I Got One of the Most Niche Beauty Treatments in NYC—Here's Exactly What Happened

My career as a beauty editor often places me in unique settings with talented individuals who inspire me to reevaluate how I approach self-care. While it's true that I spend the bulk of my workdays experimenting with beauty products before dedicating the rest of my time to researching, reviewing, and sharing my results with readers, I always come back to the moments when industry experts responsible for new and innovative treatments only accessible on an IYKYK basis break them down for me.

When I have the opportunity to ask as many questions as possible about a new product, treatment, or method, I commonly have my phone at the ready to take notes and additional questions already brewing in my brain before the last have been answered. During my first couple of months living and working in NYC, I had one such opportunity. I had the pleasure of meeting Jillian Wright, a master aesthetician and educator with over 20 years of experience.

Wright invited me to visit her skincare suite in the Bloom Beauty Lounge to receive The Alchemy of Touch, a duo treatment combining her talents with those of her longtime friend and fellow master aesthetician and Reiki/bioenergy healing specialist Samantha Roberts. Wright's official website describes the session as "a true immersion in touch and energetic alignment," before providing additional insight into the two-aesthetician treatment. It begins with a facial customized to each person's skincare needs and concludes with reflexology and frequency balancing.

Below, I'm sharing my biggest takeaways from the experience, plus everything I've learned about it since then directly from Wright and Roberts. Spoiler alert: It's niche, luxurious, and packed with all the good stuff your body and mind need to thrive in the midst of a busy lifestyle.

Developing Something "Off the Menu"

While the easiest way to describe The Alchemy of Touch is "a treatment," I agree with Wright and Roberts that it would be more accurate to think about this as an extremely niche experience. Every single part of it focuses on grounding and aligning the body with energy. Touch plays a notable role in the experience, allowing the strong partnership and silent communication between Wright and Roberts to take center stage. I had the opportunity to catch up with both of them a few weeks later and learn more about what went into its development and what these master aestheticians are up to while you're blissed out.

According to Wright, the idea for the Alchemy of Touch experience is the result of years of friendship with Roberts and is made possible by their synergy and unshakable trust. After Roberts became a licensed masseuse, Wright proposed the idea for a service that would combine the benefits of a custom facial with that of reflexology, chakra balancing, and energy work. "We had enough confidence to know that the experience was going to be amazing, and it was! With everything that's happening in the world and our decreased attention spans with technology, we wanted to bring a rare and unique experience that reflects our relationship and our level of expertise," Wright says.

Rather than leaning into cutting-edge technology, Wright tapped into their unique gifts and the desire to do something special together. "When do you ever have the opportunity to have two master aestheticians working on you at the same time? It's a very special experience," she says. The close collaboration sparked Roberts's interest. "I hadn't seen anything like it before," Roberts explains. "There was nothing like it being offered on skincare menus, and I could do it with Jillian."

When the generous invitation to experience The Alchemy of Touch landed in my inbox, the first thing I wondered was if I would be overstimulated by two experts working on me from head to toe. Little did I know that I would leave a lot lighter than I arrived.

The Customized Facial and Reflexology

At first, Wright's cozy studio space resembled that of many others I had gotten to experience over the course of my beauty career. That was until she pulled back the white sheets and padding of her elevated treatment bed to reveal a chakra-balancing mat infused with PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy) and photon light therapy amplified by 40 pounds of sparkling certified crystals. Wright discovered the mat at a conference and decided to add it to her treatment bed complimentary to provide warmth and a full-body detox. "[PEMF] regulates your frequency with the Earth's frequency, so it's like a digital detox," explains Wright.

Wright uses an all-inclusive facial model, meaning she charges by time and not add-ons. This means that if she brings technology into her space, she incorporates it any way she can within the time someone books with her. However, Roberts gets to work even before you walk through the door. Ahead of your arrival, she selects two crystals that she thinks will most benefit you. After you climb into the treatment bed, she places them on your chest. (Mine were the quartz crystal to promote clarity and healing and pyrite to bring down my high anxiety levels.)

While Wright was giving me the facial of a lifetime, Roberts treated my feet to grounding and relaxing reflexology methods. This part of the treatment can be extended for as long as you'd like during the session, and can be booked accordingly. Wright effortlessly blends more "traditional" facial methods with advanced skin modalities such as LED, facial cupping, microcurrent, cryotherapy, or ultrasonic infusion to restore and balance skin. "There's so many different modalities and a lot we can do over the time someone requests. Why not have what you need?" Roberts adds.

Chakra Balancing and Energy Work

Next, Roberts takes over the treatment and dives into a chakra-balancing session and energy work. Moving from the end of the treatment bed to the top, she delicately places her hands at the back of the client's neck, closes her eyes, and embarks on a journey of energy work and vibrational healing. "I really try to tap into the energy when I put my hands on you and before you come because of the stones and oils I'm going to pick for you," she says. "Everything on the feet is more for relaxation and to feel for any blockages in the lower channel (spleen, bladder, gallbladder, liver, and kidney)."

Once your energy has been brought down, she moves to the top of your head and neck and scans for any blockages and inflammation in the body. Roberts can also identify previously broken bones and digestive issues. If Wright knows the client ahead of the treatment, she doesn't share information with Roberts. Roberts may not even know your name ahead of meeting you on the treatment bed. "I'll tap into the energy before our service. I don't need to know anything about you! When you're tapping into the energy, none of that matters," she explains. The same process goes for when Roberts is selecting your aromatherapy for the treatment.

My Reiki scan revealed four major things about my body's overall wellness:

1. I have leftover inflammation in my right knee from my years spent as a classical ballet dancer.
2. I eat too many cold foods that can lead to digestive issues. It's worth investing in a juicer for fresh celery juicy to help.
3. I have high anxiety levels and can benefit from using Ashwagandha and GABA to help keep them level.
4. My third eye is almost open and needs a little more coaxing to reveal itself.

The Finale

While Roberts is helping identify everything from old injuries to digestive issues, Wright massages your hands and arms. The treatment didn't end there, though. Roberts also has the gift of being a medium. Halfway through my full-body scan, she asked if I was open to speaking to a spirit known to me. It was my paternal grandfather, who had passed away when I was 15 years old. Most of what I had learned about him came from heartwarming conversations with family members. I missed having the opportunity to get to know him in my childhood and adulthood, so having the connection with him in the afterlife made me feel deeply loved.

I should note, however, that Roberts can only do this when she has the energy and channels from her client to do so and therefore depends on the session. However, everything about my treatment from the initial facial from Wright to the heartwarming communication with my grandfather via Roberts made this experience one of the most meaningful I've had. It left me with refreshed skin, a full heart, and an appreciation for the art that this powerful duo has mastered: a renewal of the soul and body through touch.

The Alchemy of Touch is a service that's only bookable via text, phone call, or email. You can also book services with Wright and Roberts on their own at the Bloom Beauty Lounge.

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