Exploring the Intersection of Science and Self-Care – Exclusive Interview With Ida Fanelli
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 15
- 9 min read
Ida Fanelli, a holistic skin care expert, combines scientific knowledge and spiritual intuition to offer a personalized approach to skin health. In this exclusive interview, she explains how understanding the body’s internal systems and using advanced, natural therapies can lead to lasting skin renewal and overall wellness.
Ida Fanelli, Aesthetician, Reflexologist, & IPL Technician
Who is Ida Fanelli – inside and outside her business?
I’m an Italian-born Canadian, and my life has been defined by adaptation, curiosity, and resilience. When my family immigrated to Canada, I had to relearn an entirely new language as a child, an early challenge that sparked my love of learning and my ability to adapt.
I’m very much a Scorpio, detail-oriented, drawn to the medical sciences, in love with water, and adventurous in my younger days. My upbringing was old-school; sports weren’t encouraged, but I carved my own path into movement. I paid for my first bicycle with babysitting money and signed myself up for swimming lessons in grade six. Those two loves, cycling and swimming, shaped my childhood. Once I began working, I took up scuba diving, deepening my lifelong connection to water.
Fascinated by the human body, I trained in Medical Laboratory Technology and worked in both microbiology and clinical biochemistry. My career began in microbiology, but an unusual hospital-acquired bacterial infection in my finger, so rare it made medical history, put me in the hospital for two months.
When I transitioned to Clinical Biochemistry, I gained skills in computer systems for data entry and lab diagnostics, skills that still support my work today.
Government cutbacks threatened my job security, and a serendipitous nudge led me into holistic aesthetics. A personal health crisis brought me to a naturopath, who introduced me to Zanqara Skin Care, a vegan-friendly, plant-based line I’ve now used, taught, and trusted for decades.
Today, I blend science and spirituality, East and West, intuition and evidence. Clients often tell me, “You’re not like other estheticians.” That’s because conversations in my treatment room go far beyond skin deep, we explore hormones, fascia-induced pain, trauma, gut health, quantum energy, and everything in between.
How do you approach skin health differently from a typical esthetician?
In my practice, skin care begins long before we touch the face. I trained to understand that gut health, diet, stress, and lifestyle choices deeply interweave with what shows up on the skin. The pH of your diet, the state of your digestion, your sleep quality, and even your emotional resilience all affect your complexion. Many estheticians train to treat symptoms on the surface, but I treat the story the skin is trying to tell.
Your face is a map
My skincare line utilizes facial mapping and reflex point diagrams to help interpret what the skin reveals about your internal systems. For example, acne, milia, blackheads, or dark spots can reflect an underlying issue in your body. I also utilize a detailed intake process to ask more in-depth questions.
Often, a single breakout can reveal a cascade of internal imbalances. By investigating these clues, I support clients not only with skin treatments but also with lifestyle, emotional, and nutritional guidance.
Common sense meets clean science
I blend common-sense wisdom with holistic and scientific knowledge. Rather than pushing harsh exfoliants or aggressive treatments, I focus on gentle, sustainable healing. That's why I continue to work with Zanqara Skincare. This vegan-friendly line avoids lab-made retinoids and AHA/BHA fruit acids.
Zanqara uses fresh, plant-based ingredients to nourish the skin's microbiome, support natural cell renewal, and work in harmony with the body's rhythms. It's a line that aligns beautifully with my belief in using skincare not to fight your body, but to work with it.
More than skin deep
For me, aesthetics is not about perfection; it's about alignment. When your internal systems are supported, the skin becomes more radiant, balanced, and resilient. This isn't just theory; I see it in my clients every day. When we calm the gut, balance hormones, or release emotional stress, the skin often improves faster than any topical product can promise.
My role is to be a guide, not just a technician. Together, we look beyond the mirror to understand the root causes and support your skin in a way that's deeply personalized, compassionate, and sustainable.
What types of facials do you offer and how are they different?
In my practice, facials are more than just skin-deep. I tailor each treatment to your skin's specific needs, health history, and personal goals. While I offer multiple techniques, two of my most-requested facials are the Enzyme Peel and the Profile Peel, each offering assertive yet non-aggressive results for clients seeking a natural approach to skin renewal.
