Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it’s important to know how to take care of it. No two people are exactly the same, and the same goes for their skin. This is a topic that Jacinda Fermanis is passionate about, so much so that she established Skinned Row—a one-person-run skincare consultation service based in Sydney. Jacinda spoke to TEO about her musically inspired business name, tattoo healing, and what skincare rituals we all should know.
TEO: Tell us about how your brand was born and what the ultimate goal for Skinned Row is.
Jacinda: Skinned Row began as a way to empower others to embrace their skin and learn about skin health in an educated and straightforward way. I was into basic skincare at a young age but began to take it seriously after a bout of sudden cystic acne in my early 20s. Understanding ingredients and their effect on the skin helped me understand various skin related ailments, and I’ve never looked back.
The first line of your first Instagram post says, “hi, I’m Jacinda. I love skin and Ed Gein.” True crime, huh! How do you incorporate your personality into your brand’s voice?
I’m a tough critic and don’t have time for bullshit claims. Integrity and authenticity are at the core of what I do, so I won’t recommend a product or ingredient without understanding its efficacy or trying it on my own skin. That no-fluff approach has always resonated with people, and despite that, brands still want to work with me.
We noticed the pun in the brand name (Skid Row = Skinned Row)—love it! Bit of a metal fan?
I grew up listening to a lot of thrash before discovering doom metal and then shifting into a lot of hardcore and punk in my late teens. These days all those genres are constants in my Spotify playlists, but I have diversified my tastes quite a bit. If I had to choose what to listen to for the rest of my days, it would be Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, Billie Holiday and Elvis.
Your logo was inspired by Slayer and Mayhem’s logos. Was it important for your love of music to be reflected in your brand?
I realised early on that Skinned Row was a place where I could combine a lot of my interests. Part of my value as a business is based on the quality of my ideas and finding ways of communicating and resonating with people. There’s a real joy in being able to share my personal interests on my brand platform.
You have over 40 tattoos. Can you tell us about your most unique or most meaningful addition?
I’ve never been particularly sentimental about my tattoos. When people ask about them, I typically steer the conversation elsewhere because there are no deep meanings here—I just wanted them! They’re an extension of me and my style, and a snapshot of who I was and what was important to me at that time. I have always believed that your sense of aesthetics will change less than your philosophies will.
Have you or any of your clients had any bad experiences with tattoo healing?
Luckily, all of my clients have had their tattoos heal perfectly! As graphic as it may sound, healing a tattoo is similar to healing a wound. A good tattoo lotion will help seal up the needle punctures whilst also acting as an occlusive to create a long-lasting barrier that acts as an oil bandage. Once you enter the peeling stage, you’ll need to protect all that new, ink-injected skin with a good moisturiser.
What advice would you offer to someone who is about to get their first ever tattoo?
Cheap tattoos aren’t good. Good tattoos aren’t cheap. Tip your tattoo artist.
Are there any skin products or rituals that would be suitable and recommended for all skin types?
SPF! If you head to my Instagram page, you’ll find me constantly talking about the importance of using a good SPF—no matter your skin type. If the UV index is higher than three, you better be slip, slop, slappin’ or I will come for you.
On Instagram, you’ve talked about the difference between taking care of yourself and simply maintaining your skin. What did you mean by that?
Beauty and mental health intersect. I find it encouraging that brands within the beauty industry are slowly shifting the dial from ‘put this on your face and you’ll feel better’ to ‘it is okay to be kind to yourself,’ but we still have a long way to go. Focussing less on appearance and more on holistic well-being is necessary in practicing self-compassion.
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Photos: supplied
