Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Vera Sandoval.
Miriam, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As cliche as it may sound, I became an Esthetician because I had acne at a very young age, 13 to be exact. So I started to get introduced to the world of skin through my mom, we tried it all! Dermatologist visits, goat milk soap, antibiotic pills, Hispanic home remedies. Nothing worked! Until she took me to her Esthetician at the time and it was history from there. I LOVED going not only because I enjoyed talking to her but because I admired her and her knowledge. Every visit was a learning opportunity for me. I would pick her brain all the time lol (she had a lot of patience!). I continued seeing her throughout high school and as graduation was approaching, I was at a loss at what I wanted to go to school for at one visit, I remember asking her “Joyce, do you like what you do?” She replied, “yes I love it!” I then asked her “well I think I want to be an Esthetician, what do you think?” She replied, “Go for it”. Although I knew what I wanted to do, I couldn’t do it right away because DACA wasn’t in place then. So I didn’t go straight after high school. I cleaned house and did below minimum wage paying jobs just so I can get to work.
When DACA was introduced I just like so many others, filed right away and applied to Esthetics school as well as a part-time job to help pay for it. After I finished, I wanted nothing more than to succeed as an Esthetician and my Esty journey began.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I always like to say, “Nothing worth having comes easy”. My dad quoted this, and I have since adopted it! One of the biggest struggles for me was finding my niche and a place where I felt I belonged 100% as the Esthetician I wanted to be. After I finished school, I worked front desk at a prestige spa in Buckhead with hopes to be an Esty for them one day but it never happened, which is okay! After a year or so I decided to apply to a franchise spa in which stayed for about two years, then I went to work for a cosmetic surgeon’s med spa and finally, I worked with someone else sharing a salon suite. Once I got the feel of working for myself, I imagined what it would be like to work completely on my own, but my own self-doubt always stopped me. The other struggle – when to go out on your own; when is the right time? Will I make it? What happens if I fail?
With the push from my loved ones and friends, I took the opportunity to go out on my own and get my own suite that my Esty friend was letting go of. To this day, it has been the best decision I could have made. I found my niche, which is specializing in treating mild to severe acne. My clients are what make me love my job the most, they’re seriously the best and I owe it all to them! Finding good people in the Beauty industry is rare. I got lucky with Barrie Fuentes and Cynthia Lopez for helping me along the way.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
VS Acne and Skin Care is a skincare studio suite inside Phenix Salon Suites. The name is simple, but it does mean something. V stands for Vera, which is my dad’s last name and S stands for Sandoval, my mom’s last name. It was my small way of paying tribute to them and thanking them for everything they have done for me, which ultimately led me to where I am.
My thing has always been results, so I offer customized facials, microdermabrasion, derma planing, micro-needling, hydro peeling all while targeting specific skincare concerns. My speciality though, near and dear to my heart, is treating acne. I know what it’s like to have acne and to feel like you’re going to look like “this” forever and nothing will ever work. When a client commits and clears oh my goodness, its the best! The amount of self-confidence I see that it gives is priceless. I think I am safe to say, that is what I am known for!
My passion and being able to relate is what I believe sets me apart. I love what I do and I truly do care to help others. I like to be involved with my clients and really find out what their skincare needs are. I also am a lover of education. I do tons and tons of continuing education. I need to be on top of what’s new and how things work. After all, you can’t treat what you do not understand.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up with my four brothers and one sister. It was always a hectic but fun traditional Mexican household! I was playful and very much a tomboy, having so many brothers. I didn’t begin to get into beauty until a little later (after puberty). Into my early 20’s I started to help my dad doing administrative work for his small business, which ultimately helped me later on with my business!
Family is and will always be an important factor for me, so much so that I am going to bring my sister into the beauty business alongside me!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1600 Mall of Georgia Blvd STE 1030
Buford, GA 30519 - Website: http://vsacneandskincare.glossgenius.com
- Email: miriamvera12@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/vsacneandskincare
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