The Tamesis
My first professional facial was a birthday gift from my mom. She wasn’t telling me I needed one. Instead, she finally gave in to my constant pleading that my teenage skin (luckily, relatively blemish-free for a teenager who only used Neutrogena cleansing face cream) absolutely needed it. I felt like an adult that day when I walked into the spa, put on my comfortable robe, and zoned out to the music playing around me as the professionals got to work. That first experience shaped my view of facials for years: They were an expensive luxury item meant only for special occasions. While I did ramp up my skincare strategy in my late 20s and early 30s with a multi-step routine and prescription-strength retinol, I never really embraced consistent facial care.
Then I got engaged and was about to get married in Brooklyn. As someone who has written many articles over the years about pre-wedding beauty prep, I decided I should practice what I’ve always preached and create a treatment plan a few months after the celebration. A friend introduced me to Elizabeth Grace Hand, founder and head beautician of Stalle Studios, and I knew who I would be building a relationship with over the next year. Her philosophy for me was simple: “Bridal skin responds best to consistency, not intensity.” My sensitive skin is prone to redness, occasional hormonal flare-ups, dehydration in the winter, and fine lines from my early years of exposure to the sun while growing up in California. While I’m not in desperate need of a complete skin care overhaul, I’m also not at a level where I can comfortably attend social events without makeup. That means I’ll be visiting Elizabeth’s impeccably designed, Scandinavian-style Soho studio every four weeks for the next 12 months to slowly get my skin to the level of radiance I’ve always dreamed of.
Each visit is a far cry from my first spa experience as a young adult. From the moment I step out of the elevator into the pristine space, I give Elizabeth or one of her amazing estheticians, Kathy and Emma, a hug and immediately start talking. Soon the chaos from Brooklyn will fade away and Lana Del Rey will overwhelm me. (Her Spotify radio playlist is always on repeat—Elizabeth says she’s constantly trying to present herself as a client.) After a quick glance out the window to see if my sexy (often shirtless) neighbor across the street is hanging out in his apartment, I’ll slip under the silk bedding on the treatment table and wait for a knock on the door.
I spend the next hour talking like I’m in the middle of a treatment, with my face slathered in serums, creams, and masks. The girls at the studio knew every detail of my wedding planning process, and I knew all of their partners, hometowns, and skin care routines. Elizabeth was even pregnant with a baby that year, so we always had a lot to talk about. When the session ends, I get another hug from everyone present and leave with their signature “angel baby face” glow.
While I was busy chatting, the talented team were working on their 12 month plan to get me wedding ready. My skin underwent gentle enzyme, lactic and mandelic acid peels, micro-infusion hydration treatments, LED therapy to calm inflammation and support collagen, lymphatic drainage and sculpting massage, sonic and iontophoresis to enhance product penetration, CO2 Lift Pro and alginate masks for deep hydration and barrier repair support, and microcurrent therapy for lifting. might look like a lot of Makes my skin tone look its best, but it does make a noticeable difference. I give them full trust and always say, “Just do your thing.” Halfway through the year, the team even did a trial facial on me to test how quickly my skin responded to exfoliation, shaping, and cycling work for maximum radiance and recovery.
