There’s no shortage of workout classes, experimental facials, and rejuvenating treatments—but which buzzy appointments are worth your time and money? Welcome to “Book It,” where we do the legwork for you, testing the latest and greatest wellness and beauty treatments, so you know what deserves a spot on your calendar.
When my skin is beyond just dry—downright parched—I like to indulge in a professional treatment to speed up my recovery. My most recent appointment? La Prairie’s ultra-nourishing facial at the St. Regis in Aspen, where the limits of skin hydration are tested against the frigid temperatures and the 8,000-foot elevation. (Name a more drying combination!) The luxury Swiss skincare brand partnered with the Aspen hotel to create the best remedies for dry winter skin in the form of three lavish facials, and I was lucky enough to try the most luxurious treatment on the menu, the Lift and Contour Glass Skin facial, which was centered on the brand’s new White Caviar Light Concentrate serum. Better yet: I tested the treatment before a full day on the slopes, where my skin was in its driest and most lackluster state. Ahead, my thoughts on the $850 treatment and whether my skin survived the icy slopes.
What is La Prairie’s Lift and Contour Glass Skin Facial?
My biggest travel hack is getting a spa treatment upon landing. While this may be the height of luxury, it makes all the difference in keeping skin hydrated and happy for days. The moment I stepped into the St. Regis Aspen after an almost 12-hour travel day, I made a beeline for the spa. The spa itself has a bevy of rejuvenating treatments, like an oxygen bar to help with altitude sickness, so I knew I was already off to a strong start upon entering. I was there for a 90-minute version of La Prairie’s Lift and Contour Glass Skin Facial. The treatment had all the hallmarks of a divine La Prairie facial: massage, a mix of nourishing and hydrating masks, and high-tech devices.
The facial utilizes two of the brand’s most luxurious lines, the White Caviar and Pure Gold collections, featuring the brand’s new White Caviar Light Concentrate, which is designed to brighten, smooth, and firm skin. My aesthetician, Ashley, started by double cleansing my skin with a balm and foam cleanser from the White Caviar line. I love how silky both cleansers were. My skin felt clean but not tight or overstripped. After the extractions, Ashley applied two masks. The second mask was a vehicle for a heavenly facial massage that combined hand massage, ice globes, and a small metal tool to massage around the eye and promote lymphatic drainage.
What truly set this facial apart from others I received (and made it Aspen-friendly) was the oxygen portion of the treatment. For about 10 minutes, Ashley sprayed my face, neck, and décolletage with an oxygen machine, which helps cleanse skin, promote cell turnover, and breathe life back into lackluster skin. The oxygen machine gave my skin a next-level glow and, combined with the brand’s new White Caviar Light Concentrate, made my skin look radiant for days.
La Prairie White Caviar Light Concentrate
How I Tested the Facial’s Effects
What better way to test the cold-weather-proof facial than on the icy slopes? I went skiing the next morning, when it was a crisp 22 degrees, according to the Weather App. I applied a few key La Prairie products before sunscreen (yes, you still need SPF in the winter), including a lightweight layer of the White Caviar Light Concentrate and the cushiony Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. Even through all of the wind, snow, and frigid temps (on top of skiing at a high elevation, which tends to dehydrate complexions), my skin felt bouncy and hydrated after hours on the mountain.
Verdict
While this facial does cost a pretty penny ($850, to be exact), the result speaks for itself. I not only spent a day skiing, but I also took three flights in the days following my Aspen trip, and my skin was able to withstand the dry plane air and varying climates. If you can’t get to Aspen for the facial, incorporating the La Prairie products into your routine at home is the next best thing.
