Confession: until very recently I've been horrible about taking care of my skin. I'm too exhausted to follow the 5 step face washing routine that I'd sometimes (well, kinda more than sometimes) go to bed with my make-up on. I'd hide my complexion with foundation and concealers, and I'd never (gasp!) exfoliate. I know. I know.
Recently I witnessed a friend with some unfortunate skin problems undergo a serious skin transformation from just a few facials at Valley, a beauty spot in the Lower East Side that everyone is raving about. Emma Graves, the head of Valley's Skin Care department, convinced this friend to swap her bottle of Proactive Solutions for a few products from her own holistic skin care line, Between You and the Moon. Emma grows a lot of the herbs for her products in her little apartment and uses only fair-trade, organic oils and other ingredients. I was so impressed with her approach to skin care I booked a facial on intrigue alone.
And wow. I was not prepared for this level of treatment. Emma spent a good 15 minutes examining my skin, discussing my diet, and asking me about what products I used. She slapped a mask on me, then disappeared to hand mix some sort of secret potions tailored to my needs for the rest of the facial. Throughout the facial she told me some shocking secrets: sunscreen ages you (she says to wear a big hat instead), many face creams wrinkle you, and you really shouldn't exfolliate that often. She explained that like your body, your skin cleanses and exfoliates itself naturally and that it just needs a little help getting rid of the days "sins" at the end of the night. So I don't really need any of those serums, creams or peels that were bursting out of my medicine cabinet? She wasn't trying to sell me a 14 step nightly skin care line? Nope. She suggested two things. A cleansing milk and a little bottle of oil.
I left that day feeling refreshed physically and mentally. That night I eagerly followed her simplified plan which I have had no problem keeping up. My skin has become so even that I've stopped wearing foundation or any type of concealers! I'm such a convert I bought everyone on my gift list a facial for the holidays. She even does a vegan facial! I've fallen so hard for this place that the owners of Valley and I have worked out a special offer. Bring your BabyCakes NYC receipt in for a facial with Emma and you get a free manicure! If you think Emma's talented check out what their manicurists can do. You want airbrushed palm trees with with a sunset background? No problem.
Although I'm sad that I really have no reason to go to Sephora for the latest skin fix solution, I have to say I'm richer for it. If you live in New York, run do not walk to Valley pronto.
i have lived through many lackluster and ill-informed and plain unfortunate facials in my 10 years of obsessive face care here in nyc (yes, i started having facials before i could buy myself a beer...). anyhoo, my experience at valley was among the worst. the service was lovely...i mean i was made to feel happy in that way that spa-esque things are supposed to make you feel. but the facial itself was really, really poor. and it wasn't bc of the organic products. that was the part i liked. i even bought some on the way out. but my facialist emma only did half of the steps published in the description of even the basic facial after i agreed to upgrade to the most expensive facial. not cool.
if you live in the LES do saunter over for the products, but please don't plunk down 230 bucks for a facial. buy the gorgeous boots instead!
and the worst! after picking at what was clearly a mole with a needle of sorts, the spot on my lip has now crusted up and is just disgusting (think herpes folks). the store owner Nina was rather disinclined to do anything saying that people from all over the city come for Emma's facials. which I don't doubt, but when one goes terribly wrong should you not be sweet and apologize about what happened. um, tacky.
dear tina,
i am so sorry that you had a bad experience! i thought the same thing: babycakes is my fave place ever for gluten free treats. and so you think, this place is a safe haven....so they wouldn't steer me down the wrong path. clearly, this is a promotional thing. or the ladies of babycakes do not know what a good facial is like. hmm. the faicialist i saw, talked me ear off (which i do not like....who wants to talk with goo all over their face) slapped on two masks, rubbed my face a bit (massages-intensive....really now?!) and then rubbed some lotion on my face and i was done. it was a 45 minute affair and on the website it clearly says 60-90 minutes. sorry you got the up-sell. but, girl, you gotta realize when they do that it is never a good thing. try providence day spa in brooklyn. it's a haul but the use organic products and it's an actual facial. good luck!
I am SO sorry to hear how disappointed you were! I am truly taken aback by both of your experiences. Next time you come into the bakery, ask for Erin or Emily. We'll try to make it up to you! Bummer.
oh, that it is the sweetest offer! but, the fact that you make yummy gluten-free sweets is "making up" enough for me. all in all, it is Nina's (at valley nyc)responcibility to "make up" for these botched services....not yours!
but, thanx!
oh, that it is the sweetest offer! but, the fact that you make yummy gluten-free sweets is "making up" enough for me. all in all, it is Nina's (at valley nyc)responcibility to "make up" for these botched services....not yours!
but, thanx!
I'll pass the word along. Thank you for the feedback!
