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A charming European-inspired three flat in the Gold Coast hosts Mireille's Studio, the skin-saving destination owned by Mireille (pronounced meer-I-ay) Hamon. Hamon hails from France and embodies the European ideal of easy-beauty. An expert esthetician who divides her time between her eponymous skin care spa and Harpo Studios, where she serves as the makeup artist of choice for Oprah Show guests, Mireille's Studio offers first-rate Facials, Waxing, Microdermabrasion, Brow Shaping, Makeup Artistry and more. For those who haven't previously heard of Mireille's Studio, despite the fact that Hamon and her stellar staff have been solving the skin care woes of discerning Chicagoans since 2003, you're not alone. Tucked in the top floor of 49 East Oak, in a deceptively residential looking suite, Mireille's Studio is the type of place that thrives on referrals... one friend whispering to another the secret behind her newly stunning complexion. That is, until now. Upon entering the studio and meeting Hamon herself, I was offered coffee or tea as well as a quick tour of the space. Intimate in size; Mireille's Studio houses just two treatment rooms and a quaint, sun-filled lobby. The restroom boasts high ceiling windows and exposed brick while the two treatment rooms exude serenity. Ready to revive my dull skin, I booked a Full Facial, plus Microdermabrasion for the face and neck and Eyelash Tinting. Never having had microdermabrasion before, I benefited from the expertise of one of Mireille's Studio estheticians as she guided me through the process. I was surprised to discover that the microdermabrasion process, in which a hand-held suctioning tip is used to remove the uppermost, dead layers of skin, was relatively gentle. After the esthetician demonstrated on my hand how microderabrasion would feel, and how smooth my skin would be afterward, I was eager to get started. The esthetician explained that Mireille's Studio is one of a few Chicago spas that use natural baking soda crystals instead of aluminium oxide crystals during microdermabrasion. That's a crucial differentiator according to the experts at Mireille's Studio; they maintain that baking soda crystals are gentler to the skin than the aluminium oxide crystals that are used elsewhere. Following the microdermabrasion itself, the "Full Facial" began. This facial is a skin-rejuvenating service that includes an intense exfoliation stage, followed by a steam-cleaning, Dermalogica hydrating treatment, extractions, a hand paraffin treatment and a massage. The esthetician gently applied a Dermalogica cooling cream to my face and set up a warm steam machine to work on opening my pores. While my skin was treated my hands were pampered as well, thanks to a luscious Hand Paraffin Wax. The wax was the ideal temperature and the relaxing scent of peach and vanilla rewarded my senses. Finally, thorough extractions banished blackheads and other clogged pores from my complexion before the esthetician served up a muscle-melting shoulder, neck and back massage. Then the esthetician applied a nourishing Dermalogica Vitamin C treatment to my face, draped a cool towel over my eyes and left me to relax for a few minutes as she prepared for my next service, Eyelash Tinting. Eyelash Tinting takes about 15 minutes, with end results (a mascara free existence!) lasting 4 to 6 weeks. The studio uses Pialan tinting products, which are imported from Austria and promise quick, natural-looking tinting. From a myriad of colors, I chose to have my eyelashes dyed blue, yes, blue when I was assured that the deep tone would not look unnatural and would provide a sense of depth and thickness to my lashes in addition to darkening them. My esthetician applied the Pialan dye to my lashes while I closed my eyes. After the incredibly short processing time of only seven to eight minutes, my lashes had undergone a complete transformation. While Hamon and her top-notch staff have been credited with beautifying both A-list celebs and Oprah Show guests, the studio's real claim to fame is in perfecting the complexions of Chicago's cognoscenti. Those in-the-know flock to this intimate skin care oasis to book everything from artistic Brow Shaping to model-perfect Makeovers to skin-saving services that include Facials, Microdermabrasion and Oxygen treatments. Best of all, the secret's out. Click here for Spa/Salon prices, services, hours and more.
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