ÁMEZING NEWS #10: BEDFORD, BABY!

LYMA Lasers, Life Lately & Is it Cheating When You See Other Estheticians?

ÁMEZING EVENT: A WEEKEND OF FACIALS AT DUCHESS 

A trip of all trips! Wow! Celebrity makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Jenn Streicher invited me to her beauty concept store Duchess in Bedford, NY. (She also owns Scout in Pound Ridge NY!)

I always planned on spending more time in New York, but as my career and studio grew in LA, it seemed hard to spend time away. If you’ve received any treatments, you know they involve some cool tech, so the idea of not being in my space seemed so tricky. In fact, it felt impossible at times. I was anxious. For years, I tried cracking the code for becoming a mobile esthetician. I tried so hard and it was simply exhausting. 

But this opportunity arose organically with the help of Jenna Jones, an extremely talented photographer and the creative director of Duchess. Next thing you know, I was in Bedford! 

Let me paint a picture of Bedford… Martha Stewart owns a 152-acre compound here. Need I say more? It’s green and idyllic, but the transition from summer into fall was happening right before my eyes. I was thrilled to experience a bit of that early fall chill that I dream about. Needless to say, I fell in love with Bedford right away. Being from LA, it was a big WOW that I could walk to work. I savored those 8 minutes of walking in 68-degree weather, my ideal temperature, and cherished each day of the two-day event. 

Duchess sells Lyma lasers, so we centered my treatments on these amazing tools. 

Of course, I had to incorporate some of my Ámezing signature touches like microdermabrasion and oxygen, but the treatments were very Lyma-focused. 

Instead of focusing on purification, I offered hydrating treatments that paired perfectly with the Lyma. I worked with two Lyma lasers at a time on each client’s face in order to cover more surface area. WOW. This was the cherry on top….I’m careful about promising “immediate” results, but there is definitely a noticeable impact right away. Clients look refreshed and glazed. I’ve noticed that for my clients over 40, there is a widening of the eyes and orbital bone that happens in an impressive, and relatively immediate, way. 

I sourced our back-bar setup from Duchess’ curation. I chose to work with three product lines – Dr. Loretta, Monastery, and Suzanne Kaufmann. These are all lines I’ve personally used and tested myself.

This combination of product lines covered my core bases: 

Dr. Loretta is clean and clinical but gentle 

Monastery is holistic, experiential, and esthetician-formulated 

Susanne Kaufman is very effective and treatment-friendly. 

Only the good stuff, of course! 

I used to work in retail, so it was really nice to be back in an environment where I could help clients explore and visualize a new skincare routine immediately after our treatment. Some even took the leap and left with their own Lyma lasers for home use!

I discovered some great new products at Duchess too. I was especially intrigued by VENN, a Korean skincare line that delivers clinically proven results. I love their toner, the Synbiotic Defense Mist. With a pre and probiotic ferment blend, it’s a product with my name all over it. 

We ended the weekend with a social media seminar taught by Jenna Jones, which brought together a lot of business owners and creatives. I was so grateful for the insightful information. Many thanks to Jenn Streicher, Jenna Jones, and Lauren Perez for all of your efforts and for welcoming me so warmly. 

Also, shoutout to a client of mine from 5 years ago who made the trek from the city to Bedford just to see me! Oh, how special it was to reconnect! 

It looks like I’ll be back in NYC for another weekend of successful treatments in late fall or early winter if you want to catch me then! I’ll announce those dates as they approach. 

Feeling spiritually full and touched! See you very soon NEW YORK!

ÁMEZING ADVICE: IS IT CHEATING WHEN YOU SEE OTHER ESTHETICIANS? 

If you’re seeing other people for facials, yes and no. Ok…mostly no! The reality is that I’m not always available so seeing other estheticians or visiting different studios is absolutely normal. My general mindset is to just do your thing. 

This issue comes up, sometimes because of geography, availability, or budget. Other times, studios or practitioners reach out offering free treatments and services. The temptation is real. Who wants to say no to free facials?

But first, a quick aside… I have to admit that if it wasn’t for my brilliant editor Tierney, I’m not sure I would even touch on this subject. It’s sensitive! It’s a little uncomfortable for everyone, which is why it is worth discussing openly now. 

In the past, studios I worked for put it in my head that I had to compete to “make it in this business.” I think competition amongst other estheticians or personal service care workers is an extremely low vibration. It just feels icky period. It’s true LA is probably the most competitive city in the world for beauty and facial aesthetics, but there is also plenty of business to go around. 

That being said, I do still feel a bit sensitive to new studios or med spas giving out free treatments like candy. I would love to offer free treatments and trials like that, but it’s extremely different when you run a small business, and every dollar counts.

