Macole Moody believes that healthy skin isn’t achieved through quick fixes but through consistency and the right strategies. Moody has been a licensed esthetician for seven and a half years and is the owner of Skin Sculpt Spa in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood.
Moody’s journey into esthetics started when she went to get a facial that left her more confident than she had ever felt before. It wasn’t just about how her skin looked after the treatment; it was about how her skin felt. It made such an impact on her that she enrolled in esthetics school two weeks later because she wanted to give others the same confidence that she felt after her service.
“I consider myself a results-driven esthetician. Every treatment I perform has a purpose and every recommendation is tailored to the individual that comes into my spa,” she says. “My goal is to transform skin from the inside out by combining professional treatments and customized home care and education.”
Throughout her career, Moody invested heavily in advanced education and hands-on training. Every class, certification and treatment helped her develop a customized approach for her clients. Since everyone’s skin is different, creating individualized treatment plans that address their specific skin concerns, while giving them realistic expectation and long-term results, has been the key to Moody’s success.
“One size doesn’t fit all with clients. I see clients that have different backgrounds and lifestyles, so every time I sit down, I have to heavily customize treatment plans,” she says. “Every routine that I put together has the same technique but the products and different ingredients that I tailor to their specific lifestyle and skin concerns.”
Moody combines her customized care with education, teaching her clients how to apply the products that she recommends for their skin. As a result, clients have seen positive changes in their skin and have told her that her approach has really made a difference, one they can see and feel.
Most of the clients Moody sees come in for acne, hyperpigmentation and aging. She has a list of treatments that she does, which took her two and a half years to curate. Her goal is to provide services and treatments that will give her clients the best results.
MULTICULTURAL SKIN
As a multicultural skin care specialist, Moody wishes more estheticians knew that skin of color requires intention, patience and the right formulations.
“It isn’t about simply just treating every skin the same, you have to understand how to safely treat concerns like hyperpigmentation, acne and sensitivity without causing further damage, which is critical,” she says. “Once you truly understand the science behind treating melanated skin, you can consistently deliver life changing results for all of your clients.”
Moody says that treating melanated skin starts with education and that before investing in any advanced training or introducing a new treatment into your practice, ask the educator whether it is safe and effective for melanated skin.
“If they say yes, ask them to show real results and case studies on skin of color, not just tell you. Seeing proof helps ensure the treatment has been tested on diverse skin tones and allows you to make informed decisions that prioritize your clients' safety. Our clients trust us with their skin, so it's our responsibility to seek education that is inclusive, evidence-based and designed to protect the integrity of melanated skin,” she says.
SKIN SCULPT SPA
Moody opened Skin Sculpt Spa in 2021, because she couldn’t find a space where she felt truly represented. Her goal was to create a results-focused spa that recognized and celebrated skin of color, while welcoming every client who wanted help with their skin. Her vision was to build a place for education, inclusivity, real results and real transformation.
While those first five years were challenging, she was able to learn the most valuable lessons of her career. She says passion may start a business, but systems, leadership and consistency are what allow it to scale. She says the reason why it was important for her to create an inclusive space at Skin Sculpt Spa is because she wants people to feel welcomed when they enter the spa.
“We all have skin concerns. People come in and they are wearing filters all the time and some of my clients don’t feel comfortable without makeup. I wanted to create a space for clients where they can come in and really let their hair down and talk to me about their issues without feeling judged and they can get the results that they are looking for with an esthetician they feel comfortable coming to every single month,” she says.
When it comes to educating her clients about post treatment care, Moody takes time to educate her clients about how ingredients work, why she recommends certain products, and how to build a routine that fits their lifestyle and skin goals. After every treatment, the client receives that education with the customized routine when they buy products.
Moody’s vision for Skin Sculpt Spa is for it to become premier destination in Chicago for corrective skin care and skin transformation. She plans to continue to expand her education into advanced modalities, including laser technologies, while building a team of passionate professionals who share her commitment to delivering exceptional results.
“Ultimately, I want Skin Sculpt Spa to set the standard for personalized results-driven skin care and become a trusted name in the industry,” she says.
ADVICE TO ASPIRING ESTHETICIANS
Her advice for aspiring estheticians who want to start a business is to spend time working for someone else first to learn inside treatment room and the business side of the industry.
“Master your craft, whether that's corrective skincare, acne, waxing or another specialty and become known for it. Most importantly, educate your clients. Knowledge builds trust, and trust is what creates long-term success,” she says.
Moody adds that it is important for estheticians who are just starting out to learn the day-to-day operations of a spa, including scheduling, client retention, inventory management, and the business side of operations.
“Strong customer service skills are essential because creating a great client experience is what keeps people coming back” she says. “Finally, learn how to confidently recommend and sell retail products. Retail sales are a major part of building a profitable spa and helping clients maintain their results at home.”
