I was recently invited to sample the aesthetic services at Doll Face Spa on Sheppard Avenue West and opted to try their Anti-Aging Facial. I sat briefly in the welcoming waiting room before Florence, my esthetician, ushered me into a private treatment room and left me alone to change into a spa robe. I immediately noticed the serenity of the room magnified by the lovely, calming music in the background.
Doll Face Spa is located in a converted house in a residential area two blocks west of Yonge Street. They offer manicures, pedicures, facials, eyelash extensions, waxing, make-up applications, facial aesthetics and Venus Freeze. They have been at their current location for about two years and were previously about 20 houses west on Sheppard. I love the fact that there was ample parking at the back of the spa so I didn’t have to bother about parking on neighbouring streets.
Once Florence returned, I lay down on the treatment bed and she examined my face for areas of concern. I have rosacea and blackheads on my nose, so Florence chose products that would not aggravate my sensitive skin. Doll Face Spa uses only Dermalogica skincare products. She began to cleanse my face with a gentle foaming cleanser and then applied an exfoliator with papaya enzymes. Once my face was clean, she applied steam to my face to open my pores. While my face was being steamed, Florence gave me a superb neck and shoulder massage, which included pressing on acupressure points. Because she said she is quite strong, she checked in with me frequently to ensure that she was not applying too much pressure. I was feeling very relaxed!
Now it was time for extractions, which Florence jokingly referred to as the “torture” part. Florence spent a good 20 minutes extracting pores on my forehead and nose, frequently asking me whether it hurt and no, it wasn’t painful. After the extractions, Florence applied an Ultra Calming Mist solution to close my pores. She then massaged my face in order to increase my skin’s collagen level, then applied a facial mask with multivitamins. She left the mask on for about 10 minutes, then returned to remove it. She then applied an age-defying serum and multi-vitamin moisturizer, providing my skin with rich antioxidants.
Florence told me that many of her customers come from the local neighbourhood and enjoy the fact that they can get their nails done in a homey place. Instead of the dozen or so chairs you’ll find at some nail salons, there are only two pedicure chairs at Doll Face Spa, which ensures a private and intimate spa experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Anti-Aging Facial with Florence, who made me feel very relaxed and comfortable and ensured that the experience was enjoyable for me. Later that day, I noticed that my pores were visibly smaller, particularly on my nose, and my skin was extremely supple and smooth.
The Anti-Aging Facial, which I had, lasted about 70 minutes and costs $70. The Hydrating Advanced Facial is $60 for 60 minutes while the Basic Facial is $30 for 30 minutes.
Doll Face Spa is located at 143 Sheppard Avenue West, 647-350-3655. Hours are Tues-Wed 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thurs-Fri 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
You can find them @DollFaceSpa1 on Twitter
Sounds like you had a great spa experience, Lori. The spa looks really cozy. I’d be afraid of the extraction part – not necessarily b/c I fear pain, but b/c of potential scarring.
Hi Grace, Yes, I did have a great spa experience! I understand your fear about scarring from extractions! My aesthetician, Florence, was very careful with my sensitive skin and did not steam it for too long. My nose is looking good now 🙂 Cheers, Lori
Hi ladies,
Thank you so much for your comments! We always love hearing about your experiences and concerns so we can help make your appointments feel as relaxed as possible.
Grace, we completely understand your fear of potential scarring from extractions! Redness and scarring usually results because of damage to deeper layers of the skin. What is most important for prevention is to get the skin moistened and warmed up for the skin to soften. This allows for our aestheticians to use a proper method of extraction.
Each person’s skin is different, so we would have to take a look at your skin profile to determine what best fits you! Come visit or call if you have any questions! 🙂
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