Lana Brown

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi, I'm Lana Brown, founder and owner of Glow Up Med Spa! I'm based in Orange County, California, where our spa calls Cypress home.

A little about me: I've always had a passion for health and wellness. I'm currently training at our partner gym, Primitive x Swole AF, for HYROX, so that drive has always been in me. Entrepreneurship is in my blood too. I was inspired by my father, who was a business owner his whole life, and I knew I wanted to follow the same path. And honestly, I've leaned all the way in: I've been a major part of eight businesses, and Glow Up is the one that holds my whole heart.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Cypress is the perfect home for what we do. It's a community that genuinely values self-care and showing up as your best self, which is literally our whole philosophy.

What I love is that people here appreciate the difference between a quick fix and a real experience. We're not about cheap injectables on a conveyor belt; we're about expertise AND experience, and Cypress is full of people who get that. Plus the energy here just matches us: warm, elevated, and always keeping you on your toes.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

Glow Up is my pride and joy, and the way it started is really personal. My first business was actually a candle company, which my husband supported me in. After my father's passing, I focused more on carving out my own path and setting a great example for my kids. That loss lit a fire in me to build something that would make him proud and that my children could look up to.

As for what we do, we're a luxury med spa, but here's the heart of it: our mission is to help clients reconnect with their best selves. I recognized that it isn't primarily the signs of aging that leave people feeling unbeautiful; it's being unheard and unencouraged to pursue their deepest goals. So when you walk in, we're not just thinking about your lip filler or your laser appointment. We're asking what you need to feel like yourself again. That's how we help: we listen first, then we customize everything to you.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

First, it's not just about selling. It's about finding the right way to connect with people and show them the value in something you're passionate about. Nobody wants to be sold to; they want to feel understood.

Second, only put your name on things you actually believe in. I took many risks trying to figure out what worked and what didn't, and I only represent products and services that I believe in. That integrity is everything.

And third, don't be afraid to fail your way forward. I took a lot of risks in branding and marketing searching for ways to stand out, and I faced several failures along the way. Every single one taught me something. If I'd played it safe, there'd be no Glow Up.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

The feedback that always stays with me is when a client tells me the spa feels like home. That's the entire dream. I always say that after just one experience with us, any person would know they can call Glow Up their home, so when someone says those exact words back to me, it hits different every time.

And it shows in how our business grows, because much of our business comes from word of mouth, referrals, and repeat clients. People don't refer a place they merely liked; they refer a place that made them feel something. That's what I'll never forget.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We're growing, but growing the RIGHT way. Glow Up aims to expand its luxury offerings across multiple metropolitan cities, including Miami, New York, and Austin.

Here's my non-negotiable, though: I remain committed to maintaining the spa's intimate, client-first philosophy, no matter how large this venture grows. We'll keep expanding as long as every single location still feels personal, warm, and like home.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest one is that a med spa is all about injectables, like you HAVE to get a needle in your face to belong there. Not with us. You can still be a part of this elegant spa without ever having to get a needle to your face. It's a culture that we have created.

It's not just Botox or fillers; it's also a facial or a HydraFacial. The whole point is finding what works for YOU, whether that's an advanced treatment, a facial, or honestly just a conversation with a nurse who actually listens.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

Honestly, marketing was the beast. I've taken a lot of risks in marketing, trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. One of the difficulties was figuring out how to market specific products that I truly believe in without sounding like I was just selling. And I faced several failures getting there.

The way I dealt with it was a mindset shift: I stopped trying to sell and started trying to connect. The second I realized people want to be heard, not pitched, everything changed. Those failures weren't setbacks; they were the tuition I paid to figure out who we really are.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

So many! First, my husband, who supported me from the very first candle and has backed every big dream since. 💕 My dad, always, because none of this exists without his example.

And my team, who I am obsessed with: I offer constant training for our estheticians and nurses to meet the ever-evolving needs of the industry. They're the reason the magic happens. And of course, my clients. You are the whole reason we glow.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Come find us! Check out Glow Up's website or Instagram for more information, and come say hi in person at 4501 W Cerritos Ave, STE 201, Cypress, CA 90630. Give us a call at 657-820-6472, and I promise after just one visit, you'll call us home.