Cheers to newness!

Learning new treatments is the most fun part of the job by a mile!  And the last year being what it was, there wasn’t too much space at Bespoke for this…but I do feel that we are turning a corner, and in this vein I am so excited to introduce Bespoke Microneedling, Bespoke Dermaplaning, and Lash and Brow therapy to the menu!

You may remember Erika from the old office…she is a kindred spirit definitely.  Erika currently is the lead medical esthetician for another office, but has chosen to spend Sundays with us in order to offer other treatments she knows and loves.

Here’s an overview of the new treatments:

Bespoke Microneedling a.k.a. the “Cadillac” of Collagen Induction Therapy! Microneedling utilizes a device with tiny needles passed over numbed skin to create channels into the dermis, which not only create collagen and elastin but increase product penetration. Double cleanse, light enzymatic or manual exfoliation (dermaplaning), followed by depth customized microneedling with epidermal growth factors and/or wound healing beta glucan infusion to treat acne scars, smooth fine lines and even texture. Then healing Enzyme mask for forty five minutes to speed recovery, leaving you with significantly less downtime than traditional microneedling! A big treatment with next level results ($500)

I used to perform microneedling daily.  And though I think generally it is too much damage/stimulation for most clients…we at this point have very conditioned clients, with strong skin who can handle it!  Also, we will be using the Enzyme mask after the needling, which helps to repair the skin and significantly reduces recovery time!  I had one myself yesterday and man, what a difference between microneedling as I used to do it.  It’s a perfect combination.

Dermaplaning designed for you. Cleanse and light chemical or enzymatic exfoliation, followed by a full facial exfoliation with a fine blade to remove dead skin and vellus hair (“peach fuzz”). Treatment ends with a potent vitamin C infusion… skin is left bright, tight and smoother, with no inflammation or irritation. A must for those seeking instant results, or aiming to be event ready. Not suitable for active acne ($300).

Dermaplaning is incredible for the instant gratification of perfectly smooth, glowing skin.  Once again we will be pairing it with DMK products…which after the exfoliation can absorb so much better.  

Bespoke Lash and Brow Therapy is a customized facial focusing on eyes. Cleanse, light chemical or enzymatic exfoliation for the face. Followed by brow shape/tint and lash lift/tint! Light lymphatic drainage massage around eyes and transdermal infusion to finish ($250). Alternatively you can choose only brows or only lashes for ($200).

And Lash and Brow therapy is a passion of Erika’s…what a huge difference it makes to your daily routine to have that done!  And in true Bespoke nature she will be performing a basic facial around the treatment…so you get two (or three!) treatments in one.  You should leave the office feeling fully taken care of.

Erika’s first day with us is Sunday…Valentine’s day.  Her availability is extremely limited, so please book your spots now…we are so happy to have such a versatile professional join the team, and bring the fresh air of new services to the menu.

Introducing Bespoke Contour Facials

We are very excited to introduce a new treatment to the menu this month…Bespoke Facial Contour.  Our version of popular microcurrent facials, with a lot of immediate gratification for tired faces!

Microcurrent therapy is a way to stimulate the facial muscles with a small electrical current. That’s it! It is a simple, pain-free method that works with the body’s natural systems to re-energize the facial skin and muscles from a cellular level. The cumulative effect of this process, on the other hand, now that is where things get interesting! 

1. Diminished appearance of fine lines and wrinkles due to toning of facial muscles. The facial muscles have the distinct responsibility of helping us create facial expressions. Because the muscles connect to both the bone and skin, they work to produce countless facial expressions. When we are consistent with microcurrent sessions, we are lifting or "tightening" the muscle, which in turn helps to tighten our skin…and reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

2. Improved circulation and skin tone. Circulation is generally increased from any stimulation done to the surface of the skin. Blood flowing towards our skin brings oxygen and other nutrients that our skin requires to remain healthy. As it continues to circulate, the blood also removes carbon dioxide and wastes that the skin doesn't need.

3. Increase in Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)…and collagen and elastin production. Microcurrent technology results have shown to increase ATP by up to 500%. ATP is the energy of the cell, and is the cellular energy necessary for the production of collagen and elastin in the face. With ATP increased and your cells re-energized, your body’s natural processes of collagen production can get to work, creating skin strength as well as skin structure. Also with a boost of ATP comes an increase in our body’s ability to generate elastin - a combination of connective and fibrous tissue of protein that provides our skin the flexibility to stretch and bounce-back to its natural shape.

