Disclosure: My visits to FACE FOUNDRIÉ and THE NOW Massage in El Dorado Hills were hosted. As always, all opinions and experiences shared in this post are my own. I only recommend experiences I genuinely enjoy and believe may be hepful to my readers.
There comes a point when self-care starts to look a little different. For me, that shift became even more noticeable after turning 50. I’m less interested in chasing the latest beauty trend and more interested in caring for my skin, slowing down and feeling good in the body I have now. Honestly making time for that kind of self-care feels more important now than ever.
Because I travel frequently, both my skin and my body get put through their paces. Dry airplane cabins, changing climates, long road trip days, different hotel beds, and being out of my normal routine can definitely take a toll.
So when I had the opportunity to experience a facial at FACE FOUNDRIÉ and a massage at THE NOW just down the street from one another, I was more than ready for a little self-care in El Dorado Hills, California.
Start your Self-Care Day at FACE FOUNDRIÉ
📍4359 Town Center Blvd., Suite 113, El Dorado Hills, CA
FACE FOUNDRIÉ is a modern facial bar designed to make professional skincare easier to fit into a busy schedule. The El Dorado Hills location just opened and offers focused facials, advanced treatments, mini facials, skincare consultations, enhancements, and lash and brow services.
I’ve had many facials at various places in the Sacramento area and what makes this experience different is the concept itself. Rather than committing an entire afternoon to a generic facial, you can come in for a targeted treatment based on what your skin needs and then get on with your day. As someone who travels frequently and always seems to have something on my calendar, that appeals to me.
Choosing the Right Facial for my Aging Skin
I appreciated that I didn’t have to walk through the door already knowing exactly which facial I needed because there are a lot of options. I did know what I wanted help with, which was aging skin and fine lines. My aesthetician, Ashley, spent time getting to know my needs and wants and tailored my facial to what I was looking for.
She recommended the Firm AF Facial with red light therapy and proceeded to let me know exactly what it entailed so that I felt comfortable and understood my treatment.
Ashley describes the Firm AF as a peptide facial intended for concerns that include fine lines, texture, and dullness. That sounded like exactly what I was looking for at this stage of life.
When you book your facial, you’ll have the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire so that your esthetician can get to know you, your allergens and your skincare goals.
My Firm AF Facial Experience
I really enjoyed my Firm AF facial. This wasn’t simply a quick mask followed by a few skincare products.
Despite the cheeky name, Firm AF actually stands for “Absolutely Firm”, which is a pretty good description of what happens during this facial.
My aesthetician, Ashley, did an excellent job of explaining each step in the facial. I started off by choosing an essential oil fragrance to incorporate into my experience. It’s a small detail, but between the aroma, massage and facial, I was able to actually relax instead of mentally running through my to-do list.
The treatment includes an intense peptide mask that tightens as it sets. I mean, it became incredibly tight, to the point where I couldn’t move my facial muscles and my face felt temporarily frozen. Ashley warned me about this, and it didn’t hurt; she also made sure I was comfortable and that it wasn’t too tight. She also incorporated a Hungarian facial massage to help tone and lift the appearance of my skin.
My treatment included red LED light therapy, too, to support collagen and to leave my skin looking firmer and more radiant.
For me, the combination of that super-tight mask, massage and red light therapy is what made the Firm AF facial feel very different from a traditional facial.
The Biggest Surprise? I became a FACE FOUNDRIÉ Member
I’ll be completely transparent, this facial was a hosted experience. But, I enjoyed it so much that I signed up for a membership with my own money. There was no obligation to do that. I just knew that this was one of the best facials I have ever received and that I wanted to come back, plus consistency is key in having healthy skin.
One of the biggest reasons the membership appealed to me is the flexibility. I don’t have to get the same facial every month. I can choose a treatment depending on what I’d like to focus on at that particular time.
That makes a lot of sense for me because my skin doesn’t always need the same thing. One month I might want to focus on fine lines and aging, while another month I may be more concerned about hydration or how my skin looks and feels after a busy stretch of travel.
I think becoming a paying member says more about my facial experience than just telling you I enjoyed it. The hosted experience got me through the door, but the experience itself convinced me to come back. Right now, the membership is $99 per month and includes one focused facial plus an enhancement per month, plus 10% off products and additional services.
