In this episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with L.A.-based esthetician Carla Bonilla of Carla Bonilla Beauty ✨ We have an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to build experience in this industry, and how your path can evolve in ways you didn’t expect—and even be better than what you thought you wanted. We talk about the pressure many estheticians put on themselves to land that “dream” med spa or luxury spa job right away, the reality of paying your dues, and what happens when your career starts to shift in a new direction. Carla shares her journey from starting in the beauty industry as…

In this episode of Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with Sian Ayers-Harden—licensed esthetician, holistic skincare expert, and esthetics instructor at the Santa Barbara City College Cosmetology Academy (the very program I graduated from!). Sian shares her inspiring journey from stay-at-home mom to thriving esthetician, business owner, and beloved educator. She opens up about building clientele as a new professional, the importance of uplifting community within the beauty industry, and her transition into teaching at Santa Barbara City College. We talk holistic skin health, why barrier-supportive treatments matter, how estheticians can stand out in a competitive field, and what today’s students truly need beyond the standard curriculum. Sian also dives…

In this episode of Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with esthetician and lash artist Sarah Fox, founder of LashFox in Ventura, CA. Sarah shares her journey from starting beauty school at just 20 years old to running her own thriving business for over a decade. She opens up about the early challenges of building clientele, the importance of setting firm boundaries with clients, and how she stayed committed to her craft—even through the uncertainty of COVID shutdowns. Sarah also talks about finding her niche in creating natural-looking lash extensions, why she prioritizes client education and lash health, and how returning to school for business and marketing gave her the tools to…

In this episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with Nicole Sanchez, a bilingual esthetician and owner of All You Skincare Spa in Port Hueneme, California. Nicole shares her candid journey from feeling lost after esthetics school to building a thriving esthetics business serving her local Spanish-speaking community.  She opens up about the challenges she’s faced in her esthetics career—from early business setbacks to misaligned work environments, and even unexpected city zoning issues—and how each obstacle became a stepping stone toward her current success.  Tune in to hear how Nicole embraced resilience, found her niche, and created a rewarding spa business that reflects her values and unique talents.…

In this episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with DMK Skincare educator Laura Tanner to discuss her unexpected journey into esthetics. From a career in retail and a devastating layoff to discovering her passion for skincare through a chance encounter with DMK’s founder, Danné Montague-King, Laura shares how she found her true calling. Join me as we dive into her experience transitioning from customer service to education, the power of DMK’s enzyme therapy, and the importance of business knowledge for estheticians. Laura also shares valuable insights on pricing, retail strategies, and how to build a sustainable, successful beauty business. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career…

In this episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with the incredibly accomplished esthetician and educator, Laura Larrabee.  With a background spanning business development, publishing, and esthetics education, Laura shares her fascinating career journey—from obtaining her master’s degree in English Language Literature to becoming a leader in esthetics education and business development at 360 Wellness Education.  We discuss:  Whether you’re an esthetician looking to deepen your expertise, a beauty pro considering an education-focused career, or just someone fascinated by the ever-evolving world of esthetics, this episode is packed with insights, industry know-how, and inspiring takeaways. Tune in and elevate your beauty career with expert knowledge and behind-the-scenes industry wisdom!…

In this episode of Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with Heaven Luna of Luna Beauty and Wellness in Camarillo, California. Heaven shares her step-by-step journey through the beauty industry, starting with makeup and spray tanning to earning her massage therapy and esthetician licenses. Heaven offers her insights on “niching down,” client retention strategies, and maintaining professional boundaries. Tune in to hear Heaven’s advice on balancing multiple services, successfully using marketing tools like Groupon, and the importance of protecting your body when performing physically demanding treatments.  Whether you’re a seasoned beauty pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with wisdom and real-world experience you won’t want to miss! Find…

In this episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro, I sit down with my friend Taylor Wilson, the Director of Education at Starpil Wax, to explore her incredible journey from hospitality management to becoming a licensed esthetician. We dive into her experiences in the waxing industry and discuss the importance of education and self-care in our field. One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation is hearing about Taylor’s journey to becoming an author. She opens up about writing and publishing her book, The Waxer, a resource designed specifically for estheticians. Taylor explains her goal of making the book both enjoyable and accessible. Her passion for helping others in the…

Welcome to the first episode of The Everyday Beauty Pro! Today we sit down with my friend from back in the day (all the way back to esthetician school!) Robin Pettus, an esthetician of 14 years, and owner of Skin with Robin in Long Beach, California.  Robin shares her journey from esthetician school at the Santa Barbara City College Cosmetology Academy, to running her own successful business.  We explore her early career struggles, including the frustrating challenge of finding her first job, and how she leveraged opportunities—like working for HydraFacial’s marketing team—to grow her experience and confidence. Show Highlights 1. Esthetician Journey: Robin discusses her inspiration to become an esthetician,…

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I went years without learning any new treatments or modalities. However, I was recently inspired by projects I worked on to take some esthetician continuing education courses. The courses I took energized me; they truly reignited my excitement for and interest in skincare. Before then, I was going through the motions of everyday esthetics work. I was doing treatments the same way I had been for years. No wonder I was bored! My experience got me thinking: I can’t be the only skincare professional feeling this way. So I’ve created this blog post to help inspire you to seek out something new.  Come with me…