Inspiring Conversations with Katrina Ford of Amla Esthetics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Ford.

Hi Katrina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey into the beauty and wellness industry wasn’t exactly a straight line, but looking back, I can see how every chapter brought me here.

Before becoming an esthetician, I spent years working in the fashion and retail industry, including management at Nordstrom. I loved connecting with people, but eventually I started questioning what I really wanted my life to look like and what kind of work would actually feel meaningful to me.

Around that same time, I was going through a lot of personal changes. I began investing more in my own health, exploring nutrition and the relationship between our physical and emotional well-being. What started as wanting to feel better in my own body turned into a genuine fascination with how interconnected everything is.

Eventually, that curiosity led me to esthetics, and I opened Amla Esthetics in Long Beach in 2022.

When I first started, I knew I wanted to create something different from the traditional facial experience. Of course, I love skincare. I love a good serum, a beautiful treatment, and helping someone feel confident in their skin. But I’ve always believed that what’s happening on the surface is only part of the story.

That belief became even more personal when I struggled with my own acne, despite already being a licensed esthetician and acne specialist. Talk about humbling! It reminded me that skin isn’t always predictable, and that having all the right products doesn’t necessarily mean you’re addressing everything contributing to the problem.

Over the years, my approach has continued to evolve. I completed my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certification and expanded my education in whole-body wellness and the relationship between lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and skin health. Not because I wanted to collect certifications (although apparently I do love being a student!), but because I kept coming back to the same realization: our skin doesn’t exist separately from the rest of our body.

Today, Amla Esthetics is so much more than a place to get a facial. It’s where I bring together skincare, nutrition, and a whole-person approach to wellness. I work with clients who are ready to understand their skin beyond the latest trending product or quick fix.

At the heart of it all, my mission is pretty simple: to help people feel good in their skin, reconnect with their bodies, and understand that beauty and wellness were never meant to be separate.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, absolutely not! I don’t think anyone who’s built a business from the ground up would describe it as a smooth road.

One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to be a business owner, not just an esthetician. Being passionate about your craft and knowing how to run a profitable business are two very different skill sets. Suddenly, you’re the esthetician, receptionist, marketing department, accountant, content creator, and janitor. And somehow you’re supposed to find time to eat lunch in between!

There have been slow seasons, financial uncertainties, investments that didn’t pan out, and plenty of moments where I’ve questioned my decisions. Being self-employed means there’s no guaranteed paycheck, and that can be uncomfortable when you’re pouring so much of yourself into something you believe in.

Another challenge has been finding my voice in an industry saturated with trends, conflicting advice, and pressure to sell more. I’ve had to learn to trust my own philosophy, even when it doesn’t align with what’s popular or profitable. I’d rather recommend what someone genuinely needs than sell them something simply because it’s trending.

Four years in, I’m still figuring things out, and I’m okay with that. I’m proud of what I’ve built, but equally proud of the resilience, adaptability, and confidence I’ve developed along the way.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Amla Esthetics?
Amla Esthetics is my holistic skin sanctuary in Long Beach, California, where I bring together results-driven skincare and whole-body wellness. I specialize in acne and skin health, but my approach goes beyond what’s happening on the surface.

I believe our skin is a reflection of so many things happening within and around us. Nutrition, stress, lifestyle, hormones, and even our relationship with ourselves can all play a role. So while I absolutely love a good facial and believe in the power of quality skincare, I’m equally interested in understanding the person behind the skin.

I think that’s what really sets Amla apart. I’m not here to throw 15 products at someone and send them on their way. I want my clients to understand their skin, feel empowered to make informed decisions, and recognize that caring for their skin doesn’t have to mean obsessing over every imperfection. My approach combines professional treatments, thoughtful homecare, education, and integrative nutrition coaching when appropriate. It’s about finding what works for you, not following a one-size-fits-all formula.

My services range from customized holistic facials and acne consultations to advanced treatments like Osmosis Facial Infusion, microchanneling, and oxygen therapy. Each treatment is designed to support the skin while creating an experience that feels restorative rather than clinical or rushed.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Amla has evolved into an authentic extension of my values. I haven’t built it around chasing every beauty trend or promising perfection. I’ve built it around curiosity, connection, education, and the belief that we can pursue healthy skin without being at war with our bodies.

I also want people to know that holistic skincare doesn’t have to be intimidating, overly complicated, or completely woo-woo (although I’m not opposed to a little woo-woo!). There’s room for science, intuition, effective treatments, and a sense of humor.

Ultimately, I want Amla to be a place where people feel seen, supported, and comfortable in their skin. Because to me, beauty and wellness aren’t two separate conversations. They’re deeply connected, and that’s the heart of everything I do.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that changing direction doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Sometimes it means you’ve grown.

For a long time, I thought success meant doing more. More clients, more services, more accomplishments. But I’ve realized that being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re building a life you love.

I’ve learned to trust myself, even when my decisions don’t make sense to everyone else. There will always be opinions about what I should be doing or what success should look like, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who has to live with those choices.

Turning 40 has only reinforced that for me. I’m still ambitious, still learning, and still dreaming big. But I’m also more intentional about where I put my time and energy. I’ve learned that I can want more for myself without constantly feeling like what I have isn’t enough.

Success, to me, is building something I’m proud of while still having a life I genuinely enjoy living.

Pricing:

• Signature holistic facial $250
• Osmosis facial infusion $200
• Procell Microchanneling $300
• Face Reality Acne Bootcamp $200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amlaesthetics.com
• Instagram: amla_esthetics

Image Credits
Laurel Hunzicker