Get to know West Hollywood's best kept skin clinic
Remix founder Tim Phin sits down with Julia Stambler, the force behind Skinsane, to talk about her journey from chronic cystic acne to becoming the most sought-after skin therapist in Los Angeles.
There is a certain buzz you expect when you walk into a high-end clinic in West Hollywood, but Julia is different. She is calm, calculated, and possesses an understanding of the skin that borders on supernatural. It’s hard to believe the woman standing before me once hid behind layers of makeup to mask cystic acne so severe that it dictated her life. Today, she is the one dictating the standards of the aesthetic industry.
Along her journey, Julia found herself a mentor, whom she credits with forming the foundation of her knowledge. Following her love of Korean skincare practices, she travelled to the country, where she immersed herself in some of the world’s most advanced dermatological practices. The Korean approach to skincare is ‘barrier first’—a philosophy she now shares with her own clients. Now, Julia’s clinic, Skinsane, has become the best-kept secret of the city’s in-the-know crowd. I spent a session on her table with a cocktail of high-tech modalities and her proprietary Skinsane products, and I can safely say, Julia is one of the best in the business.
Julia—you weren’t always the skin guru. Where did this obsession start?
It started from a place of desperation. I had the worst cystic acne you can imagine. I tried everything. I went to the best doctors, used the most expensive creams, and nothing worked. I realised then that the traditional approach was broken. I decided to become my own experiment. I travelled to Korea because they are decades ahead of us in terms of technology and ingredients. I learned that skin isn’t just about the surface, it’s about cellular health.
You brought a lot of that tech back with you. I’ve never seen machines like these in New Zealand or even elsewhere in LA.
That’s because I’m picky. I use a combination of Korean technology and my own protocols. We are talking about Cold Plasma, which kills bacteria and promotes healing without the trauma of needles. I also use Electroporation to push nutrients deep into the dermis. Most people are just scratching the surface; we’re working at a cellular level.
Let’s talk about the treatment you just gave me. My face feels like it has been through a car wash.
We did a bit of everything. We started with the HydroFacial to vacuum out the pores while hydrating, then moved into Cold Plasma and Microcurrent to lift and sculpt. I finished with myown Skinsane moisturiser, whichuses exosomes, NAD, and peptides. It’s about giving the skin the building blocks it needs to repair itself.
I noticed you are quite vocal about what people are doing wrong. What is the biggest mistake you see?
People overcomplicating skincare while neglecting their barrier. Most people think more exfoliation, more actives, and harsher treatments will fix their skin faster, when in reality, it can lead to inflammation, sensitivity, and breakouts. Healthy skin is built through consistency, barrier support, and treatments that work with the skin rather than constantly traumatising it. Also, the water in LA is filled with chlorine and minerals that can dry out your skin. I tell everyone to get a filter. If you aren’t washing with clean water, your expensive serums are a waste of time.
You mentioned Cell Story. That sounded intense.
Cell Story is a liquid microneedling treatment that uses 50,000 marine sponge–derived microspears to boost product absorption. It supports skin regeneration, improves texture and hydration, and strengthens the barrier with minimal downtime. And unlike traditional microneedling, it uses spicules—not needles—making it a less invasive way to deliver actives deeper into the skin.
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