Meet Anna Maria Martinez-Johnson of Hand Love Gloves in Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Maria Martinez-Johnson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Anna Maria. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Hand Love Gloves combines two of my passions — skincare and giving back to those in need. If I had a motto, it would be: “I am here to make a difference.” Though my love for all things skin began early (I was performing at-home facials at seven), so did my desire to help others. My father would take us to nursing homes when I was young to visit with elderly people that did not have family. I also volunteered for Abused and Neglected Children while in college and eventually became a CASA.

After earning my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, I began my career as a Probation Officer. Even then, I managed to wax my colleague’s eyebrows/upper lips during lunch break. In 2006, after moving to Southern California I had the opportunity to follow my skincare dream and went back to school becoming a Licensed Esthetician.

Since 2010, I have worked for Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Ashton Kaidi of Newport Beach, performing medical facials. I also maintain a spa room in San Juan Capistrano, where I perform spray tans, facials and eyelash extensions, and am a celebrity spray tan artist for South Seas Skin Care, the official spray tan company for “Dancing With The Stars.”

I launched Hand Love Gloves after watching my clients spend time and money treating the age spots on their hands and wanted to provide fashionable UV (ultraviolet) hand protection options. Fashion was lacking in this space and it seemed a good time to take an entrepreneurial opportunity with some glamour in this previously dull area of skincare.

In addition to the fingerless, reversible/nonreversible gloves, Hand Love Gloves also offers masks to protect the nose, mouth and neck. Both are made of the highest quality fabric from Italy. Lightweight, breathable and comfortable on even the most sensitive skin, the Hand Love Gloves products carry an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50+. Furthermore, a portion of every purchase is donated to Stop Abuse for Everyone (SAFE), a non-profit organization in Austin, Texas that provides support to victims of violence.

Has it been a smooth road?
I started Hand Love Gloves because I found myself unable to have children and I needed an outlet to distract me through a difficult time. Expanding on my concern for skincare, I followed my heart and started a business to merge fashion wear and sun protection where I could not find this need satisfied in the apparel market. I’m proud to donate $1 for every purchase to SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone) and now can satisfy my charitable desire with every customer’s purchase.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hand Love Gloves story. Tell us more about the business.
Hand Love Gloves provides sun protection gloves, neck gaiters, caps online. We feel we have designed a functional quality product that works as a fashionable accessory. To be able to do this and fulfill my charitable desires in the bargain is a dream come true.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Hand Love Gloves will continue providing new and improved fashionable ultraviolet protection factor (UPF50+) products. We want to set the bar for fashion and function in skincare that really didn’t exist.

Pricing:

• Reversible Fingerless Gloves- $42
• Non-Reversible Fingerless Gloves- $22
• Face Mask/Neck Gaiters- $25

Contact Info:

• Address: 31411 Carril De Maderas
• Website: www.handlovegloves.com
• Phone: 7145044474
• Email: anna@handlovegloves.com
• Instagram: handlovegloves
• Facebook: handlovegloves

Image Credit:
Sarah Orbanic

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