Skincando Eco-Beauty Pop-up
Last Saturday, I attended the fabulous Skincando Eco-Beauty Pop-Up studio launch party at The Emerald Door Spa, 8311 Grubb Road, Silver Spring. Guests were treated to soothing massages, experienced all-natural nail treatments and learned about the latest in eco-beauty while sampling delicious food and drinks.
Skincando, an eco luxe skin care line founded by aesthetician and natural skin care expert Sara Damelio, includes a collection of organic, handcrafted products of the highest standard of purity and efficacy. I met Damelio a couple years ago at the D.C. Green Festival, where I first discovered this local high-end organic skin care line. Damelio handed me samples of her famed Miracle Cream and Combat Balm, both of which I was immediately enamored. For the next six months, Damelio will be offering organic facials using Skincando products at the pop-up.
Damelio’s story is an inspiring one. When she was in college, she worked part-time at a luxury beauty boutique, hoping to find products to treat her problematic skin. However, she was shocked to learn about the unhealthy and often toxic ingredients that these expensive products contained, so she set about to create her own 100 percent natural, luxury skin cream, and Skincando was born.
I also chatted with Emerald Door Spa founder Sandra Magwood, one of the earliest eco beauty pioneers in the DMV. As Magwood explained, five years ago when she opened her spa, the concept of all-natural, organic beauty was brand new to most people, but nowadays beauty consumers are keenly aware of the importance of using non-toxic products. This beautiful, relaxing studio provides the perfect setting to enjoy the finest in organic skin treatments. The treatments available include mini ($65), regular ($100) and luxe ($145) organic facials, as well as a men’s soap and water hot shave facial ($55).
The Emerald Door Spa is known for its natural nail treatments using only non-toxic “5-free” Mischo Beauty nail lacquer. The spa is, in fact, a favorite of Mischo Beauty founder Kitiya Mischo King. So, dear reader, you have precisely six months to take advantage of this eco-beauty pop-up to indulge in luxurious skin treatments using locally-made products with the finest, clean ingredients. While you’re there, don’t forget to try King’s favorite, the Japanese jelly pedicure. According to King, The Emerald Door Spa is Silver Spring’s “best kept secret,” but now the word is out — so make haste, and book your appointment!
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”.