Meet Jeff Mendoza | Licensed Esthetician

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

Hi Jeff, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was stuck in the rat race of corporate America. I worked side jobs for years on top of my regular 9-5 and have sacrificed vacations and holidays but I’ve always had the dream of venturing out with my own business and using my creative side. When the pandemic hit, everything changed. As businesses were closing and people were losing their jobs, the only upside to the devastation in the workforce was that a lot of people could change their careers and follow their dreams. I was still lucky enough to keep my job however but I did get the chance to work from home and start pursuing my skincare studio.
I took control of my destiny and renewed my license in esthetics. I finally opened up my skincare business and never looked back. It’s been scary but I couldn’t be more excited for the journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Skin Factory specializes in customized skin therapy services. There is no one specific facial treatment that targets all skin because everyone’s skin is a little bit different. Think of snowflakes, they may look the same from far away but up close there are little details that separate them from one another. I believe that it’s crucial to assess every client’s skin individually so that I can guide them with their specific skin needs.

What makes me proud are my clients and their ability to stick to a skincare program that I put them through. Hearing from my clients and knowing that they see positive changes to their skin makes this job very meaningful and I’m very proud of that because, at the end of the day, this is what we as licensed estheticians are here to do.

Every entrepreneur has had to go through some type of challenge to get to where they are. I truly believe that in order to be successful, you not only have to overcome your challenges but also learn from every mistake. What will set you apart from everyone is your determination and consistency. Everyone has talent but not everyone will put in the work they need to get to where they want to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many different spots I could take them to. One area is the Arts District. It has undergone such an amazing transformation and they opened up some of the most amazing places to eat and enjoy cocktails within just a few blocks from each other. My personal favorite is Bavel, it’s such a gorgeous space with amazing food and my personal favorite is the duck ‘nduja hummus served with the softest bread. There are also places like Everson Royce Bar, Cha Cha Cha, and Bestia that are so essential to the neighborhood.

A Gold Line bar crawl is something that I’ve done a couple of times and it’s fun. It’s a great way to see all of the different pocket neighborhoods that you don’t really get to see a lot, especially if you live on the westside. You can start your day at Olvera Street and from there, you can walk to Union Station, take the Gold Line and stop at neighborhoods like Highland Park, Chinatown, Pasadena, South Pasadena. You could spend all day checking out these neighborhoods and just have a fun time eating and having some cocktails with your visitors while meeting new people.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom has been an incredible support throughout my journey. She was the one who encouraged me to go to esthetics school and the one who inspired me to start a business. Huge shoutout to my friends, colleagues, and family who supported me through this decision and have continued to support and believe in me even through times that I doubted myself.

Website: www.skinfactoryla.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinfactoryla

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skinfactoryla

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinfactoryla/

Image Credits
Matt O’Leary, Rachelle Herrera & Alyce Barrick