Nicole Mazza, owner of Skin & Soul, a spa and skincare brand in Bushwick, is offering facials and glow-ups for those with acne-prone skin or anyone looking for a self-care day.
The spa, located at 289 Meserole St., offers facials, laser hair removal and lash and brow tints and targets clients with sensitive skin.
The business was born out of a need, Mazza said. As a little girl, she struggled with cystic acne her entire life, and was eventually diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in her mid-20s. The products she tried to clear left her skin red, puffy and irritated. The lack of options for her acne-prone skin drove her to create the brand she needed to feel confident leaving the house, she said.
“At that time, when I was younger, there wasn't a lot of diversity in skincare. I didn't understand skin,” Mazza told BK Reader. “There wasn’t really social media at the time to learn things either. So, I was like, ‘Let me go on YouTube' and see if I could just make something myself that's just better on my skin, so I know what I'm putting on it, and it actually worked.”
Hormonal disorders can occur when women have higher-than-normal androgen levels. This can cause reproductive issues that manifest on the skin as excessive hair or oily, acne-prone skin, according to the World Health Organization.
Her first product was a facial balm to help relieve the puffiness she often experienced from her acne. From there, her interest led her to go to an esthetician school to learn more about the craft and eventually open her suite to provide skincare services and sell products.
Most of her clients come in for a skin-related issue and then, over time, make the skin care line part of their monthly routine.
Though Mazza can’t formally diagnose patients, when patients lie on her table, she can identify possible ailments based on their skin. The root cause is often from hormonal or gut issues they may not be aware of, she said.
“I do hold a lot of empathy for my clients, because I'm someone that's been in their position, and I think that's what makes me really good at what I do,” Mazza said. “I got into this because I was feeling a lack of confidence. I was scared to go outside without makeup on, because I had all this acne. I didn't understand skincare ingredients, what I was doing with my skin, or hormonal things.”
Mazza believes people are buying too many products to keep up with trends, including items that don't necessarily help their skin. On the other hand, she thinks many brands are to blame, as their clever marketing schemes make people want to spend a lot of money on skincare.
For those looking to start their skincare journey, she recommends starting with a simple routine. When looking at products, be sure to read the ingredients, she said. For example, ingredients like beta-glucan are for hydration and barrier repair, while colloidal oatmeal is good for sensitive skin and skin disorders like eczema.
“I always tell people, if you're not sure where to start, keep your routine simple, keep it hydrating, and focus on barrier repairing,” she added. “When you focus on hydration and barrier repair, a lot of your issues will go away.”
You can purchase Skin & Soul products or book a consultation here.
