The Still Point’s Level Three Facial
One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the holiday season is to get my skin in shape with a deep cleansing and toning facial. I want my complexion to look its best for all of the forthcoming festivities and to preemptively counter the effects of a just a wee bit too much champagne. I launched this season with a facial at The Still Point, 1 Columbia Ave., Takoma Park, as I’ve heard good things about them and like their organic, all-natural skin care line, Toma Skin Therapies, which I’ve written about before.
Toma Skin Therapies products on display at The Still Point (Photo: Lia Phipps/DC on Heels)
The Still Point offers three levels of facials, ranging from level one, which is the mildest, to level three, which offers the most intense treatments. I was advised to try the level three, which sounded perfect, as it is described as The Still Point’s “ultimate anti-aging treatment” and “most intense, results-driven facial.” Facials are customized to meet the needs of each client; depending on the condition of her skin and her skin care goals.
The Facial
After browsing the skin care products on display in the waiting area, I met aesthetician Courtney Werth who showed me to the treatment room. She began the facial by cleansing my skin with the delicious-smelling Citrus Foaming Cleanser, which she followed with a thorough scrutiny and analysis of my skin. She observed that my skin was a bit dehydrated around the cheeks but otherwise in good condition aside from some stubborn hyperpigmentation (dark spots) on my cheeks and a few old acne marks on my chin.
Werth explained that the level three facial was a three part facial consisting of sonic microdermabrasion, a customized resurfacing treatment followed by an electroporation treatment to tone and lift the skin. In between these three steps various Toma Skin Therapies treatment masks and serums are applied to enhance results.
Instead of abrading the skin with rough particles, sonic microdermasion uses 400,000 particle-free ultrasonic vibration waves to gently remove the top level of dead skin cells to improve cellular turnover. Repeated treatments can result in firmer skin; sonic microdermabrasion increases circulation and boosts collagen production in the dermis. This treatment left my skin feeling silky smooth and allowed the serum and moisturizer applied later to sink in more deeply.
Next, Werth applied a Toma detoxifying clay mask to draw impurities from the pores. She recommended that I limit clay masks to my chin and T-zone to avoid stripping moisture from my drier areas. After the mask, she proceeded with the customized resurfacing treatment. In my case, she recommended the lactic peel with kojic acid, which is effective in fading dark spots and acne marks. The treatment was quite painless — just a bit of tingling. Werth commented, after she removed the peel, that my skin was slightly red, which indicated a slight sensitivity in my skin.
The next step, which involved electroporation, greatly calmed my skin and caused it to glow. Electroporation, aka electro-permeability, as the name implies rejuvenates the skin with a light electrical current. It is similar to the galvanic facial and microcurrent facial; it is conducted by gliding a wand slowly over the skin and revitalizes the complexion by stimulating collagen and elastin production. The electrical current also improves cellular permeability, which facilitates the absorption of topical skin treatments. This treatment was highly relaxing — I was once again reminded of why I like to take a somnolent approach to beauty.
The custom blending bar for bespoke skin care (Photo: Lia Phipps/DC on Heels)
After the electroporation treatment, Werth applied Toma’s soothing cooling cucumber mask, which felt refreshing and smelled wonderfully refreshing. She finished with an application of cellular C serum — an excellent anti-aging serum that also reduces age spots and discolorations. She recommended that I add a treatment oil to my regimen (Toma Skin Therapies Reverse, a luxury night oil is a great option). Toma Skin Therapies is known for its customized tonics, and Werth suggested the harmonizing blend, which contains palmarosa and chamomile to sooth sensitive skin for me.
The level three facial takes a three-pronged approach that gets results — my skin felt smooth, firm and moisturized, and the effects long-lasting. I am quite convinced that multiple treatments would result in cumulative improvement and was delighted to see that The Still Point has as rewards program, which I will be most certainly be looking into.
A native Washingtonian, Beauty Blogger Lia Phipps is an interior designer with an irrepressible, life-long fascination with health and beauty. When she is not selecting fabrics and paint colors for clients, she occupies herself with trying new products and dispensing beauty advice to friends, acquaintances and anyone who is willing to listen to “Tips from Phipps”.
