Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Arakelian.
Natalia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I came up with the idea for my skincare consulting business while studying Entrepreneurship at USC. I have always had a passion for the aesthetic field of skincare – I was always trying new products and brands, and often found myself recommending products to friends and family. All throughout college, people reached out to me for product recommendations and general skincare questions.
After receiving my Bachelor’s, I decided to solidify my credibility in skincare by getting my Aesthetician’s license over the course of five months. I began developing my online platform while I was an Aesthetician student. I had so much fun with it that it did not feel like work!
Has it been a smooth road?
I had only learned about starting a business in a classroom – not in the real world. The idea of starting a business was completely sensationalized in my mind. I did face minor struggles along the way because it was all so new to me, but I took on each task one day at a time. Because my business is virtual, I had some technical difficulties with my website in the early stages. I am not the most technologically-inclined, so I had to ask many questions along the way until I got comfortable with these skills!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I started growing my social media platform by posting daily holistic skincare tips & product recommendations while I was an Aesthetician student. As I grew more of a following, I started my online skincare consulting business, Derma Dame Aesthetic Consulting. On this platform, clients schedule video consultations with me to assess their skin types and conditions. They send me clear photos of their skin and answer an extensive pre-consultation form so I really get to know their conditions. I then recommend a morning and nighttime skincare regimen suited just for them. I also throw in some self-care tips in this form. My clients love the convenience of this service!
I specialize in clean, non-toxic skincare. I research product ingredients and the materials they are made out of to share my knowledge with clients. There are many popular skincare companies in the market that use misleading labels, packaging, and ingredients to gain customers. There are ingredients in conventional household and cosmetic products that compromise our health and wellness. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and we are constantly applying lotions and potions that go straight into our bloodstream without reading into them! My mission is to inform my clients and followers on such ingredients and their effects. I do not get paid to release this information, I do this to help people’s purchasing habits and consciousness when choosing products to apply on their skin. I am most proud of my brand integrity – I maintain a consistent moral code as a business owner and lead my company with honesty. I continue to make my clients and followers my top priority and always release raw, unedited, honest content!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is the city of all things aesthetic. Although the skincare and cosmetic industries are saturated in LA, I offer a niche service in a fairly new market of skincare consulting with so many people to inform. My online platform has given me the opportunity to reach people globally, so everyone is able to receive my services and follow my page.
I would definitely recommend someone in this industry to start out in a big city like LA to gain experience and sharpen people skills to help give you an incredible competitive advantage. However, above all, you need to maintain a strong presence on social media and commit to your brand integrity!
Pricing:
- Virtual Skincare Consultation: $75.00
Contact Info:
- Website: derma-dame.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @the.derma.dame
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalia.DermaDame/
Image Credit:
Slip Pillowcase
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