Good Face to You featuring Kristen Bauers Alvarez
Our favorite Philly aesthetician talks skin, shea butter, & self care
Kristen Bauers Alvarez is an experienced aesthetician and owner of Herban Skin Therapy. She provides a personalized, holistic approach to achieving happy skin, complemented by the power of organic, active and non-toxic ingredients.
What brings you joy?
The peace, quiet and stillness of the early morning, with my warm cup of coffee in my hands. It’s the calm before the storm of the unknown day! It’s become such a sacred ritual to me…a time to think and ponder everything and nothing, what I’m grateful for, what I need to work on, maybe get some clarity on something that’s been on my mind, or a time to just zone out and sip away and listen to the birdies. It’s a part of my self care…I love it so much that often I can’t wait to go to bed just so I can wake up to enjoy this moment! Occasionally I have tried to recreate this ritual at bedtime because I am impatient for the morning, but it always backfires on me with the caffeine!
Why is it important to take care of your skin at any age?
Taking care of our skin at any age is just as important as taking care of the rest of our body at any age. The earlier we start, the better! But it’s also never too late to give your skin love and care, it will thank you, and is very receptive to even a little attention! We tend to beat up our skin and subject it to a lot of abuse and criticism when we are young, in the middle, and old! I think we do that because it’s what we can see the most of on ourselves, we are covered in it! But we forget it’s not just our external packaging, it’s our largest organ! Because it’s like the last frontier of our body, it’s manifests a lot of what’s going on inside, and our emotions too, and stress! And it also holds us together, and is the only thing between us on the inside and the environment on the outside, it needs love and nurturing, just like the rest of our body, and less criticism too.
Why is it so important to use organic ingredients?
Our bodies carry a huge burden for us, both through things we choose to expose it to, and things that we have little to no control over. We are bombarded with pesticides, harmful chemicals, and pollution. So when it comes to the things we can choose, why not give our body and skin some extra consideration and less of a burden, and choose organic when we can?
What's your favorite part of working with clients and their skincare?
I love helping put people at ease in their skin and body. A facial is such a great form of self care and being there to provide that really brings me such joy. Every facial is like a journey, and I hope that when each client awakes they feel better then when they arrived. Skin and the issues that affect it, can cause great pain and insecurity, and even depression. I experienced this myself as a teen and even in my twenties when I was struggling with acne and some scarring as a result. So helping my clients feel a bit more comfortable with themselves, and de-stressed and loved, makes me sooo happy!
Words of wisdom for taking care of your face in winter weather.
Don’t be afraid of oils and plant butters!! Especially when going out into the elements to shovel or take a walk woods, give your skin a little barrier protection from the elements with a layer of face oil, or a moisturizing butter like shea or mango.
What are your hopes & inspirations for 2024?
My daughter is about to turn 12. I have loved all of the ages/stages of her life, but this particular age, as she is growing into a young adult, is so precious. And I hope to set a good example for her in self care/love, and that includes taking care of her skin! I am planning to surprise her with her first facial this month when she turns 12! I also want to take some tips from her in crafting the perfect tween facial!