Rebecca Taras | October 31, 2011 8:30 amWhile the esthetician in me would tell you that a good facial every four to six weeks should be as routine as going to the dentist (or getting your roots touched up), most of us would agree that a good steam, peel, and extraction session doesn't happen as often as it should. But now, with the recent change of the seasons (temperature drop, wind, dry indoor heat), an effective treatment (read: no fluff) is crucial in bringing out that glow that is trapped behind dead skin cells, clogged pores — and maybe a little residual dehydration from the Summer sun and alfresco cocktails. Here are three treatments that will help you put your best face forward.Read More
Kate Stahl | July 21, 2011 7:30 amWhile I could never tire of the usual beauty treatments, I'm loving the unique concept of Bucktown spa ENER (1702 N. Damen Ave., 773-278-4700). Though the chic space opened in May, I was only recently introduced and was so blown away by the originality and luxury, I couldn't resist sharing.Read More
Kate Stahl | July 20, 2011 12:00 amWhen it comes to skin care in Chicago, you won't find anyone with more experience than Claudia Katra, owner of Claudia Skin Care Center, who's been an aesthetician in Chicago for four decades. (She started at Marshall Field's Water Tower Place on its opening day!) Try Claudia's European facial (the house specialty), a 60-minute facial suitable for all skin types, designed to deep-clean pores, extract impurities, and normalize skin texture. If it's antiaging you're looking for, try the Revitalight, which uses photopulsation, or LED, technology, to plump and smooth skin while diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.Read More
Kate Stahl | July 19, 2011 8:30 amWelcome back to the Pop 5, featuring Chicago's best places to do anything and everything. Last week, we told you about the best salons in the city. This week, we're still talking about Summer beauty and rounding up your picks for Chicago's best facials.Read More
Rebecca Taras | July 14, 2011 7:22 amIt's easy to understand why facials are addictive: the result is a glowing complexion that garners compliments from everyone, whether it's your BFF or the Starbucks' barista. But the glow doesn't come simply from reclining on a table for an hour while someone massages you with creams; facials have come a long way from the simple "buff and brush" of yesteryear.
The facial that I've been most impressed with lately is the high-performance diamond peel with stem cell collagen (starting at $200) at Mario Tricoci (multiple locations; call 847-202-1900 to book).Read More
Kate Stahl | July 13, 2011 7:00 amWelcome back to the Pop 5, where we cover your fave spots in the city. Last week, we asked for your go-to hair salons, and the results are in! This week, we're still chatting about Summer beauty, and we want to know all about where you get your favorite facials!Read More
Rebecca Taras | July 6, 2011 3:17 pmYou faithfully remove your makeup every night, so what's with the lackluster skin? With free radicals attacking in the form of sun, stress, pollution, and cocktails, there's only so much your washcloth and night cream can do. To the rescue: the DermaFlash facial at Cellular Intelligence, which stimulates the collagen and elastin production, resulting in an immediate improvement in skin texture.Read More
Rebecca Taras | June 29, 2011 4:56 pmIf there's no time (or money) to visit a destination spa, Valeo proves that you need not travel far to experience luxurious treatments worthy of some of the best spas in the country. While luxury rules at the Valeo, located in the recently opened JW Marriott, creativity is also valued. Case in point: the Well Wax Pax, 20 minutes of unlimited waxing for brows, bikini lines, and more, is designed to keep clients coming back all year round.Read More
Rebecca Taras | June 28, 2011 8:02 amIt takes a lot to impress me at a regular city or suburban spa — especially if there's a salon attached. I kind of feel like it embraces the jack of all trades, master of none theory. Don't get me wrong: I'm not a spa snob, but having worked and trained at one of the best spas in the city, I'm slightly biased.Read More
Rebecca Taras | June 17, 2011 8:42 amFrom the intense Summer sun to the dry air cranking out of the AC, your skin goes through a lot of extremes this time of year, but you need not take extreme measures to improve its appearance. Correct your temporarily lackluster skin with an oxygen trio facial treatment from True Skin Care Center. "It is a three-step process in which the skin is revitalized through stimulating ingredients and massage movements," says esthetics director and educator Terri Wojak.Read More
Rebecca Taras | October 31, 2011 8:30 am
While the esthetician in me would tell you that a good facial every four to six weeks should be as routine as going to the dentist (or getting your roots touched up), most of us would agree that a good steam, peel, and extraction session doesn't happen as often as it should. But now, with the recent change of the seasons (temperature drop, wind, dry indoor heat), an effective treatment (read: no fluff) is crucial in bringing out that glow that is trapped behind dead skin cells, clogged pores — and maybe a little residual dehydration from the Summer sun and alfresco cocktails. Here are three treatments that will help you put your best face forward.
Read More
French Connection