Not a good experience…read more
I don't write a lot of reviews. I tend to write them when an experience is either really amazing and I want people to know, or it's really not good and I don't want people to have that experience.
For context, I've had a lot of facials in my life-- too many to count. I'm new to Victoria and can't get to my longtime facialist on the mainland for at least a few months, so I decided to try to find someone good in Victoria. I thought to try Emerald Day Spa because of all the good reviews and awards.
I specifically booked an extraction facial. When I was asked by Parisa, the facialist, if I had any concerns or things I wanted her to know, I said I was there for extractions, most importantly. I asked if she could turn on the light so I could show her specifically what I wanted her to pay attention to. She said no, that she would look at my face when I was on the treatment table. This struck me as odd, because I can't look at my own face when I'm on the table, and how can I be sure that she's seeing what I need her to see??
Next, after I'd changed, she took forever to come back in. I started calling out, "Hello! I'm ready!" but she did not return for at least five minutes. It was bizarre and stressful.
Then she asked if I was comfortable. The towel I was lying on was really old and rough, and I asked if she could remove it. But instead of just taking it off, she left again for another five minutes! Once again, I called out, "Hello! Hello!!" She finally came back in and I said, "Wow, that was a long time just to take away a towel." Then, she didn't remove the towel and instead put down a sheet. This was okay, but to lose ten minutes of my hour and fifteen minutes while I was lying there, cold, was weird and unpleasant, to say the least.
When she got to the extractions, I again said that I wanted to show her what really needed extracting, but since I had no mirror and I was now lying down, I couldn't be sure that I was pointing to the right things. She told me she saw what I was talking about: white heads on my nose, an enlarged pore that gets really clogged, and most importantly, a very large white head by my ear that needed to be punctured, drained, and extracted. I repeatedly pointed it out to her.
She started the extractions with a small machine, and then said she was missing something and left again! This time leaving the door open!! OMG. Any relaxation I'd achieved was torpedoed as I heard the people in the hall walking by, talking, and I worried that someone else would come in.
Back to the facial... Like I said, I've had countless facials, and I know what extractions feel like. She was NOT doing extractions. She continued moving the little machine around my face. I'm sure it was doing something, but it was not getting out whiteheads, blackheads, etc. Then she got to the area with the very large blemish. She futzed around a bit with the machine, and then said, "It's all cleaned out."
Well, let me tell you, the big blemish is still there, as are the white heads on my nose and the clogged pore. It's like she did NO EXTRACTIONS AT ALL. No joke.
Now I need to find another facialist who can actually do the extractions, or make the trek to the mainland. And I'm out $183 for something that did not do what it said it would.
Perhaps there are other treatments that are good. I'm guessing that with all the rave reviews, other folks have had good experiences. But let me tell you, an extraction facial with Parisa is not why this place is winning awards.
