Name: Anush

Hometown: Armenia

How did you get into skincare?

I’ve loved skincare since I was 13 years old. I started by doing eyebrows and waxing for my neighbors, and, well, really everyone I know. After getting my masters degree in economics, I went to esthetic school. I am a perfectionist and I want everyone to look the best that they can. I want to live until I’m 150 years old and I want my clients to, too. It’s all about prevention and maintaining. When I moved to the United States, I went to school all over again, so that I could develop my English and learn any differences between the practice in Armenia and in the U.S.

Do you feel like the schooling and the clients are different from your first time around?

Oh yes. Armenian skin types are very similar to each other. There are three types: oily, normal, dry. The people’s skin there is stronger because we’re 2,000 meters above the sea. Their skin goes through a lot.

Here, I see a lot more sensitive and sensitized skin. This is brought on by lots of different things but a lot of it has to do with the unclear air and food. Everything that you eat changes your skin.

What is your favorite part of working with skin?

I love extractions because I mean we’ve gone through so many great steps already! First, I’m cleansing the skin, I’m opening the pores so that product can really get in there. In my six years of practice, no one has left my chair red after my extractions. The key is finding the right pressure on each face type. You need to understand each face, you need to know how much each face can handle.

Do you have any general advice based on what you've seen with clients?

My grandma always told me that, “everything that goes in the fridge can go on your skin.”

I just imagined you putting fried chicken on your face.

Well not that, I wouldn’t want to waste that when I could eat it! But I love to make some natural masks. My favorite mask that all skin types can use is avocado, banana, and a little bit of baking soda. Add olive oil if you need extra hydration.

Another piece of advice I tell my clients is to not do too much. If you’re new to skincare, don’t take on too much, too fast. You have to build a base first. And lastly, apply your skincare right after you wash your face. Aim for doing it within a minute when your skin is the most ready to receive the products.

Favorite product and why?

I love the Golden Hour Recovery Cream from Ursa Major but I actually don’t keep it in the jar. I don’t love jars because every time that you open it up, air is interacting with the entire product. When you use a tube or bottle, it allows you to control the oxidation process. So I use a syringe to move product into other packaging.

What are three things that you like that don't have to do with skin?

• Abstract drawing

• Opera and music in general, I used to sing opera in Armenia.

• I love to eat and cook, a lot. My favorite dish to make is an Armenian dish with meat and bbq pork.

Fill in the blank: _____day

Music day. My ideal day is to make music in the morning, to go to the club at night to dance to music till 5am, and then sleep for 12 hours.