Jodie Turner-Smith’s Facialist Shares Her Tips For Your Best-Ever Glowing Summer Skin

“I use a combination of lymphatic sculpting techniques and buccal massage, which works the muscles as well as the ligaments and lymph from the inside of the mouth,” says Gennari, who is based in London. “It can really change the way your face looks because it lifts brows and cheekbones, makes your eyes look brighter and more open, gives symmetry to your face, tightens your jawline and even improves the texture and natural radiance of your skin.” You’ll see the effects immediately after your treatment, but Gennari stresses that best results are visible between six to seven hours later, as well as the day after. “These changes last for a good 10 days, depending on the amount of tension that was released.”

According to Gennari, muscles have a memory, so if you’re consistent with massage at home, you can train them to stay in a certain position. “I always tell my clients to do their facial massage when removing a product from their face, so, during cleansing is best, since you can really get into the fascia of the muscles [which are prone to tightening up].” You’ll need to apply a good amount of pressure when massaging. “It has to feel quite tough but not painful – if you stay superficial, then you’re just moving the lymph, which is amazing for de-puffing, but it won’t give you that sculpting effect.” Gennari advises focusing on one side of the face at a time so you can concentrate on the pressure. “I normally start from the jaw and then move upwards and outwards from the center of the face.”

For good glow, exfoliation is key, but Gennari avoids any deep exfoliation that strips the skin barrier. “I’m not a big fan of glycolic acid because it’s quite strong and you can easily react to it. Plus, it doesn’t work well with other ingredients, so I tend to use other AHAs in combination with BHAs instead. Salicylic acid, which is exfoliating, and lactic acid, which is hydrating, work really well together and help to rebalance the skin and shed dead skin cells without causing dehydration.” When it comes to strength, Gennari suggests using a low concentration of both acids – often found paired together as a toner or cleansing product – and exfoliating a few times a week, before building up to daily application.

“People tend to over-exfoliate the skin, but what makes the most difference is actually hydration, not exfoliation. You need to keep your skin’s hydration levels high to slow down the aging process.” She advises her clients use sheet masks and skincare products with hyaluronic acid on a daily basis. “My favorite serum is Bioeffect’s EGF Power Serum, which is fuelled by plant-based growth factors and hyaluronic acid. I always give my clients the brand’s Imprinting Hydrogel face and eye sheet masks to do the day before a red-carpet event or wedding. They’re really great for plumping and flooding the skin with hydration.” She recommends using the masks, applying a good hydrating or nourishing cream afterwards, and leaving it on for the whole day before an evening event. “If you do this first, you won’t need to prep your skin again before applying your makeup.”

“Sunscreen isn’t just key for preventing skin cancer, it does a lot for anti-aging and preventing pigmentation, too. It really makes a big difference when it comes to an even skin tone, so if you want brighter, clearer skin, it’s essential to apply an SPF every day. I’m always surprised at how many people still don’t use it daily, despite its proven anti-aging effects.”

“Do all your facial massage using your hands only, so you can really feel and use the right amount of pressure, then your skincare tools can help boost the tightening effects afterwards,” says Gennari. “Any radio-frequency or muscle stimulation is great to use at home. I use NuFace’s Trinity+ on myself, but you need to be consistent with it and do it daily to see results.” Red LED light is also great to use post-massage, because it does a little bit of everything for skin. “I use it alongside a yellow and green light in the clinic, which work to stimulate your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid and collagen levels.”

“Prebiotics and probiotics really do make a big difference to your skin,” affirms Gennari, who recommends them to all her clients, including Jodie Turner-Smith. “Everything skin-related starts from your gut, so when you add a pre- and probiotic to a healthy diet, that’s when I see amazing skin results. I make my own bone broth and that’s the best collagen and probiotic out there, but you can also use a live culture probiotic and prebiotic to get the best gut benefits.”

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