Get Comfy In Your Own Skin

Venus DeMarco is comfortable with everything skin and passes her vast experience on to her clients.

Story and Photo by Darline Turner-Lee

It took me a couple of laps around the complex at 4101 Medical Parkway to find Venus De- Marco’s Clinical Skin Care. After circling the building a couple of times, I finally found Suite 113. The small cadre of offices is rather unassuming and unlike most other salons or spas, Venus DeMarco’s Clinical Skin Care has no flashy sign or other external accoutrement to draw attention to it. The door is identical to all the others in the complex, austere and nondescript. Venus DeMarco’s Clinical Skin Care is a little gem hidden away amongst a plethora of medical offices.

The office itself is unlike most other skin care salons. It’s small very small three rooms to be exact. The front room is a waiting area, product display area and consultation room all rolled into one. There is a desk with two chairs for consultations, products displayed on one wall, two easy chairs, a coffee table and magazines in the waiting area and a few art pieces on the walls. The treatment room is fully equipped with everything an aesthetician needs to care for skin and is organized for maximum client comfort. The clean white walls and soft, textured bed linens offer a relaxing atmosphere within the treatment room’s small confines. A small and neat changing room completes the office.

Venus DeMarco is all smiles as I come through the door and she quickly welcomes me in. “This is my place,” says DeMarco extending her arms in presentation. And she’s quick to tell me that she’s neither a salon nor a spa and that all she does is skin. “I’m here for people who want quality skin care.”

DeMarco’s relaxed confidence is evident yet not haughty. She’s really an engaging person and her passion for skin care and her business instantly drew me in. She speaks freely, laughs genuinely and is a joy to be around. Venus DeMarco (yes that is her real name!) is truly a lady who is comfortable in her own skin.

“I’m living the best life,” says DeMarco, who plainly admits that if she has her way, she’ll always remain solo free of employees and or partnerships. “I love working alone. I set the hours that I want to work, Tuesday through Friday, and I give myself the downtime that I need to rest and play. I’ve learned that it’s much better to have a few steady clients than to have a bunch that I can’t easily manage. I’ve done that and I don’t want to live that life again.”

There has been a lot that DeMarco has done. After living in four different states in four very different climates, DeMarco proudly proclaims that she really knows the physiology of skin. She’s been in the skin care industry for 30 years, long before being an aesthetician was something one could aspire to be.

“In those early days you had to be really good,” says DeMarco. “There was a lot of resistance from physicians and you really had to prove yourself and your skills.”

DeMarco has taken many advanced classes in skin care. Early on, she worked as a freelance make up artist for body builders and used this relationship as an entrance to educate them about the importance of good skin care and healthy nutrition. She also has advance training in acne management. DeMarco used to teach other aestheticians acne care.

I finally posed the “big question”, why should a person consider seeing her as opposed to seeing a dermatologist? DeMarco had this response, “Most people see a dermatologist because there is a problem. A dermatologist will look at their skin, diagnose the problem, give them a medication and send them on their way. I like to look at the root of the problem and ask, why did the problem occur in the first place? What are other aggravating factors such as stress, lifestyle and diet? What can the client do to make it better? And whenever possible, I use natural approaches and really focus on long term maintenance.” “I also work with clients and help them understand that skin care is cumulative. You have to continue your program. Think of skin care like a diet. If you stick with the program, you lose weight and maintain it. Same with skin care. If you stick with your program, you’ll achieve your desired results and maintain them over time. If you stray or become lax with your program, your problems will come back much like if you stray from your diet the weight comes back.” DeMarco gave me a facial, yet before she even started she asked me, “Your skin seems dry and stressed. Are you under stress?”