Skincare Tips from DC's New Facial Bar Silver Mirror

I feel like ever since I crossed the threshold of 30, skincare has bumped up to be super high on my to-do list (and my Sephora budget). I invested in a couple of facials before my wedding and loved them — so when I heard that there was a facial bar opening in DC, I was all ears!

Silver Mirror Facial Bar just expanded to DC from New York. They offer customized facial treatments that span from the traditional 50-minute facial to a quick 30-min one. They also offer a monthly membership to get your skincare routine on lock (#goals).

I have been particularly curious about how best to take care of my skin pre- and post-workout so today, I have Nicole Healy, Silver Mirror's Master Esthetician, sharing her answers to all of my skincare questions!

What skincare steps should you take before/after workouts to keep your skin healthy? Any products that you recommend for that?

The most important thing to take into consideration is what time you will be working out. If it’s first thing in the morning or during the day, it is essential to make sure you have applied sunscreen to protect your skin during your commute to and from your workout activity. Beneath that, any product that aids in anti-microbial protection (such as VMV Hypoallergenics ID Monolaurin Gel) is a great addition to ward off any bacteria and also provide a matte finish to the skin. I would avoid applying a lot of products prior to working out because you’re most likely going to sweat them off anyway. Also, one benefit to applying your skincare regimen after a workout is that the increased blood flow aids in the absorption and efficacy of your products. So post-workout, feel free to cleanse, exfoliate, treat, and moisturize accordingly - you’ve given them all a boost!

To accommodate quick 30-minute facials, Silver Mirror has curtains around each bed to get you in and out quickly and effectively.

What can a Silver Mirror facial provide that you can't get with your regular at-home skincare routine?

A Silver Mirror facial provides you with a results-driven skin treatment using high-grade, physician-formulated products and ground-breaking modalities without any major downtime. Our estheticians are experienced skincare experts who understand how to customize the use of products and technologies to drive results in each client’s skin. In addition, with a facial at Silver Mirror, you readily have access to an esthetician with a wealth of skincare knowledge who can answer your skincare questions and provide you with a proper skincare regimen. Remember, the combination of an effective facial treatment along with a good at-home skincare routine yields the best long-term results!

What is the most important beauty product to invest in?

This all depends on what your skincare goals are. For someone with oily or combination skin, a go-to product might be a moisturizer that controls oil, shine, and effectively hydrates without leaving a greasy finish. For someone who has sensitive skin, it might be a serum that helps to reduce inflammation and redness and leaves the skin calm and hydrated. For someone seeking anti-aging benefits, a retinol with a lipid barrier will allow for an effective and gentle exfoliation that can stand up to any of our unpredictable DC weather conditions. 

There's been a lot of hype around clean beauty lately -- what is the hype all about and is this something that we should pay attention to for skincare products (including sunscreen)?

Clean beauty is what became more well-known and widely discussed when consumers started wondering what was actually in the products they were applying and/or using on a regular basis and how these products were made. Non-toxic, thoughtfully curated, and ethically manufactured products were the result of these inquires and it simply allows us as consumers to know exactly what we’re using and to feel safe about our choices. There are 109 known allergens within some beauty products and cosmetic formulations - all of which can easily cause a reaction or sensitivity - however with all of the clean beauty options available now, there is no need to worry about them. While the market is saturated with larger names promoting “organic” or “all-natural” options, some more independent companies have really become the forefront of the clean beauty movement and are absolutely something to pay attention to. If your product can be hypoallergenic, ethically sourced, and is effective - what more could you want?

Thanks so much to Nicole for sharing all of these tips. Be sure to check out Silver Mirror in Dupont for your next treat-yo-self day!