Unlike many microcurrent devices Bespoke Contour is very gentle…there is no jumping or twitching of muscles.  Which isn’t to say you won’t feel it!  But it’s a very gentle and relaxing current…you may taste metal when we work around your mouth, or see a bit of flashing around your eyes.

With this treatment we will include a light peel, extractions, transdermal infusion…and massage or gua sha.  Though the treatment itself is very comfortable the results are tangible!  And will increase over time, as they are cumulative.  To this end we will also sell a home microcurrent device for those who want it (and which is very simple to use) for between treatments, to maintain results.

Regardless, enjoy!  We are so pleased to bring something new to the menu, and look forward to continuing to expand services into the future.

Skin Bootcamp

I had a DMK Muscle Banding treatment the other day, and just wow.  The results were so tangible it got me thinking.  I thought “If these are the results after one session…imagine the result if I did this every two weeks?  Or even every week?” 

Which…is in fact the way you are SUPPOSED to do it lol.  In the office we sometimes say that Osmosis is your skin’s nutritionist…and DMK is it’s personal trainer.  Like exercise, the results are cumulative.  Like exercise, the treatment is sometimes uncomfortable…but the afterglow so worth it.  Like exercise, it leaves you feeling bright, tight, toned.  And like exercise, the more often you do it, and with consistency…the better result you will get.  And the better your chances of the result holding.

If you are no stranger to Bespoke you may remember that pre-pandemic we were fully booked for months out.  Just getting a session was tough…but getting a session weekly just impossible.  So, we made sure everyone had the proper home-care, including the foamy lift kit.  It was enough to keep the ball rolling in between sessions, and we were happy for that.

But now, in the tail end of Covid 19 our books have dwindled…that plus post Christmas means we have time and  space in the books.  And so that being said, I am happy to offer something new, and that I have wanted to offer for a long time…the DMK skin “bootcamp”.  We’ve got nothing but time as we wait for the vaccine to hit the generally public…why not take the opportunity to really make gains with your skin?

The package will look like this:  one consult with me, four DMK Enzyme treatments to be had either every week or every other week.  All home-care is included…that’s EFA’s, Betagel, Direct Delivery C, Seba E, Herb Mist, Creme of choice and SPF.

Then, for those applicable and who want it…we will do an add on of Revitosin and Superbright cremes.  And you will be set up for DMK’s Remodeling Procedure…which is actually four treatments over then days.  It is their deepest peel, which remodels the skin from the bottom of the dermis up!

The value on the bootcamp is $1300…We will be selling it for $975, which is about 25% off.   Then the RP add on is valued at $800…We will add it for $600.  Treatments must be with Nichole or Dominique, consult is by me…booking is first come first serve, and in January and February only.

Once covid is behind us it is unlikely we will have the availability to do something like this again.  So join us as we ride the rest of this storm out and get your best skin in the process!

The No Peel “Peel”

I tried out a new peel the other day, that I might add to our menu. Why not I thought, I need a pick me up. I have strong, conditioned skin from using all the home-care consistently. And I don’t have time for an hour or two long treatment…this will take half an hour.

It is now 4 days later, and I am peeling. Which…is what I wanted. But is the juice worth the squeeze? My skin is dry, flakey, tight, uncomfortable. I can’t wear makeup because it flakes off. But in a few days it should look great right?!

People love to peel. We have this idea that or skin is like a floor…and if we sand down far enough we will land at fresh, clean new skin. Which is true…sort of. Rather than a floor, think of your skin like a tree. The epidermis (outermost layer) is the bark…the dermis is the wood. Though the bark is “dead” it is vital to the health of the tree…stripping it off prematurely endangers it.

When we strip our epidermis however, it feels pretty satisfying. There is a tingle, everything feels tight and bright and clean. The skin gets a bit pink and puffy…look, I am getting younger! But in reality this is inflammation at work…all of the skins resources get pushed to the surface, and stripping the epidermis is technically wounding it. After the “wound” is repaired the skin takes a little nap…the dermis is depleted. It needs to recover. But does it have the resources to recover? If not then we are “robbing Peter to pay Paul”…our dermis will eventually thin (not good) and the skin might take forever to heal. Acne marks and such, that we think we can scrape away last ages…because the wound within the dermis causing them is robbed of vital nutrition. So what do we do in response?