Facials can be very intimate, and I am grateful to offer a special and safe place for being to feel comfortable being cared for. When I focus on the present, I know I am experiencing abundance and will attract more. 

I’m not saying you have to say no to all of these offers or ignore other estheticians altogether, but I do want to equip you with a few good questions to ask before you receive new treatments from any new providers (whatever your reasoning may be!). 

Alas: 

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK BEFORE SEEING A NEW ESTHETICIAN

What kind of treatment do you want?

This is a question to ask yourself! It’s crucial. There are so many studios and estheticians out there and we all offer unique things. What is it that you want? A quickie treatment? A relaxing treatment? Something efficacy driven for a specific concern? Ask yourself this question so you aren't disappointed with the outcome! There is nothing worse than going into a treatment and coming out of it feeling dissatisfied. Before you book, get clear on your needs and communicate them openly in the treatment room.

What range of products are you using?

This is a great question to start with because it can get into your skin’s specific needs and lessen the chance of something not agreeing with your skin. If you know the type of products your skin thrives with, absolutely let your practitioner know! If you know you prefer holistic products versus clinical products or vice versa, share that right away. 

Do you use anything I’m allergic to?

Disclose all allergies! And never make assumptions. I love it when a new client asks me about coconut or nut oils. A trusted practitioner should absolutely ask you this, but it’s something to be made CLEAR AS DAY. We don’t want any allergic reactions to happen.

What does my downtime look like?

If you have somewhere to be that day (or night, or week…) or right after the appointment, it’s great to gauge your post-treatment healing time. Especially if you are doing advanced procedures such as microneedling, chemical peels or even dermaplaning!

ÁMEZING READS: BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKS FOR BEAUTY LOVERS

These reads will feel like going back to beauty school….even if you flip through them on a beach. 

Glossy by Marisa Meltzer

Emily Weiss and Glossier mark such an interesting time and shift in the beauty landscape. I have my copy sitting next to my nightstand. Two of my friends have already finished it! I love that a book about a beauty brand is an instant New York Times bestseller. 

Renegade Beauty by Nadine Artemis 

Some of you may be familiar with the product line Living Libations, created by Nadine Artemis. This is a deep dive into Nadine’s perspective on all things beauty. I specifically enjoy her deep dive into oral health. She not only emphasizes oral health as a fundamental component of good health, she creates products that makes one’s oral routine as beautiful and experiential as their skin or makeup regimen. 

Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod

In this memoir, a longtime fashion and beauty writer comes to terms with how her experiences as the “Token Black Girl” throughout her life shaped her experience of herself, her beauty, and her body. If you grew up in the mid to late 2000s, it is full of references to the cultural influences we valued back then (in both nostalgic and horrifying ways!) Also, Token Black Girl happens to be on sale in the Kindle Store for just $2.49 for the rest of September.

ÁMEZING LISTEN

The Retrievals

So many of you recommended this to me! I started it and was immediately hooked. Intense, informative, and complex. It’s a 5-part series that tells the story of Yale’s fertility clinic and the scandalous events that unfolded there. A must-listen from the Serial Network. I’m on episode 4! 

ÁMEZING PRODUCT 

I have a scalp condition, so my scalp journey feels like the final frontier of my skincare life in some ways. This cleansing, purifying scrub is refreshing and herbaceous. The best part is it actually works! 

Trust me, I’ve tried so many scalp-centric products. The texture of this scrub immediately dissolves into the scalp and creates an almost foamy lather – it’s incredible. I recommend it for my oily scalp folks, people with sensitive scalps, or honestly, anyone who is into scalp self-care, you won’t regret it! The jar is a generous size and I foresee it lasting a few months. Have fun! You can purchase it directly here!

HOMEMADE VANILLA BUG SPRAY FOR LA MOSQUITOES 

It may be officially Autumn, but the mosquitoes probably aren’t going to leave us alone any time soon. If you want to experiment with creating your own mosquito repellant, follow the recipe below. Most humans (and lots of animals) love the scent of vanilla, but mosquitoes hate it. Just make sure you’re using PURE vanilla extract, otherwise, this spray will have the opposite effect. You can find cute bottles online or at stores like DAISO. 

Recipe & Directions:

2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract

6-8 oz of water

A few dashes of your essential oil of choice. (I love to combine vanilla and lemongrass, but peppermint, cedarwood atlas, lemongrass, cinnamon, or lavender will all work! )

Add your ingredients to the spray bottle and shake it up!

Please note, you can adjust the amount of vanilla you use if you want a less intense scent. I really love vanilla, but if you don’t, or if you’re working with a spray bottle that’s less than 4 ounces, try using 1 tablespoon instead of 2!

Kimrom in NYC! We had a sleepover and did some masquing.

Seeing friends out and about! Zizia Botanicals and 69herbs.

The editor of Ámezing News is Tierney Finster.