We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Clare Vacio. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Clare below.

Clare, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I decided to go to beauty school later in life. I was 43 when I started. I was the oldest in my class. I had two children and a husband who was a firefighter at the time. I loved the beauty industry, everything about it. I originally I wanted to go into makeup artistry. But I decided that skincare and makeup went hand in hand. I had wonderful instructors that truly got me excited about my new journey. After I graduated from school I started looking for a job right away. I made a list of places and would drive to the location, not so much for me but I would think about my future clients. Was there enough parking for a client, was it easy to access, was it safe. If it checked the boxes I would go in and drop of a resume. Two weeks later I was offered a job at Clean Slate Skin and Body. My first boss became a friend and mentor. I wouldn’t be where I am without her help. Vicki took me in so green, not knowing much. I did know one thing…I wanted to do it ALL!! EVERYTHING…if it was offered on the beauty menu I wanted to do it. One day Vicki sat me down she knew I wanted to do it all, but she gave me a piece of advice that always stuck with me and I still live by it. She told me, “Clare, you can be the jack of all trades, but master of nothing.” It was my ah-ha moment in this career. She told me, master what you are good at, and I did. What I felt I was good at was where I focused on. Same goes for today. I love anti-aging and the ability to change the skin. That is what I master in.

Clare, 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?

As I mentioned earlier, I went to beauty school at 43 years old. It all started because I would always do my girlfriends makeup on special occasions. They would always tell me this is what I should do. It took me a few years to decide to go to school. Being in my 40’s I felt I was too old to go to beauty school. My fear of failure especially at my age truly intimidated me. But it was on New Years Day of 2013 I thought, if I don’t do this now, then when. So I signed up and my first day of school was February 18, 2013.

Since then I have had to overcome a lot of obstacles. I’ll never forget the time I was waxing a clients eyebrows and I screwed them up BADLY. I drove home that night so upset and thought, why did I do this? Who did I think I was that I could do this job? I’m a terrible esthetician. I wanted to give up. I was feeling so insecure and defeated that I did the wrong thing by taking on this new career. I’m so glad I never gave into those fears. I certainly wouldn’t have had the success I’ve had if I gave into my insecurities. If anything, when you overcome your insecurities it makes you STRONGER.

In 2015 I left Clean Slate and decided to branch out on my own renting a room at The Skin Boutique. Once again, I was fearful and unsure about going out on my own. I only had a small handful of clients and kept thinking, how will I pay for rent, how can I succeed, how do I build a business? But I decided to go for it… I was determined and focused. Danielle owns the Skin Boutique. Her and I clicked immediately. It wasn’t a normal relationship between and owner and room renter. We worked together on everything to make The Skin Boutique succeed. It is a deep friendship that grew and so did our business. We focused on how we could be different, how we could stand out. We focused on creating deep relationships with our clients. We also focused on our social media and had fun with it. Our social media platform grew and so did our business. We wanted people to feel like they knew us even if they’ve never met us. We wanted our clients and potential clients to ALWAYS feel comfortable and we wanted them to always trust us. To work on someones skin there has to be a trust factor. And we took that seriously.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2021 my family and I decided to move out of state. The hardest thing about moving was I would have to close my business and leave my partner Danielle at The Skin Boutique. Leaving the shop for the last time was excruciating. I remember sitting in my treatment room, crying, not wanting to leave. I LOVED The Skin Boutique, everything about it. My clients, the environment, and of course Danielle. After I moved my heart ached because I missed it so much.

Once my family settled into our new state I had to decide if I wanted to continue in the industry. I went back and forth, but knowing my heart and how much I truly love this industry I couldn’t stay away. I started looking for work. I thought it would be so easy to find a place, but month after month, I was having no luck. Nothing was a fit. I was so frustrated and once again thinking, maybe I should just give up. It was also hard because I missed The Boutique so much. I had to come to the realization that what I had there, and the relationship I had with Danielle was one and a million. So special and to find something like that again would be near impossible. Doors were closing, nothing was fitting, I did find a job that didn’t work out. I wanted to completely give up. But just as I was ready to throw in the towel, a friend contacted me. Told me she knew of a job she felt I’d be a fit. That door opened! So now I’m working at Signature Skincare under Dr. Gina Ressler. This job is everything I wanted and has given me so much opportunity.

During my career there were many times I wanted to give up for whatever reason. But with every time I wanted to give up and didn’t my opportunities were multiplied.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I talk a lot with people who are starting on their own they want to know how to build a clientele. The biggest misconception people have is, if I give a great facial then they’ll come back. Well, yes, that’s partly true. But the biggest piece of advice I tell people, and I mentioned this earlier, is it’s all about TRUST. A client will come back to you and tell their friends about you if they trust you. Trust is more than giving an excellent service.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @truebeautybyclare