Ok so here’s the truth: I love skincare, but I don’t really know anything about it. Until a few weeks ago, I had never had a facial. I’m fortunate that through Sunday Forever, I’ve been able to try a lot of amazing skincare products. Everything from masks, to cleansers, to peels, creams, and everything in between.
“UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO, I NEVER HAD A FACIAL.”
But...my biggest problem is I don’t really know how to use them?? Or, maybe it’s not that I don’t know how to use them, but more so WHEN to use them. I’m not gonna lie...I can get glutinous. I find something I like and then I overuse to the point it has opposite effects. Ahh yes, #virgoprobs
So, when I had the opportunity to hit up the Mario Badescu spa and actually learn about what products to use and when...I 100% took it.
Image by Olivia Muth
I got to the spa and was immediately greeted and whisked away to my own room, with my esthetician, Carmela. She was amazing! She looked at me once under the light and said, “You have combination skin with oily down the center and dry on the sides. You’ve been using too many oil based products. I can tell by the small bumps on the sides of your face.”
Well ok then - we were off to the races!
Carmela was old school and I loved it. She was that wise woman who just knows EVERYTHING about skincare. You’d be silly not to trust her. So, I listened to every single word that came out of her mouth so carefully, you would have thought there was an exam after.
Image by Olivia Muth
The facial started off with a face, shoulder, neck and hand massage. (Hell yes!) Next, was cleansing my skin of the days dirt, and then we moved into extractions. Throughout the extractions, Carmela kept checking on me to make sure it wasn’t hurting, but truthfully it didn’t! And even if it did...beauty is pain.
Image by Olivia Muth
Following extractions, we did two masks - 15 minutes each. The first mask was light and hydrating, I laid there in complete stillness, classical music playing in the background. Where was I? Heaven?!
And then, my favorite, mask #2. The vitamin C mask. Carmela warned me it was cold as she layered the thick mask on my face. Topped it off with cucumbers on my eyes. Ok, this is the life? Now I was really in zen mode.
“Ok, this is the life? Now I was really in zen mode. ”
When she came to take it off, she asked if I wanted to see what was inside. Of course, I said yes. Slowly she peeled what appeared to be a mold of my face...with tiny little dots of face gunk scattered throughout. SO COOL! Gross...but so cool.
Image via Google
She put on some finishing products, explaining that I should be using a toner (I wasn’t...I do now) and then dusted on, what I can only describe to be magic healing dust, aka Mario Badescu Special Healing Powder.
I thanked Carmela as she whisked me across the hall where I sat down with Nicole and we talked through my needs & my skincare woes.
I described to her my skin type, combination, prone to hormonal breakouts, and susceptible to dark spots. She was sympathetic, as she used to have skin similar to mine, and directed me towards some necessities.
First of all, I needed a toner (bc I wasn’t using one, what the heck?!) and she suggested I use the Special Cucumber Lotion. This toner in particular helps dry up existing blemishes while preventing eruptions. Ok, here for that.
She then suggested two different cleansers - For day in and day out use the Enzyme Cleansing Gel and 2-3 times a week at night swap out with the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser to break down the oily buildup and dead skin cells. Follow up with a little bit of Herbal Hydrating Serum to balance it all out and give my skin that extra kiss of moisture.
Now came time for her spot treatment recs. My ears perked up. Let’s get rid of these guys once and for all.
She gave me two things, both with very specific instructions. The first, Drying Lotion, which was to NOT be shaken, and simply take a q-tip and dunk to the bottom of the bottle, bring back up and dot on the infected area. This was for any surface level acne.
The second, was the Buffering Lotion which targets pesky, under the surface hormonal acne. This product, is in fact meant to be shaken before use. While I haven’t had any cystic acne within the last month or two..I’m keeping this nice and close in case one pops up again soon.
Nicole left me feeling well educated and truthfully, hopeful. I had everything I needed for beautiful, clear skin. She was so knowledgeable on all of the products and really took her time to explain to me every last step. I left with a bag full of goodies and a happy heart.
My first facial was really a great experience. I walked out the door, fresh faced and eager to come back soon!
OLIVIA MUTH IS A DAUGHTER, SISTER, FRIEND, CO WORKER, CITIZEN OF THE WORLD BASED IN HOBOKEN, NJ. HER CLAIM TO FAME IS PLAYING WILLY WONKA IN A 2008 COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (DM FOR PICS). WHEN SHE'S NOT BUSY MAKING NICE THINGS, SHE LOVES TO CATCH UP WITH HER FRIENDS & FAMILY, WATCH GILMORE GIRLS RE-RUNS, AND SING & DANCE AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS TO ANY SONG THAT COMES ON THE RADIO. SHE LIVES BY THE GOLDEN RULE (THANKS, DAD!) AND HOPES THAT ONE DAY SHE'LL LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE DOES THE SAME. FOLLOW HER JOURNEY: @OLIVIAMUTH