Olivia Szmidt of Get Face Fit on Redefining Graceful Ageing

Interview

16 Dec

Written By Anna Harding

In a beauty culture driven by immediacy and excess, Olivia offers a quieter, more considered perspective - one rooted in nervous-system health, embodiment, and longevity. After years working within the fast-paced world of fashion and luxury, she felt a growing disconnect between outward beauty and inner wellbeing, prompting a profound shift in direction.

Today, as the founder of Get Face Fit and the creator of the Face Sculpt Method, Olivia approaches the face as an extension of the whole body - shaped by emotion, posture, breath, and the pace of modern life. Influenced by her Viennese upbringing and years of study across lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, and Japanese lifting techniques, her work rejects aggressive “anti-ageing” in favour of preservation, harmony, and presence.

In this Sén Living conversation, Olivia shares how slowing down became the catalyst for her most transformative work, the rituals that keep her grounded while travelling the world, and why true beauty is less about correction and more about coming home to the body.

1. Your journey into face fitness is beautifully unorthodox - you came from fashion, worked with luxury brands, then pivoted into holistic skin health. Can you tell me about that turning point and what prompted you to leave the fast-paced world of fashion for something more grounded?

Fashion taught me so much about aesthetics, detail and the power of presence but it also showed me how disconnected we can become from our own bodies. At some point the constant deadlines and high-pressure environment stopped feeling inspiring.

The turning point came when I realized I was spending all my energy creating beauty on the outside while feeling depleted on the inside. I craved something slower more embodied and more meaningful. My skin was also suffering from acne and my skin complexion felt grey and I had a terrible skin barrier.

Discovering lymphatic drainage and fascia work felt like returning to myself. It unified everything I cared about beauty, anatomy, touch, emotion and transformation but through a lens that was nourishing, not draining. It grounded me in a level of purpose I never felt in fashion.

2. How did your early life and growing up in Vienna influence your current philosophy around beauty, body, and ageing?

Vienna is a city that reveres elegance and subtlety. Growing up surrounded by classical culture, architecture, and an appreciation for a slow paced way of life shaped my understanding that beauty should feel timeless not forced.

My upbringing also taught me that ageing is not something to fight but isomething to honor. The Viennese approach to aesthetics is balanced and understated which absolutely influenced my philosophy today. enhance what’s already there, restore harmony and let the face evolve naturally with grace.

3. In a world saturated with quick fixes, what does “natural face lifting” mean to you?

Natural lifting means working with the intelligence of the body not against it.

Instead of freezing or filling we’re guiding the fascia, muscles, lymph and circulation back into balance. It’s about releasing built-up tension waking up dormant muscles reducing inflammation and enhancing structure without altering your essence.

To me natural non invasive face lifting is about preserving identity and the face’s unique story rather than erasing it.

“I’ve learned that boundaries are a form of self-care and that rest is as productive as effort.”

4. Walk us through a typical day in your life…

My mornings are my anchor. I always start with hydration, gentle movement and a few minutes of quiet before touching my phone. I enjoy dry brushing a scalp massage using the Head In The Clouds Gua Sha and a short fascia release routine for my face. It wakes my circulation and sets the tone for the day.

My workdays are varied: teaching through my academy , treating clients, developing products or traveling for residencies. Throughout the day, I check in with my body stretching, breathing, grounding because energy management is everything in hands-on work like mine.

Evenings are slower. I cleanse deeply, use my Deep Balm for barrier repair do a short Gua Sha ritual and try to disconnect from screens. My self-care is not extravagant it’s consistent, intuitive and supportive.

5. What rituals or self-care practices outside of face fitness are non-negotiable for you?

Movement is essential. Pilates, walking and mobility workouts keep my fascia healthy and my mind clear. It’s so important to honour my body as it’s my tool I work with and treat clients with.

Nutrition is also foundational; I focus on protein, healthy fats, minerals and foods that support my hormones and my thyroid.of course I do everything in balance. Not a fan of strict diets and lifestyles.

Meditation or grounding practices anchor me especially when traveling or working in high-energy environments. Obsessed with Joe Dispenza.

And my sleep is sacred. nothing regenerates the face and nervous system like quality rest.

6. How do you think emotional wellbeing and stress influence the face?

Emotions live in the tissues especially the face. I live by the saying “your issues get stuck in your tissues”.

Stress tightens the jaw, lifts the shoulders, collapses posture, restricts breath and disrupts lymphatic flow. Over time it defines the face by deeper lines, puffiness, asymmetry and dullness.

When someone relaxes emotionally their face transforms instantly. This is why facial work is not just physical. it’s nervous-system work. A calm person literally looks different.

7. When you’re traveling, how do you maintain your rhythm and wellbeing practices across time zones and environments?

I focus on three things. hydration, grounding, and routine.

I always travel with magnesium, electrolytes, my Deep Balm and my Head In the Clouds Gua Sha. I walk as soon as I land, I adjust to local time immediately and I keep my nighttime routine consistent no matter where I am. If I’m off balance it will affect my work. I’m also very introverted and need a lot of me time.

“I’ve learnt - that slow is powerful. That the body always whispers before it screams. That beauty expands when you soften not when you strive.”

8. Your Face Sculpt Method blends Japanese lifting, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, and more. How did you arrive at this unique combination?

I studied numerous modalities over the years Japanese techniques for tone and precision, Eastern lymphatic philosophies for detoxification, myofascial release for tension patterns and Western anatomy for structural understanding.

I realized no single modality could address the face in a complete way.

The magic happens when all these layers work together. lymph clears stagnation, fascia releases emotional and physical tension, muscles re-tone and lifting, circulation gets your face snatched. This synergy creates results that are not only visible but long-lasting and deeply felt.

