We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leica Palma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
I wanted a name that was clear, approachable, and truly reflected the heart of what I do. That’s how Simply Facials came to be. As an esthetician and the owner of Simply Facials in Thousand Oaks, my focus is on providing customized, results-driven skincare in a calm and welcoming environment. The name captures my philosophy: straightforward and effective treatments without unnecessary complexity, just quality care and real results.
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.
Hi, I’m a licensed esthetician and the owner of Simply Facials in Thousand Oaks. My journey into skincare started as a client. I was dealing with hyperpigmentation and had a mix of good and bad experiences with facials. When I went to esthetics school, I learned that some of the treatments I had done weren’t even allowed for estheticians in California. That really opened my eyes and made me want to do things the right way.
At Simply Facials, I focus on custom facials, chemical peels, and helping clients create simple, effective skincare routines at home. Every treatment is personalized. I take time to understand your skin and your goals so you get exactly what your skin needs.
I also believe in educating my clients. I want you to feel confident not just when you leave your appointment, but every day when you take care of your skin at home.
I’m most proud of the space I’ve created. It’s calm, welcoming, and focused on real results. If you’re looking for thoughtful, personalized skincare, I’d love to work with you.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One moment that really tested my resilience was right after I opened Simply Facials. I launched my business just before the holidays, and things picked up quickly at first. But when January came, everything slowed down. It was quiet, and I remember sitting in my treatment room wondering if I had made a mistake. I had poured everything into starting this business: my time, my energy, my savings. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work.
Marketing had already been a challenge. I had tried Google ads and Yelp ads, but they didn’t bring in many clients. I didn’t have the budget to keep running them, and I started to feel discouraged. But instead of giving up, I pivoted. I invested in a website and focused on making it easier for people to find and book me online. Slowly, clients started showing up, one by one. And from there, things began to grow.
That time taught me a lot. It reminded me that even when things feel uncertain, I can figure it out. I just have to keep going, keep learning, and stay focused on the bigger picture. That’s the mindset that keeps me moving forward.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that success in this industry would happen quickly if I just worked hard enough. I came in with a lot of passion and was willing to give it my all, but I quickly realized that it takes more than just hard work. It takes patience, strategy, and a lot of trial and error.
When I first opened, I thought if I put myself out there and gave great facials, clients would just come. I tried ads, I tried different promotions, and when they didn’t work right away, I started questioning myself. But what I really had to unlearn was the belief that slow progress meant failure. I had to learn to celebrate small wins and trust the process.
Now I know that building something real takes time. Every client who finds me, every rebooking, every referral — that’s success. It’s not about overnight growth. It’s about consistency, relationships, and showing up even when things feel slow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simply-facials.zoca.ai/
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/simply.facials
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573702251242&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/i9qzp_ABsG
