Daily Inspiration: Meet Carolyna Magaña-Martinez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyna Magaña-Martinez.

Hi Carolyna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Wow! First off, thank you so much for having me on Voyage LA and letting me share my story. As a 2nd Gen Latina, I feel truly lucky to be able to do something like this. If somebody would have told me six years ago I would join the beauty industry, become an esthetician, and eventually own a business I would’ve never believed it. Ever since I can remember I had dreams of becoming an actor and pursuing that as a career, but the universe had different plans for me. What I thought was “the worst thing ever,” was actually a blessing in disguise. Since the age of twelve, I’ve had on/off cystic acne which meant countless visits to the doctor’s office and needless to say, my dermatologists and I became BFFs. After high school, I became a performer with the Walt Disney Company which I loved, however I still felt like a had some unfinished business in the beauty realm. Although I loved my time performing, I knew that I needed to pursue skin care.

Fast forward, at the age of twenty-one, I decided to leave the Walt Disney Company. I went back to school and officially began my journey as a licensed esthetician. My end goal was to become a full-time facialist and specialize strictly on acneic skin. Plans changed once again, and I actually fell in love with becoming a hair removal specialist! I was given an opportunity to work beside one of the best sugaring hair removal specialists in my area, and she gave me the confidence to pursue hair removal as a career. After two beautiful years working under her practice, I decided to branch out on my own and start my business, Pass the Sugar Studio. At age twenty-three, I felt all of the emotions… I was scared, nervous and as Selena said “me siento muy….excited”. With little to no knowledge on how to run a business, I had the support of everybody around me and that was truly what helped me embrace this new change. Pass the Sugar Studio is a sweet little sanctuary that has been operating for four years now and I feel truly blessed to have my “sweet thang” clients, supportive family, an amazing husband, and sweet friends who have been on this crazy ride with me.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Owning a business has easily been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. The first year in business I was trying to figure out the do’s and dont’s, growing my social media organically, getting all of my licenses in order, and working hard as much as I could to keep it operating. I had no financial savings, a degree in business or even a business plan but I genuinely love what I do and never let anything stop me. Then the second year of business with the pandemic affecting all of us in 2020 I felt like Pass the Sugar needed to pivot and make other changes. It was then that I realized that we can’t control what happens, we just kind of go with the flow and figure it all out. It’s amazing to have a business plan and have financial savings but beyond that, I think regardless of making a business plan or having everything in order, I think the bigger picture is that if you have good intentions and a strong faith in your art/craft everything will succeed.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a sugar hair removal and lash lift specialist located in Orange, California. Sugaring is essentially like waxing but the technique and ingredients are completely different. Sugaring is an ancient technique used to remove body hair. The golden sugar paste is made up of three ingredients: sugar, water, and lemon. It is chemical-free and 100% organic. What I love about sugaring is that it caters to sensitive skin. Unlike waxing, sugaring does not require strips, sticks, or cloths for removal. We remove the hair with the flow of growth creating less breakage and leaving your skin super smooth. Lash lifting is an easy and safe way to temporarily curl eyelashes. This semi-permanent treatment gives your natural lashes a lift that will last 4 to 8 weeks. Here at Pass the Sugar Studio, I try to use all organic and non-toxic products. My intention is to not only spread sweetness but to help others around me feel beautiful every time. I always loved how beauty inspires others to feel confident and comfortable in their skin. Whether it’s sugaring or lashes, beauty itself is a form of self-care and self-love. I hope that each time you look at your body or touch your skin, you do so with love.

What are your plans for the future?
Currently, my plans for the future would be to enjoy and live in the moment. I feel like I always stress out about the future and what it holds but this year I really want to just go with the flow and handle things with ease. A goal of mine is to give back to my community volunteering and being a mentor for children in low-income areas. Growing up in these programs myself I feel like it is very important for me to encourage young souls into pursuing what they really want to do in the future. Business-wise, I can definitely see Pass the Sugar Studio expanding and hopefully starting a product line within the next few years.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passthesugarstudio/?hl=en