I recently had a facial from Emma at Valley. I have to say, it was the best facial ever! I recently moved here from Chicago, and I was desperate for a good facial. I had a bunch of bad ones, then someone suggested I go to Emma at Valley. WOW! Totally amazing. I'm not sure what these other people are talking about up above. Her products are to die for. I send all my friends to Emma and they LOVE her. Try her once and you'll never get a facial anywhere else. So relaxing and comfy! My skin looks so much better than it did. My pores are tiny, finally! Try her, you'll see!
i too, have been getting facials since before i could drink. (seems drinking only makes me need them more...) i am a loyal client of emma's (and babycakes) i can't believe you two gals were unsatisfied. i'm truly shocked! my skin has never looked as good as it does since i've been seeing emma. the change is pretty remarkable... other gals (and guys) should not be dissuaded to see her, despite the what you both experienced. she really is good! amazing, in fact. and super sweet, too. just like the cupcakes ;)
i don't think anyone wants this to get into a contest of sorts. i am sure some people might like her. to each their own. i don't care how sweet someone is...just that they give me an excellent facial and a touch of pampering. that's all. and if i am paying for 60-90 minutes, well then i kinda want at least 60 minutes. that's all.
hi,
maybe i just caught Emma on like the worst day ever. can you describe what made your facial so amazing? maybe we have different opinions? who knows! but i need to get a good facial soon, as i do not like looking unkempt.
thanks!
so, I have to say that I'm not a real sucker for facials, as nauseating as this sounds; I happen to have very forgiving skin. I too find myself going to bed quite often without even washing my face; I know, the sheer horror of it. And I rarely have any kind of breakouts or uneven skin tone, etc. So although not a facial die-hard, I have to say I am a sucker for anything that might make me feel better for half a day even if I think I don't truly need it. Having been a loyal customer at Valley for their amazing pedicures I couldn't resist scheduling a facial the second I heard about their new service.
What Emma taught me was really incredible. Wow. So it turns out my skin was not so great after all. Since I left her hands my skin has been brighter and even and smooth and family/friends are making serious comments!! (the true test as to if something is really different) To top it all off I use three simple products daily, nothing too crazy. Emma's facials are addictive, that's my only warning here. Everyone I've sent to her has been incredibly satisfied, and you can't help but rave about the homemade (in her apt no less) products, completely organic and in the coolest packaging.
Too bad about the two not so hot experiences, it's shocking to say the least. All I know is that if you want to feel what it's really truly like to have bright gorgeous skin with pores that are microscopic, book a facial with Emma at Valley, she is seriously talented.
i think the point is getting lost here. emma might be wonderful. she rendered me with a huge scab on my face but we all have bad days. i think, as the scab gets nastier ann i have more time to think about it....ht problem is that the owner Nina was so tacky and distastful about the whole thing. to err is human, but the way you handle it is the testimenet of who you really are. that's all.
so, please don't take this as an affort to Emma (do speak up about any moles or sensitivities you might have), but rather the unhelpful and downright condescending tone of the owner Nina.
Okay, so I regularly read this blog, as I am a devout baby cake lover (carrot spelt cupcakes and oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorites!), but I have not commented until I read about this spot you guys recommended, Valley. It being a new year, I decided to go all out and really pamper myself and shed the old skin :-) , so I splurged on the offer baby cakes is running now because I read the blog and then saw the offer when I was in the bakery. Okay, so this was top to bottom the best all around set of services I have ever had. Erin was totally right about Emma’s facial – it’s been a few days and my skin is literally glowing – my boyfriend even said something!! This was the real deal. She took such good care of me (it is so hard to find somebody who does good extractions) and really helped me understand what she was doing throughout the facial, which lasted a solid two hours. I’ve never had such a thorough facial. She didn’t upsell products to me the whole time, which is so annoying – instead she recommended a few of her products and how to incorporate them into my regimen. I didn’t buy everything she recommended because I needed to budget, but when I go back I will stock up on all of it because so far I am loving all of it. To top it all off, I got the best Brazilian wax I have ever had – they use hard wax and it is soooo much less painful - and my mani was perfect – not a chip yet – I sound like a broken record, but it’s true. I can’t believe I have found all of this in one place – usually I have to go all over the city to get these things taken care of. Thanks for the recommendation!
Emma is amazing. My skin hasn't looked this gorgeous since before puberty.
I was a tough convert. If you are acne prone (as I am) and the thought of using oil on your face freaks you out, don't let it.
SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
Her Cleansing Milk is an amazing product. Her Rose Spray is the only scent that truly captures the essence of roses. Totally worth the money.
Hooray Emma!
Consider this. We've all had situations where a waxing pulls off some skin, or a manicurist is too aggressive with cuticle removal and causes a sore hangnail. I have learned to be clear to people handling my body, to communicate with them what to leave alone, what to handle with care, how things went south the last time. I have moles of many varieties, I have scars and other things I like left alone. I tell people -- even doctors -- hands off, or handle with care. I take part in my care; this is *my* body and ultimately I am responsible for how I let people touch me.
One place I went for pedicures were very sloppy with their work(repeated occasions of smudge polish), and the owner outright nagged and berated me for having heavily callused feet (just the way my feet are), and not coming in weekly so she could personally remove every rough spot for $35 a session, even though I made it clear I did not have the time or the budget (or, after her rudeness, the inclination) to do as she demanded. I eventually told her, politely and clearly, that her high pressure tactics put me off, her spa's services were worsening, and I was taking my business elsewhere (and I did). I don't feel the need to do more -- it is up to her to work out what she did wrong. It is not up to me to prevent her from trying to do better by warning off potential customers.
Customers are expected to be passive...but why? What does that get us? Does it improve products and services if we say nothing? Communication. Talk to the operator, the manager, before and after services. This helps them do their jobs better, and will greatly improve all of our spa experiences.
By the way, I will give this spa, and this aesthetician, a try. I will point out all moles and areas of concern. And I will smile and tell her, "If you have any questions about what you are seeing on my skin, please ask first." She'll be glad I did.
i am really thinking of trying this place, but do i really need to tell the facialist of every mole on or near my face? it weems that they teach you the difference between and mole and a pimple during you training, right?i guess i like to know that i am going to be taken care of and pampered and dont have to live in fear or be contantly vigilant. is that wrong?