The Brains Behind your Favourite Beauty Sites - Skin Essentials by Mariga

For this week's installment of the series we have a little look behind the scenes at Skin Essentials by Mariga. Having spent the past 12 years putting her know how to the test and featuring on beauty blogs such as Beaut.ie, I was intrigued to know more about this Wexford based Skincare Specialist, who's one of the most helpful Twitterers I've ever encountered. Take it away, Mariga!

1. What inspired you to set up your site? 

I set up my website about five years ago as I thought that e-commerce was the way forward. At the time there were hardly any Irish salons with a web presence and personal advice on skincare was really hard to come by. Originally it was just for information but it grew to include online booking, my blog, online shopping and a distance analysis service for anyone who can't get to Wexford for a personal appointment.

2. How long have you been beautifying the country? 

I originally qualified as a beauty therapist in 1990 and over the years I continued to educate myself in my particular passion which is skincare. I went on every course I could find to add to my qualifications and read dermatology books for breakfast! I set up my first salon in 2000 and in 2010 I launched my skincare range Skin Essentials by Mariga and rebranded my whole business. It now includes seeing personal customers at my clinic for analysis and treatments, manufacture and sale of my home care products, online advice service and I also train other therapists in how to perform my Advanced Skin Analysis service. This year I am opening a wholesale branch of the business to enable other salons in Ireland and the UK to offer Skin Essentials by Mariga treatments and products to their clients.

3. What's your favourite part of the job?

My favorite part of the job is acne treatment, particularly for teenagers. There is nothing as satisfying as seeing their personality change as their skin gets clearer. Apart from the physical scars it can leave, the silent trauma of acne is in the loss of confidence and self esteem which can linger long after the acne is gone. Preventing that and watching young people blossom into their full confidence is just amazing.

4. What’s the one thing about your job that people might not know?

I'm a secret mad scientist and am always trying out new concoctions and experimental procedures on myself and my friends!

5. If you could choose just one product to recommend to a friend – what would that be?

I'll be boring here and say that the one product I would recommend to anyone is SPF30. It will prevent premature aging and protect skin health. Also drinking lots of water really does make a huge difference to every skin type.

Thanks so much, Mariga, it's certainly impressive reading and a great example of why I'm loving this series (not just because I'm a nosebag). 

As a 'Getting to know you', hugely generous prize, Mariga has offered one lucky reader a voucher for a personal appointment with her for a digital skin scan and Skin Essentials by Mariga signature facial to the value of €100!

To enter, simply 'like' both Mariga's page & mine and follow us on the Twitter machine for up to the minute skincare expertise from Mariga (Just look at her timeline!) and general hilarity from Moi. Send me a mail to cherrysuecomps@gmail.com and let me know to include you and that's it! Winner will be announced on June 1st. Good Luck!

Pssst: Coming up next week, we have a little nosey behind the scenes at Hennessy Hair and Beauty from Cork! Stay tooned. 

The winner is.... Lisa T from Dublin 11!! Well done :D