Last month, to celebrate the grand opening of her new spa in NoMad, I interviewed Josie Bisetti, asking her 38 rapid-fire questions about her skin philosophy. This week, I put her to the test as I experienced one of her signature 75-minute facial treatments, and let me tell you, she passed with flying colors. I relaxed, I learned, and I left with cleaner skin, a firmer face, and a confidence boost—or, as Bisetti put it, with my ”best face forward.” Bisetti truly masters all things skin, from education to problem-solving and maintenance.
Ambiance: Spiritual, but Make It Chic
The spa, SKIN PEACE by Josie B, is located on 26th Street in NoMad and gave me Bali vibes — bohemian but polished. Upon arrival, Bisetti greeted me in the chic waiting room, made me a matcha tea, and escorted me to the studio. It is an intimate and stylish space with earthy and dark tones and a lot of texture. The treatment room is bright with a view of the skyscrapers around us — a display case with crystals stands on the window sill. “The crystals recharge here in the sun,” Bisetti said smilingly. “I will place them on you to clean your chakras later.”
I was a few minutes early, so we chatted for a bit, and I took a look at the new Jamie Kole Jewelry for sale in the retail area, along with other products and tools. Then, for privacy, Bisetti drew the heavy curtains, and I disrobed, placed my jewelry in a ceramic bowl (cute touch!), put on a soft spa dress, and lay down underneath the covers of the treatment bed that was made with what felt like the softest and cleanest cotton sheets. The attention to detail that is present in the space makes me feel secure in Bisetti’s hands.
During the Treatment: Relaxed and Informative
Bisetti followed my lead. When I wanted to chat, she was chatty. When I relaxed, she worked silently. And throughout the treatment, there were several moments of guided breathing to support the lymphatic massage and drainage but also to allow me to turn inward, to recenter and rebalance. Bisetti began by asking me about my skincare routine while taking a proper look at my skin and paying ample attention to what I was saying. This is a great opportunity to discuss products.
I am pretty basic. I use an exfoliator, a polish, a moisturizer, and every other week a charcoal and moisturizing mask — but my skin has been acting out lately and was dry, so Bisetti and I talked through some products that might get me back on track. We honed in on an AHA toner, which I wanted to try, so she used it on me during the treatment (I loved it and bought it), and she suggested that I use Vitamin C serum (which I remembered that I had at home) to decrease some sun spots. My facial was all about cleansing (with some great, very needed extraction), hydrating, as well as Bisetti’s signature massage and drainage techniques, and Bisetti, who tries all her products first, told me all about the osmosis medical grade Swiss (Margy’s) and French (Codage, vegan and uses biotechnology) products she used.
SKIN PEACE Special Lymphatic Drainage and Sculpting
The lymphatic drainage and sculpting were a true revelation. I have a gua-sha at home and do some face yoga from time to time. These activities paled in comparison to Bisetti’s fast and varied hand-work. Relaxing some muscles while activating others (sculpting) and manipulating lymph nodes (drainage) through a combination of various massage techniques. Bisetti has developed a bespoke technique of sculpting (which she also teaches to other aestheticians) that centers on “plumping,” allowing the face to fill out to decrease wrinkles and lift rather than sag and drainage. I have smile lines and a furrowed brow, and the sculpting allowed me to calm some of the muscles that are creating these creases. (Her lead massage therapist, Barbara Aaron, does full massage with the same technique for body toning!)
I am now 10 hours out of the facial, and those retrained muscles are still working. However, Bisetti also said that I have these lines “because you are an intellectual, a thinker.” And, since I can’t seem to prioritize injections (a rare bottle of wine, a vacation, and, more recently, horseback riding lessons, have been more appealing). And actually being a writer, I appreciated that sound bite greatly.
Ready for Take-off in the Hyperbaric Chamber
The most transcendental part of the facial was hands down the Hyperbaric Chamber, I felt like I was in a space-ship on my way to a galaxy where Zen practices were the norm. Bisetti slathered Codage’s Micro-Peeling Mask on me, which tingled a little (assurance that it was really working), put a pad over my eyes, and placed a bowl-shaped instrument on top of my face, creating a chamber. The chamber provides purified oxygen and anion to cleanse pores, heal damaged skin cells, detoxify, rebalance PH, and promote blood circulation, among other things. While I was in this oxygen-fueled chamber, skin rejuvenating to the max, Bisetti placed crystals on me and began with her sound bath using a singing bowl, chimes, and a tuning fork — it was incredible.
Overall, I give Bisetti’s signature 75-min facial a 10 out 10 of rating. And, the secret sauce is most definitely her massage techniques and incorporation of sound and crystal work — book an appointment with her and tell your aesthetician friends to take her workshops. She’s onto something.
