My skin care regime is about as low maintenance as you can get. I might visit my dermatologist twice a year for a peel or a Clear & Brilliant laser treatment, if that. And my beauty products are as minimalist as my makeup routine. But after reading about the facialist Georgia Louise in both the New York Times and WSJ magazine last month, I decided to try one of her signature facials.
Yesterday, I went back to her Upper East Side townhouse location for my second facial (and booked a third). Facials aren’t what they used to be. An hour-and-a-half facial at Georgia Louise is a focused, almost intensive experience and each visit can be different, depending upon what your skin needs at the time. There are a myriad of machines–machines that emit LED lights, oxygen, saline water and more (I am not knowledgable enough to describe them properly), there are masks, fast massages, and slow massages. You come out glowing.
If you are looking for an indulgent, zen-like experience, this might not be for you. While the space is gorgeous, and the facial beds comfortable enough to fall asleep in, your facialist is with you and working on your face the entire 90 minutes. Because the point is to make your skin better. I have had Taylor (not Georgia) both times, and have been beyond happy with the results. Plus, while they are happy to recommend products that they sell at the salon, no one pushes you to buy anything. Which made me love them all the more. This time, I did buy an oil cleanser from Elemis and walked away with a bunch of Biologique Recherche face cream samples to try.
Sure getting a facial is pampering, but it’s more akin to indulging in Soul Cycle classes or fresh pressed juices. They’re good for you, and do them often enough, you’ll start to see beneficial results.
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