Why I recommend regular peels
Environmental stressors constantly expose the skin to various elements, including pollution, extreme weather, synthetic chemicals, and poor nutrition. These factors, combined with alcohol, tobacco, stress, and sun exposure, can compromise the skin's natural barrier and accelerate aging.
Peels, when done correctly and holistically, stimulate the skin's natural renewal process without the need for harsh acids or lab-made retinoids. Zanqara nourishes while it heals, making it ideal for sensitive or reactive skin types.
The enzyme peel
Target concerns: Pigmentation, fine lines, dullness, skin tone imbalances
Ideal for: All skin types, especially sensitive skin
This gentle yet effective facial utilizes a natural enzyme mask composed of bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme derived from pineapples. It works by gently breaking down the proteins that bind dead skin cells together, resulting in brighter, softer skin with reduced wrinkles and pigmentation.
Because the enzyme completely strips the skin's acid mantle (its natural protective barrier), this treatment doesn't perform extractions. However, a second soothing mask is applied to calm any redness and restore the skin's balance.
Post-care tip: Avoid sun exposure and makeup for 24 hours. Always wear mineral SPF afterward.
The profile peel
Ideal for: All skin types
The Profile Peel is one of my most versatile peels, offering visible firming and toning effects that can last 7–10 days after the session. What makes this peel unique is its base: a natural potato-derived compound that gently exfoliates while improving skin elasticity.
Because a portion of the skin acid mantle remains, extractions of whiteheads and blackheads are
allowed during this peel, making it a favourite for clients, cleansing and lifting benefits in one treatment. When an area of the mask puffs up, it demonstrates detoxification in a specific area. Accumulative results are visible with repetition.
Important note: As with any peel, your skin will be more sensitive to UV rays for several days following treatment. Avoid sun exposure and refrain from wearing makeup for 24 hours post-treatment. Consistent use of mineral-based sunscreen is crucial for preventing pigmentation.
A holistic, plant–based approach to skin renewal
Both the Enzyme and Profile Peels align with my commitment to non-invasive, results-driven skin therapy. I don't believe in over-stripping the skin or relying on synthetic, lab-made acids. Instead, I work with nature's intelligence, using fresh, bioactive ingredients to trigger renewal, not inflammation.
How do treatments like microcurrent, high frequency, or red/NIR light therapy work?
In the world of holistic aesthetics, technology and intuition can beautifully coexist. Over the past six years, I've witnessed remarkable transformations using tools that work not just on the skin, but with the skin's innate intelligence. These tools, microcurrent, high frequency, and red/NIR light therapy, may sound clinical. Still, their effects are deeply restorative.
In this article, I'll condense some of the insights I've shared on my podcast, Where Science Meets Self-Care with Ida Fanelli, and in my Brainz Magazine features. Whether you're dealing with acne, aging, scars, or stubborn wounds, these modalities can awaken the body's self-healing potential in ways that are both grounded in science and enhanced by energy medicine.
A. Dolphin microcurrent therapy
Think of the Dolphin Microcurrent device as a gentle electrical whisper that mimics your body's bioelectrical language. It is medical-grade and delivers low-level direct current to stimulate cellular energy (ATP), relax muscle tension, and sculpt facial contours.
But its benefits go far beyond aesthetics.
How it works:
It exercises your facial and body muscles for natural lifting and toning.
Encourages collagen and elastin production.
Supports circulation, lymph flow, and fascia hydration.
Induces a parasympathetic "healing state" in the nervous system.
Helps release and soften scar tissue to relieve adhered fascia pain issues, even in post-surgical or diabetic clients.
Speeds up the healing of wounds or surgical incisions.
Clients often describe feeling deeply relaxed, yet visibly lifted. It's like a non-invasive facelift and a lymphatic massage rolled into one.
B. High frequency: Plasma power for skin and scalp
High Frequency therapy has stood the test of time. Using glass electrodes filled with neon (orange/red glow) or argon (violet/blue glow), it generates safe levels of plasma and ozone on the skin's surface. You'll hear a gentle buzz and feel a subtle zapping or tingling sensation as the treatment oxygenates tissues and stimulates microcirculation.
