Esthetician Spotlight: Viviane Aires

But when I started working in spas here, and especially when I worked alongside a dermatologist, I saw something that honestly surprised me: how much acne and pigmentation affected my clients emotionally. It wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was about how they saw themselves, how they moved through the world, their confidence, their joy. 

That’s when I realized this work is so much more than skin deep. People were carrying pain, shame, disconnection from their own reflection. And I thought: What if I could help them find that ease with themselves that I grew up with? What if I could blend the science — which I love learning — with this deeper understanding of how beauty and self-worth are connected? 

That’s what drives my practice today. I help people tune into their own unique beauty, not chase perfection.” 

 How would you describe the mission behind your brand and the experience you strive to create for every client?  

My mission is to help clients understand their skin’s story — because your skin is always communicating something deeper. It’s reflecting your stress, your hormones, your emotions, your lifestyle. Most people are taught to fight their skin or hide it. I teach them to listen to it. 

The experience I create is different from a typical facial. When you come to me, yes, we’re addressing pigmentation or acne or aging — but we’re also talking about what’s happening beneath the surface. Are you overwhelmed? Are you in transition? Is your body asking for something you haven’t been giving it? 

I bring a holistic approach that honors the mind-body-skin connection, but also a warmth and intuition that comes from my Brazilian roots. Touch matters. Ritual matters. How you feel in the treatment room matters. 

My goal isn’t just to give you great skin — it’s to help you feel at home in your body again. 

How would you describe your signature approach to skincare, and what makes your technique unique? Is there a particular treatment or modality that you feel most connected to?  

My signature approach comes from my massage therapy background — I see the face as a map of what you’ve been carrying emotionally. 

When we hold stress, grief, anxiety, or even joy in very specific ways, our facial muscles respond. Some become overworked — like the jaw from clenching or the forehead from tension. Others become underused and lose tone. Over time, this creates patterns in how we age, how we hold our face, even how we feel in our skin. 

My Skin Wellness Signature Facial — which is the most sought-after treatment in my practice — addresses this. I incorporate thermal therapy and aromatherapy to help the nervous system relax first, because you can’t release facial tension if your body is still in fight-or-flight. Then I work to re-educate those facial muscles, releasing what’s gripping and reawakening what’s dormant. 

Recently, I added a new treatment to our menu that’s becoming incredibly popular: Le Fix Facial, an anti-aging resurfacing treatment specifically designed for menopausal skin and sun damage. We’re the exclusive provider in Philadelphia] — and it’s been transformative for clients in that stage of life. 

It’s not just a facial — it’s a reset. Clients often say they didn’t realize how much they were holding until they felt it release. And that’s when the skin really transforms, because we’re not just treating the surface; we’re addressing the root. 

When a new client walks through your door, what is the first thing you want them to feel or understand about working with you?  

The first thing I want clients to feel when they walk through my door is permission to let go. 

My studio is in downtown Philadelphia — Rittenhouse Square — and city life carries its own kind of intensity. The noise, the pace, the constant stimulation. So the moment you step inside, I want you to feel unplugged from all of that. 

I intentionally dim the lights to create a soft, safe space. And I only play Brazilian music — bossa nova, MPB, those gentle rhythms that feel like a warm embrace. It’s not just about ambiance; it’s about transporting you somewhere else entirely. 

When your nervous system can actually relax — when you’re not in fight-or-flight anymore — that’s when real healing happens. That’s when your facial muscles can release, your skin can receive treatment more deeply, and you can reconnect with yourself. 

I want clients to understand that this isn’t rushed. You’re not just another appointment. You’re here to be held, to be seen, and to remember what it feels like to be fully present in your body. 

What is one skincare misconception you wish more clients or even estheticians understood?  

The biggest misconception I wish everyone understood — clients and estheticians — is that your skin is not static. 

Your skin is a living, breathing organ that’s constantly responding to what’s happening inside and outside of you. Your hormones, your stress levels, your sleep, the season, what you ate yesterday, how hydrated you are — all of it shows up on your skin. 

So many people think: ‘This is my skin type. This is my routine. This should work forever.’ But that’s not how skin works. Your skin is always communicating with you. When she looks dull, inflamed, congested, or just off — she’s not betraying you. She’s asking for something different. 

What breaks my heart is when people punish their skin for changing — stripping it, over-exfoliating, piling on more products. I want people to understand: your skin isn’t the problem. She’s the messenger. 

