I was so excited to schedule my appointment to a "cosmedispa" to get a facial a few weeks ago with my friend Michele. We tried to coordinate our schedules to go at the same time but since we bought in on a deal (a 1 hour facial for just $25) there were no back-to-back or same day appointments.
So, we booked our appointments according to the time that was best for us individually and set out to go. She had hers on Sunday and called me up squealing about the experience saying "It's not like Exhale (a spa we frequent) but I think you'll really like it. This may be my new spot!"
I was excited. Even though I knew that this facial was only $25 the thought of having a more convenient place to go (it's a straight line from the office) was encouraging. I arrived at my appointment eager and happy. The technician took the usual look at my skin, told me how "clogged" it was and began to steam my face. She put the steam so close to my face that I had to tell her to change it because I couldn't breathe! That was the first strike.
Next, as she began cleaning my skin she started her "up sell" of products. When she asked me "what do you do" I told her and took the opportunity to tell her that I don't use anything on my skin that has chemicals, additives, parabens or that has been tested on animals. I didn't get a response from that. The upsell of the products stopped so I'm assuming they use all or a combination of my no-nos.
What was delightful is that she used a pumpkin facial. My eyes were closed, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't fresh, raw or made to order (and I wasn't expecting that it would be). The smell was great. She left me in the room for about 10 minutes and I was a bad girl, got up out of the bed, grabbed my camera and snapped the photo above. I figured since I had just included a pumpkin mask recipe in my ezine on Tuesday I couldn't let this photo op pass me by. When she returned she rinsed me, did a few extractions and set me on my way. I didn't even get a full hour! Oh well, these things happen.
What disturbed me even more was the trip home reading a beauty magazine that I found in the kiosk outside the spa called "Long Island Image Magazine." Other than a few encouraging articles about cancer the ENTIRE magazine was full of ads, articles and pictures telling women that their faces and bodies are not enough, that they need surgery, botox, cellulite removal, laser procedures, eyebrow lifts and everything else! Look younger, etc. etc.
This is the reason I don't buy many health or fashion magazines. Their only goal is to make women feel bad enough about themselves to go spend all their money looking like someone else's idea of beauty. It's just plain wrong and we as women need to start to rebel against it. At 39 I'm proud of my natural beauty, and I know that I have that confidence because I stay away from this paraphernalia out there. Also, I know that my eating habits support me on the cellular level. There is no better fountain of youth! My charge to you... Turn a blind ear and a blind eye to all that crap! You are more beautiful and more deserving than that!
Comments