08/15/2006
"I recently had my first facial here with Anna, and my skin was relatively happy as a result, excepting the fact that they used a (gasp!) mineral oil-based cleanser (brand name Yon Ka Creme Cleanser) with a nasty petroleum scent that stuck to my skin for hours after the facial, giving me headaches. I did not smell the cleanser during the facial, only afterward -- the lingering, rubber-like odor kept wafting into my nose. I had to go home and wash it off.
On a positive note: the rest of the products they used (DerMed brand) were wonderful, the facial itself was relaxing and soothing, and my skin has been bright and clear all week. But when I called to let them know my thoughts about their cleanser, the owner would not give me a refund (I knew this was unlikely) or a discount on my next service, which would have been a really classy move, and would have helped to ensure that I returned despite my expensive, half-bad experience.
I would expect a place that tries to maintain such a high-end reputation to know better than to use mineral oil/petroleum based products at all, and am truly surprised they had not yet heard complaints about this. (Maybe we Seattle ladies don't know not to smear gasoline byproduct on our skin as moisturizer -- eeugh Vaseline). If you get a facial here, you won't be disappointed, but be sure to ask them for a different cleanser or write on your intake form that you do not want mineral oil based products used on you. Because the owner refused to do anything make up for my bad experience (come on, customer service!) I will not get another facial here. However, I will go back to Anna for Brazilians, as she does great work."
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