9. What life lessons have you learned on your wellbeing journey?

That slow is powerful.That the body always whispers before it screams.That beauty expands when you soften not when you strive.

I’ve learned that boundaries are a form of self-care and that rest is as productive as effort.

Most importantly I’ve learned that wellbeing is a relationship, it’s a daily devoted practice not a destination.

________________________________________________

Olivia has created a series of short tutorial videos designed to be both practical and empowering. Rooted in her belief that facial care should be intuitive rather than invasive.

Find them here filed under INNER PRACTICE

Follow Olivia:

getfacefit.com
Get Face Fit Instagram
Olivia Szmidt Instagram

Get Face FitOlivia Szmidt

Anna Harding

Olivia Szmidt of Get Face Fit on Redefining Graceful Ageing

In this Sén Living conversation, Olivia shares how slowing down became the catalyst for her most transformative work, the rituals that keep her grounded while travelling the world, and why true beauty is less about correction and more about coming home to the body.

1. Your journey into face fitness is beautifully unorthodox - you came from fashion, worked with luxury brands, then pivoted into holistic skin health. Can you tell me about that turning point and what prompted you to leave the fast-paced world of fashion for something more grounded?

Fashion taught me so much about aesthetics, detail and the power of presence but it also showed me how disconnected we can become from our own bodies. At some point the constant deadlines and high-pressure environment stopped feeling inspiring.

Discovering lymphatic drainage and fascia work felt like returning to myself. It unified everything I cared about beauty, anatomy, touch, emotion and transformation but through a lens that was nourishing, not draining. It grounded me in a level of purpose I never felt in fashion.

2. How did your early life and growing up in Vienna influence your current philosophy around beauty, body, and ageing?

Vienna is a city that reveres elegance and subtlety. Growing up surrounded by classical culture, architecture, and an appreciation for a slow paced way of life shaped my understanding that beauty should feel timeless not forced.

My upbringing also taught me that ageing is not something to fight but isomething to honor. The Viennese approach to aesthetics is balanced and understated which absolutely influenced my philosophy today. enhance what’s already there, restore harmony and let the face evolve naturally with grace.

3. In a world saturated with quick fixes, what does “natural face lifting” mean to you?

Natural lifting means working with the intelligence of the body not against it.

Instead of freezing or filling we’re guiding the fascia, muscles, lymph and circulation back into balance. It’s about releasing built-up tension waking up dormant muscles reducing inflammation and enhancing structure without altering your essence.

To me natural non invasive face lifting is about preserving identity and the face’s unique story rather than erasing it.

“I’ve learned that boundaries are a form of self-care and that rest is as productive as effort.”

4. Walk us through a typical day in your life…

My workdays are varied: teaching through my academy , treating clients, developing products or traveling for residencies. Throughout the day, I check in with my body stretching, breathing, grounding because energy management is everything in hands-on work like mine.

Evenings are slower. I cleanse deeply, use my Deep Balm for barrier repair do a short Gua Sha ritual and try to disconnect from screens. My self-care is not extravagant it’s consistent, intuitive and supportive.

5. What rituals or self-care practices outside of face fitness are non-negotiable for you?

Movement is essential. Pilates, walking and mobility workouts keep my fascia healthy and my mind clear. It’s so important to honour my body as it’s my tool I work with and treat clients with.

Nutrition is also foundational; I focus on protein, healthy fats, minerals and foods that support my hormones and my thyroid.of course I do everything in balance. Not a fan of strict diets and lifestyles.

Meditation or grounding practices anchor me especially when traveling or working in high-energy environments. Obsessed with Joe Dispenza.

And my sleep is sacred. nothing regenerates the face and nervous system like quality rest.

6. How do you think emotional wellbeing and stress influence the face?

Emotions live in the tissues especially the face. I live by the saying “your issues get stuck in your tissues”.

Stress tightens the jaw, lifts the shoulders, collapses posture, restricts breath and disrupts lymphatic flow. Over time it defines the face by deeper lines, puffiness, asymmetry and dullness.

When someone relaxes emotionally their face transforms instantly. This is why facial work is not just physical. it’s nervous-system work. A calm person literally looks different.

7. When you’re traveling, how do you maintain your rhythm and wellbeing practices across time zones and environments?

I focus on three things. hydration, grounding, and routine.

“I’ve learnt - that slow is powerful. That the body always whispers before it screams. That beauty expands when you soften not when you strive.”

8. Your Face Sculpt Method blends Japanese lifting, myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, and more. How did you arrive at this unique combination?

I studied numerous modalities over the years Japanese techniques for tone and precision, Eastern lymphatic philosophies for detoxification, myofascial release for tension patterns and Western anatomy for structural understanding.

I realized no single modality could address the face in a complete way.

The magic happens when all these layers work together. lymph clears stagnation, fascia releases emotional and physical tension, muscles re-tone and lifting, circulation gets your face snatched. This synergy creates results that are not only visible but long-lasting and deeply felt.

9. What life lessons have you learned on your wellbeing journey?

That slow is powerful.That the body always whispers before it screams.That beauty expands when you soften not when you strive.

I’ve learned that boundaries are a form of self-care and that rest is as productive as effort.

Most importantly I’ve learned that wellbeing is a relationship, it’s a daily devoted practice not a destination.

Olivia has created a series of short tutorial videos designed to be both practical and empowering. Rooted in her belief that facial care should be intuitive rather than invasive. Find them here filed under INNER PRACTICE

A Slow Guide to Auckland with Cassidy Lockwood from The Local Project

Olivia has created a series of short tutorial videos designed to be both practical and empowering. Rooted in her belief that facial care should be intuitive rather than invasive.

Find them here filed under INNER PRACTICE