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By Barbara Penny Angelakis
Erno Laszlo
212-872-8858 or ernolaszlo@netzero.net
www.ernolaszlo.com
The unprecedented explosion of luxurious spa facilities in world-class hotels and resorts has temporarily overshadowed the more modest, but no less effective, health and beauty treatments that have been, and will continue to be, available by licensed professional estheticians and massage therapists in product-specific salons. The prospect of re-experiencing such a treatment led me to the Erno Laszlo alcove on the Beauty Level of Bergdorf Goodman’s, an über-lux department store on Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets in New York City.
The lower level of the store is dedicated solely to beauty, where only the finest international cosmetic products are represented. Tucked away in a corner amongst the glittering booths for Dior, Chanel, Guerlain, La Prairie, ReVive, Lancôme, and many other new beauty, as well as tried and true luxury products, is the Erno Laszlo section.
An appointment reservation is de rigueur in order to get the full benefits of what appears to be one of the best deals around town. On arrival I was invited to complete a questionnaire detailing my specific complexion concerns and my responses helped Cindy Lee, Erno Laszlo’s highly trained skin care specialist select the products that would be best suited for my skin from their extensive line of almost six dozen products. The product selection was discussed with the esthetician that was to perform my facial and I was ushered into a rather small treatment room just to the side of the display counter. The room was by no means spacious and was just barely sufficient to perform the facial. Asi Saridis was the European –old world - trained esthetician that performed the 60 minute facial in a professional and confident manner… and what a pleasurable experience it was. Each of the various facial types that are offered include the “Laszlo Lift”, an electronic facial stimulation that prolongs and enhances the benefits of the recommended daily beauty ritual, as well as a productive massage that reduces tension and stress and brings the skin into perfect balance. The products selected and the condition of your skin, determine the type of facial performed, i.e. Anti Aging, Deep Hydration, Deep Poor Cleaning, or Anti-Acne.
Afterwards, you are invited to purchase the products that were used during your facial and you are provided with a daily regimen that will insure that you maintain the beneficial effects of the treatment. It is recommended that you return seasonally or when your products are used to renew the procedure… and here’s the deal I was talking about. With each purchase of $175 to $200, you receive a complimentary full 60 minute facial! So for what you would normally pay for a facial alone you also take home some of the best skin products available and in generous portions that will last anywhere from three to five months, depending on the product.
For those readers not familiar with Erno Laszlo and the extraordinary story of his influence on modern dermatology and cosmetology, pick up a copy of the Angel of Beauty: The Story of Dr. Erno Laszlo by Diana Lewis Jewell, it is a fascinating read. Erno Laszlo studied skin pathology and disease at the Royal Hungarian Elisabeth University of Medical Sciences in Budapest, Hungary before the turn of the 19^th century. At that time there was scant knowledge of skin care or help available for troubled skin. Dr. Laszlo is credited with pioneering in the field of cosmetic science, classifying major skin types, and developing products to balance and beautify the skin. In his long and illustrious career he treated the most famous and infamous women and men in the world. European Royalty, Heads of State, renowned actors and actresses - the list reads like a who’s who of the rich and famous - all followed Dr. Laszlo’s strict regiment or he refused to treat them further. Today his treatments and products are available on the open market and the product development continues under the guidelines developed by Dr. Laszlo and his philosophy of creating beauty through a healthy and nurtured complexion.
© March 2009 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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