We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Ora a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I have taken is pursuing a career in esthetics. Before deciding to enroll in an esthetics program, I was working an office job that I had been at for over 5 years. I completed my Bachelors in Psychology two years prior and was taking courses in Chinese medicine in my free time. My plan was to either continue my studies in Psychology, become an Acupuncturist, or go to medical school. I thought I needed to pursue a more “traditional & steady” career, but I was wrong.

It was 2021 and we were in lockdown due to covid, so I decided to go for my dream and enroll at The Academy of Beauty. I would work my office job during the day and go to esthetics school at night. I soon realized that it wasn’t just a passion and that I needed to make Esthetics my career. It wasn’t easy, but I think if you are hardworking you can make a career out of what you love. Since then I have been lucky enough to learn from several amazing estheticians and continue to learn every day.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a holistic esthetician based in Beverly Hills working with Sonia Vargas. My facials are corrective and healing. I work with the skin instead of against it to achieve the best results without damaging the skin’s barrier. Having dealt with extremely sensitive and reactive skin myself, I believe I am able to understand skin on a deeper level. The majority of my clients have skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and generally sensitive skin. I make sure to ask my client’s about their overall health as well. To truly heal a client’s skin we need to change what they use topically, but also heal their skin internally. For example, a client with eczema needs a good skincare routine and to likely heal their gut.

As far as what to expect during a treatment, my facials always include exfoliation, extraction, oxygen therapy, LED light therapy, massage and masking. Specifically sculpting, intra-oral and lymphatic drainage massages techniques. No facial is the same, I am always customizing products and techniques to fit the client’s needs. Some of my specialty treatments include nano-needling and micro-current. As far as home care, I will always emphasize the importance of high quality serums and mineral spf. I take the time to create a manageable skincare routine for clients. Through my approach I have been able to heal my clients’ skin and make them feel more confident in their ability to heal it.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think the most obvious answer to this question is my clients’ progress after treatments. I look at each of my clients as a walking billboard for my business. I always joke that if my client has a breakout, so do I! Beyond that, I think the most important thing an esthetician can do is be genuine. Being an esthetician, clients are often vulnerable during treatments and it is important to make them feel comfortable without judgement. If you truly put effort into every facial and listen to your clients concerns they will notice. In short, I believe the key is skill, being genuine, and hard work.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Other than constantly training and learning, I think being open to constructive criticism is important. No esthetician is perfect, there is always room for growth. You need to improve, but also correct your craft. I always ask the esthetician I work with to be brutally honest with me, and I am a better esthetician because of it. Advertising, referrals, and word of mouth will bring clients in, but your retention rate is based on your skill and client experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurenoraskin.com
• Instagram: laurenoraskin