We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alessandra De Almeida Caceres. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alessandra below.

Alessandra, appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I was born in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, and I remember myself as a little girl applying creams and make-up on my dolls. I used to sneak in to my neighbor’s to take clay from his backyard to apply all over my face and body! I had read in some magazine that doing so would help with body detox and stretch marks!

My favorite places to hang out were pharmacies, and skin care retail stores, I would ask my mother to buy me scrubs and lotions for gifts instead of clothes and dolls!

When I moved to the US, back in 1998 I already knew that I wanted to be an Esthetician. My passion for skin care was very clear to me. I graduated from Florida of Natural Health in 1999 in Miami. During my time at school, I was always giving free facials to my friends and family! I keep myself very busy during clinic time and was always asked to work on clients on Saturdays.

At home, I set up a nice relaxing room where my friends and family would come for me to look at their skin and give them mini facials. I was still at school but they loved what I already could do on their skin.

After I received my license, I immediately started to work for this small mother and daughter facial/massage place near my house, where I gained a lot of experience. One day I was there checking out their place and the mother came to ask me if I needed any help. I said that I was just looking and that I had just graduated from esthetician school. -I said that just to open the door in case they needed some help.

The mother was the massage therapist and the daughter was the esthetician, she was amazing! lucky for me, she was pregnant and she needed to find someone to replace her during her maternity leave, that was the perfect opportunity!
She had lots of clients, she showed me how to do extractions without leaving any marks on the skin, the reason why I am so go at it! – that’s what my clients always tell me!

Schools basically prepare us to pass the test and get a license.. Everything else, we learn on the field. I worked there for about 8 months. Then it was time to move on.

Later on, already with some experience on my resume, I started to work for a very luxury spa-resort where most of the treatments were focused on having a “relaxing experience”. -not results driven.
I worked there for many years…I had my health insurance, PTO, 41k,,,, to be honest, those things kept me there and I am thankful for that time. However, I always felt very limited on what I could accomplish and to be honest, things were not always for the client’s best interest.

I knew that I could do more. I wanted to make a difference on people’s skin. not just make people feel good. That’s when I got a part time job at a Cosmetic Dermatology Office.

I started to see patients that needed help with their skin. Most of the patients I used to see suffered from acne. Like really bad acne that would make them feel insecure about their appearance. – I was so happy that I was able to help many of them. Working in these different places gave me the knowledge that I needed to be on my own.

A decision of working for myself didn’t happen until later when I decided that I was ready to share my knowledge on my own private practice. I wanted to be able to work with my clients beyond the ‘facial/product recommendation’ -I care for my clients!

In 2008 I founded Lavender Facial Bar in North Miami Beach, where I practice holistic,results driving treatments along with body contouring, and foot detox .

I choose this field to make a difference on the way people see and feel about themselves. My goal is to give them clear, healthy, beautiful skin. I also love to educate them on how to take care of their skin at home.

Every day is a learning experience and my love for skin care motivates me to give and do more for my community every day.

Alessandra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Alessandra, I am the founder and licensed esthetician who practices holistic results driven treatments at Lavender Facial Bar. The love for skin care since a young girl has brought me to this industry.

I believe that the skin care field has come a long way during the years and we estheticians can truly make a difference in people’s skin.

My goal is to offer my clients healthy skin. That translates to clear, glowing, beautiful skin! I believe that healthy skin should be attainable and affordable!

I have improved so many skins specially for those patients suffering from acne. Acne can be devastating, and often interferes with people’s self-esteem.

It makes me so happy to receive messages from clients thanking me about how their skin looks great just after 1 or 2 treatments! I say to myself: – I did my job!!!

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

No, I would choose to be an esthetician. I love what I do! I picture myself doing what I do for many many years ahead. -And Happy! I feel like I am very fortunate to have a career that I love and that I can depend on.

Estheticians make a difference in the way people see and feel about themselves. Those 60 minutes in the treatment room is a life experience! -Self love has never been so important as it is right now and people realized that more than ever!

I can not see myself doing anything else not related to skin. Skin care is my passion, I love all the aspects of it. I enjoy retail, when I recommend products to reinforce treatments, I love training other estheticians… and of course, I love the time that I spend at the treatment room! That’s my favorite time!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe consistency is key to succeed in this field. It’s not always easy. There were down times when I wanted to give up! And I am so glad I didn’t!

I kept doing my thing, I believed in myself, I knew that I could make a difference. If I had given up on difficult times, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And just as a note, this field is forever learning… I will never stop learning how I can do better and better. How I can always be in demand.

There are many places out there that offer what I do. but my hands and my touch, nobody can take that away from me. That will never be duplicated! And that’s my magic! In one word what allows me to be successful in this field is CONSISTENCY!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lavenderfacials@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavenderskincare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045017360196
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lavender-facial-bar-north-miami-beach

Image Credits
Best skin care clinic from 2019 in North Miami Beach