About Diane

Diane Buccola

Licensed Esthetician

NCEA "Lifetime" Certified Esthetician

Speaker - Author - Consultant

ESTHETICS CAREER

I began my esthetics career when esthetics was about self-care. It was before social media and before Amazon. Internet back then was AOL and Compuserve dial-up, so Estheticians did not have to compete with online sales of products. Back then, facials were primarily "steam and cream" services provided in hair salons by cosmetologists who had little to no training in esthetics. It was before doctors saw the popularity of spa services and created "medi-spas."

Because online sales of products wasn't a thing yet, it was necessary for clients to come to their Estheticians for facials, skin care advice, and to purchase professional skin care products. There weren't many professional skin care lines to choose from at that time, so it was easy for Estheticians to keep up with new developments in skin care formulations. Our clients trusted us and listened to our advice.

1999 - Court Reporter to Esthetician

In 1999, I fully intended to leave my days as a stay-at-home mommy behind and resume my successful court reporting career. But much to my surprise, something had shifted in me, and I no longer had the passion (and patience) for the pressure that comes with a career in the field of law. So I decided to follow a long-standing dream which was to open a Wellness Center for women. I recognized that I had NO experience in this field so I set out to learn everything I could, and part of that was going back to school to become a licensed Esthetician.

Shortly after earning my Esthetician license, I opened a day spa which I eventually sold to an employee when my family relocated. That spa has had a few owners since I sold it, but it's still going strong under the same name after all these years. In my new city, I opened a solo esthetics practice, and I earned my NCEA Certified credential in 2008. In 2019, I was awarded the Lifetime NCEA Certified credential.

CONSULTANT CAREER

SpaBizBoard

In 2006, I created the first subscription message board (as they were called back then) for spa professionals. During those 11 years, SpaBizBoard earned a wonderful reputation as a place where spa pros could ask questions and get answers from legitimate experts. There was a fee to join, and members were limited to those who were in the spa/esthetics business such as Estheticians, professional product manufacturers, trainers, esthetics school instructors, etc. I personally verified anyone who requested to join.

SpaBizBoard went on to become a most trusted resource for Estheticians, especially me! I learned so much about the business side of esthetics and much of that can be found inside my book The Heart of Esthetics.

My heart goes out to today's new estheticians who must rely on social media, because now anyone with a computer and an Esthetician license can call themselves an "expert."

Publications

I have written two books for the Esthetics trade, Estheticians are a Girl’s Best Friend and The Heart of Esthetics; and in 2019, I created an online course for Solo Estheticians also called The Heart of Esthetics. In 2020, I launched a second course which I created for newly-licensed Estheticians: Ultimate Guide for New Estheticians. (Because esthetics changes so fast, the online courses are currently paused until they have been properly updated.)

Throughout my 24 years in the esthetics business, I have written articles for Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa magazine and served on their Technical Advisory Board. I have been a speaker and Master of Ceremonies at International Congress of Esthetics & Spa trade shows. I have contributed to and produced events for BeWell Expo, NCEA and other esthetics-related organizations.

Thanks for stopping by my Abput page. My credentials are listed below.

~Diane

Qualifications

Licensed Esthetician – California (1999-current)
NCEA Certified Professional Esthetician (2008-current)
Lifetime Award: NCEA Certified Professional Esthetician (2019-current)
NCEA Certified Professional Esthetician Exam Prep Instructor
Creator/owner of SpaBizBoard, the first private/subscription online message board for spa professionals (2006-2017)
Esthetician Consultant/Trainer
Creator/owner of Skin Renewal Center in Davis, California (2000-sold in 2004)
Esthetician volunteer for American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Better” program
Commendation by California Lt. Governor Cruz M. Bustamante in Recognition of Dedicated Service to American Cancer Society's “Look Good Feel Better” program
Certified – CPR/First Aid/AED
Master of Ceremonies – International Congress of Esthetics & Spa, Long Beach CA (2016)
Master of Ceremonies – National Esthetic Teacher Training
(2015) Author contributor – Dermascope Magazine
Author contributor – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa Magazine
Speaker – International Congress of Esthetics & Spa (Miami, Dallas, Philadelphia, Long Beach)
Speaker contributor – Israel International Congress of Esthetics & Spa
Advisory Board Member – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa Magazine
Member of NCEA (National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations)
Author – NOTES FROM YOUR FAIRY GODMOTHER (book)
Author – ESTHETICIANS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND (book)
Author – THE HEART OF ESTHETICS: Creating Loyal Clients & Achieving Financial Success (book)
Director and Lead Esthetician – BeWell Expo, Skin Analysis Lounge (Los Angeles 2012)
Director and Lead Esthetician – BeWell Expo, Skin Analysis Lounge (Pasadena CA 2013)
Executive Producer – BeWell Expo 2014 (Sacramento CA)
Instructor – The Business of Esthetics (The Learning Exchange)
Instructor – National Esthetic Teacher Training (NETT) 2014
Core Team Member – Deepak Chopra live events (2019)
Course Instructor – “THE HEART OF ESTHETICS: Creating Loyal Clients & Achieving Financial Success.”
Course Instructor – “THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR NEW ESTHETICIANS: Jumpstart Your Career.”

Publications

Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa Magazine (including but not limited to):

Mastering Peels
Connecting with Clients: Blogging to Build your Brand
Know your Sources: Sifting through Digital Information via Social Media
Top Qualifiers when Choosing Back Bar Products
The New Client Questionnaire
Banish Bridezilla Blues: Behold the Bridal Service Buffet!
The Art of the Client Consultation: Boost Retail Sales and Expand your Client Base
Ladies who Lunch – With a Side of Spa
Online Retailing: Is it Helping or Hurting your Spa Business?
Social Media Marketing: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Choosing a Back Bar Line
Spa Dreaming

Dermascope Magazine:

Dare to Inspire – ‘men-tor: A trusted counselor or guide’

Books

The Heart of Esthetics: Creating Loyal Clients & Achieving Financial Success (2nd edition, 2022)
Estheticians are a Girl’s Best Friend (2nd edition, 2016)
Notes from Your Fairy Godmother: Ideas, Inspiration & Joy for Women (updated 2022)