Black Book
An Insider’s Guide to the Best Facials in Paris
On a Tuesday afternoon in June, the French designer Alexandra Golovanoff apologizes for her appearance. She just got caught in the rain, and she barely slept a wink last night, she says. The lack of sleep is what prompted the former fashion journalist to reach for a brick red sweater—in featherweight Italian cashmere— from her eponymous knitwear line. “The color works a bit like bronzer would,” she says of the subtle boost that the right shade has on skin. “It gives my face a little tan.”
Today, Golovanoff is proof of concept that good skin makes a little makeup go a long way, with only a touch of Lit Up Highlight Stick in Nectar on her cheekbones and tear ducts, and a single swipe of Lip Suede in Je Rêve. “For me, skincare is like brushing your teeth — mandatory,” she says. She begins her mornings in front of the mirror (cold water, hyaluronic acid, anything made by French alchemist Herve Herau) and keeps her circulation going with exercise (yoga at Bandha Yoga), clean food (organic, vegetarian) and (usually) great sleep. “It’s not realistic to just think about what you put on your skin,” she says.
No holistic skincare regimen is complete without the help of a trusted facialist or two or, in Golovanoff’s case, four. “I strongly believe in the power of face massage,” she says of the muscle lifting technique, which she does at least once a month. “You feel and look different afterwards,” she says emphatically. “I feel healthy when I see myself looking healthy in the mirror.” Here, her favorite spots in Paris for a facial.
Barbara Sand
“Barbara is quite confidential, and works out of a small office with no sign, on one of the best streets in Paris,” says Golovanoff. To sculpt and lift the facial muscles, Sand melds aspects of Ayurvedic, Swedish, and Japanese massage into one transformative treatment that is tailored to each client.
Le Boudoir Beauté 21, rue de Marignan, 75008
Jane de Busset
For a traditional deep cleansing treatment that will leave you feeling “so clean and so fresh,” says Golovanoff, look no farther than Jane de Busset. The facialist’s arsenal includes high-frequency microcurrent along with customized masks and extractions. Golovanoff’s preferred treatment offers ozone steam to deliver a gentle peel. “I think of it like my spring cleaning.”
MO by Faucheur Paris
Founded by Aline Faucheur and run by her two daughters, Margot and Othilie, this insider spa is centered around the art of Kobido facial massage. The ancient Eastern technique uses the hands as tools to apply deep, invigorating movements that target the lymphatic system as they sculpt the facial muscles.
Mo by Facheur, 41 Rue Bayen 75017
Martine de Richeville
Known for shaping the body and refining the silhouette with her “Remodeling” technique, Martine de Richeville also offers face sculpting upon request. Treatments begin with a technique that releases the muscles from the trapezius to the skull, then moves on to a deep facial massage that restores tone and circulation. “It’s not always soft, but it makes you feel and look different,” says Golovanoff.
Tata Harper at Le Bristol Paris
Golovanoff has only a few tried-and-true products in her daily skin regimen, and Tata Harper’s high-performance natural creams are amongst them. At Le Bristol Paris, the spa menu features five exclusive treatments curated by the eco-conscious brand, with modalities from facial cupping to energetic massage and stress-reducing breathwork. Bonus: Decompress by the hotel’s charming rooftop pool and sun deck at your leisure.
Le Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, 75008
