The short story: Brie is amazing. Just see her--you won't regret it!
The long story (if you want to know, specifically, why Brie is a cut above):
Over the holidays, my boyfriend and I were visiting his parents in Temecula. My 40th birthday was also just around the corner. As such, the only gifts that interested me were those that involved pampering, anti-aging serums, skin buffing, plumping etc. So, naturally, a facial (at the very least) was in order.
As I began researching the options in the area, I became interested in getting a hydrafacial, boasting benefits that seemed comparable to a microderm/chemical peel combo--but with more immediate results and minus the days of skin peeling afterward.
The problem was that most of the top-rated aestheticians were closed even into January and, though I left voicemail messages with several, none of them called me back--except Brie.
That alone is a testament to her integrity, which did not waver when I posed my challenge: Not only did I need to book an appointment before our flight back to NYC (i.e., ASAP), but I also needed FOUR appointments because, after hearing all about the benefits of hydrafacials for days while I was attempting to set up an appointment for myself, my boyfriend AND his parents decided they wanted to experience a hydrafacial too!
Though this scenario seemed a bit ridiculous to me, Brie, who does bridal showers and similar group-pampering events, took it all in stride and was happy to handle us in the same evening-- standard treatments for the guys and deluxe treatments for the birthday girl and my boyfriend's mother. (I should also note that my boyfriend's 71-year-old father never had a professional skin treatment in his entire life, so Brie would also have to deal with a first-timer's anxiety.)
As far as how everything went on the big day, let's just say it could not have gone better. One-by-one, she performed our hydrafacials and, despite the back-to-back scheduling, she really took her time, tended to us all with meticulous care and, as it turned out, she proved to be a very interesting person as well--striking a comfortable balance between natural pauses and engaging conversation. Later, on the way home, all four of us remarked on how sweet Brie is and how much we all enjoyed talking to her, in addition to enjoying the relaxing treatment. None of us felt rushed at any point.
The results? All of us had a healthier glow and a little extra plumpness after our hydrafacials. My skin had been a bit ravaged going from East Coast winter weather to desert-dry SoCal sun and I was breaking out like crazy. Brie's treatment restored harmony, calmed the redness and aggravation and, dare I say, turned back the clock a tad.
Even though it was a first-time hydrafacial for all of us, each person's skin tone, texture and color was visibly improved after just this one session. In fact, my boyfriend's parents were so impressed, they've become regular clients. They've sent us a few recent post-treatment pics and, after multiple sessions with Brie, they are honestly looking 5-10 years younger.
I know this is getting quite long but, if you made it this far, you might as well know a few more things:
- Brie is knowledgable and has great product recommendations. She's given my boyfriend's mother some much-needed guidance on products that are suitable for her unique concerns (hyper-pigmentation etc.) and turned me on to the excellent Eminence skincare line, which is ultra-clean and, so far, seems to be really benefiting my skin.
- She is an excellent communicator and very responsive. I lost a ring toward the end of our Cali trip and thought I "might" have left it in Brie's treatment room. She tore the place apart looking for it and, even though it didn't turn up, I really appreciated the time she spent searching and the effort speaks volumes about her character. Most places I called when I was retracing my steps (restaurants, etc.) would barely deign to check the lost and found box for two seconds on my behalf.
It goes without saying that, if I lived in the area, I would be seeing Brie regularly. She's a delightful person, very skilled at what she does, has a wonderful bedside manner and the space she works in has a tranquil, low-lit, boho kind of vibe that immediately puts one at ease... like Brie herself who is as beautiful, inside and out, as she is unpretentious. read more