Most girls look forward to a grand coming-of-age celebration when they turn 18, but not for Arah Jasiel-Guiao. In the year she turned 18, the debutante did not ask her parents for a birthday party. Instead, she asked for a business. “I was in college at that time and I thought of putting the money to better use,” she recalls.
Her parents have always been passionate business owners. Back then, they had a small spa business called “Be Our Guest” and when she turned 18, she upgraded it to include skincare and aesthetics, and named it “Vandarah Aesthetics.”
Being the eldest, a strong sense of responsibility seems innate to the young adult. Like most girls, she likes shopping, buying nice clothes, and looking beautiful at all times, yet she seems driven by challenges. For example, when she got her first car from her parents, she worked doubly hard to make the monthly payments.
“There is always this need to work hard because I have responsibilities and obligations. I was home-schooled in New Era University and so I was juggling school, running the business, and taking care of clients. It was challenging, but it was also fun,” Arah says. Being the eldest of three daughters and with entrepreneurial parents at the helm, their family had the right formula for a successful beauty business.
To fully immerse themselves in the business, they attended training abroad and invested in top-of-the-line skincare and beauty equipment. “We started with a very small outlet. We only had two beds, but we invested in good equipment to be competitive. Clients like the latest treatment; they always come back for it and so, we are always on the lookout for the latest development. We would have new equipment every year until we went full blast and became Vandarah Aesthetics Elite in 2019,” she shares.
Even as a child, Arah saw the many advantages of running a business as she saw how her parents grew every venture from an idea into a stable enterprise. “My parents have this strong entrepreneurial spirit. They started the business from scratch and helped each other to make it grow. They sold rice. We had a sari-sari store and we even had a taxi business.”
Her mother was a teacher at New Era University, but somehow managed to earn additional income on the side. Arah continues to be inspired by her parents’ hard work and passion for business. Currently, her parents handle Vandarah’s skincare products and their distribution nationwide, while she and her sisters focus on the management of the clinics and their expansion.
While most business owners gave up during the pandemic, Arah used the time to plan their expansion. With their growing client list in Quezon City, they are now looking at opening an outlet in the South. The venture will not be easy, as Vandarah is not only known for its state-of-the-art treatment; their clients keep coming back for their impeccable service.
The unique pampering feel of every customer was nurtured way back from their initial spa business. Of course, Arah makes sure that the high service standard continues now and eventually when they open more branches. “We will need to manage each outlet carefully. We need to split the tasks among us sisters. Our youngest is now 18; hopefully, when she gets into her 20s, she can be part of the business,” she adds.
Vandarah offers personalized treatments, designed to address every skincare need. Their holistic approach includes taking the time to get to know their clients better, their lifestyle, and what they wish to achieve in terms of having good, healthy skin.
“We check the clients’ skin condition, skin type, allergies, and their specific concerns. We base our treatments on their needs and we recommend special serums that will be effective for their profile and needs,” Arah details. The clinic focuses on non-invasive procedures. “While we have doctors in the clinic, we offer safe treatments with no side effects. We don’t want our clients to feel pain.”
Even though the pandemic forced the clinic to close, it didn’t stop the family’s entrepreneurial spirit. “We launched the Vandarah Skin products. We also launched the reseller’s program, which helped people establish a business with a starting capital of P8,000. Our products received good feedback through word of mouth and social media posts. The skin care products really became our bread and butter [during that time],” Arah shares.
The biggest challenge, however, was the purchased equipment, which arrived just before the pandemic. While they have yet to recoup the investments on this, they managed to adjust to the new normal, thanks to digital exposure. With the partnership with Parlon, they are now able to do more and serve clients more conveniently. In fact, they’re even thinking about exploring home services. Arah says, “With Parlon, appointment-booking was more efficient. We had ample time for each client. We were able to prepare for the treatments and it allowed us to have resting periods.”
On a lighter note and when asked about what she considers as the most beautiful thing that happened to her during the pandemic, Arah didn’t hesitate to say that it was, without a doubt, her marriage to the man of her dreams.“I got married in September 2021. It was challenging because of the restrictions. Tagaytay was closed for socials, so we had to move to another venue. Overall, it was still a beautiful experience overall because now, I have a partner,” Arah recalls.
Beauty truly does wonders and for Arah and her family, it’s more than just a business. “Apart from beauty, the pandemic taught us to take special care of our health and well-being. For me, it’s all about staying happy. Our goal is to make our customers happy.” Plain and simple.
Vandarah has an interesting line-up of treatments and procedures. Those who wish to look more youthful can try the Exilift Elite, which uses Radio Frequency to lift, smooth, and tighten skin. It removes wrinkles and lines for a more contoured face. For more nourished and hydrated skin, clients can try the Aqua Radiance Hydra Peel Facial. It lifts, tightens, and contours, while treating sun-damaged skin. To show-off a firm and fully-lifted behind, they recommend Powersculpt Elite, the Ultimate Non-Surgical Butt lift, which builds muscles and burns fat, equivalent to doing 40,000 squats or deadlifts.
*Vandarah Aesthetics Elite is at 2/F K.L. Group Building, Door 2, 1128 Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Know more about Vandarah Aesthetics Elite and their enticing deals on Parlon. Follow Vandarah Aesthetics Elite on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos courtesy of Arah Jasiel-Guiao and Vandarah Aesthetics Elite
