Petro Smit’s journey into beauty was not planned, but it was inevitable. After working in fashion, she realised that while clothes can uplift confidence, they cannot fix a dull complexion or treat pigmentation. “You can dress someone up, but you can’t fix their skin with fabric,” she said.
She now operates Dermalux Aesthetics, her solo practice based at the Colour Rush salon in The Square Shopping Centre in Sunninghill. Although she started her career doing nails, her interest quickly shifted. “Nails were never my passion,” she said. “I had to climb the ladder to figure out where I belonged. Skin has always been my focus.”
Her services include microneedling, chemical peels, hydrafacials and skin correction. Smit combines aesthetic treatments with a therapeutic approach, and her clients often leave with more than glowing skin. “People come in and talk the whole way through their treatment. Life is stressful. Sometimes the facial is just the excuse they need to offload,” she said.
Smit believes that building trust takes time. First-time clients are often hesitant, but her approach is built on honesty. “I don’t sell to make commission. I guide them, and over time, they start trusting me. That’s how real relationships are built in this industry.”
Social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram, has added to the challenges. “There’s so much misinformation out there. I had a client burn her face with a retinol mask she saw online. She never read the instructions. It’s scary,” she said.
Smit remains hands-on with her clients and makes herself available outside of appointments. “They can message me if they’re not sure about how to use a product or when to apply it. That kind of support matters. Many salons won’t respond until the next day.”
She stays up to date with trends and product innovation through regular training and aligns herself with product houses that offer technical support. “You can’t stay in 2000 if we’re in 2025. The brands you choose to work with must evolve, and so must you.”
Microneedling remains her most in-demand treatment because of its ability to stimulate collagen and improve skin tone. Chemical peels and dermaplaning are also gaining popularity. “Microneedling turns over the skin cells at a much higher rate than a regular facial. It’s still the go-to for visible, lasting results,” she said.
The trend in 2025 is leaning more towards natural skin. “People are moving away from makeup and towards BB creams. They want their skin to look like skin. Even freckles are being embraced again.”
Wellness, she said, is becoming less about aesthetics and more about how people feel. “Facials are a luxury, but they’re also about self-care and feeling pampered. We’ve seen clients return after trying to do it all themselves at home during the pandemic.”
Her own self-care happens on Sunday nights. “That’s when I do my routine. My husband always asks where my money goes, and I tell him it’s on my face,” she said.
Smit encourages clients to take a simple, consistent approach. “You don’t need ten products. One well-formulated day or night cream is often enough. I recommend brands that combine everything into one step.”
She sees wellness today as more balanced. “People are going back to gyms and routines. They want real connection and results. And they want to feel good again.”
Beauty, for Smit, is not just external. “It starts from within. You can’t slap a serum on your face and expect miracles. What you eat, how you live, how you think—it all shows up in your skin.”
