Founded by Anna, this skincare line was born from her personal struggle with sensitive skin. Frustrated by organic products that were either ineffective or irritating, and medical-grade solutions that provided only temporary fixes, she set out to create something different—potent, active skincare that truly worked.

From 2004 to 2020, Anna worked as an aesthetician, spending years giving facials, analyzing skin under a magnifying lamp, and curating personalized routines for clients. But it was in 2015, during a life-changing trip to Korea to meet her birth family, that she discovered her lineage of healers. Her birth mother even worked in skincare while pregnant with her! Inspired by this connection and fueled by her long-standing dream of creating her own skincare line, Anna brought Mee Ra Rituals to life.

“Mee Ra,” her Korean birth name, means “to grow up to be beautiful.” In 2017, she launched Mee Ra Rituals, a perfect blend of her expertise, attention to detail, and love for skincare.

Anna holds a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and an AAS in Medical Aesthetics and Clinical Massage from Saint Paul College.

Thanks for being a part of this journey!

1984

Born as Lee, Mee Ra in the Jinan Plateau, South Korea

1985

Adopted into a family in a small town in Minnesota

1994

American mother worked at a bookstore. Anna begins self-educating on herbs and skincare.

1996

Mother encouraged her interest in skincare. For her 12th birthday, Anna’s mom indulged her with a private session with a Mary Kay consultant.

1997

Received facial as a gift from her mother for her 13th birthday

2001

Began studies in meditation and yoga as alternative ways to treat her depression

2003

Graduated from high school and enrolled in esthetician school

2004-2015

Started making skincare products in her kitchen

Worked as an esthetician and massage therapist

Studied towards multiple degrees simultaneously

2005

Received CIDESCO accreditation, an internationally prestigious qualification for aesthetics and beauty therapy

2015

Met her biological mother in Korea, and it’s revealed that her mother worked as a skincare specialist while pregnant with her. She also learned her great-grandmother was a shaman.

Learned translation of her birth name “Mee Ra” means “to grow up to be beautiful”

Returned to California and begins life-long dream of formulating products with a chemist

Became a licensed acupuncturist

2017

After 13 years of making and perfecting formulas, MRR is born. Anna starts selling to her patients, friends, and family via word of mouth and social media. MRR slowly yet surely creates a small yet very loyal family via Instagram. Products sell out every time. She moves to San Francisco.

2017-2019

Anna tries to manage and grow the “backend” of MRR, but struggles because she is busy in the treatment room giving acupuncture facials.

2020

After 16 years full time of giving facials, Anna starts to introduce MRR to the world outside of her treatment room.

2022-2024

During her pregnancy and postpartum, Anna experienced heightened sensitivity and flare-ups of rosacea, acne, and melasma. In response, she reformulated Mee Ra Rituals to make the products even more effective and potent.