MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • marie hair
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • marie hair
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Career

Confessions Of A High-End Skin Therapist

Beauty therapists get pimples too! - by Alley Pascoe
  • 20 Sep 2019
Confessions Of A High-End Skin Therapist

“Confessions Of A…” is a weekly series by marie claire dishing the dirty little secrets of different professions. Put the kettle on, we’re about to spill some tea…

Today we sit down with skin specialist and dermal therapist Isabella Loneragan, who founded the exclusive beauty clinic The Dermal Diary four years ago and is the only practitioner in Sydney to offer the Intrinsic Facial Technique (yeah, that’s the one Meghan Markle, Kate Moss and Margot Robbie get).

After 13 years in the industry, Loneragan, 38, now hand picks the clients she takes on – and there’s roughly a four to six-week waitlist to get an appointment with her (plus a required $110 first time visit analysis).

There’s a good reason for the waitlist. When you get a facial with Loneragan, it’s not just a cleanse, mask and moisturise; it’s a spiritual and emotional experience. Prepare to be enlightened…

thedermaldiary View Profile
25 likes - View Post on Instagram
Sydney's only Intrinsic Facial Experience 〰️ ⁣ ​⁣ ​So happy to be featured in @spaandclinic for our Intrinsic Facial Experience - & you're now able to book via our website for this technique! ​⁣ "​A rare facial technique renowned for its use by Meghan Markle is finally making its way to our shores, and Sydney is now one of the very few locations in Australia where you can receive an IntraOral (also known as Buccal) facial massage.⁣ ⁣ Isabella Loneragan, founder of The Dermal Diary, is one of only a handful of experts in Australia trained in IntraOral facial sculpting massage, which entails massaging inside the mouth to iron out stress lines, improve skin tone, circulation and lymphatic drainage, and provide an overall 'lifted' effect, enabling the therapist to really dig deep inside those hard-to-reach cheek and jaw areas. The technique now has this passionate dermal therapist booked out weeks in advance for her signature service 'The Intrinsic Facial Experience'.

“When I was a child, I was a real empath and quite emotional. I still am.

I was drawn to the human connection of beauty therapy and did a diploma in it while I was living in Cape Town, where I started a business out of my spare room.

Four years ago, I opened The Dermal Diary in Sydney’s north. I had 11 appointments on my opening day. It’s still quite an intimate clinic with just me and two other therapists I've thoroughly trained. I’ve had Sigourney Cantelo from Beauticate and other luxury beauty editors come in for appointments.

I studied behavioural health science and psychology at university and that’s been a powerful part of my work. When a person arrives to see me for a consultation, I listen to what is going on in their lives; whether it’s emotional, financial, family or even political stress.

It’s more than a facial. I connect with my clients on a deeper level. A few weeks ago I had a young woman, who’s a model, come in for a consultation with a shocking bout of acne. She was so self-conscious about her skin; she burst into tears and didn’t even want a training therapist in the room for the appointment. We talked about how as a model her livelihood was ruined because of her acne scarring. It was a disaster for her, she had to move back in with her parents. My job that day was to listen to her, talk to her and connect with her. Then we made a plan for her skin.

To anyone struggling with their skin, I say reach out. Skin therapists won’t judge you, we’re there to assist and support you.

thedermaldiary View Profile
36 likes - View Post on Instagram
Want your next facial, free? 〰️ When you refer a friend to a first-time visit at The Dermal Diary, you get your next facial for free! Tag a friend below who you would love to send our way (or keep this a secret and send us an email introduction instead! Shhh we won't tell if you won't)

Earlier this year, I went to Paris to learn how to do the Intrinsic Facial Technique, which combines advanced sculpting facial massage with buccal – or massage from within the mouth – to deliver an exceptional lifting procedure without surgery. It’s the treatment Nicola Joss uses on her celeb clients in London [cough, Meghan Markle, cough].

The stars get it because it’s three-dimensional and it works on the facial muscles from inside the mouth. I like to say it’s an alternative to Botox if you don’t want Botox.

Since I’ve started doing the Intrinsic Facial Technique, our waitlist has kept growing. People have said it’s the best facial they’ve ever had. It’s the biggest compliment when someone falls asleep during a facial.

We’ve gotten to a stage now, where we choose our clients.

People often have unrealistic expectations about what’s achievable. Lately, I’ve been getting emails from mothers about teenage sons with severe acne, asking if I can fix it with a facial for his formal in five days. Sorry, no. I have to be selective with my clients and can’t help people with unrealistic expectations.

I also find it funny when people arrive for a facial saying they had Botox last week, but they don’t want any chemicals in their treatment. There are chemicals all around us. I spend a lot of time educating people about that.

The most frustrating part of my job is when people tell me they don’t wear sun cream or that it’s in their make up. As a skin therapist, that’s my biggest piece of advice – wear sun cream. If you buy expensive skin products, but don’t wear sun cream, you may as well flush those products down the toilet.

Of course, I look after my own skin; I moisturise, tone and exfoliate, and I use Vitamin A, B and C. But there is no miracle fix. I’m nearly 40 and I have pigmentation and pimples, too. 

I struggle with my husband’s skin. He has major acne rosacea and it’s a daily battle. When people meet him they say, ‘Oh my god your wife is a skin expert and look at your skin.’ I use him as an example of how hard it is to treat major skin conditions.

I’m honest about the fact that skin is skin. You work with what you have.

And it really helps if you wear sun cream!”

  • Career
  • Skin Care
  • Beauty Tips
  • Stress
  • Meghan Markle
  • Celebrity
Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe is contributor to marie claire Australia. She spends her days interviewing inspirational women, including career highlights Kasey Chambers, Serena Williams and Julia Roberts (for seven minutes on the phone).

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Meghan Markle’s London facialist shares her (very involved) skincare routine

Meghan Markle’s London facialist shares her (very involved) skincare routine

How to Master A Face Massage, According To An Expert

How to Master A Face Massage, According To An Expert

Buccal Fat Removal Is The Beauty Industry Secret To Chiselled Cheekbones

Buccal Fat Removal Is The Beauty Industry Secret To Chiselled Cheekbones

I Got My Eyebrows 'Laminated' And The Results Were Incredible

I Got My Eyebrows 'Laminated' And The Results Were Incredible

{headline}

{headline}

7 Royal Beauty Rules Kate Middleton Never, Ever Breaks

7 Royal Beauty Rules Kate Middleton Never, Ever Breaks

How To Make Your Beauty Routine More Natural

How To Make Your Beauty Routine More Natural

Jennifer Lopez's Anti-Ageing And Beauty Secrets

Jennifer Lopez's Anti-Ageing And Beauty Secrets

{headline}

{headline}

Is This Facial A Shortcut to Glass Skin?

Is This Facial A Shortcut to Glass Skin?

Sensitive And Stressed Out Skin? This Facial Might Be The Antidote

Sensitive And Stressed Out Skin? This Facial Might Be The Antidote

A Facialist Shares Her At-Home Routine

A Facialist Shares Her At-Home Routine

Marie Claire’s Guide to Mastering At-Home Facials

Marie Claire’s Guide to Mastering At-Home Facials

Podcast: Hand Hygiene, Inner health and DIY Facials During Self-Isolation

Podcast: Hand Hygiene, Inner health and DIY Facials During Self-Isolation

Here Are The Best New Facials For Skin Brightening

Here Are The Best New Facials For Skin Brightening

Everything You Need To Get The Meghan Markle No Make-Up Make-Up Look

Everything You Need To Get The Meghan Markle No Make-Up Make-Up Look

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
MarieClaire Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Elle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • beautyheaven
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Marie Claire