We try harder, again and again…until we damage or skin beyond repair. what went wrong? And when we do a big peel…we get that crazy scaley face, because the dermis is not ready to shed…it can’t! It needs at least some protection. We use two lines in the office currently…Osmosis and DMK. Though they bear significant differences they also have significant similarities. Amongst these similarities I would cite the “No Peel Peel”. Or in a sense…the effects of a peel without the downtime, or the stripping of the epidermis and thinning of the dermis.

First, Osmosis. They offer a retinaldhyde infusion, which speeds cell turnover. So, for unconditioned skin, if I put a full syringe on your face…it would speed turnover so much you would look sunburnt and shed. And yet the infusion has no acid! So how does this work?

When your epidermis is ready to shed it does so naturally…so when the retinal speeds turnover it will do so ahead of schedule. The difference is it’s not inflaming the dermis by ripping the epidermis off…it’s shedding because it WANTS to! So leaving a happy, healthy, humming dermis. And in the process this is healing damage within the dermis (old acne and pigmentation)…rather than robbing those wounds of the opportunity. And best yet? Done properly the shedding is undetectable. No downtime, no burnt scaley face.

DMK does something a bit different. Rather than speed cell turnover with retinal, an enzyme treatment does in fact utilize acids to exfoliate. However the difference is in that magic mask… the enzyme mask stays on for 45 minutes, and creates a back-flush of the capillaries. Fresh oxygen and blood flush the dermis, and cellular debris and toxins are swept out via lymph to the lymph nodes. This flushing is true oxygen therapy, and is so healing that it resolves any damage or stripping done by the prior acids. The difference is the peel is just prerequisite to that recovery phase, not an end in itself. The result is fresh, bright, clean, glowing skin. It is the effect of a peel, without the week of downtime I am experiencing now.

So, though the peel I just did only took 30 min…it’s taking a week to heal. That 45 minutes of mask does the work of a week’s healing!

Am I glad I did this peel? Yes, sure…I am all for shaking things up a bit, and challenging the skin. But next time get that enzyme on my face please…there is nothing quite like it. 

Celebrating Rachel Fazio’s Life

We are heartbroken to share with you the passing of our sweet friend Rachel Fazio, on Oct 22 2020. It must be noted that to our knowledge her passing was unrelated to Covid19, as she was at work the day previous with no symptoms. She was 28 years old.

Billy Wilder said of Audrey Hepburn “God kissed her on the cheek, and there she was”. These words come to mind when I think of Rachel now. Not that she had a charmed life…she was, I would come later to find, making a new life for herself in DC after a rough run in the media industry as a reporter for NBC. But God kissed her on the cheek in that she possessed a bright, shining quality which was unmistakeable. She reminded me of a character in a book, as do all my favourite people… a unique and fully formed personality unlike anyone I have ever met before.

The words warmth, dedication, and humor come to mind when I think of Rachel. If I sit quietly in these days after her passing I can feel her presence, that’s how rich these qualities were within her…I can feel her still, comforting me. Rachel would be mortified to be causing me any extra work right now in writing this. She would be apologizing in her flustered and funny way. And she would be smiling at me. Rachel made me feel seen, and seen as the best of myself.

Rachel wrote me an email introducing herself just weeks after the birth of my boy Leo. Despite being sleep deprived and recovering I knew I had to meet her. Her letter was warm, clear, enthusiastic. So sane and present. Her story was unique, but this just intrigued me more. I can only say it was grace that allowed me to recognize her value from just that letter. I knew she would be in my life.

When we met I walked in to discover a beautiful, professional bright eyed young woman, with an open face. At that time I was fully staffed, with not an inch of spare space in the building. And Rachel had not yet even gone to school for esthetics…but it didn’t matter. I told her to go ahead and move to DC, and that I didn’t know how or when, but I would have a spot for her. Little did I know that in the upcoming months I would start a year long process of staff turnover…much of it extremely painful. But throughout it all there was Rachel, unwavering and by my side.

Rachel approached her role at Bespoke with nearly comical devotion and professionalism. If I am the Michael Scott of the office Rachel was somewhere between Dwight and Erin…steadfastly dedicated but also with a contagious enthusiasm and innocence. I remember meeting her outside the new office one day, for one of our first meetings. She was wearing heels, full makeup and a business casual dress. I was in leggings with no makeup and a backpack and bun. We went and had an ice cream (she had one little scoop which mostly melted, I think I had a pint and then ate hers), and when we parted ways I asked her where her car was. I walked, she said…she had rented a flat nearby so that she might be close at hand if I ever needed her. I watch her walk away on the cobblestone street in those uncomfortable shoes, and was grateful for the help I hadn’t known that I needed.

