above images courtesy of prettyologyJen, my aesthetician, started me off with a quick but detailed consultation, asking me about everything from my skincare routine to my diet and water intake. I know, I know, I don't drink enough water - who does? - and yes, every aesthetician ever has told me how important it is, but Jen really put it into perspective: "Hydrated skin is receptive skin!" she reminded me throughout the facial.
Being an analytic-minded person, I also loved her example comparing skin to a plant: "If you go away on vacation and don't water your plants for a month, when you come back and give them water, where does the water go? Right through to the bottom and out of the planter, because it's not receptive to that hydration" she pointed out.
That was my A-ha! moment, as someone who has killed her share of houseplants. Point taken, and my new summer goal is to DRINK. MORE. WATER! And yours should be, too!
Because I had just gotten back from a work trip in NYC - think hotels, trains, offices, and car rides - my skin needed serious rehydration and unclogging. I got The Glow facial, which included several cleansing and brightening masks and treatments from the January Labs line to detox, rejuvenate, and oxygenate my admittedly dull, road-weary skin.
Jen also gave me an oxygen boost - literally - with a tool thatgently pushes moisturizing serum directly into pours using light blasts of oxygen. Immediate results include disappearance of fine lines and plumper-looking skin that is impossible soft and clear. It was a great base to keep moisturizing over throughout the weekend.
Jen recommended a SkinCeuticals hydrating mask for maintenance between facials, and a plumping, protecting gloss with collagen to accentuate my lips for shoots.
From the facial it was straight to the makeup chair, situated right next to the aforementioned sun-spilling windows (Insider Tip: All great makeup artists worth her weight in mascara will know to always apply makeup in natural lighting!), where Shalyn cleaned up my eyebrows and gave me a daytime-ready beauty look with products from their in-house line. I discovered that most of the makeup looks and feels super rich, like the lipstick and potted blush cream, but goes on sheer and is perfect for layering for a customized look.
While Shalyn was working on my brows, I asked her about her own brow routine - she actually has her eyebrows tattooed, something that I've never seen in real life and had always assumed would look unnatural. Hers looked fantastic, and she gave me a quick recap of the process, called micropigmentation, which Prettyology offers from $550-$800. Unlike a traditional tattoo, makeup tattooing lasts from 3-5 years, and is applied to the very top layers of the skin only with a special ink that mimics the look of powder or a light pencil, for a less harsh, more natural look - that is virtually painless. Color me intrigued!!
Stay tuned this week to see the makeup looks in my upcoming Anne Fontaine shoot here on Scorpion Disco, and find Julie, Jen, Shalyn, and the rest of the pretty Prettyology crew Tuesday - Saturday here:
Julie Michaud Prettyology18 Newbury Street 5th FloorBoston, [email protected]
Cheers,Renata
