Meet Carly Santini | Medical Esthetician & Acne Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Santini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I didn’t start my business because I wanted to be “an entrepreneur.” I started it because I saw how broken the skincare industry is, especially for acne. People are told they’re doing something wrong, handed harsh products, bounced between derms, estheticians, and TikTok, and never actually taught how their skin works. I watched so many women feel embarrassed, frustrated, and hopeless about something that affects how they show up in the world every day.

I realized I was really good at connecting the dots — skin, products, hormones, lifestyle, gut health, stress, hygiene — and explaining it in a way that actually made sense. And when you fix the root causes instead of just throwing treatments at the surface, people get better. That was the lightbulb moment for me.

So I built my business around that: real education, acne-safe products, barrier repair first, and consistent, customized care. I wanted a space where clients felt supported, not judged, and where they weren’t just “getting facials” — they were getting a plan and someone in their corner.

It also gave me the freedom to build a life that worked for me. To be present with my baby, show up for my family, and still pour everything into helping women feel confident in their skin. The business grew because the results spoke for themselves, but it started because I genuinely cared and couldn’t unsee how much better this could be done.

What should our readers know about your business?
What truly sets my business apart is my background in naturopathic medical training combined with corrective esthetics. I don’t just look at what’s happening on the surface of the skin — I look at where acne is appearing, how it’s behaving, and what that pattern tells me about what may be happening internally. Through a very thorough consultation, I’m able to pick up on red flags related to hormones, gut health, inflammation, and lifestyle, and I understand lab work and medical history at a level most estheticians aren’t trained to. That allows me to connect the dots between what’s showing up on the face and what may be going on inside the body, and then build a treatment and home-care plan that actually makes sense for that person.

I combine that deeper, more holistic medical perspective with results-driven, acne-safe skincare and hands-on treatments. My clients aren’t just getting facials — they’re getting a customized roadmap for their skin, rooted in science, barrier health, and long-term correction. That’s why my approach works when so many others fail: I treat acne as a whole-body issue expressed through the skin, not just something to dry out or cover up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were coming to Scottsdale for a week, I’d want them to experience the city the way I do — equal parts wellness, food, beauty, and a little bit of glam. We’d start mornings with coffee at Press, then I’d definitely take them to get a Hydrafacial at my studio so they could see what I do and start their trip feeling refreshed and glowing. Afterward we would walk around Old Town so we could enjoy the sunshine and energy of the city. We’d continue walking around the the best mall in the world, Fashion Square.

For food, Scottsdale is such a hidden gem. We’d do brunch at places like The Montauk or Breakfast Club, and then go big for dinner — places like Catch, Cala, Thea, Toca Madera, Maple & Ash, or Nobu for a fun, elevated night out. If they were here when my fiancé was working, I’d sneak them into Kai so they could experience truly next-level dining. Then we would end the night with the best espresso martini’s at AZ88.

Scottsdale is special because it lets you mix self-care, luxury, and laid-back desert living all in one place. You can hike in the morning, be in a facial or at a pool by afternoon, and dressed up for an amazing dinner by night. That balance is what makes this city — and the lifestyle here — so addictive.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Huge shoutout to my acne specialist and esthetician, Cecia, for taking me under her wing in the very beginning. I first came to her as a client, where she put me on a personalized Acne Bootcamp regimen based on my skin type and acne severity — and that completely changed my skin and my understanding of acne. From there, she allowed me to shadow her, ask a million questions, and walk through some of my very first client cases with her. That hands-on mentorship is what gave me the foundation I still use today, and I’m so grateful for the way she believed in me before I ever believed in myself.

Website: https://theoldtownesthetician.glossgenius.com/

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