If there’s one universal, undeniable truth about humanity, it’s that we all have a face. It’s front and center, exposed to the world, 24/7.
You get regular haircuts, wash your clothes, polish your shoes (sometimes). You work out those to keep your body in shape. But what do you do with your face? You’ll wash it, shave it as you’ve always done, but that’s likely about it. But doesn’t that one guaranteed thing that people notice about you deserve some love, too?
You bet it does.
That’s why we talked with Sophie Marcopoulos, owner of Face Space Esthetics, for a little advice on how to treat your visage to be Zoom-ready and looking your best.
“I recently had a man come in for an appointment who said that he was here for ‘an oil change and tire rotation’ for his face,” Sophie said, laughing.
“Most men who come in are pretty nervous about the whole thing,” she says. After all, this is probably something that men haven’t thought of much. We spend more time worrying about our lawns than our faces. Yet both need proper maintenance and the right products in order to get the best results, some you can do on your own and some that could use more professional experience to achieve.
Let’s start with a bare-minimum basic. Cleansing. Sophie recommends using a salicylic acid cleanser (it’s in more acne-control things than you’d think, from Neutrogena to Dove to CeraVe and more), which is exfoliating - the key to preventing ingrown hairs and blemishes. She says chemical exfoliating like this is better than a scrub, which contains particles that can get stuck in the hairs and be a pain to remove.
Just keep in mind that timing is key. Don’t use it immediately after shaving. Before you shave is great, or 12 hours after. Don’t exfoliate skin that’s just been abused by blades.
And you’ve probably heard a thing or two about SPF if you’ve been alive for the past 20 years or so. If you’ve ignored the advice about the importance of SPF moisturizers, stop that right now. Sophie is an Ivy League educated (Columbia University) and Parisian Beauty Academy alum who values science over hearsay. Listen to her science-backed advice: a lightweight moisturizer (with an SPF somewhere between 30-50) is crucial to prevent dryness and wrinkles.
In other words, moisturizing results in not looking old.
Yet there may be times when you need a professional to give you a bit more polish. That’s when you head to someone like Sophie.
“A lot of men come in when they’re getting ready for their wedding. As soon as you set your date, that’s when you should reach out and speak to an esthetician, so we can determine when you should come in based upon your skin type and your specific concerns,” Sophie recommends. “That’s how we can make sure that you can look your best, especially on one of the biggest days of your life.”
“We try to put men at ease when they come in, especially if it’s their first time,” she explains. “Because of things like facial hair, we use a lot of hot towels and steam, and electrical modality called High Frequency to kill bacteria and stimulate healthy hair growth. Add in the soothing face mask and upper body massage, they find the whole process very relaxing.”
It’s a pretty convincing argument to come in for an appointment with an esthetician more than just a couple of times a year. “Usually, I’d like to see people come in every 4 to 8 weeks.” But a lot of men won’t come in quite that often. It’s more of an investment in their facial health than, say a clearly overdue trip to the barber. But even a few times a year is better than none at all. It's like the old L'Oréal ad used to say - "because you're worth it."
This is a higher-end investment in how you look than you’re used to, but in the end, let’s be honest – how many faces do you have?
It’s a pretty good bet that you’ll never get sick of hearing “my God, you look good” - and all you need to do is sit back and relax.
To find out more about how much of a difference a professional esthetician can make, Sophie’s studio, Face Space Esthetics, is at 1607 Route 23 South. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling Sophie at 973-797-9792 or on the studio's website, websitebeautysalonwayne.com.
Leah Klleinsteinz, the photographer for this article, was one of our students from the Wayne Lifestyle Picture This Student Photo Contest. She's a Junior at Wayne Hills High School in Pam Stomel's Photo 3 Photography class.
Leah's wonderful shots are proof that artistic talent walks among us, sometimes unsung. It takes a skilled eye to see the world in ways that reflect beauty in the everyday.
We live in a visual world and everyone has a camera at the ready at all times. Today's photography students are learning how to refine their skills in order to capture those moments in time that might otherwise be forgotten. It doesn't have to be "A Moment" in order to be art. This simple photo shoot reminds us of that.
We know Leah will continue to develop her special talent for photography, along with all of the students who let the lens speak for them. We're proud of each and every one of them.
The first time guys come in they tend to be nervous. Once that first hot towel hits their face, they find out it's a breeze.