Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittany Gilmore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brittany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I started my career as an esthetician after completing school in 2015. Originally, my plan was to attend esthetician school to gain a deeper understanding of skincare and ingredients. I had always loved beauty products and the world of skincare, but my real niche was in writing and beauty recommendations. My goal was to combine my love for the two and start a blog or possibly get into editorial work—back when magazines were still a big thing.

Before that, I had spent 10 years working in corporate America, but I felt uninspired by the work I was doing. I was working more to make a living than truly loving what I did. Shortly after completing esthetics school and obtaining my license, I guess God had other plans for me because my life completely took off in the direction of doing facials.

I first applied at Burke Williams Spa. Many newly licensed estheticians start there because they hire fresh-out-of-school professionals and put them through a long and intensive training program—six to eight hours a day for four weeks. It often feels like being back in beauty school, which can discourage a lot of trainees, but it’s a great place to gain extra hands-on training and knowledge.

Towards the end of my training, I was offered a position as a lead esthetician with Pixi Beauty. That was where I had my first on-the-job experience as an esthetician. A year into working for Pixi, I had the opportunity to take that position to New York, where I started brand and skincare education across their Manhattan locations. It was an incredible experience for me—it was my first time moving away from home. I had just turned 30 and felt a huge shift happening in my life. Living in New York and doing the work I truly loved will always be one of my favorite life chapters.

Eventually, I came back to Los Angeles. Being away from my family became difficult. That’s when, by chance, I was connected with the team at HeyDay—a facial company I had actually first discovered while living in New York. I joined the company as they launched their first flagship store in Los Angeles in 2017. A year later, I was promoted to lead esthetician and trainer.

Then 2020 came along and that put everything to a sudden halt. Our entire company was laid off, and the beauty industry was shut down for quite some time. I was left to re-evaluate whether remaining an esthetician had long-term sustainability.

Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A longtime and very close friend of mine, Kim, connected me with Shani Darden. One day, she reached out to me via text. I nearly fainted. I stared at my phone in total disbelief. THE Shani Darden was reaching out to me? I couldn’t believe it.

I had a quick FaceTime chat with her and then came to the studio to meet in person and do a hands-on interview, which usually consists of a mini facial.

At the time, I was brought on to cover for an esthetician who was taking maternity leave. I was lucky and blessed enough to remain on the team once she returned. Shani spent a lot of time letting me shadow her and teaching me her technique. Emily and Nari dedicated countless hours training me until I perfected my skills to the studio’s standard. I spent time learning under each of them individually, taking something unique from each person and making it my own.

That’s the most amazing part of being a part of Shani’s team—I’m surrounded by highly talented women. It pushes you to be better. It pushed me entirely out of my comfort zone. I had to show up and put my best foot forward. I took extra classes, attended local conventions that hosted skincare seminars, and always sought out learning opportunities. You have to continue to grow and stay up to date with the latest techniques and ingredients. There’s always something new to learn in our industry.

Now, I’ve been a part of her team for a little over three years, and I couldn’t ask for a more fulfilling career or a better place to work. It’s an absolute dream. The studio itself is the most chic experience. There isn’t a single day I step foot in that space without feeling completely grateful for where I am.

Shani Darden Studio offers the most advanced and unique facial experience. Every treatment is fully customized and tailored to our clients’ needs. You see the difference in your skin, and you feel an incredible sense of escape when you’re in our studio. That’s what keeps our clients coming back.

Shani’s brand, Shani Darden Skin Care, is the only line I use, and my skin made a drastic change when I started it. I recently had a slight burn on my face from a laser treatment two months ago that left behind some pigmentation, and her Rescue Serum completely saved my skin.

I feel my best with no makeup on. When my skin is clear and glowing. That’s always my goal for my clients—to give them the best possible skin and make them feel confident in it.

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

Networking! knowing and meeting the right people has been key. Every opportunity I’ve had in this industry has come from connecting with the right people. The female support I’ve received has been beyond measure, and I’ll always be a girls’ girl. Supporting women and their successes, female owned brands, female empowerment is really important to me.

I also believe in utilizing social media, which I’m still learning to do. It’s a powerful tool when used properly—more like an online portfolio or resume. I’m working on getting more comfortable being in front of the camera and speaking, so it’s a bit of a learning curve. But I see the necessity in it especially if you have a business or trade to promote.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

It was 2016. I had just finished esthetician school. Prior to that, I had worked for a property management company for nearly 10 years. I loved the people I worked with, but I was extremely unfulfilled and barely making ends meet. With only three months left in the year, I took a leap of faith. I put in my notice to resign, and my last day was December 30, 2016. I had no job offers and no plan, but I did it—and it was the best decision I ever made. 2017 opened so many doors for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shanidarden.com/pages/shani-darden-spa?srsltid=AfmBOoptCQl-VdDLx8PALV-MIsYs5FcRJDZmpE2iO_mPDLgOgbNUcsn9
• Instagram: @Missbritgil
• Other: Substack:

  https://brittanygilmore.substack.com

  TikTok:

  @missbritgil

Image Credits

All imagines are my own