You’ll never see any advertisements for ing complexions attribute their flawless skin to Lemke and whisper, “You must see her!” It’s a word-of-mouth secret club that more and more are clamoring to join.

Meeting the founder at her newly opened studio in Al Quoz’s Al Khayat Avenue, I’m instantly struck by her calm and welcoming nature. Julie Lemke greets me with the kind of warmth that feels more like being welcomed into someone’s home than walking into a clinic. Her serene presence sets the tone, and when she begins to talk, it’s clear her confidence isn’t couched in marketing speak but is influenced by years of industry knowledge.

The new studio was a natural evolution for Lemke. “I always wanted to be an aesthetician, and that was kind of what pivoted me to jump over to this,” she explains, reflecting on the leap she took from a career in shipping to taking residencies at clinics and then eventually launching her namesake studio in Dubai. It wasn’t a straightforward path, but a steady one shaped by curiosity, trial and error, and the quiet conviction that there was a better way to care for skin.

Growing up in Copenhagen, Lemke was the friend everyone went to with their skin concerns. She paid attention to the way certain foods or stress levels showed up on her own complexion. “Through trial and error, I discovered some things that helped my skin immensely,” she explains. “I found certain things that I would do or eat that would help my skin.” That intuitive knowledge became the groundwork for a more professional pursuit.

“What I specialise in is skin health, creating a really foundational baseline. Its texture, its everything inflammatory, like acne, pigmentation,” she shares. Instead of a menu of signature facials, every treatment is shaped around what a client’s skin needs in that moment. “I do every single thing bespoke. I don’t have these kinds of glamourous, glorified treatments where it’s like my signature touch, because skin is so individual.”

For Lemke, healthy skin isn’t about chasing an impossible ideal. “For me, healthy skin is something that I would say is very radiant – it has that glow from within to it. It doesn’t look dull.” She is quick to add what healthy skin is not. “This phenomenon with this completely textureless glass skin is not real skin, and it’s not healthy. That’s something that’s just going to be a breeding ground for accelerated aging, potentially pigmentation,” she warns. Her approach relies on restraint and consistency. “You can do a ton of good stuff to the skin by just manual work and acids, and I don’t believe in all of these aggressive treatments to rehabilitate or create skin health. I believe that those modalities should be the icing on the cake.” When it comes to routines, she advocates simplicity. “Sometimes less is truly more. Then, when you have built that foundation, if you like to layer a lot of different products, go for it, but you don’t need a 10-step routine to get healthy skin,” she says.

Studio Julie Lemke was born from this ethos. Opened in September 2025 with her co-founders – both former clients who share a collective vision – the space is a deliberate departure from the sterile aesthetic clinic. Collectively, the three women are carving a distinct niche in the Middle East beauty space rooted in non-invasive rituals honed over a decade.

It comes at a time when Middle Eastern women are seeking authenticity in beauty, as self-care is increasingly seen as a form of strength rather than indulgence. The strength of this company lies in its bespoke offerings that champion uniqueness rather than conformity. Lemke’s insistence on individuality – that skin deserves to be treated on its own terms – resonates deeply in a region where women balance tradition, modernity, and ambition in equal measure. This idea of individuality is also expressed in the captivating interior design of the studio. Tucked inside Al Khayat Avenue, the space feels more like a private salon, with a downstairs area that resembles a cosy living room. Brought to life by Emirati interior designer Alamira Noor Bani Hashim, it features 1970s-inspired and mid-century decor elements that discerning arbiters of taste will appreciate.

But Lemke’s vision extends far beyond facials and lymphatic drainage. With a background in nutrition, she is a proponent of beauty from the inside out and views skin health as part of a 360-degree picture that includes diet, stress, and lifestyle. “It’s also important for me to have that in the space – that people are being guided on what’s going on internally.” Plans are already in place to offer collagen shakes and supplements, making the studio not just a place for treatments but a hub for holistic skin health.

When asked about the secret behind a truly good facial, she swears by pHformula, a science-backed skincare brand, mixed with her own secret concoctions. “The secret behind a really good facial is the therapist, so your aesthetician is really going to be able to ask the right questions and really read your skin. If you understand the skin, you are able to give it what it needs.”

The studio has only been open for a few weeks, but word has already spread, with a waitlist already in place – a testament to the quiet credibility Julie has built. “Less is more” could be the mantra for her entire career. No overclaiming, just steady, thoughtful growth. A beauty manifesto we can all get behind.

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