The LA Facialist on Beauty Hype & What Actually Works ft. Candace Marino
August 11, 2026
Trends, client orders, and the latest machines didn’t build Candace Marino’s reputation. Her hands-on authority did.
In this episode of Esthetician Unlocked, host Elaine Sterling sits down with Candace Marino, founder of The LA Facialist in Beverly Hills, to talk about building a skincare business on authority, customization, retail and actual hands-on skill. Candace gets into why she walked away from HydraFacial, why clients need what their skin requires (not just what they ask for) and what building true expertise outside of Instagram posts actually takes.
Some estheticians build their entire identity around one device, one treatment or one trendy ingredient. Candace Marino, founder of The LA Facialist, took a completely different path.
In this episode of Esthetician Unlocked, Elaine Sterling sits down with Candace Marino, founder of The LA Facialist in Beverly Hills, for a conversation about what happens when an esthetician stops chasing every shiny thing and starts building real authority and owning their space. She explains why expertise is not what you say online. It is what you can do in the room when a real client is looking at you for answers.
What You'll Learn:
Why Candace does not rely on a traditional treatment menu- How her “omakase facial” approach puts assessment before trends
- Why she stopped offering HydraFacial and moved away from one-device dependency
- Why estheticians need to act like experts, not order-takers
- Why retail recommendations are part of the result, not just a sales add-on
- How Candace gets clients to leave with clear home-care protocols
- How Candace thinks about innovation, exosomes, spicules, and salmon PDRN
- Why knowledge is not yours until years of hands-on practice make it yours
This episode breaks down how to build the kind of authority clients actually pay premium prices for.
About Candace:
Candace Marino is the founder of The LA Facialist, a Beverly Hills skincare destination known for their customized facial treatments, advanced product curation and Candace’s signature no-BS approach to skin.
With more than two decades of experience, Candace has built a reputation for treating skin through deep assessment, hands-on technique, 90-minute facials, extractions, massage, curated home care, and a strong emphasis on professional judgment over trends. Through The LA Facialist, Candace combines professional expertise, retail strategy, continuing education, and a sharp eye for what is actually worth bringing into the treatment room.
Episode Resources:
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