Next Stop: THE NOW Massage
📍4356 Towne Center Blvd., El Dorado Hills, CA
THE NOW Massage was all about relaxation and releasing the tension in my body. I also loved the fact that I could just walk a few doors down from FACE FOUNDRIÉ in the El Dorado Hills Town Center Shopping Center to get a massage. Honestly, I started relaxing almost as soon as I walked through the door.
One of the first things I noticed is THE NOW’s signature Jasmine Coconut scent. It’s slightly tropical and softly floral without being overpowering. It felt warm and calming and I could immediately feel myself start to decompress.
The relaxing atmosphere continued throughout the space, but one of my favorite sensory details was the sound of ocean waves playing during my massage. There is something about listening to waves roll in and out that helped me slow my breathing, quiet my thoughts and settle into the experience.
A Massage that really felt head-to-toe
My massage therapist, Ronnie, made me feel comfortable right from the start. She made sure the blankets on the table were warm and at the perfect temperature for me. It might sound like a minute detail, but I have been to other massage places where the table was stone cold, and your body can’t relax when it’s not warm.
She also took the time to make sure I was comfortable and checked in a few times to make sure I liked the amount of pressure she was using. That small detail can make a big difference during a massage, especially if you’ve ever spent an entire treatment wishing you’d spoken up about the pressure.
I also loved how comprehensive the massage felt. I’ve had plenty of massages where most of the appointment concentrates on my back and shoulders. This experience felt much more head to toe.
My massage therapist asked where I would like focused attention, and that was definitely where I carry most of my stress in my back and shoulders, but she also made sure to also give attention to my head, neck, hands, feet and everything in between so that my whole body felt relaxed.
Why a THE NOW Massage and a FACE FOUNDRIÉ Facial work really well together?
Experiencing both businesses that are just down the street from one another made me realize how nicely they complement each other for my well needed self-care day in El Dorado Hills.
FACE FOUNDRIÉ gave me the opportunity to focus on my skin and the concerns that come with aging and frequent travel. THE NOW Massage gave me a chance to stop moving for a while and give the rest of my body some attention.
Self-care doesn’t necessarily need to mean an elaborate spa weekend or an entire day away from everything. Sometime its just about making room in your schedule to take care of yourself. I made sure to schedule my facial and massage back-to-back, so it took less than 2.5 hours.
A facial. A massage and a couple of hours when nobody needs anything from you felt absolutely wonderful.
Self-Care Day in El Dorado Hills FAQ
Do you need to know which facial you want ahead of time?
I recommend figuring out what your skincare goals are and talking over your options with your esthetician like I did. I knew that I wanted to focus on aging skin and fine lines and after discussing my concerns with Ashley, we decided that the Firm AF facial with red light therapy would be best to address those concerns.
Is FACE FOUNDRIÉ good for mature skin?
As a woman over 50, I had a very positive experience. I particularly appreciated being able to discuss my concerns and having the facial tailored to my needs.
Everyone’s skin is different, so I’d recommend talking with your esthetician about your individual skincare goals rather than choosing a facial solely based on age.
Does FACE FOUNDRIÉ have a membership?
Yes, and I became a member after my hosted facial.
What appealed to me was the ability to choose different treatments depending on what I want to focus on each month rather than automatically repeating the same facial.
What was THE NOW Massage in El Dorado Hills like?
My experience was relaxing from the moment I walked in. I loved the Jasmine Coconut scent, calming decor, ocean-wave sounds and especially how comprehensive my massage felt.
One thing I really appreciated was how attentive my therapist was throughout the massage. She checked in with me several times to make sure the pressure felt just right and took her time working on each area, which made the whole experience feel thoughtful, personalized and incredibly relaxing.
Final Thoughts on my Self-Care Day in EL Dorado Hills
The more I travel, the more I’ve realized that taking care of myself between adventures matters too.
My time at FACE FOUNDRIÉ for a facial and THE NOW for a massage in El Dorado Hills, just 30 minutes from Sacramento, worked beautifully together to put me into full relaxation mode.
If you’re anything like me and busy planning your next getaway, prioritizing taking care of everyone else and putting yourself at the bottom of your own list, maybe it’s time to plan a little local escape for yourself?
