As soon as I heard about the Carbon Laser Peel, the so-called “Hollywood Facial” and the latest beauty fad to grace Kim Kardashian’s Instagram, I was skeptical. The more research I did, the more flashbacks I had to a horrible Instagram-advertised mistake my boyfriend actually purchased and then we both tried together. This “charcoal facial” was truly just black-dyed super glue that left him missing half an eyebrow and both of us with puffy, pink skin that was sensitive for the next week.
But the more I heard about it, the more this seemed like something I wanted to try. I’d always been curious about laser treatments, or a chemical peel or the PRP known as the Vampire Facial.
After doing a bit of research, I settled on visiting Aesthetic Allure in Brooklyn. I’ve found that the further away from Manhattan you get for things like this the better, and Esthetician Aksana Bezrucenkova and her team of professionals came very highly recommended. I made an appointment and a plan to spend the rest of the day exploring this kitschy, historic, and truly inimitable area of the city known as Coney Island.
I was greeted warmly upon entering and after filling out a brief form regarding my skin condition and just the surface of my health history, I was introduced to Aksana, an absolutely stunning woman with perfect skin and, I couldn’t help but notice, expertly shaped eyebrows. I had a feeling there was a lot she could teach me, but we’d start with the facial.
I was taken into a small, comfortable room and had my face cleaned of the minimal summer beauty routine I’d promised myself (as always) that I’d carry into winter but never do. Aksana then let me know she’d be applying the treatment, a dark, black carbon-based substance that activates and attaches to the dirt and impurities in your pores. She let that set for 10 minutes, covering me with a light blanket (that was somehow comforting despite the heatwave) before turning down the lights and leaving the room.
When she returned, she let me know she’d begin with the laser treatment. I immediately tensed. She explained that this wouldn’t hurt, and that my recovery would be almost instant. She began to methodically pass over my face, zapping off the black layer and thus all of my facial sins one zap at a time. The pop of laser felt like a light, warm prick. There was a slightly discomforting smell, that I was promised and quickly convinced wasn’t burning skin but simply the carbon burning- it smelled like a familiar summer cookout.
After about 5 minutes, the treatment was over and she applied a very light moisturizer with SPF. I asked her about sun sensitivity, knowing I was about to go ride every single ride at the theme park just a few blocks away, and she let me know I was totally fine to simply keep up my normal sun care regimen.
I looked in the mirror and saw my skin, minus the discernible pores and summer-induced blackheads. I looked fresh-faced but not overly sensitive. I looked radiant, healthy, and when I opened my mouth, a little cheeky.
And as I was hurled through the air on the Sling Shot just moments later, I couldn’t tell if it was my beautiful face or my inability to tell which way the horizon line settled upon the shore that made me scream louder.
Aesthetic Allure is located at 2084 Homecrest Ave, Brooklyn NY 11229.
Make your appointment here for a Carbon Laser Peel, a less-invasive way to zap impurities and leave skin refreshed, rejuvenated, and truly ready to take on whatever comes next.
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