Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianne Schechter.
Hi Dianne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello! Thank you for inviting me to share my story with your readers, the honor is all mine!
I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in San Diego, California; therefore, I was taught at a young age how important it is to take care of your skin.
I had regularly seen dermatologists and estheticians since the sixth grade when I began to develop severe cystic acne. I am no stranger to skin issues and skincare products and I have tried virtually everything under the sun to get my acne under control.
Prior to becoming an esthetician, nothing I tried for my acne worked and eventually I succumbed to taking Accutane. This experience allowed me to really dive into the world of skincare and I have been enthusiastically exploring it ever since!
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree and Paralegal Certificate at the University of San Diego. A few years later, I went back to school and earned my Master’s Degree in History at the University of San Diego. My original life’s plan was to earn my PhD in History or move to Los Angeles to work as a museum curator; however, life and love had other plans for me and I decided to stay in San Diego and marry my wonderful husband (best decision I have ever made by the way!).
As a recent post graduate, I re-entered the working world and returned back to the legal field and continued my paralegal career. After working as a paralegal for 9 years, I felt like something was missing in my professional life.
In 2019, I realized I had been giving skincare advice, tips, and product recommendations to my friends and family for years and I really enjoyed it. I decided it was time to turn my favorite hobby into a career. I obtained my esthetician license and opened up my own business so that I could help as many people as possible achieve the beautiful skin that they deserve.
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?
Yes and no. I made the entire process easier for myself by making sure I had everything prepared before I even opened my business. I began the process of creating my business about 8 months before I officially opened my doors to clients. The first step I took was to take the Esthetician’s Guide to Business, which was a business course I found on Facebook that was specifically geared towards helping people start their own esthetician business. It was extremely instrumental in helping me figure out what kind of business I wanted to have and how I could best serve my clientele. I was so impressed with the course that I contacted the owner and after we chatted for bit I knew I needed some help/inspiration to help me narrow down the main focus of my business. Amazingly, she and her husband also own the company LABL Design. They spent time getting to know me as I explained the vision I had for my business. They understood my personality and my vision immediately and helped me turn my vision into a reality. We became a team that worked together closely for months and soon I had my business name, website, logo, etc.
I also opened up a separate bank account for my business and decorated my salon to reflect my personality. Doing all of the aforementioned tasks first really set me up for success when I opened up my doors for business; however, opening up a new business for the first time with zero clientele and during a time where people are cutting back on personal grooming expenses, was and is, definitely stressful at times. Although I have only been open for a few months, I’m actually doing a lot better than I even could have imagined! Long term professionals in this industry say that it takes 2-5 years to get a fully booked schedule, so in the meantime I will just be patient and continue giving the best facials I can to my current clients and hope the word spreads.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a very motivated person who gives 100% in everything I do. I am also a very intuitive person. I can sense a client’s energy immediately and I really feel the pain that they feel when they are having issues with their skin. I always give my all when I am performing facials. Nowadays people, women especially, don’t have a lot of time to pamper themselves or relax so my goal is not only to give them a facial with amazing results but also to give them 90 minutes of total relaxation. I received training in the non-surgical facelift massage technique (which helps strengthen your facial muscles and helps drain your lymphatic system). People forget that you need to work out your facial muscles and keep them strong just like you work out your other muscles at the gym! It is definitely a client favorite and extremely relaxing and the results are visible almost immediately.
I know what it feels like to be unhappy with your skin and have it affect your self-esteem, so I really care about my clients and I truly want them to enjoy their facials and experience real results so they keep coming back because they really want to! I researched the two skin care lines that I use in my salon for two years and I absolutely stand behind them. I use both lines for my home care as well and my skin has never looked better!
My sister was killed by a drunk driver when I was 10 years old and her favorite flower was a sunflower, which is why a sunflower is in my logo. It is my acknowledgment to her spirit and to always keep her with me.
I believe in progress over perfection. I help my clients understand what to expect as they begin to make real skincare progress and I help and encourage my clients to find ways to show themselves grace as they move towards their skincare goals.
I understand that each client’s skin is very different. I specialize in customizing treatments and ensure each treatment is individualized to help my clients get their best skin possible.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family, my husband, and my dog Layla are definitely the most important people in my life. They are my support system and I could not have done any of this without them. It is important for me to live my life with a sense of purpose and with passion. I have learned over the years that if you have a purpose and you are passionate about it, success will inevitably follow. Life is short so I try to laugh as much as possible and have fun, but I always live by the Golden Rule which is the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated.
Pricing:
- First time Client facial $199 90 min appt
- Returning client custom facials $249 90 min appt
Contact Info:
- Website: https://continuityskincare.com/
- Instagram: continuityskincare
- Facebook: Continuity Skincare
- Address: 15731 Bernardo Heights Pkwy. Suite 119 (Located inside the Phenix Suites) San Diego, CA 92128
