Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissy Lewis.
Hi Chrissy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my esthetics career about 20 years ago here in San Diego. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to specialize in yet, so I worked for hotel spa’s locally before I decided I wanted to get some experience in other cities. I moved to Las Vegas and started working with The Ritz Carlton spa, eventually moving to LA to continue working with The Ritz Carlton spa. After a couple of years, I craved change again so I transferred with the hotel to work at the La Prairie Spa located inside The Ritz Carlton in Manhattan, NYC. These opportunities allowed me to really fall in love with facials and all the decadent details that I learned along the way to give extraordinary service.
After returning to San Diego, I went on to work at a medial boutique spa, where I honed in on my clinical esthetic skills for six years before opening my own space in Encinitas. I specialize in facials, specifically facial massage, Gua Sha, microchanneling and Dermaplaning. Looking back, I feel very fortunate to have lived and worked in amazing cities. It really allowed me to expand my esthetic skills to the next level.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I encountered numerous struggles along the way, both personally to professionally. Although working with a large hotel company was great security in many ways. The room for growth is almost non-existent. You are not allowed to ‘get creative’ in the treatment room, so having to do the same treatment and follow protocol each time can be exhausting and frankly kind of boring at times. On a personal note, this past year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not news anyone wants to hear, so starting my own business was a nice distraction from my treatments and surgery.
In a way, the news made me really think about what I wanted to do. Not what others thought I should do. That’s what really drew me to open my own space. I believe it’s very important to surround yourself with what makes you happy. My advice to anyone going through something like cancer is to somehow find something to keep you smiling. I know that sounds super cliche but it matters. I know we will always have those days, but they pass, and a new day presents itself. I definitely had my moments of complete breakdowns, but I let it out and picked myself back up. I honestly think that’s why my cancer treatments were as successful as they were. I truly believe where the mind goes, the body follows.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m super passionate about facial massage… facials in general, really. I love customizing treatments while marrying the clinical aspect like Dermaplane or microchanneling with the decadent details of Gua Sha and facial massage. They compliment each other so well when done properly. I would say I’m known for my facials for sure!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Supporting my business, referrals and meet-ups are great! I have a group of local estheticians I meet up with quarterly, and we trade techniques, new product information and catch up on all the latest industry news.
Contact Info:
- Email: Sdfacialist@gmail.com
- Website: www.sdfacialist.com
- Instagram: @thesdfacialist
