Meet Carolyn Alsalehi | Licensed Esthetician & Founder of The Complexion Club

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

Hi Carolyn, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve loved all things beauty since I was a kid and would secretly go through my mom’s beauty products any chance I could! When I was 18, I worked at a spa as a receptionist and fell in love with getting massages and facials. I started using the skincare products we retailed there which were much more advanced than anything I had used before and was so impressed by the the changes I saw in my skin. I was going to school during that time for a business major and wasn’t until a few years later that I decided to go to school and follow my passion for aesthetics.

I started off as an employee right after I became a Licensed Esthetician at a little spa in Bankers Hill and built a clientele there. I made amazing connections with my clients and after a few years I felt it was time for me to move into a new direction. I wanted more creative expression in the beauty and wellness space here in San Diego – as well as more control over what I did in my treatment room and the experience between me (the service provider) and my clients.

I started my business in January of 2020 and fortunately made it through a global pandemic. I’ve built great relationships with my clients over time and have gotten to know so many of them on a more personal level from seeing many of them quite often. The name “The Complexion Club” came about months after I started my business with what felt more like a community. I love helping people feel confident in their skin while creating a space where they feel pampered, educated and supported. I plan on further expanding The Complexion Club community in my hometown and growing the beauty and wellness space in this amazing city.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Complexion Club is a community and space that welcomes everyone to experience major TLC and become knowledgeable about exactly what works for their unique skin. We use a holistic and healing approach to beauty and wellness while using incredibly corrective skincare products and treatments to achieve a healthy and radiant complexion.

We specialize in prevention and correction of aging skin, discoloration of many forms, and are one of the few certified acne clinics in San Diego. We’ve worked with several different skin types and have learned how to successfully cater to each person’s skin needs.

The Complexion Club is thriving today because of the people who have committed to their skin health journey and value their self-care. Starting a business and continuously evolving it is definitely not easy. I’m personally very connected to my business so it consumes a big part of my life which is amazing but also stressful at times. I do however use the challenges I face in my business or personal life as a way to learn how to improve my business and self which is important for every business owner. I think my biggest challenge is being an esthetician and an entrepreneur simultaneously. My work doesn’t end in the treatment room when I’ve finished my appointments for the day so finding the time so run the other parts of my business like admin work, social media presence, customer service, inventory, working on new ideas, etc is tough. I’ve definitely learned how to manage my time better and set personal and professional boundaries along the way to help everything run much smoother.

I want the world to know that The Complexion Club is for anyone whether you’re an expert or a newbie to skin hygiene and you’ll learn a lot about skin and wellness while enjoying a pampering experience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in San Diego my whole life and I’m still amazed by how much there is to do here. I love going on walks and grabbing coffee with friends, booking self-care services, going out to eat, hiking, rollerblading, going to the beach, working out, etc.

I have lots of places in mind for where I’d take a friend so I’ll list some of my favs starting with my go-to’s for breakfast/brunch which are:

– Farmer’s Bottega (with a table in their outdoor patio), The Henry, Sugar and Scribe, The Cottage, Little Lion Cafe, Parakeet Cafe and the classic Swami’s

For coffee and tea I love:

– Copa Vida, Portal Coffee, also Parakeet Cafe, Cafe Bassam, Communal Coffee, WestBean, Blue Bottle Coffee, Spill the Beans and Holy Matcha

For lunch or dinner I would go to:

– True Food, Queenstown, Davanti Enoteca, Zinque, La Doña, Animae, Supannee House of Thai, Old Venice, Top Sail, Kindred, RustiCucina, Mendocino Farms, The Yasai, Cucina Urbana, The Crack Shack, La Vecinidad, OB Noodle House

For self-care:

– The Complexion Club of course, Saffron & Sage, Breathe Degrees, Lena Nails, Salon Bordeaux, Fit Athletic Gym, Yoga Box, Trilogy Sanctuary

For hikes:

– Torrey Pines, backside of Cowles Mountain, Mt. Woodson

For walks: Liberty Station by the bay, Sunset Cliffs, Shelter Island, walk by the harbor near downtown

Other outdoor activities:

– Rollerblading in Mission Beach, picnic at Kate Sessions Park, beach day at Windansea, Hillcrest or Little Italy Farmer’s Market, shopping at UTC mall, bike ride in Coronado, baseball game at Petco Park, bonfire at Mission Bay

Just to name a few!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I could make this an incredibly long list filled with several people, podcasts, books, courses, internet pages and more, BUT I’m going to give myself the credit here along with my clients who are the reason I have a running business. I’ve put in countless hours of work to get to where I am now and really look up to other business owners who do so much behind the scenes. Our customers are the other key piece to our success so for them I’m truly grateful.

Website: thecomplexionclub.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecomplexionclub/

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

Image Credits
Javier Luna with ANONM