IRINI'S ORIGIN
It was a passionate inner calling that ultimately led to a career. As a licensed esthetician of over eighteen years, in several states, Irini holds a New York State esthetic instructor license, tattoo license and is a reiki practitioner, steadily transforming skin for her clients.
Growing up in Greece, Irini was shown the “touch of healing” by her mother. From a young age, Irini was a natural herbalist. Hiking into the Greek mountains and climbing trees to bring home natural plants and herbs not only for food but for beauty tinctures. At the heart of her work is her own journey and that of the generations before her. The cherished memory of picking wild chamomile flowers with her grandmother started with three generations of family and friends together. Like her room, everything Irini touches has a link back to her Hellenic roots, various cultures and her faith.
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Irini's Mother with friends + family in Greece, where it all started.
An accidental career from a passionate inner calling, one made stronger by her family history and her own journey.
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“It picked me before I picked it. I am lucky doing what I love and I feel like I have never worked a day in my life."
Irini as a baby in her traditional Greek dress.
Irini relocated to America after her mother’s passing, in pursuit of the American Dream. As a young woman, the female voice outside of the societal expectation of patriarchal Greek roots is not encouraged. In hopes to amplify the female voice, she was inspired to help women. “My mother gave me wings to fly.” Her mother had been forced into an arranged marriage, in response to this, she supported Irini’s free spirited autonomy. “I am a woman’s woman completely, my treatment room is a safe space free of judgement."
After graduating with honors from The Aveda Institute in New York City, Irini was recruited to work in the medical field located in Chelsea working alongside a dermatologist. Following this experience, she was intrigued by medical esthetics. Pursuing this interest, her passion bloomed for skincare, leading to Irini being discovered in 2006 by a manager at Bergdorf Goodman, where she began her career in the high end world of luxury beauty. She built a loyal following of clientele within six month and caught the attention of executives. Irini was quickly promoted East Coast Esthetician traveling for VIP clientele, leading facial events including Neiman Marcus and Saks 5th Avenue. After making Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue her home base, she continued her education at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, Christine Valmey, and The International Dermal Institute. As a guest speaker for The Lia Schorr Institute and the Steiner Academy of England, she has earned multiple international certificates in advanced courses.
Excelling at facial techniques, Irini has traveled the world for courses in France, Turkey and Greece. While working alongside some of the renowned makeup artists and beauty experts in New York City, luxury brands featured her works in Awake, La Mer, La Praire, Sisley Paris, Lancôme, MDNA and the NYC spa frequented by beauty editors, influencers and more. Also featured in the Kjaer Weiss counter at Barney’s New York she performed her coveted intuitively guided reiki facials.
Irini lives by the motto, “My success is your success”, known by her clients. Her individual style is coveted; complex, multilayered and uniquely shaped to each individual. Community consciousness, rituals, and sharing the her wisdom with others all play a central role in both Irini’s life and the treatments she creates.
With a busy life, Irini was diagnosed and is in recovery from a debilitating autoimmune disorder. The importance of self-care is always been an importance in her life, and only amplified by this life change. More so, the importance of manifestation and trusting your intuition. With a steadfast belief in the power of prayer, meditation, and visionary goals; Irini manifested her childhood dream of working on Fifth Avenue and bringing out the beauty in everyone. Her biggest career decision after establishing a waiting list at Bergdorf’s was leaving it behind to embark on a new path, gaining experience and knowledge as an esthetician on luxury cruise ships. The risk and the journey proved to be beneficial; her name and talent quickly became known amongst shareholders and company executives as the top esthetician in the fleet. In her first eleven month ship contract, she performed 2,500 plus facials while training and mentoring dozens of therapists at sea and on land.
Her own transformation within this journey, both spiritual and physical, is the embodiment of BY IRINI NEW YORK©™
Irini in NYC
Irinri's journey as a crew member at sea.
ITEC provides leading international qualifications, specializing in Beauty & Spa Therapy, Hairdressing, Complementary Therapies, Sports & Fitness Training and Customer Service with centers worldwide.
Irini + her little brother.