About

At MedicinalSkin™, we specialize in exceptional facial treatments and therapeutic massage designed to nurture your skin, body, and overall well-being. Our approach goes beyond skin deep, blending advanced skincare with holistic wellness to help you look and feel your very best.

Every service begins with a personalized consultation and comprehensive evaluation, allowing us to tailor each treatment to your unique needs, concerns, and goals. Combining years of expertise, a holistic philosophy, and carefully selected, results-driven products, we create customized experiences that deliver visible results while promoting deep relaxation and renewal.

At MedicinalSkin™, you'll find a peaceful, intimate environment where you can unwind, restore balance, and invest in your self-care. Our commitment extends beyond the treatment room through collaboration with trusted health and wellness professionals, supporting your journey toward optimal skin health, beauty, and overall wellness with a truly integrated approach to care.

Holly Arrindell, founder and owner of MedicinalSkin™, is a licensed esthetician and massage therapist in both Connecticut and New York with more than three decades of experience in the beauty and wellness industry.

Born and raised in England, Holly earned her Beauty Therapy Diploma from East Surrey College in 1991 before beginning her career in London. In 1992, she moved to the United States, where she continued to expand her education and professional expertise, graduating from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1996.

Throughout her career, Holly has had the privilege of working at some of Connecticut's and New York City's premier spas, including Noelle Spa, Oasis Day Spa, Edamame Maternity Spa, and Great Jones Spa. These experiences shaped her philosophy of providing exceptional, personalized care while blending the art of relaxation with results-driven skincare.

With more than 30 years of experience, Holly has developed a distinctive holistic approach that seamlessly integrates therapeutic massage with advanced skincare. She believes that healthy, radiant skin begins with balance and overall well-being, and that meaningful results come from treating the whole person—not just the surface.

Every treatment Holly provides is thoughtfully customized to meet each client's unique needs, creating an experience that is both deeply restorative and highly effective. Her goal is for every guest to leave feeling relaxed, renewed, confident, and naturally radiant.

Massage therapy - CT License #1425

Esthetician - CT License #28

A Ridgefield native, Valerie Albanesi Swenson has been a licensed esthetician since 2011, bringing a passion for healthy, radiant skin and personalized care to every treatment. She received her esthetics education at Marinello Beauty School in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she built a strong foundation in advanced skincare techniques.

Valerie specializes in customized skincare treatments, with particular expertise in chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Her extensive experience, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to helping clients achieve their skincare goals have earned her a loyal and devoted clientele.

Dedicated to continuing her professional growth, Valerie is also certified in Reiki Level I and enjoys thoughtfully incorporating its calming, balancing energy into her facial treatments. By blending effective skincare with holistic wellness, she creates restorative experiences that nurture both the skin and the spirit.

Valerie is committed to helping every client feel confident in their skin while providing a relaxing, results-driven experience that promotes lasting beauty and overall well-being.

Esthetician - CT License #99

Lou Klosson is a Connecticut-licensed massage therapist who has been practicing since 2011. Born in Taiwan, she was raised with an appreciation for both Eastern and Western approaches to health and wellness, a perspective that continues to shape her thoughtful and personalized approach to bodywork.

Lou believes there is no single massage technique that meets every person's needs. Instead, she draws from a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, carefully customizing each session to address the unique concerns of every client. By adapting her techniques to the specific needs of different areas of the body, she creates treatments that are both highly effective and deeply restorative.

Her integrative philosophy emphasizes the powerful connection between mind and body, encouraging relaxation, supporting the body's natural healing processes, and promoting overall balance and well-being. Whether a client is seeking relief from chronic tension, recovering from physical stress, or simply looking to restore a sense of calm, Lou provides compassionate, individualized care designed to help them feel their best.

Lou is dedicated to creating a welcoming, nurturing environment where clients can relax, reconnect, and experience the lasting benefits of therapeutic massage.

Massage therapy - CT License #7003

Lisa Manicchio is a licensed massage therapist with more than 11 years of experience helping clients relieve pain, reduce stress, and restore balance. She graduated from the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Mount Kisco, New York, where she developed a strong foundation in therapeutic bodywork and holistic healing.

Lisa specializes in neuromuscular therapy (NMT), lymphatic drainage massage (LDM), and stretch therapy, with a focus on relieving chronic tension, improving mobility, and supporting the body's natural healing processes. She believes that lasting wellness comes from treating the whole person, tailoring each session to meet the unique needs and goals of every client.

Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Lisa is committed to building meaningful connections with her clients and creating a safe, supportive environment where healing can take place. Her compassionate approach is rooted in the belief that massage therapy can positively impact not only physical health, but also emotional and spiritual well-being.

Whether addressing chronic discomfort, recovering from injury, or simply seeking relaxation and renewal, Lisa's thoughtful, individualized care empowers clients to feel healthier, more balanced, and better connected to themselves.

Massage therapy - CT License # 9787

Carrie Bernard is a graduate of the Downeast School of Massage & Therapeutic Bodyworks Learning Center in Maine. As a dual-licensed massage therapist and esthetician with more than 15 years of experience, she is passionate about providing personalized, high-quality treatments that support each client's unique wellness goals.

Specializing in sports massage, Reiki, and esthetics, Carrie takes a holistic approach to healing by combining multiple therapeutic modalities into customized treatment sessions. Her expertise includes deep tissue massage, lymphatic drainage, assisted stretching, and sports massage, allowing her to address muscle recovery, improve circulation, reduce tension, restore balance, and promote overall well-being.

Whether you're recovering from strenuous physical activity, managing chronic pain and tension, or looking to relax with a rejuvenating facial, Carrie is committed to helping you look and feel your best. Her thoughtful, results-driven approach ensures every treatment is tailored to support long-term health, relaxation, and renewed vitality.

Esthetician - CT License #590

Massage therapy - CT License #8781