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Treatment Review: Facials
Joie de Vivre
Marianna at Joie de Vivre knows facials. She won’t perform extractions because they enlarge pores. She revitalized my skin—left it looking smooth and healthy—by cleansing extensively with product, steaming and literally vacuuming dead skin cells. I was then encouraged to relax in dreamy solitude. Chocoholics will love the chocolate and roses mask she slathers on to detoxify and hydrate the skin. It wafts through the air creating an aroma that’s sure to trigger the endorphins. – SGD Eminence Chocolate and Roses Facial, $90, Joie de Vivre, Festival at Woodholme, 1809 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, 410-580-1994.
Elizabeth Arden
Aesthetician Polina of Elizabeth Arden pays attention to detail. She cleanses the face with sage wash, exfoliates dead cells and performs subtle, painless extractions. She uses a trademark electric wand to remove deep dirt and bacteria. Throughout the hour-long procedure, your hands stay wrapped in heated moisturizing bags. After my facial, when I caught myself in the mirror, I couldn’t believe how clear my formerly troublesome pores looked. I hated to exit the bright Red Door and return to the real skin-clogging world! — BB Signature Facial, $100, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon, Village of Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road, Roland Park, 410-323-3636.
James Bryan Salon
Salon co-owner Tricia Bernstein aims to soothe and smooth. She begins her facials with a gel-like mask. She then applies a vegetal peel to remove build-up—massaging the face, shoulders and neck all the while. She performs a few extractions very gently. Tricia said my skin would feel refreshed, not blotchy or irritated. I was skeptical as she slathered cream after cream after cream, peeled peels and made precise extractions. But she wasn’t kidding. I walked out of James Bryan feeling refreshed—cheeks pink and glowing. – LS Eau de Mer Facial, $85, James Bryan Salon, 8012 Bellona Avenue, Ruxton, 410-828-7111.