity intersect.
As the season of thankfulness unfolds, Candice’s story reminds us that gratitude is not simply felt—it is practiced, shared, and expressed. Or as she puts it: “Gratitude is the through-line of my life. It has carried me through loss, guided me in medicine, and now breathes life into every corner of [Skin + Tonic].”
“My mother showed me that service is not just an act.”
“Gratitude has always been my compass.”