It seems our massage therapist Julie has now officially crossed over into the life of a med spa girl! It finally just occurred to me the other day that I have been watching this gradual progression from civilian to med spa girl and didn’t realize it for weeks. I guess I do get sort of closed off to a lot of happenings in my cave (office). I’m assuming this evolution happens to everyone who works in this industry, although I can’t be sure. I know it happened to me. I remember meeting the whole staff the day of my interview and all I could say was, Wow, you are all so gorgeous. They smiled politely and said thanks! Time and again I hear it from clients when a group of our ladies is up at the front desk together. I remember I thought they looked so…fresh. That seems the best word for it. Smooth skin, and the look of rest and hydration that usually accompanies youth.
When Julie joined our team three months ago, Leslie (who has been friends with Julie for years) seemed excited at the prospect of a doing treatments on someone who had never had anything done before. Julie started with a Whisper, which I think is par for the course. I did as well. And I think Maricela did too. You have to have good skin texture and quality or the rest doesn’t matter. Then Gina did her tear troughs and cheeks with Lyft and Restylane. She had Dysport to all areas of her face. And permanent eyeliner.
Even though I knew she had these procedures done, I didn’t realize what I was witnessing until overhearing part of a conversation up at the front desk. Julie picked up something and asked, What does this do? Do I need this? I love products! It made me smile because I love products too. I love the way they smell, I like what they do, I like doing the at-home spa thing, and there’s something about a product that has the prospect of newness to it. I went to join in the conversation, and as they talked I noticed Julie had gotten her hair cut, and had highlights. That's when it hit me. It’s official. Julie drank the Kool-Aid.
And in answer to Julie’s question, Yes. Yes you need that product. I wasn’t a hard sell on what I needed for my skin when I started at Body Tonic, and it seems Julie isn’t either. It’s just a matter of which one is best. Personally I’m a big fan of masques and exfoliators, and recently toner (ok, so maybe I was hard sell about the toner. But now I have to have it).
Saturday morning I woke up with my makeup still on – yes it’s gross, but hey, we all do it sometimes! My face felt gross. After I took off that nasty makeup, I put on my favorite clay masque (Skin Ceuticals) and looked at Facebook while I waited for it to dry. Seventeen years ago, when I was pregnant, taking a bath and using a clay masque was one of my most favorite things. The clay smells earthy and I love that…I find it relaxing.…and now it’s nostalgic as well. Next it was on to the Clarisonic. If you don’t have one, you should get one. Plain and simple. When I started at Body Tonic the girls were like, It will change your life. I saw no reason why an automated facial brush would change my life, but dang, it’s pretty amazing. It cleans your skin five times better than just using your hands. It feels crazy smooth afterwards too…like after a peel or microderm. And as Iris says, After I do my face, I start again and do my neck. My neck! How did I not think of that! So now I do that as well. I loaded up my face with my Elta MD Foaming Face Wash (this stuff really bubbles!!) and turned on my Clarisonic.
As I finished up, I thought that how, finally, at the age of 41, my skin seems to have settled down. I say that today, and watch…next week I’ll probably break out in cystic acne. The battle with my skin has been a long one. I’ve taken Accutane three times. Luckily I escaped that hormonal nightmare unscathed, with no acne scars.
When I started at Body Tonic one of the girls gave me a skin care consult and suggested what was best for my skin type, and my skin issues. She included recommendations for tretinoin, face wash, toner, eye cream, and sunscreen. If you haven’t had a skin care consult, definitely bring it up next time you’re in!
And that hard sell on toner? Yeah, even as I entered the world of beauty at Body Tonic, toner still remained the product at the bottom of my “needs” list. I attended an Obagi seminar where they actually addressed this issue. Toner is a way to balance your skin’s pH. It’s awesome in the cooler months when your skin can feel extra dry after washing, and it’s perfect in the summer for after workouts or hot yoga. I crave it now! My daughter keeps taking my toner. And believe me, I will walk across the house in a towel dripping wet to get it out of her bathroom.
I always finish with Neocutis Lumiere eye cream, Elta MD Daily tinted SPF with hyaluronic acid and Skin Ceuticals tinted eye SPF, which also acts as a primer for under-eye concealer. (I’ve never been big on under eye creams either. I remember Kit asking me, when I started at Body Tonic, what eye cream I used, and I said I didn’t. She gave me one of those wonderful Kit looks like I had just said something as crazy as that I hated Mexican food and wine).
You can check out our Shop Products page and inquire with any of the girls next time you’re in about what’s best for you. This is a new feature for us so check back daily for new products, new product lines, supplements, and beauty tools.