We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Lark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, how do you think about risk?
“…Courage is fear that has said it prayers.” ~ Karle Wilson Baker

I think risk is having both faith in myself and faith in the possibility of the best possible outcome of whatever it is I’m willing to lose.

A very wise woman used to tell me, “set the goal, do the footwork and stay out of the results”.

It was a risk in 2013 when I was pretty newly separated from my then husband and working for myself when I decided that I was going to fulfill a lifelong dream of going to Africa and hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. The risky part for me was not fear of traveling or falling off the side of a mountain and never to be seen again because I had never backpacked before. It was getting hurt and not being able to follow through with the goal. I was willing to set aside all these limiting beliefs that I had had about myself and all past experiences of injuries I had gotten over the years. When I decided to do it, I had started to train about 10 months out before the trip. I don’t consider myself a religious person but I do have faith in the idea that if I can have the dream, I can create the reality- even at great risks.

It’s been my experience that there is a very big difference between taking a risk and doing something spontaneous at the time because it just feels really good! I did the latter when my ego got out of hand and decided to open up two small locations because of the spontaneous thought “this will be great, I can help employees help others! I just know it!” With almost no business background. I was not nor did I ever think of myself as a businesswoman until the beginning of 2018 when I just about lost my business entirely. I could have given up and walked away humiliated OR I could hustle in a way I never did before. wasn’t a failure. It was is the best most rewarding and challenging lesson in my entire working career. The following year not only was the best my company ever did, not only that but most importantly I learned that if I don’t take a chance on myself, nobody else will.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Sweetest Skin Company®️ originated in 2010. I had found a niche (Sugaring) in a saturated market of facials and waxing. I was still in esthetics school in 2007 when I discovered Alexandria Professional Body Sugaring®️ at a skin care show. When I saw how different the results were on me from that of waxing, I literally saw bags of gold in my head -kind of like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Money wasn’t even a motivating force for me back then but that’s what came up in my head. I knew this was something different, something that would set me apart and the educator made the technique look so damn easy! Only later to find out that it was one of the hardest things I ever had to learn and it actually took me a couple years to master. I didn’t give up on it though because I believed in the product and how I could help others so much and I really enjoyed doing the services and The wonderful clients that would come in so happy that they were having the results that they have been looking for. It is so rewarding knowing that I’ve been able to help thousands of women, teens and men of all different walks of life with all different types of skin conditions, concerns and insecurities feel a little bit better about themselves when they leave my spa.

I had the extremely fortunate opportunity in 2009 to work side-by-side with CEO and owner of AP, Lina Kennedy for a year while I was building my business. She still is a mentor to me to this day and someone who I admire and respect very much. I’m so grateful I have kept good relationships with the women I have admired most in business. I have fallen on my face several times and pain has been the biggest and best opportunity for growth. I’ve learned to do what I don’t want to do, don’t do what I want to do and act as if it’s all good even when it didn’t feel like it was going to be. always have the hustle and never give up.

I love our brand! My marketing team has been some of the most amazing people ever they get my brand and I’ve helped create it into what it is now and still becoming. I definitely think The Sweetest Skin Company will be a name everybody knows in the not too distant future!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
oh my gosh, I’m not the best one to ask this question- I keep things pretty chill- I have a 16 yr old daughter, a very busy spa and cats. Thankfully my bestie understands and loves to chill too BUT we do love to eat!

We have some amazing places to hike and it being summer, it would be on the beach side. Temescal Cyn for sure or the SM mountains back bone trails. Also, a long bike ride from SM to Manhattan beach is a perfect Saturday or Sunday morning for me

We’d definitely see a show at the Greek or the Bowl and bring yumminess from Porto’s.

We would go to Tatsu Ramen on Melrose for their vegan, gluten free ramen (make it spicy!)

Sushi @ Sushi Ajito on Highland

We would have to go to Trejos donuts since she is a big Trejo fan.

Brunch at The Front Yard

Then St. Food Cinemas on a Saturday night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my gosh! It takes a village! There’ are so many people that cheer me on, mentor, encourage & support me and even those who have pulled the rug out doing shady, unethical shit- I thank them too! I come from a family of very hard workers & entrepreneurs so the encouragement and support of my mom & pop just lovely. He’s about to be 90 and still goes to work four days a week. ABW- Always be working. That’s what his dad would tell him and his dad was raised during the depression. My dad has been working 76 years! He loves what he does – he helps others and gives him purpose. My mom who is about to be 85 gets up every day, meditates, puts her make up, nice casual clothes and jewelry just to garden and cook. “Put some lipstick on, you’ll feel better!” She always used to say.

I would have to say that Therese Edwards-Tunney deserves a huge shout out. She has been in my business corner for the past six years. Therese is my marketing person and wordsmith along with her power duo husband Adam and has done so much work to build my brand as we expand. She has always had tons of faith in me and has wanted to support my dreams and goals every step of the way. We’ve had to take back steps and slow steps forward and call I need this done right this second” and she has all done it with such knowledge, humor, honesty and grace. I’m so excited to see what our future holds as The Sweetest Skin Company grows.

Website: Thesweetestskinco.com

Instagram: Thesweetestskinco

Facebook: Thesweetestskinco@gmail.com

Yelp: Thesweetestskinco@gmail.com

Youtube: Thesweetestskinco@gmail.com

Image Credits
Therese Edwards – Aleshanee Whatt Lina Kennedy – will send pics…

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