ProfileHailey Bieber, Bella Hadid are fans: celebrity facialist Joanna Czech, a ‘skinfluencer’, on why she spurns viral skincare trends and laser treatments

Joanna Czech is the ultimate “skinfluencer”. The Polish-born, New York-based aesthetician is recognised for her eponymous skincare brand, for treating famous clients nine hours a day – and for being booked out almost a year in advance. She preaches that the key to beautiful skin is a long-term approach that blends your daily rituals with a healthy lifestyle, rather than short-term quick fixes. No wonder she has spawned the hashtag #GetCzeched. Czech is known for her roster of celebrity clients – they include actress Cate Blanchett and models Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Christy Turlington – and for helping them get photo-ready for events such as the Met Gala and the Academy Awards. Just do not call them “Oscars facials”, she says, since we all want to look red-carpet ready every day. Last summer, she helped Kim Kardashian launch her own skincare line, Skkn by Kim. Czech’s latest venture, however, puts her own name front and centre: in February, she opened the doors of a flagship studio in New York. As well as facials, it offers full-body LED bed sessions and recently introduced a 12-session massage series designed to change the shape of your face. Plant-based retinol alternatives: the secret to good skin or overhyped? Czech is incorporating facial massages with microcurrent technology – which delivers tiny blasts of electricity to the face to lift and tighten muscles – and using products from her own skincare line, which blends innovative technology with old-school European techniques. The spa also offers clients a Kobido facial massage, which uses a traditional Japanese technique to stimulate and rejuvenate the skin. A fan of Japanese science, Czech credits Japanese brand Shiseido for its legacy of skincare development and is seeing a growing number of clients gravitate towards the new treatment. “While I like to work with some of the best technology in the world, I also believe in the basics and traditional treatments,” she tells the Post. “Effective professional treatment does not mean that your clients need to experience pain or discomfort. I enjoy being educated on traditional practices and I’m excited to introduce them into our studio.” Considering her clientele, it is no surprise Czech set up shop in New York. “While we’ve always had a presence in New York, having our own stand-alone studio is something we have been working on for over two years,” she says. “It’s exciting because I feel like we have a place to call home.” This is not her first flagship studio: in 2015, Czech opened one in Dallas, Texas, before launching her skincare line, which has brought her expertise to a wider audience. Is beauty tech worth the splurge for at-home facials? Experts weigh in Recently, she launched The Kit by Joanna Czech, a set of seven skincare products – a toner, a vitamin C serum, a soothing serum, a cream, a balm, cleansing wipes and a face mask – that retails for US$1,320 at Bergdorf Goodman and comes in a stylish, travel-friendly pouch. According to Czech, the most underrated item of the bunch is what she simply calls The Cream. “It prevents heat-induced hyperpigmentation,” she says. “Along with the sun, heat itself creates hyperpigmentation. So, no matter if you are in the sun or in a hot yoga class, the cream is a must-have.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joanna Czech (@joannaczechofficial) Another favourite is her vitamin A/retinyl palmitate, which works to increase cellular turnover. “Working on both the dermis [the inner layer of skin] and the epidermis [the top layer], this fundamental vitamin attaches itself to skin cells, normalising their function and getting them to behave like younger, healthier versions of themselves,” she says. Ask Czech about the biggest skincare trend in 2023, and she will say she does not believe in them. “Some of the most effective products and technologies are ones that I have been using for years, and I have been doing LED treatments since the 1990s,” she says. Skincare 101: why you should never neglect your body care However, she does appreciate that more people are paying attention to body care. “Body care is becoming more popular among my clients, and I could not be more excited. Our skin is the body’s largest organ and cannot be neglected.” Czech is not against facial fillers or Botox, but she says there are other options for those looking to revitalise their skin. “You should do what makes you happy, and if you can’t live without Botox, then I recommend seeking the most educated, experienced and conservative professionals,” Czech says. But she adds: “You can achieve similar results with daily facial massage and proper skincare products, which eliminates any risk of side effects or ‘frozen face’.” One of the biggest mistakes she sees people making is with laser therapy, which she deems one of the biggest culprits in overtreating skin. “I have seen a lot of skin damaged irreversibly by lasers, often used incorrectly or irresponsibly,” says Czech. People should use them only in extreme circumstances, she says, and even then, approach them with caution. The most common side effect she has seen from laser therapy is hyperpigmentation – caused by the destruction of melanocyte cells which contain the pigment melanin, and resulting in permanent white spots – and thinned skin. The laser said to remodel your skin that costs as much as a designer bag “Lasers create a controlled wound; however, the skin may respond by creating scar collagen instead of the healthy, flexible collagen we want,” she notes. “Many people take a casual approach to lasers, and many clients are not suitable candidates.” According to Czech, we cannot do much to change our skin types, whether dry, oily, normal to dry, normal to oily or a combination. Hence a customised treatment and consultations are necessary to produce results. “Every single person has different skin and different needs,” she says. “There is not one thing that will fix all your problems. Just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joanna Czech (@joannaczechofficial) On TikTok, it feels like there is a new beauty product or trend every day. But we still must do our own research to see how a product fits with our own skin type, Czech adds. She is glad that certain technologies she has been using for years – like LED therapy – are gaining traction as overall awareness around skincare grows. “I think it’s great that people are discussing skincare more, but I would warn people [against] falling for trends without speaking with a specialist,” she says. Everything you need to know about exfoliating For Czech, the bottom line in skincare is that a long-term approach trumps a short-term solution – or what might be advertised as such. “Your skin changes day to day, depending on many different factors,” she said. “There isn’t a quick fix that will change something overnight. Using the right products for your personal needs, with effective ingredients, is the key to long-term skin health.”