It’s rare to hear about a business that’s successful without any marketing or advertising efforts, or even a company website, but that’s the case with Albina Brow-tique in La Jolla Cove. Albina Kisanova’s success didn’t come without a lot of sacrifice, hard work and time away from her then-infant daughter. Kisanova immigrated to the U.S. from the Ukraine, where she received training as an esthetician and eyebrow specialist, but subsequently she had to get licensed to practice in California. Not yet fluent in English but determined to get through classes at the California Hair Design Academy, Kisanova excelled in her courses and was named student of the month every month she was there. “This is the land of opportunity,” Kisanova said. “When I came here, I told myself I’m going to make it here.” She loved strolling the streets of La Jolla with her daughter, and eventually, she worked up the nerve to inquire about job opportunities at Gaia Day Spa in 2003. She kept her application simple and direct by stating that she gave the best facial in town. The spa manager read her bold claim and brought her in to test her abilities, hiring her on the spot. Since then, she’s been in other salons, including Cristina Q and Ocean Pearl Spa. For the last year and a half, Kisanova has rented her own space at 1110 Torrey Pines Road, where she offers facials, eyebrow shaping, eyelash tinting and body waxing. Kisanova credits her well-established client base to the popularity she gained while at Gaia Day Spa, and she says the bulk of new business now comes from word-of-mouth referrals. She sees about 40 to 60 clients a week but has several hundred regulars—many of whom are out-of-town clients who coincide their trips to La Jolla with appointments at Albina Brow-tique. One such client, Angela, has been getting facial treatments from Kisanova for the last 10 years and has referred several friends to her. “I’ve been to many estheticians in La Jolla, but Albina exceeds every other experience,” said Angela. “I don’t have a lot of time for myself, so my appointments with her are sacred on my calendar.” Now that Kisanova has been in the business for several years, she’s seeing a new crop of clientele who are the daughters of other longtime clients. The majority of her clients are female, but many have encouraged or gifted esthetician services to their male companions. “I’m pretty jealous of people who get my treatments,” Kisanova said. “I don’t get to have it!” Kisanova has never asked clients to write Yelp reviews for her services, but she has a five-star rating, with more than 55 reviews to date. “My dad always told me to find something I’m really good at and stick with it and then master it,” said Kisanova. “He also told me to treat people how I want to be treated, which I always do when giving clients treatments.” Kisanova’s work schedule is booked weeks in advance, and she is unable to accept walk-in business. She creates her own schedule, which often includes late nights or early mornings to accommodate all her clients, most of whom secure their appointments three or four months in advance. “Everyone deserves to experience this treatment, because we need to treat ourselves, especially busy moms,” said Kisanova. “So many moms looked forward to their appointment for months.” Kisanova’s work schedule also revolves around her two children, Alina and David, and their after-school activities like ballroom dancing and soccer. Her husband Kash has learned to accept that “brow emergencies” are a regular part of her business. Kisanova’s customized facial treatments combine her love for massage therapy and energy work and flow with the rhythm of the soft music playing throughout the session. Her work is a matter of personal pride; therefore, she has no interest in training a staff to fill in for her. “When applying masks during facials, I’m like a chef without a recipe — I cater to whatever the client’s skin needs,” she said. Kisanova tries to keep her prices affordable for everyone, including students. She offers 60- and 80-minute facials; the shorter service ($95) is more concentrated to the face; and the longer service ($150) includes additional massage, mask treatments and NuFACE microcurrent therapy. Eyebrow clients pay $30 for their first appointment and $25 for subsequent maintenance appointments (tinting is additional). New clients can book an appointment by calling or texting (619) 807-0454. Once in the database, clients can set appointments through Vagaro online booking system.