As I am only a few months from celebrating the 12th anniversary of my 20th year, I figure I need to take my skin care game up a few notches. What better way to do that than to kick-start my new regimen with my first professional facial? Felicia, as you should already know, is crazy about great, healthy looking skin and she suggested I do my first facial at Mario Badescu.
Upon entering Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon at 320 East 52nd in New York, I felt like I had gone back in time. Not only because of the decor but because of the familiar scents that greeted me. I was suddenly seeing my mom apply her nightly creams. It brought me back to the smell of products my mom used when I was a girl, so many moons ago.
Even though I was a bit tardy, I was quickly whisked to a room where I was told to remove my top and put on a gown (in my mind I was like “it’s only a facial.â€) My esthetician was Julia and she had the softest hands that have ever touched my face or my anything. She had a lovely accent, Swedish, I think.
She started with a milk cleanser and did two applications because I was wearing makeup. Next up was the facial massage, which included a massage of my neck and shoulders (now I understood why I was half naked.)
According to Julia “you should treat your neck and chest just the way you treat your face.†I agreed wholeheartedly, but then again I was so relaxed that I would have agreed to anything.
After the massage, I had a 10-15 minute facial steam, I can’t say for sure because when Julia put the steam on and left the room, I fell asleep.
Upon returning to the room, Julia recommended that I have two treatments; the Glycolic Acid Treatment for exfoliation and the Vitamin C Mask for moisture, and to help with a bit of hyper-pigmentation I have in my chin area. While Julia did her thing, I asked the questions below:
- At what age should women start using an eye cream?
“We recommend that women start using an eye cream at about age 25.†Already you see that I am way behind. Yikes!
- Is it okay to work out in makeup? (I don’t do this but I see women at my gym who look like there are ready for the Oscars)
“You should never workout in your makeup because as you sweat your pores are open and makeup will clog your pores, causing you to breakout. Also, you should never ever sleep in your makeup. Ever.â€
- Besides a good skin care routine, what suggestions do you have for those of us who want to achieve and maintain great skin?
“Diet is very important. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids and lean protein. You should exercise and drink lots of water. Each night, try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep. You should also get a facial about once per month.†I don’t know about the sleep thing but the rest I can definitely do.
After my two masks, Julia finished up my facial by applying an eye cream and SPF 30 moisturizer to my face, neck and chest. It was now time for me to have a little chat with Kelly, a skin care specialist, regarding the products I needed to help me achieve and maintain great skin.
Kelly checked my skin under a bright light with a magnifying glass and remarked that I my skin looked good with hardly any (visible) pores. I guess my routine wasn’t as bad as I thought it was or I should send my Mom and Dad thank you cards for the great genes. She concluded that I should include the products below as part of my new regimen. She also gave me confirmation that my oily skin will be a blessing in old age because as my friends with dry skin start to wrinkle, I will still be wrinkle free. Yes!
- Botanical Facial Gel
- Cucumber Cleansing Lotion
- Solar Block Cream (SPF-30)
- Ceramide Eye Gel
- Cellufirm Drops
- Special Mask For Oily Skin
- Seaweed Night Cream
- Almond & Honey Face Scrub
- Drying Lotion
I am only in my first week of including the above products in my regimen and I’m already in love with one product. The Drying Lotion is the absolute truth. Once per month or so, I get pesky pimples that threaten to take over one side of my face. The Drying Lotion shrunk those suckers over night. Kelly told me the drying lotion is one of the products that made Mario Badescu popular and I can see why. If you have a pimple, no matter the size, this lotion is a must try. It retails for $17.
I could not have asked for a better first time facial experience and so far I like the recommended products. If you have never had a facial or even if you are a facial junkie, you should definitely make an appointment to visit Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon. The basic facial is only $65, the Glycolic Peel is $45 and the Vitamin C mask is $35. A full menu is available here. Ask for Julia, she is great and didn’t skip a beat as I asked her questions. The smell of the recommended products really takes be back to the 90s, so technically, I can say I got my first facial before my 20th birthday and it was at Mario Badescu.
