Abigail Palacios, owner of Chicana Esthetics LLC, found her niche in Spokane’s skin care industry by specializing in techniques that cater to multicultural clients who might struggle to find care in the Inland Northwest. 

In bigger cities like Los Angeles or Seattle, most studios typically have estheticians trained to service melanin-rich skin, but not in Spokane, Palacios says.  

“I had one of those lightbulb moments where I realized, we don’t have that out here,” says the 25-year-old Los Angeles native. “I’ve had lots of clients who have come from med spas or really well-known locations but were turned away, and they felt hurt.” 

Palacios says that treating people with melanin-rich skin is possible. It requires a slower approach, and the right training and education to learn how to treat the skin confidently. 

Since opening in the fall of 2022, Palacios has moved into an 800-square-foot studio space at The Pelican Collective, at 707 N. Cedar in the Kendall Yards neighborhood, from a 100-square-foot studio in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood. Palacios serves over 300 clients and has a steady monthly client base. She has hired two part-time receptionists and a second esthetician, who will start in October.

Palacios says she has received more clients since moving the business to the Kendall Yards neighborhood and is often asked if she services people with fair skin tones, which she does.

“I service anybody and everybody,” Palacios says. “I just focus on (multicultural skin care) because I think it’s important to have that specialization out here in Spokane.”

Mariana Pacheco-Arcaya, a sleep researcher with Providence Holy Family Hospital, says she first met Palacios at a Chicana Esthetics booth at the Tacos y Tequila Festival and was inspired by her work ethic and admired her professional attitude. 

“As a Latina new to Spokane, it was inspiring to see her thriving in the community,” Pacheco-Arcaya says. 

Palacios is also a member of the Hispanic Business Professionals Association, where she donates to fundraisers, participates in workshops on mental health and self-esteem, and teaches women self-care routines. She sometimes donates a portion of a day's proceeds to provide free facials to the women at the HBPA center.

Palacios' friend Brendan Blocker says it has been inspiring to watch her grow her business. 

“She has a strong work ethic, dedication, and drive to get better,” Blocker says. “She started her business from the ground up with no loans, no help, strictly from working two full-time jobs to sustain her part-time business.” 

Palacios says that like most estheticians, she went to beauty school because of her own experiences dealing with acne and sensitive skin. She graduated from the Glen Dow Academy of Hair Design & Salons Inc. in 2022 then trained with JoElle Lee, an esthetician who specializes in multicultural skin care, and has delved into further studies into dermatology and cosmetic chemistry.

“From there, I opened my business. No business plan like most people say you should have; I was just winging it. There were obviously some curve balls as I was learning,” Palacios says.  

One curveball was when Palacios was let go from a spa that provided a second source of income as she built her business. However, she says the event gave her the courage to put all of her energy into her own business last fall. 

“It was heartbreaking, but that was my blessing in disguise,” Palacios says. “Instead of looking for another job, I went full-in with my business. Since then, my business has grown tremendously.”

Looking forward, Palacios says she hopes to open a store at a more visible location one day and inspire others to follow their passions. She’s already inspired her two siblings, who have returned to school and left behind their minimum-wage jobs, she says. 

“Time is going by so fast,” Palacios says. “You want to use every moment that you have in your life to do the things you enjoy, not the things that you dread.”