An open mind and a love of adventure can take you far in life. For Jackie Aoki, they steered her through a transformative year at Blanche Macdonald’s Global Esthetics / Medical Esthetics Program to a rewarding career as an Advanced Skin Specialist and Laser Esthetic Technician at SKN Clinic.
“Skinship is communication. That’s how you can learn from anybody. Just shaking hands, you can feel if someone has a tender spot and you offer to massage them. This is skinship. Most of all, I love people!”
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Jackie’s laser esthetics technician journey to SKN began shortly after graduating from Blanche Macdonald’s Global Esthetics / Medical Esthetics Program. She had been aware of the clinic for a while and admired its emphasis on Eastern medicine, Medical Esthetics, laser treatments, and skin nutrition.
“I love my job and working as a laser esthetics technician at SKN. But it’s more than that. SKN is a lot like Blanche Macdonald. It’s a sisterhood: no drama, women with great work ethics supporting each other in a wonderful work environment.”
Originally from Tokyo, Japan Jackie immigrated to Vancouver, Canada and experienced challenges in her new country. Jackie felt insecure in her new home. As a young mother with English as a second language, she lacked confidence in herself. She wanted to learn a skill and to pursue a career path.
“Blanche Macdonald is a huge part of my life in a very positive way. Because really, Blanche empowered me. It was a life-changing experience. The School gave me motivation and a limitless feeling.”
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While working at Starbucks, Jackie was considering her future career options, often in conversation with her regular customers. One regular suggested returning to School to pursue something she enjoyed. Jackie initially considered studying to be a Shiatsu Massage Therapist, but reconsidered: “I wanted a profession I could do for a long time that was hands-on, but not so reliant on my body.”
Still, Jackie knew she was passionate about massage and skinship. A term originating in South Korea and Japan, ‘skinship’ describes non-sexual physical affection and closeness, such as hugging, cuddling, holding hands, and massage.
“Skinship is communication. That’s how you can learn from anybody. Just shaking hands, you can feel if someone has a tender spot and you offer to massage them. This is skinship. Most of all, I love people!” Jackie laughs. “So instead of Shiatsu or Massage Therapy, I decided to study Esthetics at Blanche Macdonald. Because I love people, I love human touch. Skinship is so important to me. And it can’t be replaced by automation or AI. Human touch can never be replicated by anything or taken away from us.”
“I love my job and working at SKN. But it’s more than that. SKN is a lot like Blanche Macdonald. It’s a sisterhood: no drama, women with great work ethics supporting each other in a wonderful work environment.”
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Excited to have chosen a path she was passionate about, Jackie was initially hesitant. “I wasn’t sure my English was good enough. But, why not? I should try it!” So Jackie applied to Blanche, a decision that would segue into the most transformative year of her life.
“Blanche Macdonald is a huge part of my life in a very positive way. Because really, Blanche empowered me. It was a life-changing experience. The School gave me motivation and a limitless feeling. I was 36 or 37 when I started their Global Esthetics / Medical Esthetics and I felt so old. But, I always felt ‘Why not? You should do it!’ And I was right, age didn’t matter. Everyone in the class was motivating and teaching each other, studying together, and giving tips. It was possibly the most challenging and rewarding year of my life.”
“While everyone's needs are different, the beauty of my job lies in finding the best way and putting in the effort to achieve their goals together internally and externally. My client's happiness is my happiness!”
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“I cannot thank this amazing society enough, this amazing community at Blanche Macdonald. Although it’s a big school it still feels so secure. It’s a safe space where you can always go back to get some guidance and share your experience. From the moment you enter the school, everyone from the staff to the faculty, makes you feel welcome.”
Throughout her Esthetics career and today as an Advanced Skin Specialist and Laser Esthetics Technician at SKN, the theory taught at Blanche ensures Jackie feels confident and knowledgeable when working with Halo Hybrid Fractional Lasers, Skin Tightening Lasers, HydraFacials, BBL Lasers and LED Light Therapy.
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“Theory was a vital part of my education at Blanche. When you have it, you can be safely trained on any equipment. At work, the laser esthetics technician who trains us on their company’s equipment know how to use the machine and only teach us this. What they don’t teach is the depth or energy to target for redness or rosacea, for example. If you don’t know the specific skin type, depth, and energy, things can go wrong fast. So theory is very important and we are expected to know it. I really appreciated Cristina’s theory instruction, where she emphasized this.”
“I cannot thank this amazing society enough, this amazing community at Blanche Macdonald. Although it’s a big school it still feels so secure. It’s a safe space where you can always go back to get some guidance and share your experience. From the moment you enter the school, everyone from the staff to the faculty, makes you feel welcome.”
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Jackie loves to see her clients thrive under her care and cherishes the connections she makes with them. “My main motivation is seeing the happy faces of my clients! I’ve encountered many clients who have suffered from skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Harsh skin problems resulting from stress, anxiety, medications, and more. I’ve witnessed their skin healing and noticed the happiness they experience as their skin improves. These experiences warm my heart and provide me with the motivation to continue my work.”
“While everyone’s needs are different, the beauty of being a medical esthetician lies in finding the best way and putting in the effort to achieve their goals together internally and externally. My client’s happiness is my happiness!”
Jackie can look back on her Medical Esthetics career journey with pride. And she never stops looking forward with a wonderfully positive and open mind.
“I love adventure, to be honest. I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I always take life as it comes. Let’s give it a try!”