I took her up on her offer of help…she helped me with every little thing, and joyfully. She babysat Leo. She did laundry. She waited for handymen at the building. Any request was met immediately with enthusiasm and precision. I asked her once how did she get to be like this? How was she just so damn helpful? She told me it was her mother…that her mother was an amazing woman (an accomplished Doctor) and that she wanted to be a true support to women like us. I’ll never know how scouring the internet she set her sights on me and Bespoke, but if I had to guess I’d say maybe I reminded her of her parents. I hope she felt like she could find a home with me, and I would have her back.

I grew to lean on her, in every way. And in her last days at Bespoke she had added a fifth treatment…so she was working twelve hour days. She worked Friday Saturday and Sunday in a row as well…”I have no life” she would scoff when explaining her dedication. In reality, she was determined to really support the business, and to be of service to myself and our clients. Her last words to me (via text) were “Oooh how fun! I am excited!”. This was in reference to some training we were going to do for a new therapist that week…she was finally making the leap from “trainee” to “trainer”. It was a big moment.

I could always make Rachel crack up, and took it upon myself to try for this as often as possible. She got the joke, always. When we first met I asked her what kind of movies and tv she watched…”How I Met your Mother” was her favourite show she said. I thought that was a weird choice lol, but getting know her it made sense. She had an ever present readiness to laugh, and a dry slightly sarcastic sense of humor. Very self deprecating and a bit deadpan, very much the tone of the show. I think of her like a character in it, she would have fit right in.

Rachel didn’t have a mean bone in her body, which made her somewhat fragile, vulnerable. She had a horrible time in esthetics school, being bullied by her peers (adults, mind you). To give context as to who you might find in an esthetics school (sometimes but not always), upon orientation she told me “they stressed repeatedly that you NOT come to school high” and then listed the many ways to NOT get high before school. No pills, no weed, no etc etc. “Are people coming to school high?? I guess so!” she said, and we laughed for about a week straight about how spelled out that needed to be for her classmates. Regardless the bullying was so ridiculous and severe I wanted to pull her out of school…it seemed unbearable to me and I was angry for her. But she stuck with it and got through it, without any fuss. It was incredible, her persistence.

She was the kind of person who at her angriest would probably huff a “no thank you!” Once when we were setting up an alarm system in the building it went off during treatment…in her room. The actual alarm was in there and was blistering loud…and she attempted to carry on with treatment. Afterwards she texted me (I hadn’t heard it) asking if she could comp the treatment…I didn’t realize what the big deal was. When I found out I couldn’t believe how much she underplayed the issue…I’d have been furious. I was also told later that she picked up the alarm, marched out of the room and handed it to my stepdad (who had been setting it up) with short “here!”. That was it. Her frustration was palpable, but she got on with it. Not a mean word.

In her last days with us we spoke often of her progress as an esthetician. Her book had finally filled with regular clients, what she had always wanted. She was giving me her all, and I knew that I could count on her for it. No matter what happened I could count on Rachel. So Wednesday morning when she wasn’t at work we all knew instinctively something was very wrong.

I told Rachel in her last days how proud I was of her, and how smart she was to see extra clients. How this would make her so much better so much faster. This is what she really wanted, just to be of use in the office and to care for people. To care for me too. She told me that I was doing a great job handling navigating the business during covid…with no prompting. And she meant it, and it helped me. She was very perceptive. Sometimes I worry that when I am seen as who I truly am - human, flawed - that the therapists or clients will lose respect for me. And that has definitely been the case before…but not with Rachel. She had a way of seeing all of you and making you feel loved anyway. Her own light shined on you and made you shine back.

When I interview new therapists I play a game where I ask them what their “spirit animal” is, just to get to know them. A platypus, she said. What?! We all exclaimed. Why? You are much more elegant than that! She said a platypus was cute and unique and quirky and who knows, she just thought a platypus. And she was right. She was unlike anyone else I have ever met. In the last few months I have been on a meaningless decorating kick in the office, constantly moving furniture around. I’d walk into her room and move a plant to a different shelf wordlessly and she would crack up. I would text her pictures of weird furniture from facebook marketplace and as if she could run and pick it up RIGHT NOW and she would say yes of course! And hop in an uber. We joked that I was making her room into a “nautical library” and we laughed about how unrelated to esthetics that was but she said she “trusted my vision”.

