When Katia Moreno first immigrated in 2008 to the United States from Ukraine, she said she had a hard time finding employment as a beauty professional.

Moreno went through extensive training and had experience working in the industry in Ukraine. However, American businesses wanted to hire someone with a list of local clients, which Moreno hadn’t had time to establish yet.

“I could do so many cool things that nobody else did,” Moreno said. “Some people didn't want to hire me because I didn't have an American degree.”

Despite already knowing the techniques, Moreno said she went back to school in the United States for cosmetology and aesthetics, and began rebuilding her list of clients.

Her perseverance paid off, and in 2022, Moreno opened Katia’s European Spa.

A closer look

By starting her own establishment, Moreno said she was finally able to incorporate the European practices she loved into her work.

She said one of her most popular services is the buccal face massage, which can relieve temporomandibular joint disorder pain, also known as TMJ, and has similar results as injections. Moreno said the massage relaxes the muscles and encourages blood flow, which helps the skin tighten and is a healthier alternative to Botox or filler.

Moreno explained that she can’t do some facial massages on clients with filler because it would risk the injections migrating, and warns that injections can also lead to atrophy.

“I would explain to them why it's toxic [and] not good for your face muscles,” Moreno said. “They have to be active because facial muscles bring nutrients to your skin, they bring oxygen, blood flow. ... Whenever you get injected, that area is dead.”

After hearing her talk about the advantages of buccal massages, Moreno said the majority of her patients have stopped getting injections and instead come to her for facial massages.

Moreno said she was the first in the area to introduce European beauty practices. (Roo Moody/Community Impact)
Moreno said she was the first in the area to introduce European beauty practices. (Roo Moody/Community Impact)

Read all about it

When it comes to skin care for her own family, Moreno said she tells her children to wash their faces with cold water every day. Additionally, she encourages a more gentle and custom approach to skin care, especially with children.

She said her favorite part of owning the spa is improving people’s skin with a good facial and having clients immediately see the results.

“I want my people to see the quality of my work,” Moreno said. “I don't want them just to go, ‘Your massage is good.’ They have to see results, and they have to know, when they spend money, they see what they spend it on.”