Esthetician Spotlight: Kristen Marie

2. Can you share the story behind the leap of faith you took to open KM&Co. in 2020?

In March 2020, my world was turning upside down. The pandemic hit, and the spa I worked at shut down. I was a new single mother to my son, who was just 7 months old, and living with my grandmother. I was barely making enough to pay bills. So I applied for unemployment and treated the next couple of months as an extended maternity leave. During that time, I picked up a book I had read years ago called You’re a Badass at Making Money, and it reignited my drive to be a business owner. I decided it was time to take a chance, and I found a small studio in San Mateo, CA. I told myself I had six months to give it all I got. So I used every penny I had left, picked up the camera, and started to document the real and raw journey of opening a solo practice. I had a small grand opening on August 2, 2020, and started making my presence known in the Bay Area. I’ve grown a wonderful clientele, hired an employee, and have been there ever since!

3. What made you want to start a YouTube channel, and what advice can you give to estheticians who would like to grow their presence online?

I always liked interior makeover shows growing up, so the idea was to show the transformation of my studio from start to finish—and to have a video diary for myself to look back on and hopefully inspire someone else. The last video of that series was an Esthetician Room Tour, and that’s the one that went viral. I said, “Hey, this is working,” and stuck to it! My advice would be to stay consistent and do it regardless of likes and support. As long as you have something to share that brings value and inspiration, people will follow. I’ve been posting once a week for almost five years now—with some exceptions, of course—but for the most part, social media has become a non-negotiable part of this career. So instead of looking at it as a drag or a task, look at it as a way to reflect on your journey, inspire, and educate.

4. Congratulations on your new storefront! Can you share a little bit about your new space and the journey it took to get here?

(I don’t have a new storefront just yet, but we did just do a rebrand. Do you want me to talk about that? A new storefront is coming, but not just yet!)

4. KM&Co. emphasizes custom esthetic services. How do you tailor treatments to meet individual client needs?

Haha, that’s a loaded question because it’s hard to write this out in a single paragraph. But the best way to learn this is to keep educating yourself and gain experience. You need to work on hundreds of faces to better understand how to customize and know what product or treatment works for which client. I think working at a high-end spa for at least a year really helped me start off on the right foot and gain more confidence before opening a solo practice. And now, being an educator in this industry, it’s encouraging me to put this concept and application into my courses, videos, and trainings. But the customization ultimately comes from having a solid understanding of the fundamentals and chemistry. More resources are coming to expand on this—so stay tuned!

5. What’s your philosophy on helping clients feel like a more radiant version of themselves?

I always want guests to feel like they can come to our practice just as they are. Our goal is to help everyone leave a better version of themselves through our services and interactions. I strongly believe the more you take care of yourself, the better you feel from the inside out. And that contributes to bettering the version of you that your family, friends, colleagues, etc., get to experience day to day. We want guests to be happier, healthier, and overall more radiant. I’ve seen clients transform in more ways than just their skin—it’s beautiful to watch. We love being part of their milestones and glow-up journey.

6. Can you tell us about the variety of services you offer at KM&Co., from skin and body care to beauty treatments?

I like to say we perform facials that give clients a mix of results and relaxation. We offer custom 50-, 80-, and 120-minute facials, and also advanced treatments like dermaplaning, chemical peels, and hydrodermabrasion. My employee Kristen D. does full-body waxing and body services for the back and booty. Lastly, we also offer brow lamination and lash lifts. We definitely plan to add more as we expand!

7. What inspired you to establish the Radiance Academy for esthetics continuing education?

I started seeing comments from followers saying they weren’t confident or learning much in esthetician school, especially during COVID. I felt I had knowledge to share, and I’ve also done training in previous job experiences. So I felt this went hand in hand and figured—why not try it? I started doing in-person trainings and really loved seeing other estheticians feel more confident after working with me. And genuinely, I think by sharing the knowledge I have—especially with newer estheticians—we’ll all continue to uphold a certain standard collectively in this industry. I believe how I represent myself as an esthetician is how we’re all represented, and vice versa.

8. How do you balance being an educator, mentor, and mother with running your business?

To be honest, there is no real trick to balance, nor have I perfected this—lol. I have my seasons of really killing it and juggling everything well, and other seasons where I have to pull back to keep myself sane. The best tip I can give is to give yourself some grace, pray/meditate daily, have a routine and planner, learn how to prioritize tasks, and don’t try to do everything yourself. You need a community around you. I would not be able to do what I do without my employee, a nanny, my close friends, and family. Also, try not to compare yourself because everything always looks so effortless online—but that’s never really the case. You are right where you need to be, and as long as you’re doing your best, that’s what matters. The rest will follow.

9. What qualities or attributes do you believe are the key to your success?

I would say tenacity, consistency, always being a student, helping others, and keeping love at the center of what I do.

10. What’s one key lesson you aim to teach aspiring estheticians through your coaching and courses?

To never quit on yourself and always keep learning!

10. Opening your own storefront is a huge milestone—what was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it?

I think the biggest challenge was juggling everything that comes with having a business. You really don’t realize how much goes into it until you’re in it. That’s why I think having other people to support you—and a mentor or mentors—helps a lot.

11. Where do you see KM&Co. and Radiance Academy in the next five years?

I would love to open bigger and more locations and hire more team members to work with us. I also want a space to hold in-person trainings locally but also travel to major cities to offer master classes. I can see this academy growing globally and traveling around the world to do what I love. I also want to create a program or non-profit that helps financially sponsor and mentor aspiring estheticians who might not have the resources to do it themselves. Lastly, of course, I want to keep adding to my online resources, start an online storefront, and create a professional skincare line.

12. How do you stay motivated and continue to evolve in such a dynamic industry?

Evolving in this industry requires taking continuing education courses and learning from other seasoned and successful estheticians. Staying motivated is a bit deeper. I believe part of my motivation has come from survival—wanting to support myself and my son—but the other part is wanting to leave a positive legacy in this lifetime. I always knew I had a deep desire to inspire and show others that despite the hardships I’ve faced, you can have a loving and fulfilled life helping others and pursuing your passion.

13. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in esthetics?

You need to have a deep love and genuine care for people and a passion for aesthetics. We touch people’s faces and get closer to them than even some of their own family or friends do. It’s an amazing field to get into, and everyone who gets their license has earned it and takes pride in being an esthetician. Everyone starts at zero, so enjoy the ride—and you will grow and get better the longer you’re in the industry. Don’t quit, always be learning, find the right community and mentor, and there’s no reason why you won’t be successful as an esthetician.