With his always packed waiting-list clinics in London and New York City, and a growing presence at a tidy roster of well-regarded spas (Four Seasons Nashville, Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, Meadowood Napa Valley, and Mohonk Mountain House)—not to mention his buzzy Instagram—Pietro Simone is fast becoming the uber-esthetician who needs no introduction.
Wait—you’re only just now tuning in to Channel Simone? Read this in-depth profile to get caught up . . .
But since the Italian skincare guru can’t be everywhere, all at once, he’s putting on his teacher’s cap. His new One-To-One Masterclasses, that kicked off at a pop-up spa in the Hamptons this August and will transition to the House of Pietro Simone in Soho come September, allow you to literally take beauty matters into your own hands. Encompassing both face and body, i.e., the “ecosystem,” as Simone calls it, the classes are immersive, lively, fun, and super-informative, just like the man who created them.
A Less-Tech-y, “Civilian” Approach To Teaching
As a self-taught skincare obsessive with a raft of signature techniques (case in point, his organic cotton thread facial), Simone is pretty much incapable of not sharing his knowledge. And in fact, prior to opening his Belgravia location in 2016, and developing his own product range in 2019, he spent six years as a trainer for the storied Swiss skincare brand La Prairie. Over the course of his career, Simone estimates he’s trained up to 600 estheticians across Europe, the. UK, and America.
Teaching non-professionals obviously requires a less technical approach and is much more targeted to the unique needs of the “students” in attendance. But while the Hamptons’ pop-up represents the first time Simone is formally adding classes to his menu alongside his famous facials, he’s been teaching his clients how to work his particular brand of skin magic for years.
“If someone is willing to spend thousands of dollars on skincare, they should know how to use it.”
“The first time I ever did a Masterclass I was probably twenty-one years old,” recalls Simone, who’s now 39. “I didn’t call them that because I didn’t yet have my own brand. But compared to many other founders in skincare, I really do treat people. I speak with them. I touch them.”
And because he’s so hands-on, Simone’s sought-after knowledge appeals to a wide audience. “I’ve taught very ‘normal’ people, super-skincare junkies, journalists, beauty editors, celebrities,” he says. Now, he’s about to teach even more.
Solo Or Group, The Choice Is Yours
Offered in one- and two-hour formats (for $375 and $595, respectively), the Masterclasses are open to either individuals who want Simone’s exclusive laser focus, or small packs of like-minded pals.
While solo classes are ideal for anyone in search of privacy and best practices for dealing with specific conditions like vitiligo, rosacea or skin cancer, groups deliver both “aha moments” and plenty of common ground.
“When you have six people in a class, there’s so much stuff coming up,” notes Simone. “And everyone is interacting. It’s like, ‘Oh, I never knew that,’ or ‘Maybe I’ll try that.’ They’re all working toward the final result, which is to be more knowledgeable about, and comfortable with, skincare. It’s pretty great.”
After completing the four-page intake form required of all his clients, Simone’s eager students, who have his entire face and body collections at their disposal, as well as any of their own products they’ve brought in from home, dive right into the deep end.
“We sit down and they work,” Simone explains. “They have their own sponge, water, all the products—everything they could possibly need. It’s like the French or Italian toilette – it’s all there. The idea is: Show me what you’re doing and I can help you, I can correct you and I can enhance what you’re doing.”
In a nutshell, here’s what they’re learning: For the face, the curriculum includes skin analysis, lifestyle consultation, skincare mapping, personalized treatments and customized massage. For the body, it’s all about holistic wellness that encompasses shifting stagnant energy and reversing signs of aging, like skin dullness and cellulite.
And About All Those Gadgets . . .
In addition to finding out how to get the most mileage out of, say, Pietro Simone Skincare Dewy Reboot Hydration Booster Compound for the face or Imperfection Body Diminisher, Masterclass attendees become acquainted with a slew of tools. From the low-tech Himalayan Salt Mushroom Face Massager and 7-Star Hammer Needle, which draws on concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine, to the futuristic Fierce Skin Stimulator, Simone has a massive toolkit from which to draw.
The point is to test, to try, to explore, and find out what lotions, potions and gadgets will consistently deliver great skin from head to toe.
“At the end of the day, what is a Masterclass?” Simone muses. “To me it’s something that you practically and theoretically work on in order to reap the benefits and address every single doubt you might have. It could be, ‘Why do I need this product?’ or ‘How am I supposed to apply it?’”
The end goal? Empowerment. “I teach them the basics—although they’re anything but,” says Simone. “They’re great techniques that can be done at home, such as massage, lymphatic drainage, whatever needs to be done. If someone is willing to spend thousands of dollars on skincare, they should know how to use it.”
Dana Wood
Dana Wood is the Contributing Beauty Editor at InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She has been writing about beauty and wellness for decades, and no matter how many times she taps the words “hyaluronic acid” or “healing modalities” into her keyboard, it never gets old. Dana spent a total of 20 years at Condé Nast, serving as Beauty Director for W, Cookie, and Brides. A transplanted New Yorker, Dana now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her peak spa experience? Dana says it’s impossible to decide between the Coco-Mango Body Buff at the Driftwood Spa at Jakes in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, The Land of Beautiful Waters Anti-Aging Facial at Four Seasons Nevis, and the 80-minute 5 Senses massage at the Spa by JW in Marco Island, Florida.