We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecilia “Cici” Moron and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Cecilia “Cici”, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I amount a great deal of my success to the habits that were bestowed upon me by my grandfather. He taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, and time management. As an entrepreneur, time management is key when trying to run a business in today’s fast paced environment. There are many aspects to consider when starting a business like expanding your clientele though word of mouth and advertisement, maintaining a strong social media presence, and providing the best possible service to the clients. As an aesthetician I provide an array of services to empower my clients so that they leave my table feeling better then when they arrived. The service continues after they leave my table as I monitor the client’s progress by engaging with them through different mediums like instagram, as well as a direct phone line to me that is open 24/7. I have learned that creating a brand is a commitment that requires full attention and open availability because the work never stops. You have to prioritize the business and the clients while simultaneously taking care of your mental and physical health. As my business grows I have learned the important habit of delegating smaller tasks to be able to focus my energy into the main aspects of the business.
What should our readers know about your business?
I have been working as an aesthetician in the city of Miami for five years. Throughout my career in the skin care industry I have had the pleasure of connecting with women from all paths in their pursuit of healthy glowing skin. I’ve realized that women often neglect their skin and place other aspects of beauty above skincare. I aspire to empower women of all ages by letting their natural beauty shine through healthy looking skin. That is what constantly drives me to continue to learn innovative treatments and techniques so that I can provide my clients with the best possible experience. What I’m most excited about this year is the launch of my new business venture “CiCi Skincare”. A day spa that will focus on providing an array of services to treat multicultural skin. This new location will soon be offering services ranging from traditional skincare methods, to more nontraditional methods like acupuncture medicine. I have a degree in Human Resources and a passion for business management so I am excited to combine these skills to step into this new light as a business owner. My journey in the beauty industry started over a decade ago. I have worked jobs in the retail sector of this industry that gave me the necessary inspiration to venture out on my own as an independent aesthetician. Being self employed was the best career decision I could’ve made, because it’s allowed me to maximize my full potential as a women entrepreneur in this field. The path has not always been a straight line, there’s definitely been some setbacks like the most recent global pandemic that put all of my plans on hold. Not being able to work due to the covid restrictions was really tough. Still, I wouldn’t change anything about my business journey because everything that’s happened so far has led me to this moment in which I am about to embark on. Cici Skincare Spa has been a long time coming, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring my vision into this city to continue to pursue my passion of empowering women. I’m a highly spiritual individual, so whenever I face a challenge I try to connect with my spiritual being. During the pandemic I quarantined by myself so I had a great amount of time with my thoughts. I used this time to meditate, and manifest my dreams. I feel as if this time gave me the clarity I needed to plan out the logistics behind my upcoming business venture. So even though the pandemic was a stressful period, I am extremely grateful to have had the time to channel the chaotic energies of the moment into something new and exciting. I feel that being able to put all my creative energies into a new project helped out a lot. There are a number of lessons I have learned along the way, but probably the ones that have stuck with me the most are to relax, because everything is running right on schedule. As well as the realization that I’m not in competition with other professionals in my field. I believe there is plenty of room in this city for women to thrive in the beauty industry because beauty never goes out of style. My only competition is the negative behavior I allow myself to nurture like self doubt, so if I can do anything right is to constantly challenge myself to be better than I was yesterday. If there is something that I would want everyone to know about CiCi Skincare is that we aim to provide more than just a service. Every individual is unique and so are the needs of their skin. We want to provide an empowering experience to every client throughout their skin journey. Skincare that starts from within and goes beyond skin. Cici Skincare its about mindset, health and a confident lifestyle so that you can radiate your best possible self at all times through healthy glowing skin.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have hosted so many friends and family over the years that I consider myself a bit of a self proclaimed Miami tour guide. Assuming my guests are arriving in the morning I would pick them up at MIA int. Airport and proceed to take them to Greenstreet in Coconut Grove for breakfast. It’s a nice area made for people watching since its outdoor sitting area is protected by lush green trees. After breakfast we would proceed to walk around the Grove, towards Peacock park where there is a gorgeous view of the bay on a wooden deck right behind the park. After our walk I would proceed to drive them to my home so they could settle in and enjoy an afternoon nap. As a host you must always have your guest’s comfort in mind and since they’re staying for a week there is no need to bombard their first day with one hundred activities… Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint! Around 6-7pm I would take them out for drinks and bites at a local favorite, Flannigans. This sports bar is always a hit for an extensive menu, great deals, and late night happy hour. Flannigans has been around since 1985 so it’s somewhat of an institution in South Florida. My repeat visitors always ask to go to Flanny’s as soon as they arrive. On the second day of the visit I have a single activity that is sure to take up most of the day, which is getting day passes at the Standard in Miami Beach. This resort is anything but standard, as it boasts beautiful grounds, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean