Ally is the best skincare professional I have encountered anywhere. I use the term "skincare professional" rather than esthetician, because Ally is more knowledgeable than any facialist OR dermatologist I've seen, and I have unfortunately wasted my time and money on many of each over the past decade+. Ally's studio and her practices strike the perfect balance been clinical and spalike; I leave each facial not only with demonstrable results, but also feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and--most importantly--good about myself and my skin. I can't issue that last clause lightly; I'm 31 now, but have struggled to keep my skin clear since my early twenties. Literally nothing about my physical appearance impacts my self-confidence more than the condition of my skin, and as a result I've had hundreds of [mostly poor] facials, seen many dermatologists, wasted vast sums of money on countless over-the-counter and prescription products, and suffered through too many days on which I didn't want to leave the house due to the state of my skin. How I wish I'd found Ally many, many years sooner than I did!
At 31, my skin is vastly improved; I may freak out about minor breakouts, and my skin is certainly never 100% perfect, but I'm entirely confident without makeup and have seen a truly miraculous transformation over the past decade. Part of that transformation has involved learning what ingredients do and do not benefit my skin. While Ally carries only premium products she obsessively researches and personally recommends, she has never pressured me to buy anything. Ally removes all typical stressors--including product-pushing--and instead creates a truly spalike experience. I never thought I'd actually look forward to extractions (though it helps that Ally's technique results in the least pain/discomfort I've ever experienced)! My facials with Ally genuinely feel like therapy.
While helping to keep my skin clear, Ally also multi-tasks, addressing other concerns such as fine lines. She's astoundingly intelligent and deeply educated; I believe that she's better equipped than any other esthetician in Chicago to treat any and all skin concerns.
I also began seeing Ally for my brow wax/tints, and will never go anywhere else. I've tried essentially ALL of the 5-star brow professionals in the city, and none produces better results. Best of all, somehow my brows grow in beautifully; I used to schedule waxes every 5 weeks, but can somehow now go months and months without needing the service. It's sorcery!
Best of all, Ally consistently makes clear that she genuinely cares about me, not just as a client but as a person. She remembers details about my life and asks about them, something many of my closest friends don't even do. Ally is the skincare goddess, brow artist, and too-cool-for-me friend I've always wanted, and I hope to be a lifetime client. read more