Exploring Life & Business with Carly Santini of The Old Town Esthetician

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Santini.

Hi Carly , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t originally plan on becoming an esthetician. I was actually in naturopathic medical school, and I started during COVID, when everything was online. Between the stress of online medical school and coming off birth control, my skin completely spiraled. I had never struggled with acne like that before, and it really shook my confidence.

I did what most people do—I went to a dermatologist and followed the traditional route of prescriptions, topicals, and medications. But everything felt like a band-aid solution. Nothing was addressing why my acne was happening in the first place, and my skin just kept reacting.

While I was in school, I started seeing the naturopathic doctors there as a patient. They helped me understand that my acne was coming from internal imbalances, especially related to hormonal disruption from birth control. Through targeted supplements, dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and supporting my body’s detox pathways, we worked on clearing the exogenous hormones out of my system instead of suppressing symptoms. That was the first time anyone explained acne to me in a way that actually made sense.

Around the same time, I stumbled upon an esthetician on Instagram who was a Face Reality acne specialist. She introduced me to the Acne Bootcamp program, and that was the missing piece. For the first time, my acne was being addressed from both the inside and the outside—supporting my body internally while using intentional, corrective skincare and consistent treatments. That combination is what truly cleared my skin.

That experience completely changed the direction of my life. I realized I wanted to help people the same way I had been helped—holistically, realistically, and with education instead of quick fixes. I made the difficult decision to step away from medical school and pursue aesthetics so I could work one-on-one with clients, educate them, and guide them through a process that actually addresses root causes.

Today, my business is built around that philosophy. I don’t just treat skin—I teach clients how their lifestyle, hormones, stress, and products all connect. My goal is to help people feel empowered in their skin, not dependent on temporary solutions, because I know firsthand how life-changing that approach can be.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would actually say the road felt smooth overall, but not effortless. Once I realized this was what I was meant to do, there was a strong sense of alignment, and that made the transition feel natural. That doesn’t mean there weren’t challenges—it just means I didn’t feel like I was forcing something that wasn’t meant for me.

One of the biggest challenges was the decision to walk away from a traditional medical path. Even though leaving naturopathic medical school felt right in my gut, it required a lot of trust in myself. There’s a certain security and societal approval that comes with medicine, and choosing a different route meant redefining what success looked like for me and being comfortable with other people not always understanding that choice.

Another learning curve was building a business from the ground up. Becoming an esthetician wasn’t just about learning skin—it was learning how to run a business. I had to figure out marketing, pricing, client communication, scheduling, and boundaries, all while still being hands-on with clients. You’re wearing every hat at once in the beginning, and that can be overwhelming even when you love what you’re doing.

Education was also a challenge in a different way. My approach to acne is very education-based and holistic, which means I spend a lot of time helping clients unlearn what they’ve been taught—quick fixes, product hopping, and relying on band-aid solutions. Teaching people to slow down, commit to a process, and understand how their lifestyle, hormones, and stress affect their skin takes patience and consistency.

One of the hardest parts is helping clients trust the process when results aren’t instant. Acne healing isn’t linear, and guiding people through purging, setbacks, and lifestyle changes requires strong communication and emotional support, not just technical skill.

So while the path didn’t feel chaotic or full of roadblocks, it definitely required growth, discipline, and resilience. The smoothness came from alignment, but the success came from consistency, education, and a willingness to keep learning—both as a practitioner and as a business owner

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Old Town Esthetician?
My business is for people who want real, lasting skin results. I’m a results-driven esthetician, which means my focus goes beyond relaxing spa facials and centers on corrective treatments that improve the structure and function of the skin. I specialize in services like Hydrafacials, chemical peels, and microneedling, using them strategically as part of a long-term plan rather than one-off treatments.

Acne is my main specialty, although I work with all skin concerns. I’m especially known for helping clients clear their skin after they’ve tried years of dermatologist-prescribed medications and topical treatments without success. What sets my approach apart is that I view acne holistically, looking at factors like hormones, stress, lifestyle, diet, and everyday personal care products—not just skincare alone.

Education is a huge part of my practice. My background in naturopathic medical education allows me to bridge clinical skin treatments with whole-body wellness, so clients understand not only what we’re doing, but why. Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the trust and results I’ve built through honesty, consistency, and realistic expectations. My goal is to help clients feel confident and empowered in their skin, not dependent on quick fixes.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest advice for finding a mentor is to look for someone whose work actually speaks for itself. I found my mentor by following an esthetician whose results I genuinely admired—she consistently showed real transformations and education on Instagram, not just aesthetics or trends. I became her client first, asked thoughtful questions, and took the time to learn from her in person. Eventually, I was able to shadow her, which was invaluable.

For anyone wanting to get into this field, I highly recommend experiencing treatments firsthand and building relationships face-to-face. Go in for a service, observe how they work, and don’t be afraid to ask about shadowing opportunities. Being present and genuinely curious goes a long way.

From a networking standpoint, what’s helped me most is surrounding myself with professionals in similar or complementary niches—other estheticians, injectors, and beauty or wellness professionals who don’t offer the same services but share similar values. Building a referral-based network creates community instead of competition and has been essential to my growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theoldtownesthetician.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoldtownesthetician?igsh=NG9udThteTg5cHJv&utm_source=qr