Beauty Boss: The LA Facialist Founder Candace Marino Doesn’t Follow the Facial Rulebook—She’s Writing Her Own

Candace Marino is a popular medical aesthetician based in Los Angeles also known as “The LA Facialist.”

In a city overflowing with top-tier estheticians, it takes someone truly exceptional to stand out, and trust us, Candace Marino is that someone. Known in celebrity circles as “The LA Facialist,” Marino has been a trusted and sought-after medical esthetician for the past two decades and officially raised the skincare bar with her new boutique spa in the heart of Beverly Hills.

Her client list may include red carpet regulars, but her passion for skin health is universal. Whether it’s cutting-edge microneedling, glow-boosting peels, rejuvenating red light therapy, or her signature sculpting facial massages (yes, they’re as heavenly as they sound!), Marino’s treatments are rooted in deep knowledge and a results-driven approach.

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I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Marino at her stunning new space to talk all things skin, her multi-decade journey in beauty, the iconic estheticians who’ve shaped her philosophy, and the overwhelming love she’s received since opening her doors.

And of course, I experienced the magic firsthand. My skin went from flat to flawless, thanks to a custom facial and technique we’d never seen before here at Spa and Beauty Today.

Marino’s stunning studio is located in the heart of Beverly Hills.

What inspired you to open the LA Facialist?

I opened this because it was kind of like the last thing that I hadn't done in the industry. I've been in the industry for 20 years. I've worked in every arena from day spas to med spas to plastic surgeons’ offices to dermatology. I've literally worked in every area possible so the only thing that was left for me to do was my own thing. And I started slow. I just had one treatment room that I rented from somebody, but then everything started to explode for me as soon as I started doing my own thing.

So I was like, okay, I need help so that I can go do the other things that have happened in my career. And I wanted to bring a storefront retail experience to clinical skincare, because most of the brands that we carry, you don't find them on the street. They're not in stores. You find them in doctors' offices. So I wanted to bring a retail approach to clinical corrective skincare. So that's kind of like the concept here.

The studio also retails a variety of high-end products in its retail area.

How has your personal skincare journey influenced any of the treatments that you offer today?

I really just believe in the art of a good facial, and I feel like that's been lost over the years with the development of all the quick gadgets. I feel like most aestheticians these days are doing turn and burn situations where it's like a Hydrafacial, dermaplaning, a quick peel, or a laser in the states, where people can do them.

And the art of the facial with the extractions and the massage and all of the relaxation has been lost, and I've never strayed from that. I've always just believed in the full format facial. I really only book 90 minutes because I feel like that's what you need to get a good facial. I have all the devices, but I've never been swayed to be that provider that just does the one thing. There’s always a recipe for each person.

The studio features a tranquil aesthetic that is welcoming and relaxing.

Who would you say are your mentors or skin gurus that you followed throughout the years that have influenced your work?

I was lucky enough to work for Olga Lorencin. I was actually in nursing school at the time because I thought that I would need to become a nurse if I wanted to take the next step in my career. I did the whole thing, and I was like, okay, this isn't for me, but I was lucky enough to work for her.

She taught me how to be a good business owner because she took everybody under her wing and wanted everyone’s success just as much as they did. She's the one who showed me exactly what to do and what not to do. She's a natural leader who leads with integrity and also uplifts everybody. I've tried to replicate what she has done with my team here.  

You incorporate deep tissue techniques and sculpting. Has that become a client favorite? And what should someone know about that service if they’re considering it?”

So that's what I'm known for, that's why people have come to me for years, and that's how I've built my clientele and my following. I've never gone the quick route, the massage is centered and focused on the treatment. But then you leave glowing and energized because when we manipulate tissue, we're oxygenating the blood and we're bringing life to the skin.

So not only do you get that moment of relaxation, but you leave looking alive and vital. I think people come for the relaxation, but they come back because they feel good and look good as well.

All facials behind with an assessment of each client’s skin concerns and needs, along with tailored products and add-ons to create a unique treatment for every individual.

I start with cleansing. I always do three cleanses to remove makeup, and then I always use an enzymatic cleanse to start softening the tissue. Then I do my massage, and it’s usually about 20 minutes. After that, I go into prepping for extractions, and it's kind of the opposite way that most facials are, but I found that if you do the massage first, we're manipulating the tissue, we're softening sebum, so things come out of the skin way easier if you massage first.

The European facial is like the classic facial that most people do and it's opposite, but I've found that my technique of massaging and then extracting makes it less painful, and everything comes out easier. So after the massage, depending on what we need to do—a light chemical peel? Sure, I'll do that. And I actually use Olga's red carpet peel. Dermaplaning? We can do that.

I have several devices. I just brought on the Sinclair Préime DermaFacial, which is amazing. It's a hydro-dermabrasion with an oxygenating micro-dermabrasion, with microcurrent radio frequency, and ultrasound. So there are five modalities on the one platform and I can pepper those in. We have oxygen and LED, and many different masks. Like I said before, it's a unique recipe for each person.

I recently visited Marino’s studio to experience one of her transformative facials.

The “Recipe”

Marino definitely cooked up something extra special for me. After chatting with her inside her gorgeous new studio, where warm wood textures and cozy, zen vibes meet the grounding scent of bergamot and santal, she welcomed me into her spacious treatment room for what would become a 90-minute skin transformation.

She began the facial with Epicutis Oil Cleanser, her go-to for removing makeup. Then came a double cleanse using DMK’s Deep Pore and Milk Cleansers, which created a creamy, foamy lather that felt like a luxurious reset for my skin.

