Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Misasi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I can honestly say, I started my makeup journey when I was 5 or 6 years old and discovered my mom’s makeup drawer. She used to let me play with all of her bright, sparkly eye shadows and she would give me ones she didn’t want any more. Before I was 10, I had my own makeup case with lipsticks and blushes from my mom, grandma and aunts. They fueled my obsession! I always loved playing dress up, but for me, dress up was more to do with the makeup than clothes. When I was in college, in my early 20’s, I got a part-time job as a Color Specialist at Sephora, it wasn’t my first job in makeup, but it was the one that made a lasting impression! I learned so much there, especially that I also had a love for skincare and a passion for ingredients and teaching others. During my time at Sephora, I attended a makeup school and then later left Sephora to pursue my Esthetics license. When I finished school and got my license, I was immediately recruited by Benefit Cosmetics to be a brow expert at one of their Brow Bars in Aurora. I worked there for 3 years before leaving to start my own business. I opened Aesthetics by Amanda in January of 2015 with the help and encouragement of my amazing family, friends and clients. Over the last 3 years, I have taken this world that I love and really made it my own. Beauty is so much more than beautiful skin and makeup. My motto is: “Beauty is how you feel inside and it reflects in your soul. It is not something physical” – Sophia Loren. I have made it my personal mission to provide my clients with a safe, fun and comfortable environment to not only have a full range of services done but also to ask their questions, learn and try new things. Educating others is still just as important to me today as it was 10 years ago. We grow together as a family. I choose to use products that are as natural as possible including ILIKE Organics, Skin Script Rx and Fake Bake airbrush tanning because I believe that our skin deserves the purest ingredients and my clients deserve the best!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not! But they say that nothing worth doing is ever easy and they’re right. There were many times on my journey that I doubted myself, my ability to run a business, to strike out on my own with no direction from someone else and no guarantee of pay. That is a terrifying feeling! I started toying with the idea of opening my own place at least a year or more before I did it. I really missed doing facials and helping people find some quiet relaxation in all the noise of life. At Benefit, I could only do facial waxing and light makeup, I missed all of the other things that I am passionate about, but the idea was scary and overwhelming. How could I possibly do this? Wasn’t it easier to just play it safe and stay where I was? The short answer is yes. But, I kept coming back to all of these things that I wanted to do. So, I started researching and planning without any real decision to do it. The more lists I made and products and services I discovered, the more resolved I became. I was going to do this. And so I did, I just kind of closed my eyes and jumped with both feet. You have to. I don’t ever regret it. The sleepless nights, the anxiety, the self-doubt, was all worth it and they pushed me in a way I didn’t even know was possible. And I was never alone, I have the most amazing support group! Anything I didn’t know, I had someone to help me. Family, friends, colleagues and clients!
The first year was pure adrenaline and just kind of feeling my way through learning what to keep track of, how to schedule my time, what services to offer and products to use. The 2nd year was SCARY! Realizing that money didn’t automatically hit the bank every 2 weeks, learning how to budget, balance books and pay taxes and make sure I ordered enough and not too much! At the beginning of the third year, I moved to a more upscale studio with a better location and its been pretty smooth sailing ever since! Not to say there aren’t still moments of panic, but I wake up every day and I want to go to work and see my clients, it’s amazing!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Aesthetics By Amanda story. Tell us more about the business.
Aesthetics by Amanda is about my passion for all things aesthetic. We are an all-encompassing skin care boutique. I made a name for my self as an eyebrow guru and my clients call me “the brow queen”. As I’ve grown as a business, it’s become so much more than perfect eyebrows and clean upper lips. If it has anything to do with skin, I’m there. I specialize in brow shaping, this includes tinting, but I also offer full body waxing, relaxing and treatment facials, airbrush tanning, private lessons for both makeup and skin care and group classes. I also freelance as a makeup artist doing bridal, special occasion and retail. I’ve always been a little bit of a rebel when it comes to the rules of beauty, I definitely believe the mold is there to be broken, so if one of my clients is interested in something, I’ll look into it, learn it and provide it. I’ll try just about anything (as long as it falls under the scope of my license). I really think this is one of the things that sets me apart, it really is all about my clients. I want to give them the best possible service, they’re very loyal to me and they deserve the very best from me. without them, I wouldn’t be where I am! Another important part of my client service is time, I never rush my clients through their service, I always schedule in a way that allows me to be there for them, to answer any questions they have, catch up on their lives and make sure they feel pampered and leave in a better mood! The business of beauty isn’t just about what’s on the outside, but how we feel inside as well.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The beauty industry is ever changing! It has gone through one of the biggest changes ever in the last 5 years or so. With the prevalence of social media and beauty gurus, clients are better educated and more curious about new things than ever! That means we, as beauty professionals need to be on top of our game. We need to know what we’re talking about and be ready with ingredients, uses, timelines and specifics on how the products, services or techniques will benefit them. They want to know, “what is this going to do for me”. they’re looking for results. There is a lot less brand loyalty and less professional advice being sought. Clients have the whole world at their fingertips now. And that’s actually really great because as professionals, we do too. This gives us a chance to seek out new products, new innovations and new ways to make sure we are giving our clients the very best. As with any industry, the discovery of new ingredients and scientific innovation keeps the skin and makeup industry constantly evolving, it’s pretty amazing to a part of. I never stop learning, and I’ll definitely never know everything
Contact Info:
- Address: 475 Riverbend Rd Suite 400C
Naperville, IL 60540 - Website: www.aestheticsbyamanda.com
- Phone: 630 947 2821
- Email: amisasi1@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aesthetics.by.amanda/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AestheAmanda/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aesthetics-by-amanda-naperville
Image Credit:
Aesthetics by Amanda, April Marie Photography
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