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| - This is a review for the "Enhanced Organic Facial" ($140)
I just moved to Calgary and have been looking for a new place to get my monthly facials. Back home I would get maybe 2 per month and my esthetician was a wonderful Hungarian lady. I had a friend recommend Riverside to me, so I decided to check it out.
The facilities, staff, products were all wonderful, but I want to discuss the actual facial process here. So upon entering the room and getting ready, my esthetician informed me that she was going to include a hand/arm massage and a scalp/neck massage. I would really rather not waste the time allotted on massages because I am not paying for a massage. I politely asked her to skip the massage and focus on the actual facial. She obliged kindly. Great.
Everything seemed ok, she slathered on various wonderful smelling products and talked to me about life. The extraction time came and she literally did extractions on my face for about 3 minutes. After she had finished, I felt my face and had to point out areas that she neglected to extract. I really am not an expert esthetician, but I don't like having to ensure quality control on my own facial. She took care of the areas that I pointed out and finished up the facial with more great products.
I used to live in a place where there is a lot of competition between spas, and as a result, only the best spas survive. I understand that Calgary's standard of service may not be as excellent as what I am used to. I get it, it's okay. But for $140 to get a facial where the extraction phase is less than 5 minutes is ridiculous to me. I can use various products myself but I cannot perform certain facial aspects on myself without damaging my skin, hence the need for a esthetician. I did not feel confident in this estheticians ability to do a great facial. I also did not like the "massage to take up time" tactic. None of this is malicious, of course, but this spa should step up its game for the price point.
I will come back here, but only purchase the "signature facial" and save myself $25.
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