And then? Pure magic. Marino launched into what we can only be described as master-level massage work (her favorite part of the treatment and now mine, too!). No tools needed here. No gua sha, no gadgets.

Just her hands and The Fix multi-use balm, a recommendation from her friend Maria Christia Bruno, who teaches facial massage and knows a thing or two about expert technique.

Before my facial.

The massage was a full 20 minutes of sculpting, lifting, and toning: a literal workout for the face. We’ve never experienced a facial where so much thought and care was dedicated to massage alone. Marino pointed out that most estheticians skip it because they’re intimidated, and there is nobody who really teaches it. Fortunately, every esthetician on her team is trained in her method, so no matter who treats you, you’re in incredibly good hands.

After the massage came something truly next-level: a treatment called Cell Story, a liquid microneedling procedure with no downtime.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Marino said. “It’s made from a dried C-sponge. The spicules (aka tiny natural microneedles) are coated in growth factors and get scrubbed into the skin. Over the next three days, they continue releasing those growth factors. It's safe for all skin types. It's safe for active acne. It’s my favorite quick way to get my skin looking amazing.”

After my facial.

The application was fascinating. After prepping the skin, Marino used a syringe to apply 50,000 spicules, then massaged them in for about 90 seconds. The feeling was sharp and prickly…almost like a salt scrub made of tiny glass shards. Intense, yes, but not unbearable, and completely worth it.

“It's just like an interesting treatment,” she explained. “It's really rejuvenating because that growth factor is going to be signaling for three days to signal collagen production. And then, it's very, very healing. So people with active acne report their acne is literally dissolving.”

Cell Story is also great for discoloration, resurfacing, smoothing pores, fine lines, and improving texture. Marino had it done herself, and admits that after two days, her skin felt tight and snatched. And she wasn’t exaggerating.

To finish off the treatment, I was placed under LED lights and oxygen for 20 minutes with a hydrating mask.

Immediately, post-treatment, my face was lifted in a way I’ve never seen it before. My cheekbones were higher, my nasolabial lines instantly disappeared, and my face looked flushed like a sun-kissed glow.

I could feel the spicules lingering under the surface for about 24 to 48 hours. It wasn’t painful, just a light prickling sensation when touching or applying product.

Day 1 of treatment.

The magic really kicked in after day three. That’s when the glow truly began to emerge. By the end of the week, my skin felt baby-soft, and every product glided on like silk. My complexion became dewy, plump, smooth, and hydrated after a week in.

One week post-treatment.

Marino also emphasized the importance of aftercare. 

“All you want to do for the next three days is focus on hydration,” she said. “ So don’t use any exfoliants because we don't want to encourage the spicules we're putting in the skin to come out. We want them to stay put and do their job by releasing growth factor.”

She also said to use a really nice hydrator ( we love Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench Moisturizer) and a sunscreen during the day. ( The multi-defense sunscreen from Aramore is great!) She also advised no retinol, acids, masks or peel pads for three days.

To finish off the facial and treatment, Marino applied a hydrating mask and placed me under LED and oxygen for 20 minutes. Let’s just say at the end of the service, I left glowing—inside and out!

The entrance to The LA Facialist Studio.

What's your number one tip for maintenance?

I always say the bulk of the work is done at home.  Most people aren't coming in every week for a facial. The way your skin looks is going to be based on what you do every day. So it's those little habits that compound and create a result.

If you’re on a budget and you have to decide between a treatment or a product to take home, go with the product, because getting one facial and then not doing anything to your skin at home or using things that aren't corrective, you'll never move the needle. But corrective skin care done will move the needle.

My biggest piece of advice for when people walk out the door is we want to make sure people have a skincare routine and know what they're doing, because that's that's honestly the biggest thing that we need to do is educate people on how to get results. I feel like the biggest and most important role that we have is guiding people and making sure they understand their routine.

Marino has developed custom complexion protocols and unique techniques for a highly–discerning celebrity clientele.

Opening the LA Facialist has been a big win, but are there any other wins that you're celebrating lately?

I feel like I'm celebrating all the time because I have such a good group of people here. Everyone on my team is booked and busy, and that's rare. I'm watching all of them grow, and it's been exciting to see everyone develop.

Most of the girls that here have a lot of experience; for one, this is her first job after esthetician school. She worked with me for a year at the front desk in my studio across the street, and we were training her along the way, and she's always booked now. To have an esthetician in her first year be booked out is amazing. And I'm so proud of that because I know how the struggle is when you're building.

What’s next for you?

I started a retreat for estheticians. I teach them and certify them in my facial technique, and it also covers wellness, business coaching, and many other things. So that's been really exciting.

I've been asked for years to do an online platform—I might do it. It's not a no. But for me, I think that touch is so important and it's something that's been lost, especially with the past few years of people not having in-person services. I could teach online, but I feel like giving and receiving is a big part of how we learn as people who have touch as our skill set. It's not a no, but we'll see.

For more information about The LA Facialist and to book a treatment, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @thelafacialist

[Images courtesy of The LA Facialist]

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Patty Castellon is a two-time Emmy award winning producer who has worked in the entertainment industry for 16 years. After many years of tracking lifestyle trends by some of the most prominent celebrities in the world, she has developed a true passion to connect audiences with the latest news in beauty, fashion, and wellness. Patty is LA based, living with her husband Cesar and their three children. Follow her on Instagram: @pattylynnpix