What it treats:
Acne (including deep cystic breakouts)
Puffy or swollen skin
Enlarged pores and blackheads
Dull complexion and sluggish lymph flow
Redness, inflammation, and even dark under-eye circles
Fine lines, sagging skin, and collagen depletion
Hair thinning and scalp imbalances
Why it works:
The high frequency produces ozone molecules, which oxygenate and detoxify the skin while gently exfoliating and encouraging cellular regeneration. It's especially effective when the skin has become resistant to conventional acne treatments or when deeper oxygenation is needed.
I've even used this modality to support hair growth, stimulating the scalp to become more permeable to nourishing serums and increasing follicular blood flow.
C. Red and near–infrared light therapy: Healing at the speed of light
Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) light therapy harnesses specific wavelengths of light to activate deep healing processes in the body. In my practice, I use 660 nm (red light) and 850 nm (NIR) wavelengths for different layers of support. They enhance mitochondrial function and cellular detox.
Red Light (660 nm):
Boosts collagen and elastin production
Speeds up skin healing and scar fading
Calms inflammation and soothes irritation
Near-Infrared Light (850 nm):
Penetrates deeper tissues, reaching muscles, joints, and even bones
Supports injury recovery, fascia release, and chronic pain management
What's truly magical is that red/NIR light feeds your body like sunlight feeds your spirit. With our modern, indoor-heavy lifestyles, especially in Canada's long winters, many people are starved for these beneficial wavelengths. It's like giving your cells a light-based multivitamin.
I offer this therapy as a standalone, incorporate it into facials and massage, and even use it to dry polish faster during pedicures. Yes, beauty and function can shine together!
Look for contraindications in related articles on these products.
From face to fascia: Why I use these tools head to toe
While many estheticians use these tools only on the face, I've expanded their use to support chronic pain, stubborn scars, poor circulation, and delayed wound healing, especially in mature or diabetic clients. I've seen long-lingering injuries improve, inflamed tissues calm, and clients regain confidence in their body's healing process.
Because the body is an interconnected system of electrical, chemical, and quantum reactions, these treatments don't just work superficially; they communicate with your cells, your nervous system, and even your energetic field.
How do you guide clients through your services to support their long-term wellness?
Supporting my clients is never just about what happens on the treatment table. It's about building a relationship of trust, educating clients, and offering tools that empower them to support their wellness between appointments. Skin health is a reflection of the whole person, so I take a layered, integrative approach to long-term care.
Education as a cornerstone of care
From the moment someone steps into my practice, I aim to be both a guide and a partner in their wellness journey. My role extends outside the treatment room through education and storytelling. Informed clients are empowered clients, and I'm committed to demystifying the connections between lifestyle, environment, emotions, and skin.
You'll find my educational content in many forms:
Brainz Magazine Articles, Esthetics by Ida Website Blogs, & Ida Fanelli Medium Articles
I write in-depth articles on a range of topics, including pigmentation and hormone health, sleep, fascia, sun exposure, and how altitude and stress impact the skin. These pieces blend science, clinical experience, and practical holistic solutions, perfect for clients who want to go deeper.
"Where science meets self-care with Ida Fanelli" podcast
Through my podcast, I explore the intersection of modern science and ancient wisdom, inviting guests, sharing case studies, and diving into topics like lymphatic drainage, circadian health, detox rituals, trauma and skin, high-frequency therapy, seasonal skin detoxes, breast lymphatic health, holistic approaches to acne or melasma, energy healing for skin and stress, and more. It's like a wellness class you can listen to in your car or while relaxing at home.
Links to all this information and more are available on my social media.
A holistic ally for the long run
My goal is never to create a dependency on treatments or products, but to help you understand your body, your skin, and your emotional patterns so that you can make informed, empowered decisions. Whether you visit me once a month or once a season, you'll walk away with clarity, care, and tools that extend beyond the clinic.
Curious to experience these therapies for yourself?
Book a session or explore more on my website, or tune into "Where Science Meets Self-Care with Ida Fanelli" on your favorite podcast platform for deeper insights into these tools and more.
