For decades, Julietta Fiscella built her career as a pathologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, guided by scientific precision and a lifelong fascination with the human body. Born and raised in St. Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean, her youth was shaped by village customs, time-honored remedies, and a deep respect for holistic care—experiences that quietly stayed with her long after she entered the field of medicine. What she did not expect was that, later in life, she would venture into an entirely new world: skincare. That journey gave rise to Julée Glow—a physician-developed, naturally derived skincare brand where clinical insight, heritage, and intention converge.
From microscope to mortar and pestle
Fiscella’s methodical attention to detail flourished throughout her many years in practice, sharpening her ability to recognize the subtle signatures of health and disease. Even as she evolved within her chosen discipline, her appreciation for natural treatments remained constant. After turning seventy, she found a new outlet for her curiosity, experimenting with skincare that joined childhood influences with a long-developed point of view.
Her work began informally, testing botanicals and evaluating their effects through contemporary research. “I always loved to experiment with natural products for my skin because I understood the biology,” Fiscella says. What began as personal experimentation expanded into a purposeful and measured approach= to skincare formulation driven by rigorous study.
Though entrepreneurship may seem far removed from pathology, Fiscella sees a clear throughline between the two. “Pathology goes well with the way I think,” she explains. “It is about design and molecular structures, so my right brain is very satisfied. Entrepreneurship, meanwhile, engages my left brain—my analytical side—with statistics, policies, and strategic planning.”
Plant roots and ancestral wisdom
Fiscella’s earliest memories brim with the vivid sights, sounds, and scents of St. Lucia, where daily life demanded resourcefulness and ingenuity. Healing and restorative practices were central to health and well-being, rooted in shared knowledge and lived experience. “Growing up in a tiny village in extreme poverty, there was no other way to treat illness,” she recalls. “We believed in traditional medicines that were handed down for generations.”
Fiscella recalls the process of oil extraction as a regular household routine. Coconuts and castor nuts were gathered, cracked open, and prepared for boiling. The kitchen was alive with the hiss of boiling water and coal pots glowing beneath bubbling mixtures. “I can still remember the beautiful smells,” she says. Rich, aromatic steam filled the air as nourishing oils were painstakingly skimmed and collected, becoming precious elixirs for skin and hair. The patience required and the sensory pleasures of the ritual left an indelible mark that carries into Julée Glow.
Small batches, big care
In a market dominated by mass production, Julée Glow embraces a distinctly different philosophy. The brand emerged organically, encouraged by friends who sampled early compositions. Fiscella’s commitment to craftsmanship means every jar and bottle is made in small batches, allowing a high degree of precision at every stage of production.
Each product begins with a clear purpose—hydration, protection, or preserving the skin’s overall integrity. “I am constantly poring over the literature to find out what natural ingredients work and what they specifically do,” she says. “I need scientific evidence. This is what sets my brand apart from the rest.” Her training in pathology created a methodological way of thinking, ensuring ingredients are selected for proven efficacy.
That perspective extends beyond components to how Fiscella understands skin itself. Years spent studying disease processes in organs and tissues steer her approach to creating her products. Rather than viewing skin as a surface to be perfected, Fiscella views it as what it is—a vital, complex organ, the body’s largest. “Because I know how the skin layers are formed as well as their specific purpose, I know what natural products can be beneficial for each one,” she explains. Rather than focusing solely on superficial results, she designs products to sustain the skin as a living system.
Safety and transparency anchor her work. “Even though you do not see your heart, you will not deliberately put harmful chemicals in it,” she remarks, a principle that guides her avoidance of unnecessary additives that could compromise skin health. To Fiscella, a healthy complexion is more than radiant—it’s strong, supported by carefully chosen, biologically compatible ingredients.
Today, Fiscella views Julée Glow as more than skincare—it is also a means to promote informed awareness and encourage consumers to think critically about product contents, marketing claims, and long-term skin health.
Signature product: Anse La Ray Body Butter
Among the brand’s signature offerings, Anse La Ray Body Butter stands out. Named after the coastal town in St. Lucia where Fiscella spent her formative years, it reflects the intersection of Caribbean roots and an astute, well-honed sensibility.
Made with a blend of shea butter and botanical oils, the body butter is designed to hydrate and soften while helping maintain the skin’s natural barrier. It melts easily on contact and absorbs smoothly, leaving skin nourished without feeling heavy.
The scent, expressed through the oils themselves, is gentle and understated rather than unnaturally intense. Anse La Ray reflects Fiscella’s preference for restraint and function—a body butter formulated with intention and made to fit seamlessly into everyday routines.
Looking forward
As Julée Glow expands, Fiscella is developing new offerings—day and night facial oils designed to facilitate collagen production and address inflammation using simple, pure, and natural ingredients. She is also completing a medicinal plant specialist program at Cornell University, deepening her understanding of medicinal plants and their role in skin health.
With her focus increasingly centered on Julée Glow, Fiscella envisions devoting more of her time to the brand, gradually stepping back from pathology to focus fully on the brand’s evolution and direction. Her vision for the future remains clear: to uphold Julée Glow’s standards and values, possibly establish a manufacturing facility in Rochester, and continue to educate the public about skincare and natural health.
Julée Glow reflects a lifetime devoted to healing, shaped by both scientific rigor and tradition. Fiscella’s work bridges those worlds, grounding her products in research while honoring the wisdom that first inspired them.
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of (585).
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