Often referred to as many things, I am George Gougoulis, known affectionately as “Gougou”. I have been in the skin care and beauty industry since 1993, and prior to that was a primary school teacher. In fact, a prep teacher – to be precise.
Long before we had men on every cosmetics counter, and male aestheticians and therapists, there was a very small number of us in the Industry. In fact, you could probably count us on two hands!
I turned to skin care as early as six years old. Having been diagnosed with atopic eczema, pretty much most of my life, it turned out that cortisone and my skin were not really compatible. As such, I was advised by our family doctor to always moisturise. In fact, I have used most brands out there, and was experiencing facials from a very young age.
When working as a schoolteacher, my skin really started to flare up, and you could not really see my face underneath the red raw carnage of a complexion. That moment and timeframe gave me the impetus to move forward and change my life.
Teaching and I parted ways, I enrolled to study Beauty Therapy, and also worked on many cosmetic counters in my journey.
For well over twenty of those years in industry, I worked in various roles as an educator and trainer to this industry. (As well as running major promotional campaigns and events for iconic and global brands.) Fortune and wonderful experiences blessed me with the ability to present and train across the globe in some wonderful places – from Taipei to LA; Vienna to Moscow and many others in between.
Prior to establishing myself in what would then become The Facial Maestro, I was working for the industry at large: Motivational Coach and speaker to the salon community; assisting brands to launch key products as part of their strategy, and also working in Training and Events for key brands within the L’Oréal stable of brands.
In 2012, I opted to move into a more niche setting, and then set up what would become a journey of Love and results. Now, I could never give up practising Skin Care Therapy and using my hands and beloved products to do so much “more”.
In fact, in 2014 during a European jaunt, the Beauty Editor of a very prestigious Fashion Magazine in Germany announced to one and all at a PR event that the facial I had given her was the “…only true facial anywhere in the world – and an experience that only a select few were offered… “. In short, she went on to state it was the best facial to be had!
For me, my work is defined by Love. A love of skin. A love of my clients (who are like family to me). A love of touch and its gifts. A love of seeing results, improvement and luminosity in the complexions that I partner with.
My facials use no machinery. Not even a steamer! I actually cleanse the skin with a powerful and sensory massage of unequalled passion – with eyes closed. This is performed for a solid 45 minutes! (I have only just brought LED Light Therapy into my treatment studio). No aggressive and unpleasant treatments are welcome in my space!
The moniker “The Facial Maestro” was given to me by a long-term client who described the trance that I enter as I work with eyes closed, almost like that of a musician passionately performing their craft! As though the skin is played like a beautiful instrument.
Quite simply, this is who I am!
I look forward to being of service to you soon.
With love and passion, always wanting to see your skin luminous and healthy,
I humbly remain yours-
GG – aka,
The Facial Maestro.