I had a vision for Rachel. Early on I asked her what her dreams were, what her long term goals were. She said this was her dream. I pushed her further, and she coyly joked that she would take over the business for me one day. And I can’t tell you how much that meant to me…I love the business like a child, and the thought of giving it one day to someone who loved it like I do brought me a lot of joy. I could picture it for her. I could see her, one day a time, working towards that. Her work was measured and persistent…I could see her daily grinding away at moving forward. She was planning on moving to Georgetown in December, so she could walk to work. I have come to find out she had a serious boyfriend, with whom she was likely going to settle down with here. I can see her having her life here…a life not unlike my own. House, child, work, all in this little village…I could see her growing, and becoming a fuller realization of who she was always meant to be. And I thank God that I was included in that plan for her. I thank God for my time with her. But mostly I just fucking miss her…as does everyone in the office.

Rachel I love you. Sleep well sweet girl, I am holding your special chair for you in the office.

Condolences may be sent to Rachel’s mother,

Ellen Schaeffer 6825 Holliston Circle, Fayetteville, N.Y. 13066

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Covid-19 -Safety Protocols

Dear Bespoke clients,

During these past months of uncertainty and change, we have been looking forward to the day when we might welcome guests back into the office. We are excited to announce that we expect to reopen our office on June 1st. This date is subject to the District of Columbia granting permission for our business category to reopen on or before this date. We plan to reopen online booking two weeks prior to our confirmed opening date.

Our top priority has always been to bring an unparalleled safe experience of healing and rejuvenation to our guests, and our resolve is stronger now than ever before. Our team has been hard at work to raise the bar of hygiene and sanitation, as well as considering every step of treatment processes to ensure we meet your needs in a focused and safe manner. Bespoke Aesthetics will operate based on the protocols suggested by International Aesthetician Association, Center for Disease Control, and American Dental Association. Our protocols will be modified as required to comply with any guidance subsequently issued by the District of Columbia.

Here are the tangible ways we have ramped up our efforts to enhance guest and employee safety:

• Treatment rooms are being sanitized after each client.

• Common touch areas like door handles and stair rails are being sanitized frequently during the day.

• We are adding more time between appointments to allow us to clean and sanitize the environment after each client.

• The building heating & air conditioning system has built-in air sanitizer equipment (UV-C lights).

• Clients will be screened for good health before treatments begin, with temperature being taken (touch free).

• Appointment start times have been staggered to minimize client overlap when possible.

• Service providers will wear masks during treatments as an enhanced safety measure, as well as protective eye wear and gloves.

• Each team member has passed a Health & Sanitation Test with a score of 100% in order to work with you and provide you the service you expect from us.

• Team members will also be screened daily for good health before treatment begins, with temperature taken. If a team member is sick or displaying symptoms they will stay home or be sent home.

• No cash transactions will be taken onsite. All payments will be collected via credit, debit on file or gift cards.

• All products that you purchase will be cleaned and sanitized prior to your leaving.

To keep our guests and employees safe, we will ask all guests to:

• Please come alone for your appointment.

• Wash hands or use sanitizer upon entering and exiting the building.

• We prefer you wear your own mask; however, we will supply them as needed.

• Please take care to arrive no more than 15 minutes before your appointment time. This is so we might effectively stagger client arrival and minimize social contact before treatment.

• If for whatever reason you are sharing space in the waiting room, we kindly ask you practice social distancing of 6 feet.

• When you arrive, you will be greeted by your therapist upon entering the building and taken to your treatment room. Please refrain from touching anything until you have washed or sanitized your hands

• Refrain from visiting Bespoke if you or a household member has a fever, COVID-19 symptoms, or any communicable illness.

• Refrain from visiting the office if you are under an isolation or quarantine order/directive or have a fever.

• Share special sanitation or hygiene requests prior to arriving at the office.

• Please review this and let us know if you have any questions or if there are ideas or suggestions you have that can help us serve you. Your care and comfort mean everything to us, and we appreciate your continued patronage.

At Bespoke, our passion is treating you. We look forward to resuming operations and bringing healing to our guests once again.

Sincerely,