Meet The Team
Kristyn
Smith
ESTHETICIAN, EDUCATOR & FOUNDER
Kristyn Smith has been a licensed esthetician since 2003, with a career that spans clinical aesthetics, luxury beauty, and holistic skin health. Her curiosity for skincare was first piqued as a young adult while living abroad in London, where she became fascinated by the connection between lifestyle and skin health—a spark that later shaped her career.
She began her professional path in Southern California, working across Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Calabasas. She trained and practiced at CosmetiCare and under Cindy Alcott, Skin Therapy, collaborating closely with leading dermatologists and plastic surgeons including Dr. Malcolm Paul, Dr. Raffi Hovsepian, Dr. Paul Lin, and Dr. Kackenmeister. These experiences gave her a strong foundation in advanced medical aesthetics, laser therapies, and pre- and post-operative skincare. She also partnered with Clé de Peau Beauté, supporting spa programming in California, further blending her clinical expertise with luxury beauty.
Her work extended to San Francisco, where she practiced within the St. Regis Hotel Spa, refining her ability to deliver results in a five-star hospitality setting.
In 2012, Kristyn relocated to New York City, where she worked in SoHo, the West Village, and other neighborhoods with a clientele that included models, artists, and cultural leaders. She also managed the spa at Space NK’s flagship store, overseeing treatments and brand partnerships, and deepening her expertise in luxury retail and experiential programming.
In 2021, she founded Practise, her New York studio, as the culmination of these experiences. Practise integrates science-backed protocols with a holistic sensibility, offering treatments designed to restore balance, strengthen function, and support long-term skin health.
Her expertise has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Forbes, InStyle, Business Insider, and Bustle. Today, she continues to consult with brands, guide clients, and shape industry conversations at the intersection of science, beauty, and wellness.
Mariel
Kennedy
ESTHETICIAN
Beauty has been a recurring theme throughout Mariel's life at all stages: lifestyle, educational pursuits, and profession. Before graduating with honors from the Christine Valmy International School, Mariel earned a BA in Honors English and Art History from Skidmore College and spent many years working in the fashion industry as an assistant stylist in luxury ecommerce departments and celebrity styling. Esthetics is Mariel's medium and artform--your face is her canvas to uncover your natural radiance.
Mariel aims to use her education and experience in European-style facials to assist her clients in looking and feeling their best. She grounds her practice in education, patience, routine, and full-body health. Mariel pursued aesthetics having seen and experienced the effects skin and appearance can have on mental health. While she strives to use stimulating massage to lull her clients into a restful state of relaxation, her focus is always on foregrounding skin health and ensuring her clients understand the how's and why's of their in-studio treatments and home regimen recommendations. Mariel self-identifies as a perpetual student and is always reading, researching, and testing new techniques, ingredients, and products in order to answer questions, make suggestions, and stay current.
To Mariel, skincare is a daily practice of self-care and upkeeping one's overall health as opposed to a luxury experience, and she prides herself in her ability to curate a hyper-individualized plan for each client's lifestyle, budget, and goals.
Kiana
Cruz-Hart
Kiana is a dedicated esthetician who graduated from Christine Valmy in 2019 and has been working diligently ever since to perfect her craft. She found her way into the skincare world shortly after earning her bachelors of science degree in Health and Nutrition Science in 2018. During her college career, she faced some skin health issues that she, at the time, had no idea how to treat or manage. Instead, she tried several skin irritating regimens, which led to further skin barrier disruption. When she took the time to research what her skin was in need of, she realized that a gentle and nourishing regimen was all her skin needed. This sparked interest in that of her colleagues, family and friends leading her into the skincare space; ultimately, allowing her to find her true passion—healing skin! Kiana took the step forward following her degree and started her journey as an esthetician.
Specializing in facial massage for the last five years, Kiana focuses on lifting and sculpting techniques to enhance her clients' natural beauty. More recently, she has embraced the Dr. Vodder Manual Lymphatic drainage (MLD) method to further support skin health, and overall health and wellness. Kiana believes that skin is situational, and her bespoke approach ensures that every client receives the individualized care their skin deserves; allowing for optimal results and overall radiance.
Education is a cornerstone of Kiana's work as an esthetician. She believes that continuous learning and investing in her skills are invaluable to what she can offer her clients. With a strong focus on product knowledge, understanding the body's functions, and how specific techniques influence results, Kiana ensures that her treatments are both effective and personalized. Beyond technical expertise, she is passionate about providing an experience that fosters healing and helps clients refocus; creating a collaboration between holistic, eastern and western approaches to skincare and wellness.
Kiana is a born-and-raised New Yorker, but currently lives in Jersey City, NJ with her husband, two children and their dog.
Jolie
De Feis
ESTHETICIAN
Jolie graduated with honors from Christine Valmy International School in 2021, but her passion for skincare started many years earlier. Using her background in product + ux, education and community engagement, her goal is to make taking care of your skin accessible, approachable and most importantly, enjoyable.
After developing adult onset acne at 22, Jolie became obsessed with the science of skin. Being a teacher, she started writing about what she was learning, eventually launching her top-rated newsletter, Hotline Skin, which has served as a platform for her career as a practicing esthetician. She is also a contributor to New York and InStyle magazines.
Jolie lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé Alex and their dog, Goose.
ESTHETICIAN