As soon as I hit my teen years, my face did the unthinkable. One second it was smooth as a baby’s skin and the next minute there was a big, fat zit on my cheek. It didn’t stop there. In the years after, my face kept breaking out with acne, dry skin, and constant redness. It was a constant struggle and although it wasn’t as bad as some other people, it still was an annoying stressor in my life. When I decided to go on topical face medicines, it wasn’t a lightly made decision. Since my skin was so sensitive, I was scared as to what would happen if I put something new on my face. I was on a strict regimen of cleanser and moisturizer, so putting some foreign substance on my face was a step into the unknown. My mom convinced me that this would be for the best and starting now would help me have better skin in the future. Nonetheless, I’m still using face creams such as Tretinoin and Clindamycin to this day and it’s slowly, but surely, making my face clearer.
When I got a text about trying out a new facial place in downtown Boulder, I was simultaneously excited yet nervous at the same time. As a college student, I’m always open to trying new things and skincare has become such a trend due to various social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, whether it be positive or negative. There are so many different regimens on social media that claim to be the best for achieving clear skin. I have saved so many TikToks explaining different skincare products, read blogs about what foods help decrease acne, and liked Instagram posts supporting a certain skincare brand. Although I’m exposed to all these different forms of media, I rarely take action and do anything about it. I’m always nervous to try new products because past experiences have caused my face to break out, so I was a little anxious about what this experience would bring.
To ease my conscience, I did some research on this new facial bar and immediately liked what I read. Clean Your Dirty Face is a facial bar that was first opened in Chicago in 2015. Since then, the founder and CEO, Shama Patel, has opened over 25 locations in various cities across the United States. The reason this skincare boutique stands apart from the others is because they work with “licensed estheticians, all-natural apothecaries, and direct client feedback,” to provide their customers with a 100% transparent experience. I liked how this facial bar focused on all natural products and had a simple mission towards gaining clearer skin. Not to mention that their website was flawlessly designed with a minimalistic, clean look to it, which in my experience, is an immediate sign that a place is going to be amazing!
After some careful consideration, I decided to go through with it. I would lose my facial virginity.
The moment I walked into Clean Your Dirty Face I knew I had made the right choice. Not only was the interior decorated with bright colors and funky lights, but the estheticians greeted me with smiling faces and lots of information. Before I got my facial, they handed me a form with questions regarding my skin type, current skincare routine, caffeine intake, stress level, and many more. The document was easy to understand and quick to fill out. They then handed me a brochure about their 30-minute facial (the type of appointment I had booked), which outlined the different products they would use for my facial. As soon as my appointment began, they walked me through each step in regards to my facial as well as explaining the products they were using.
I honestly had no idea what to expect. My facial began with a cleanser as well as a misting on my face to keep it hydrated. One moment I was sitting on a chair and the next moment it was like my face was in a cloud. Once the esthetician turned off the misting device, she proceeded to apply a pumpkin resurfacing mask to my face, which deep cleans and refreshes the skin. She then put on patches under my eyes which helps brighten and get rid of dark circles. Before she applied the rose toner and facial oil, she used a tool called an Ice Queen to massage my face. One thing I did know before was that applying something cold on your face can help reduce inflammation as well as increase circulation. This was my favorite part of the whole experience; it was so nice to get a facial massage and I could really feel how much less puffy my face was becoming. I was so relaxed and I’m not ashamed to say that I almost drifted off a couple times!
When the facial ended, my face was glowing and my skin looked healthy and rosy. My skin tends to be on the dry side, so it was definitely a difference to see how a facial affected it. I had never been exposed to the products that the esthetician used, so I really appreciated how she explained each product to me as she put it on my face. I loved how everyone was so informed and aware of the company’s products and processes, and it truly made it a much more comfortable experience.
A few days after I got the facial, I was very surprised to see that my face wasn’t breaking out in acne at all. I honestly was expecting my face to have a negative reaction because past experiences have shown me that new products almost never work on my skin. However, I was very impressed with how good my skin looked and felt, even a few days after the appointment.
I couldn’t recommend Clean Your Dirty face enough. I had such a positive experience and I love their company mission and values. Their products are good quality and natural, so it did wonders on my sensitive skin. I can’t believe I went 19 whole years without ever getting a facial! I will definitely be back and I can’t wait to book my next appointment!