Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianna Rivera.
Hi Dianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always had an affinity for self-care and beauty, even when I was very young. I grew up dancing ballet, jazz, tap, and even modern and always enjoyed the day of recital when I would have to put on makeup. After I quit being a dancer, I began to experiment with makeup in high school and would even do makeup on friends. I had thought I would go to a makeup school or something of that nature, but I decided to pursue a degree in Fashion Design. Even through college, I still loved beauty and even participated in a school photo shoot (when I was abroad in London) and in the fashion club’s fashion show doing makeup. During my college years though, I started to break out and I did not know why, but eventually, I found out about my hormonal imbalance polycystic ovarian syndrome-which contributed to my acne and other symptoms I experienced. I visited a few dermatologists and they always recommended prescription topicals or medications like Spironolactone and Accutane. But I never felt satisfied with those answers, and I decided to take action and research my triggers and causes.
I finished college and had no luck finding work as my college was a for-profit that had 0 industry connections. Eventually, I decided to go down a different path, I got hired to work as a freelance Makeup Artist at MAC Cosmetics and later began to pursue a freelance career outside of working at the store. After working in retail for 8 years, I decided to focus on giving myself the opportunity that I was never given. I decided to go back to school and obtain my esthetics license. It was a natural decision because by that point, I was already providing friends and family skincare advice and recommendations. I went to Orange Technical College, Westside campus, and it changed so much for me. I did the Facial Specialist program for licensure and the advanced program. Providing skincare services for some reason, just felt so right that I started working while finishing the advanced program. I worked at a family-owned spa for 2 years, and I learned so much there about the business (I quit earlier this year). Eventually last year, I decided on the spot that I wanted to start my business. Now it’s been a year later, and now I am fully devoted to my clients and what I do. I would not have gotten here if it weren’t for my family who has fully supported all my decisions, and my amazing clients who love what I do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road has not been smooth at all for me. It was more of an uphill battle mentally really. I went through depression when I finished college and had to come to the realization that my original dream was not to be. It was difficult as I still worked in retail with a very low wage and unreliable hours at times; for years I could not afford to pay my student loans. I fought with myself quite a bit on whether I needed to just accept that I just needed to work a full-time job and feel miserable doing it for the rest of my life or push on and realize my entrepreneurial dreams. I learned so much about working with people when I started doing makeup, setting boundaries, and my overall professionalism. But admittedly I went through many years of unhappiness because I felt like a failure, that I was not a success or that I had to work jobs that I did not enjoy.
Even after opening my business, I was frustrated for the first couple of months. I felt like I was not doing anything right. I admit that because I am such a creative person, I am literally my own worst critic. But eventually, clients found me, and my bookings started to fill up. Now I have taken everything I have learned from all my work experience and have applied that to my business. I have worked primarily in sales, but I have worked in a call center, as a guest relations specialist, and at the front desk at a spa. I have changed my mindset since opening, and I always strive to improve myself as a business owner and also my services/overall client experience. I have always been very goal oriented; and keeping a list of short-term and long-term goals has kept me in a state of constant improvement. This has kept me motivated to keep pushing forward as a business owner and I look forward to when I attain my next major goal.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Although I primarily focus on skincare, I still am an artist at my core. Skincare is an art in itself, especially the flow of a facial. I am most well known for being highly knowledgeable as a whole. I mostly treat acne as hormonal acne is my specialty so having ingredient knowledge along with understanding hormones and their effect on the body makes a major difference with my clients. I am most proud of myself in the sense that I am proof for my clients that getting clear is attainable. I am an example to them and with that, they feel more comfortable about trusting me and the process. I feel that my background in sales and customer services along with my knowledge sets me apart; I take the time to get to know my clients and their needs. It’s that sense of importance I give to each person.
The most important factor with my work is using products that are high quality, effective, and make each facial fully customizable. I use primarily botanical based Tuel Skincare and, the award-winning acne line, Face Reality Skincare for facials/treatments. What I love about both lines is that they are both women-owned, free of sulfates/phthalates/parabens, free of synthetic fragrances/dyes, and contain no mineral oil.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy with what I do, is when a client starts to fall back in love with themselves. The reason is that the client begins to regain lost confidence, and it is such a beautiful thing to be a part of. I think it has to do with the fact that I can relate to my own personal experiences with acne. Outside of work, personal happiness is a work in progress. But I can say that I am the happiest I have been in a long time. I am around my family who provide support and love, I have been working on myself through therapy, and I de-stress through working out and reading books. Being able to work on my overall health has made me happy because I am finally focusing on myself for the first time in such a long time.
Pricing:
- The Glowing Classic Facial 75 min – $99
- Acne Detox Facial – $87
- The Glowing Signature Facial 90 min – $140
- Glow Back in Time Facial 90 min – $120
- Let’s Glow to the Back 75 min – $115
- TCA Acne Peel 60 min – $95
- Chemical Peel 60 min – $110
- Double Peel 75 min – $125
- Kinetic Dermabrasion 75 min – $100
- Special Event Makeup starting at $85
- Bridal Makeup starting at $180
Contact Info:
- Website: DiannaRiveraMUA.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/glowbymoonlight
- Facebook: facebook.com/glowbymoonlight
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/glow-by-moonlight-aesthetics-winter-garden
