Beauty Guinea Pig
Photo: Donna Trope
The Treatment: 90-minute Signature Facial by Andrea DeSimone
The Promise: An all-natural facial with lymphatic drainage massage to drain fluids from the head, neck, and shoulders, to eliminate puffiness, increase circulation, stimulate detoxification, and clear up your skin.
The Guru: Warm and cheery, Andrea DeSimone has been a natural facialist for over two decades. She uses organic food-grade products and creates completely customized facials based on her client’s current skin dilemmas.
Backdrop: While 224 Fifth Avenue is a nondescript office-like building on Lower Fifth Avenue, the 3rd floor is a calm oasis of holistic practitioners. DeSimone’s zen treatment room is decorated with metal elephants and brass bowls—if only it was completely soundproof.
The Guinea Pig: On a bit of a carb binge and under a ton of stress, I arrived at Andrea’s with a puffy face, serious undereye circles, and sallow skin.
The Scoop: This doesn’t feel like any facial you’ve had before. Instead of rubbing creams and masks into your face, DeSimone kneads, massages, and works the skin from every angle. It all feels a little bizarre at first, but I was eventually so relaxed I was worried I’d fall asleep. She mixes her serums and masks while she works, customizing each formula for your skin. But be prepared for the cold shock of LED Cyrotherapy light at the end. The freezing wand is applied all over the face to remove dead skin, tighten, and firm.
The Results: Immediately after, I still look puffy, but my skin is completely clear, and there’s no sign of my usual redness. Amazing, considering I emerge from most facials totally blotchy. After drinking a ton of water that day, the results of the lymphatic drainage become apparent the next morning. My skin looks noticeably less swollen and my jawline and cheekbones look and feel tighter than I’ve seen in a while. I’m sold!
Photo: Donna Trope
