Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesseca Smith.
Hi Jesseca, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello! I’m Jesseca Smith. I’m a licensed Esthetician since 2004, with a background in cosmetics chemistry. I’m also a licensed esthetics educator, who teaches continuing education classes for estheticians and submits credits to TDLR; my roster is posted on the Texas Department of Education website.
MISSION, meaning an AIM, AMBITION OR Calling … I literally retired from this industry three times and am called back to do this work.
Named the spa MISSION… went and got my ONCOLOGY Esthetics training so I’m also licensed to touch and (highly) trained to gently treat our most sensitive clients undergoing all kinds cancer treatments.
Having just lost my mother to lung cancer this year, and watching my father struggle with pancreatic cancer now, this topic is very close to my heart. So my MISSION, literally is to create a safe, loving, gentle space for our sensitive skin guests.
All our practitioners are licensed in their field. I am a licensed Esthetician as well as Licensed Educator and continuing education provider for the State of Texas, we have another part time Esthetician, one Esthetician/ Lash technician, one full time licensed Massage therapist, and one part time, and an additional esthetician and massage therapist on staff currently. All estheticians are sensitive skin specialists, two of us have additional training working with oncology clients.
Our Spa Director had an extensive backround working with skin and wound healing and is trained classicly as a D.O.
We work a with gentle and effective skin care~ gentle to the environment, Ayurvedic, and effective.
We offer day packages, work with local boutique hotels and custom create packages for their special guests, host spa parties, as well as cater to the individual.
How did “I” get started?
My experience in skincare dates back to 1992, when I worked as a cosmetics consultant and makeup artist for a major beauty retailer then later freelanced.
After that, I had the opportunity to work with a cosmetic chemist and co-create products for a natural beauty product line that sold in over 3,000 stores nationwide such as Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Anthropologie.
My goals gradually shifted from strictly wholesaling products to opening a Day Spa & Boutique — a concept that came to fruition in Dallas, Texas called Avocado Tree,
Approached by many large box stores to buy out our concept, we eventually sold the business in 2008. Since then, I’ve had additional experience as a Body Care Manufacturer and Spa & Boutique Owner before eventually becoming an NIC board Licensed Esthetician. Operating first in Dallas as the Avocado Tree and later in Seattle, called Fresh Face Seattle. My spas were repeatedly written up by the press in glowing reviews and even voted “Best Facial in Town.” It was an amazing experience. During this time, I discovered my LOVE for mentoring and apprenticing budding Estheticians. I’ve taken many under my wings and have written three editions of what I’ve published “The Esthetician Resource Guide” book and an “APP”for new Estheticians, in addition to becoming a licensed Educator and Continuing Education Provider for the State of Texas, and host CE Classes after hours at my Spa, MISSION Day Spa.
Through this process and the culmination of my years in this business, I’ve grown to understand the importance of possessing a strong knowledge of ingredients, including their imperative fresh- ness and effectiveness on our skin.
Now I bring my years of experience and love for the business to
one guest (and apprentice) at a time and students in a classroom
setting and finally, by sharing my knowledge and education with you.
As you can see, the me has become the “we” and MISSION Day Spa has come to pass. We look forward to having you as our special guest.
Enjoy! Jesseca.
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?
So many struggles!!!! I share some in my book even!
One, in particular, was when I opened my first spa location in the early 2000’s in Dallas, TX. We were manufacturing our own skin care at that time and running our own retail locations at the same time. It was a lot of work. So, we’d manufacture the natural goods at night and then I’d give facials during the day. We’d enlist the help of our friends whenever we could. And when large orders would come in, because we’d still maintain our wholesale accounts (Whole Foods etc.) we’d have label application parties… pizza and labels…. all night. A band, in particular, we we’re friends with, you may have heard of them (The Polyphonic Spree), when certain members were in town would swing by the warehouse and give us a hand. One time, a large shelf housing thousands of dollars of essential oils got bumped and came crashing down, when the bottles broke the oils etched the cement floors! The cost was insurmountable. And the smell! We couldn’t approach the doors of that place for at least a week. Needless to say, we appreciated the help but needed a better solution.
There have been lean times and fat. The best advice I’ve been given has been not to get depressed in either and remember to be the tortoise. Best advice ever.
I have gone through recessions, floods, earthquakes, health crises’ and family tragedies. I’ve taken supplemental jobs to help along the way. Scaled back to a one-man-show at times and have grown to large conglomerates and eventually sold.
I grew up in Olympia, Washington and had a great client base in Seattle, WA and that’s where I met my husband. He’s from Austin, TX Texas and that’s how we ended up here in Wimberley. One year, we decided we’d make the big move and move to Wimberley. That was 2014. By 2015, we found ourselves grateful that “only” lost our little rental cabin in a 500-year flood!!!
We at that point had two kids in college, thankfully not at home at that point, and I was commuting from San Antonio to Wimberley to fulfill my lease and cater to clients, until I could start another little Spa in my new city. Eventually, we moved back to WA for a short span then made our way to Wimberley again in 2020.
We’ve been impressed with MISSION Day Spa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MISSION Day Spa is a culmination of vision and determination to rise above the status quo and offer quality services and skin care in a luxurious setting that’s affordable to everyone.
MISSION Day Spa strives to offer healthy skin care such as Hale & Hush and HUYLUNIA, both known for their integrity in ingredients and care for our animals and planet.
All estheticians of MISSION Day Spa are sensitive skin specialists and we house licensed esthetic educators and continuing education providers for TDLR, who are also oncology-esthetic trained through renowned CIDESCO and OTI/ Oncology Training International.
Our MISSION, to give back to our community. We offer complimentary care and comfort to HOSPICE patients.
“We look forward to having YOU as our special guests.”
How do you define success?
COMMUNITY and RELATIONSHIPS.
Pricing:
- Sensitive skin and Oncology Facials starting at $65
- Facials ranging from $85-$110
- Advanced Facials and peels $110-$400
- Eyelash Extensions and other Lash Services $75-200
- other pricing for Doctors and Med Spa services
Contact Info:
- Website:missiondayspa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missiondayspa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missiondayspa/
- Other: https://www.skininc.com/business/staff/news/21889170/esthetician-app-launched-by-an-esthetician
Image Credits
Yvette Foster Photography (info@yvettefosterphotography.com)
