The facial for the day before something

Most skin treatments ask you to plan around them. A HydraFacial does not: there is no peeling to wait out, any redness fades quickly, and the skin looks brighter as soon as you sit up. That makes it a natural booking ahead of a dinner, a family photo or an evening at Caramoor, the music festival held each year just east of Katonah. The one thing to skip is a hard workout for the rest of the day.

Getting here is the easy part. Bellava is on Route 117 Bypass Road in Bedford Hills; from the middle of Katonah you take Bedford Road south and join Route 117, a drive of about three minutes without traffic.

Three steps, one device

A HydraFacial uses a vacuum tip and a series of serums to do several jobs at once:

Cleanse and peel. Suction clears out the pores while a mild alpha and beta hydroxy acid peel loosens dead skin cells.
Extract and hydrate. Blackheads and other impurities are drawn out by the device rather than by metal tools, and hyaluronic acid serums replenish moisture.
Fuse and protect. Antioxidants and peptides are worked in to protect the skin, with LED light along the way. A moisturizer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen finish the treatment.

The whole visit takes 30 to 60 minutes. You feel mild suction and pressure, not pain.

Who gives it

Bellava’s HydraFacials are given by its licensed medical estheticians, Semira Crecco-Donnelly and Natalina McEwan, who between them have more than three decades in medical aesthetics. Each treatment starts with a look at your skin and what you want from it, and the serums are chosen to match: congestion and acne, dryness, discoloration or early signs of aging.

What it helps with

Clogged pores and breakouts
Dull, dehydrated or tired-looking skin
Fine lines and uneven pigmentation
Rough texture from a build-up of dead cells

It is suitable for all skin types, and for men as well as women.

Keeping the glow

The benefits build with repeat treatments, and clinicians usually suggest a HydraFacial every four to six weeks. If you plan to come regularly, ask about Bellava’s membership.

Questions from Katonah

HydraFacial or a chemical peel? A traditional peel can mean several days of recovery; a HydraFacial is gentler and needs none. For acne scars or deeper texture, microneedling, which rebuilds collagen, may be the better tool.

Will my skin be tender? You may feel mild tenderness, like a light sunburn, for a few hours afterwards. Most people go straight back to their day.

Can I book it online? Yes. Press Book Now to pick an appointment.

HydraFacial for Katonah, NY