Last month, Sarah Bellum was offered a chance to get a spa treatment done if she would write about and record her experience. The good folks at Spa Week Daily sent her to the Center for Modern Vein & Skin Care in Chicago as part of their SPA MADNESS promotion.
Here is her report.
Sarah Bellum’s Spa Visit
I was eagerly anticipating my first visit to a dermaspa. I have visited plenty of spas before and have enjoyed facials as well, but I’ve never had any dermatologist-based skin treatments.
I was greeted warmly when I arrived and given a tour of the facility. The facility felt very clean and pristine. I was definitely impressed. Everything felt soothing and calm, but still very professional. I then had a consultation with the aesthetician giving me my facial. She asked me about my skin concerns and current routine and then suggested the best facial for me. Since I do have skin sensitivity she thought it would be best to go with a Hydrafacial. The consultation was very thorough but I felt completely at ease with my aesthetician.
I then proceeded to the treatment room where I lay down and my aesthetician explained to me exactly what she would be doing. She first gently cleansed my skin to remove surface dirt and makeup. The next step was the microdermabrasion. I was a little nervous about this procedure since I have never done it before but it was completely painless and just felt like a cats tongue or a light sandpaper. She used a small tool ( see video) to gently exfoliate my face and neck. She explained that it is actually a crystal free process so it is less abrasive and better for skin that is prone to sensitivity like mine. Once she was done she showed me the tip of the tool which collected all of my dead skin. Pretty crazy!
Next step was the application of a beta hydroxy serum (which is a chemical exfoliant) while using vacuum suction to remove the dirt and grime deep down in my skin and to help increase cell turnover. (see video). This process was also completely painless. Finally, she finished with a light SPF and I was good to go. My face was slightly red for a bit but as I mentioned I am prone to sensitivity. However, the redness faded pretty quickly and my skin feels amazingly smooth. I applied some makeup later in the day and it went on so easily and smoothly pretty impressive! I definitely could see becoming addicted to this it was so easy, relatively quick and the staff was very professional and friendly. I’m definitely going to do it again.
Spa Week and You
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SPA WEEK® Spring 2010 goes from April 12-18! Indulge in the wellness lifestyle for a full week with $50 spa treatments at participating spas across North America. Go to Spaweek.com for more information.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Where is science in this article?
Sarah,
Just a friendly note here— your Esthetician was not being totally honest with you or she was parroting the MD company’s information.
The crystal-less MD is not worse for anyone’s skin. They type she used on you was likely a diamond head/crystal-less machine.
Sadly, I have THE most sensitive skin. I had a full facial and hands done with that machine and it IMMEDIATELY brought out my eczema which lasted for months.
So, the bottom line is, the diamond head/crystal-less machines are not better for those with sensitive skin.
But I am glad you had a good experience.
I feel it is best to be honest with ALL my clients and further my education to find out what is out there and at least give THEM the choice for what is right for them. I may not offer what is good for them, but I WANT them to be happy with their results. I was not happy with mine. Think about eczema all over your face for over a month.
Needless to say, I only offer the aluminum chloride crystals in my salon.
buenos dias,
Lynnette
I can’t afford spa treatments. I REALLY want to go to one and I ask every birthday or any gift giving time for the entire family to go in together on a gift certificate for me for a spa, but mom always yells at me and says that the gifts people give me are “Not about what you want but what they want to give you.” (Then why do I go out of my way, even when I can’t afford it, to find gifts THEY want when I can’t get what I want? Besides, it would save a ton of money for everyone if they went in together on one big gift then everyone buying me a bunch of small things I can’t/won’t use.)
So I enter drawings and get SPAMed a lot but never win.
I’d love to get a full thing going. Like right now my back is breaking out and I’d love to have it exfoliated to help the acne go away and calm down the itching from the breakouts.
I’ve always, ALWAYS wanted to go to a spa, even as a little girl. Sit in one of those big tubs of mud with cucumbers over my eyes, someone helping me sip mineral water now and again. Get exfoliated, waxed, tweezed, nails done, dead and tough skin removed, lightener for those areas so freckled it might as well just be one giant brown spot, etc. But I can’t even afford a mani/pedi. It sucks.
It’s too bad I can’t be used in a long commercial for a spa’s services, get all the good stuff for free and show it’s not just skinny, beautiful women who get these things done, but fat ones too.
So the answer is no, won’t be participating in spa week – ever.
Jami – I don’t know if it’ll make you feel any better, but I’ve been to the spa a number of times, and in my opinion there are very few things you can get done at a spa that you can’t do just as well (or better) on your own at home. You can exfoliate, wax, tweeze, and paint your own nails perfectly well for WAY less money. The only difference is that there isn’t someone else doing it for you.
You don’t have to have money to relax, or even to work on your appearance (to an extent). Save your money for things you can’t DIY and find a cheap way to enjoy your free time.
Nope, can’t paint my nails at all. It always ends up all over the place, thick in some spots, next to none in others, more polish on my knuckles then on my nails.
And exfoliating the back isn’t easy to do by yourself.
And no, can’t have a friend do it, I don’t have any friends.
@B:
Great point. I love DIY spa days! I actually think I do a much better and more thorough and careful job than an anonymous person working for tips at a spa. Candles, soft music, pumice, nail polish, tweezers, moisturizer, champagne (or green tea, depending on your health fix), the works! I’d suggest to anyone interested in doing a DIY spa day to look it up on google for a more complete list & fun ideas. It’s nice to pamper yourself.
Also, I highly, highly recommend Planet Beach Contempo Spa’s unlimited spa & tanning package. Included in unlimited quantities
– Luminous Facial in the most amazing massage chair ever, Hydro Derma Fusion, Mystic Spray Tan, any tanning booth you want (the Velocity is really nifty), & Hydro Massage (not all that great IMO). I am loving the results & it’s only day 2! It’s $70 a month; I’d suggest printing out a free day pass pronto & checking everything out!