and one of the best steam rooms and saunas in the city. At the standard you can enjoy a meal from the Lido Bayside Grill poolside or at the restaurant overlooking the ocean. It is an incredible location to spend an entire day focused on self care and relaxation. On their third day I would suggest sightseeing and exploring what Miami has to offer. My favorite location has to be Museum park on Biscayne bay. So depending on who you are guiding around, there are a variety of options to check out all within walking distance from one another. If you are with avid art lovers be sure to check out PAMM Museum, which has a great collection of contemporary art that is constantly being upgraded. If you are with children or science enthusiasts be sure to check out the Frost Museum right across from Pamm. It has a larger than life aquarium expanding throughout different levels, a number of activities for children to partake in, and my favorite part of the museum is the planetarium where you can catch one of the many shows explaining the universe, our planet and many of its interesting systems. If you are with an architecture lover be sure to check out the 100 Museum across the street from Museum park. It was designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid and it stands out in Miami’s skyline as one of the most artistic buildings with a sleek modern design. Museum park alone is worth a visit to even if you have no desire in checking out any of the museums. The grounds of the park are right on the shore of Biscayne overlooking the bridge that connects Miami to Miami Beach. This location is prime real estate as it makes for a beautiful picnic location; a combination of natural beauty to one side and architectural marvel on the other. If choosing the laidback picnic activity I highly suggest renting the share riding app scooters found all across the city. You can cover a lot more area riding these while exploring Biscayne, and can show your guests multiple locations like the American Airlines Arena, Bayside Mall, the Freedom Tower, and even the Opera House. This area is great for exploring and showing off the best the city has to offer. After this day your guests are sure to have an appetite, so I would suggest taking them to Lung-Yai, a small whole in the wall kind of place located in historic Calle Ocho. This local gem serves what I think is the best thai cuisine in all of Miami and it’s a must eat before your guests go back home. On the fourth day of their visit I would suggest something a lot more relaxed like a day of shopping in Brickell City Centre. This luxurious shopping mall is an architectural wonder, boasting designer stores and amazing restaurants. It even has a one of a kind cinema experience if you wish to treat your guests to dinner and a show. For lunch I would suggest eating at Casa Tua for italian food, Tacology if you feel like splurging on tacos , or Pubbelly sushi for amazing sashimi and rolls. Later on the day I would suggest drinks at one of the many bars in the Brickell Area like Dolores but you can call me Lolita, Sugar on the East Hotel, or super laid back Better Days where there is a 90’s vibe and table games to accompany the drinking. On the fifth day I propose taking your guests on a tour of the Wynwood Walls. This is a satisfaction guaranteed location, as it will satisfy your guests art, food and drink needs. You should visit the Walls anytime after 2pm as to avoid scorching heat and make great use of the golden hour while taking photos of your guests. While in wynwood make sure to check out some breweries to quench the thirst from walking and exploring. There are also great restaurants that vary in price range. Coyo Taco, Kush, Sugarcane, Suviche and Beaker & Gray are some of my favorite spots in the area. On the sixth day I propose a relaxed beach day on South Beach. I always steer my guests from Ocean Drive as I feel like the restaurants and bars are highly overpriced as your general tourist traps. I would pick a more secluded and quiet area of south beach, anywhere above 25th street and Ocean Drive will do for a nice beach, with less crowds and more space to relax and enjoy the water. Prior to making our way to the beach I suggest stopping by La Sandwicherie to pick up a couple of baguettes for the visitors to enjoy oceanside. They have so many options and for those watching their diet they have amazing salads. Don’t forget to ask for the special dressing sauce, I swear I dream about owning bottles of this secret sauce! The menu at La Sandwicherie makes for great snacks that will keep everybody full until it’s time for dinner. After the beach and with an open appetite I would take my guests to the Broken Shaker. Located a bit up north in south beach, this gem is totally worth the drive. The Broken Shaker is located in a boutique hotel in Mid Beach. My favorite thing about it is the curated drink program which has to be my favorites in the entire city. The drinks here are superb paired with a nice laid back ticky outdoor vibe poolside, or a more speakeasy indoor vibe to suit different individuals. If you are hungry just walk on over to 27 restaurants, located on the grounds of this boutique hotel it serves amazing food that pairs quite well with the drinks from the Broken Shaker. The menu is seasonal so it gives you a reason to keep coming back to discover new dishes and drink curations. On the Final day of my guest’s trip I definitely encourage a super chill relaxed kind of day like movies at home or a bbq at home. Usually there will be last minute shopping stops at Dadeland Mall cause lets be honest… Most people leave gift buying for the last possible minute. As an unspoken rule, I always leave the dinner decision on the last day to my guests, so they can visit whatever restaurant they enjoyed the most during their stay in Miami. This guide is something that I’ve been fine tuning for many years now acting as an unofficial tour guide for my family and friends. I hope you enjoy, and check out some of these gems scattered all across the city. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I would like to thank every woman that has trusted me with the care of their skin along my journey as an aesthetician. Without their trust I would not be where I am today. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my career coach, Daniela Woerner, who provided me with the support and encouragement to obtain success in this field from day one. Finally I would like to thank my family for their unconditional love and support. A special shoutout goes to my grandparents who raised me to be a goal getter and inspire me everyday to go after my dreams.
Website: www.ciciskincare.com
Instagram: @cici_skincare_
Facebook: ciciemskincare
Image Credits
Erika Arevalo- Third Avenue