It is no wonder many of us feel self-conscious about our skin—it is the most outward manifestation of our being. We are social creatures in a world that places value on surface appearances; our skin often, I like to think reluctantly, stands in to represent the person we are. It seems preposterous to think of how intertwined our skin has become with the anxieties of everyday life. A breakout, a sunburn, rosacea, or irritation; nothing more horrifying could crop up before a big date, a job interview or a bikini-bound vacation. But in truth, skin is our most intimate attribute, and we have a right to take it personally.
Whether it’s too oily or too dry, we all have issues with our skin. It’s the reflection that stares back at us in the mirror every morning, noon and night. And with an overwhelming number of skin care products on the market encouraging constant self-examination, a minute blemish can often feel more like the bubonic plague.
Skoah co-owner Andrea Scott explains, “When people come in, they often think they’ve got it the worst. But the truth is it’s really not that bad. We’ve never really seen anything we couldn’t help.” Skoah is a local skin care product line and spa that focuses on “personal training for your skin”, and their skin care trainers—aestheticians, as they might be known to the rest of the world—dress for work in athletica. But the “personal training” mantra is not just a gimmick. The trainers really take the time to ask you about your problem areas, address any self-consciousness, and remind you of your skin’s good qualities throughout the treatment.
“You can’t sell false promises,” says Chris Scott, Andrea’s husband and business partner. “If we want customers to believe in the products as much as we do, in the end, we have to deliver results.” In the lounge of their Yaletown spa, Andrea chimes in, “What prompted us to start Skoah, was how uncomfortable we both felt at spas that didn’t ask us questions about our skin, or explain what products they were using, and why, before lathering us up.” So, Skoah personally develops a “skin skedule” for patrons to bring home with them—among the wealth of knowledge they have just gained about how, for example, the plant polypeptide ingredients in their purchase can help reduce fine lines by boosting the skin’s collagen elastin production.
Fine lines from aging are just one example, but as Andrea explains, “People often think their skin is acting up. They forget that it is designed to react to the changes around them and in their life. There are so many factors that can affect your skin: a change of season, a new diet, stress, pollution, hormones—” She motions to her pregnant belly, and rolls her eyes, “That one I know.” Yet to me her skin is glowing and radiant, revealing that not even the experts are spared life’s skinhibitions.
Photo: Skoah.
