Why Bravolebrities Are Choosing Custom Facials

Dorinda Medley recently revealed her skincare secrets in a video for BravoTV.com, but there's one more thing she does to maintain her glow. The Real Housewives of New York City cast member is a regular at New York City's Silver Mirror, and Summer House alums Lauren Wirkus and Ashley McAtee Wirkus have also visited the spot. 

The New York City facial bar specializes in customized treatments, and owner Cindy Kim says the personalization of the services is what keeps Bravolebs and other clients coming back for more. "Every single person’s skin type and concerns are unique and ever-changing," she explained. "In order to effectively address and treat what each person is experiencing with their skin at a certain point in time, skin should be thoroughly analyzed and facials should be customized to fit that analysis at each visit." 

And in the meantime, here are some tips from Kim about how to keep your skin healthy — and dare we say dewy — all through the winter months, whether you're at home or in visiting with your aesthetician. 

What are some of the most common winter skin concerns and how can you address them? 

Dryness, dehydration, and sensitivity are the most common skin concerns that we see in the winter time. The air is cold and dry outside, and the dry air from heaters inside all contribute to disrupting our skin’s natural moisture barrier, causing flakiness, irritation, and discomfort. 

In order to address these issues, you need to put oil/moisture back into the skin and seal it off so that it stays trapped in there. Incorporate hyaluronic acid and a light facial oil into your routine and finish off with a heavier cream (minus fragrances and dyes) to trap all of that goodness into the skin. 

How often should people get facials? Should they do the same facial each time or change it up?

If you have good skin with no major issues, we recommend at the very least a quarterly facial and check-in. But maintaining even great skin is a long-run game, so we have many clients who receive facials on a monthly basis. The beauty of a customized facial is that we can treat the skin for the condition it is in at the moment and also use each visit to work towards helping you achieve your long-term skin goals. 

If you are dealing with more severe issues such as acne, we recommend coming in every two to four weeks (depending) so that we can help to improve and normalize the skin. Once we have your skin under control and you on a good at-home regimen, then it really becomes about maintenance and you can start receiving facials on a less frequent basis. 

Why is a facial an important part of skin maintenance? 

Beautiful, healthy skin takes consistent upkeep — just like going to the gym. Receiving professional and routine facials is a must to help keep your skin healthy and glowing. That in combination with a great at-home skincare routine can have impressive results.  

Regular facials can also change the way you view and understand your complexion. Expert skin analysis, professional strength products, deep cleansing, and the opportunity to work with a professional to address, improve, and maintain the skin are all reasons for incorporating facials into your skincare regimen. 

What’s the No.1 skincare tip you swear by?
Proper exfoliation is the key to great skin! Using the right type of exfoliation and the right frequency helps to keep your skin fresh and bright, products to absorb better into the skin, and most importantly, helps to normalize your skin and/or reduce many potential skin issues such as acne and fine lines.  

I recommend starting off with a toner that includes glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acid in it, depending on your skin type and also incorporating an enzyme-based exfoliation mask into your routine about two times per week.