The real work is learning to listen — and respond with love, not aggression 

What has been one of the most defining or transformative moments in your esthetics career so far? Can you share a challenge you faced on your path that ultimately shaped you into a stronger professional?  

The most defining moment in my career was actually a series of moments that tested everything I believed about myself. 

I had been traveling as an educator for different skincare brands for 18 years — that was my identity, my income, my purpose. But I made the decision to stay local so I could be present for my son. That meant stepping back from everything I’d built — choosing motherhood over momentum. 

I started working at Rescue Spa in Philadelphia, and after a year and a half months later, I won Best Esthetician 2019 by Philadelphia Magazine. It felt like validation — like, ‘Okay, I made the right choice. I can build something beautiful here.’ 

And then COVID happened. I got laid off. 

Honestly, it was devastating. And that wasn’t even all of it — I also had total hip surgery during this time. So I’m healing physically, financially uncertain, and trying to figure out what’s next. (She laughs) Oh, and I was in a new relationship that would eventually lead to marrying my best friend a couple years later. So, yeah — a LOT was happening in a very short amount of time. 

But I had to make a choice: collapse or create something new. So even while recovering, I started offering virtual skin coaching sessions — learning how to serve clients in a completely different way. And in October 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, still healing, I opened my own practice. 

That was the leap of faith. I had to trust the process, trust myself, trust that if I showed up with integrity and love, it would work. 

Five years later, we’re still standing. We’re thriving. And I’m so grateful — not just for the success, but for what that moment taught me about resilience, faith, and what’s possible when you refuse to give up on your vision. 

Looking back, what accomplishment or milestone are you most proud of? How do you build trust with clients, especially those who may feel nervous or unsure about starting their skincare journey  

What I’m most proud of is taking a chance on myself — especially when every logical reason said not to. 

As an immigrant, taking risks is part of the dream. You don’t leave everything you know, move to a new country, and rebuild your life without believing that something better is possible. But believing it and doing it are two different things. 

Opening my practice in October 2020 — in a pandemic, while recovering from hip surgery, with no safety net — that was me honoring that immigrant courage. That was me saying: ‘I’m not waiting for permission. I’m not waiting for the “perfect” moment. I’m creating what I know is possible.’ 

And I’m proud that I didn’t just survive — I built something thriving. A practice where clients feel seen and cared for. A space that honors my Brazilian roots and my belief that beauty is deeper than skin. A business that supports my family and allows me to be present for my son. 

That’s the immigrant dream. Not just making it work — but making it yours. 

How do you build trust with clients, especially those who may feel nervous or unsure about starting their skincare journey  

When clients come to me feeling nervous or unsure, they’re often carrying shame about their skin — like they’ve been doing something wrong or they’re somehow failing. So the first thing I do is create space for them to be heard. I ask questions. I listen to their stories. I want to understand not just what their skin is doing, but what their life is doing. 

Then I reassure them: Your skin isn’t broken. You’re not broken. We’re just going to figure out what she needs. 

From there, I focus on education — but in a way that feels empowering, not overwhelming. I help them understand that consistency matters more than perfection. That their nightly routine is actually where most of the healing happens, because that’s when your skin regenerates and repairs itself. 

What surprises me is how many people skip this step entirely — they’ll do their morning routine but not their night routine. And I get it! Life is busy. You’re exhausted. But I help them see that this is where you love on yourself. This is your ritual. This is how you signal to your body: ‘I’m taking care of you.’ 

Trust is built when clients feel seen, not scolded. When they understand the why behind what I’m asking them to do, they’re so much more likely to commit. 

11. How do you stay ahead in an industry that evolves so quickly with new technologies and treatments?

I absolutely stay current — I think it’s essential to keep your finger on the pulse in this industry. But I’m very selective about what I bring into my practice. 

Honestly, I’m not interested in trendy treatments that confuse clients or promise overnight miracles. What I care about are modalities that genuinely improve the health of the skin — not just how it looks, but how it functions. 

That’s why I love technologies like LED therapy and microcurrent. These aren’t flashy or gimmicky, but they work at a cellular level. LED reduces inflammation, supports healing, stimulates collagen. Microcurrent re-educates facial muscles and improves tone. These are treatments that complement the body’s natural processes rather than fighting against them. 

I stay informed by attending education courses, following research, and staying connected with other practitioners I respect. But at the end of the day, I filter everything through this question: Does this truly serve my clients’ skin health, or is it just noise? 

My clients trust me because they know I’m not going to push the latest trend on them. I’m going to recommend what actually works.