Our series “How I became a …” digs into the stories of accomplished and influential people, finding out how they got to where they are in their careers.
Skin care is Shani Darden’s game, and she plays it well. The celebrity esthetician has an impressive roster of clients, taking care of famous faces from Jessica Alba and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Shay Mitchell and Kelly Rowland. Darden, who has her own line of skin care products, also opened up her very own studio this year, where she sees clients in her own space and works to develop products.
USA TODAY caught up with the renowned esthetician to talk about everything from decaf almond milk lattes and Justin Bieber to starting as a receptionist and the beauty that comes with making her clients feel good about themselves.
Question: How did you get your start?
Shani Darden: I knew I wanted to work in a spa, which was really weird, but I knew it. I went to school to be a massage therapist first, but then I realized I didn’t really have that gift. Then, I went to school to be an esthetician. During that, since I knew I wanted to work at a spa, I started working as a receptionist at a bunch of different spas. That’s where I sort of trained, by working with a bunch of estheticians and learning from them. Then I got a job working for Dr. Erma Benitez, and that’s sort of where it all began. I used to work seven days a week at three different places – two different hotels and a doctor’s office – so, I did that for a while.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
Darden: I wake up really early like a crazy person, usually about 4 a.m., and I answer emails. I get out of bed around 6, get myself ready first, and then wake up the kids at 7 and get them ready. I get to work about 8:30, answer lots of questions and usually start about 9 or 9:30. I just do back-to-back facials, go home, answer more emails, eat with my kids, go to bed and do it all over again.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
Darden: Just helping people. Helping people look beautiful and feel beautiful is my favorite part.
Q: How did you become a well-known celebrity esthetician?
Darden: I was so fortunate to get so many great clients, so that’s how it happened. Jessica Alba was the first celebrity I ever saw, and she put me in a magazine and it kind of just went there. That was the moment it sort of all changed for me.
Q: What do you credit your success to?
Darden: I hope [it’s] just being an honest, good person and people can see that. I’m really honest about everything I do, I’m not gimmicky, and I want the best for the people that I see.
Q: How do you balance work, life, and such a busy schedule?
Darden: I don’t think I really balance well at all, to be honest. I’ve got to figure that out, and I’m hoping that balance comes soon. Maybe when I retire? I’m always answering an email, and I need to be more focused on when I’m home having that time, but it’s hard. I’m kind of always just running around.
Q: What have been some of your career highlights?
Darden: All of it, just getting in, has all been a lot in the sense that I’m always amazed that it’s been this amazing. But, opening the studio, that was pretty amazing – the whole thing. Also, all of the friendships I’ve made with clients.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Darden: You really have to believe in yourself, and you have to listen to your gut. People are always kind of going to put you down, and you really have to believe in it and go for it. I think it’s really about trusting your own instincts for sure because there are so many people who are going to tell you to do things a different way. You’ve gotta do it the way you want to, and just work so hard.
Quick hits
• What’s your coffee order? Decaf almond milk latte.
• What is your favorite book? I don’t read a lot, but the last book I read was “The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne, who also wrote “The Secret”
• What is your favorite song at the moment? "10,000 Hours" by Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber
• Who has been one of your biggest mentors? Dr. Benitez, who I learned everything from. She’s a dermatologist, and she taught me everything. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am.
• What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done? Building the studio that I’m in now.
"Skin care" - Google News
December 10, 2019 at 06:01PM
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How I became a celebrity esthetician: Shani Darden - USA TODAY
"Skin care" - Google News
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