Lately, there seems to be an abundance of new skincare products that contain some precious ingredient—gold, pearls, caviar—and promise revolutionary results. I’ve tried a few of these potions (twist my argan-oiled arm), with results that rarely justify their extravagant price tags. ¶ It was only a matter of time before the same ingredients began cropping up in spa treatments. At the Ivy Spa Club in Minneapolis, the new Diamond Radiance Facial—touted as “nature’s face lift”—uses diamond particles to promote firming, lifting, and radiance. At $200 per treatment, it had better. ¶ I have a few questions for Brooke, my esthetician: Can I see the diamonds? Feel them? More important: How many carats are we talking about? All I need to know, she says, is that thousands of undetectable diamond particles will absorb and attach to the basal layer of my skin, where they’ll (temporarily) create a lit-from-within glow. It’s a gentle, noninvasive process, even for my sensitive complexion. ¶ Brooke gets to work, cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating my face. Of the facial’s eleven—yes, eleven—steps, six include products that contain diamonds. Between applications of masques, serums, and concentrates, she treats me to a head, neck, and arm massage (another bonus of a luxury facial). ¶ After more than an hour of pampering, I’m relaxed and refreshed. It’s not until I leave the dimly lit treatment room that I see my face. It’s radiant—almost dewy. I’ve had enough facials to know that this golden glow isn’t just me. Brooke recommends the treatment every two to three weeks to help maintain the effect. Three days later, when my face has lost its luster, I’m almost considering it. If only diamonds grew on trees.
WHAT: Diamond Radiance Facial
WHERE: Ivy Spa Club, 201 11th St. S., Minneapolis, 612-343-3131
TIME: 75 minutes
PRICE: $200
