Promoting Fresh Faces, Healthy Skin—

Irish Aesthetician Celebrating St Patty’s Day

By John Voket

As a young and fair-skinned lass in Ireland, Amanda Brixius enjoyed regular beauty treatments so much that she developed a lifelong dream of opening her own salon. And while many of the true and honorary Irish will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a pint and plate of corned beef this weekend, Newtown’s newest esthetician will be pampering her clients with soothing creams and skin enhancing treatments.

Ms Brixius recently realized her childhood dream by opening a modest skin care studio at Indulgence — The Un Spa at 43 South Main Street, which is owned and operated by Jean Watkins. Preparing to offer the area’s only “true European facial,” the youthful Irish beauty professional is already hard at work calling upon a broad background of related experience that began more than two decades ago as a beauty school graduate of the City and Guilds of London Institute in Londonderry.

Despite the fact that her exploration of other careers brought her halfway around the globe, working in catering, antique restoration, real estate, and as a nanny in locations from Spain to Greece to Italy, France, and Bermuda, she eventually settled in Fairfield County and redirected her energies to reestablishing her dream career.

“In January, I graduated from the American Academy of Cosmetology in Danbury,” Ms Brixius told The Bee in between treatments at The Un Spa one recent afternoon. “I not only received my certification and license to practice my trade, but also enjoyed the academy’s excellent instruction with a lot of hands-on experience.”

The aesthetician said early on in her career, her European training and work included “beauty therapy and lots of hair dressing experience in Ireland.” But throughout her varied work experience, she carried the thought of returning to the field.

“I never stopped keeping abreast of the skin care and beauty industries,” she said. “And wherever I was traveling, I was patronizing beauty salons and spas, getting ideas about how to create the perfect studio of my own.”

The presence of Ms Brixius at Indulgence has helped the business expand its range of services to meet the increasing demands of many area spa clients for something new and unique.

“I am available to provide up to seven treatments every day,” Ms Brixius said.

Unlike spas that have skin care professionals working with multiple clients at the same time, The Un Spa promises Ms Brixuis’ services to be exclusive to each client.

“These clients are spending their money, and they deserve to be pampered and attended to every minute that they are paying for,” Ms Brixius explained. “For whatever reason, some spas will have their aestheticians start clients and leave them in treatments while they move to other rooms and other clients. But for the entire time my clients are with me, I won’t be leaving the room.”

Ms Brixius said her new clients will also appreciate her attention to cleanliness and quality.

“I’m a neat freak,” she said. “But that’s so important in the skin care field.”

According to the beauty professional, clients will notice that she uses as many as seven towels during an hour’s procedure, and they will know they are benefiting from only the industry’s top quality products.

“I use Pevonia brand products exclusively,” Ms Brixius said.

Besides typical treatments familiar to her female clients, the Un Spa aesthetician is offering teen facials geared to the unique skin of younger clients, customized skin care for unique issues, even special treatments for men.

“Men have to deal with unique skin care issues because of their shaving. They get a lot of dry skin and ingrown hairs, so you have to get them accustomed to hydrating and applying a good regular skin care routine,” she said. “Since I got back into the field, my husband gets a facial two times a month. At first he was the biggest skeptic going, but now he’s finding he only has to shave every couple of days because his skin is in such good shape.”

Among her specialty services are clay algae body wraps to alleviate cellulite ($90), revitalizing facials to bring back a youthful glow ($75) and even a “Moor Mud Wrap” to promote skin detoxification ($90). As mentioned, in her local market research Ms Brixius discovered she performs the only real European Facial in the region.

“A lot of spas say they offer a ‘European Facial,’ but the client needs to ask if they will have access to both Galvanic and high frequency treatments. If not, it’s not a true European facial. And coming from Europe, I know what an authentic facial is,” she said. With the appropriate equipment about to arrive, she will branch out into this service among others she is preparing to offer in the coming weeks.

Currently, Ms Brixius is offering a March special of $10 off any facial or body treatment or ten percent off waxing or facial enhancements. She offers gift certificates and is readying unique spring and summer offerings including caviar facials and a special couples “date night,” complete with his and her treatments, a relaxing glass of wine, and chocolate fondue.

“How many times can you go out for dinner and a movie?” she asked. “For about the same price a couple can enjoy a relaxing and health benefiting treatment. And we won’t shuttle them off to separate rooms for most of the evening. More than half of my treatments will be done side-by side.”

Couples “date nights” start at y $145 for the three-hour “Relax” session, which includes a his and hers manicure and pedicure, a 30-minute massage, a custom facial and complimentary Champagne. The nearly four-and-a-half hour “Indulgence” couple’s special features a manicure and pedicure, the custom facial with eye and lip revitalizing treatment (to enhance the kissing experience!), a rejuvenating Moor Mud Wrap, lady’s eyelash tint and gentleman’s eyebrow shape along with the complimentary Champagne and chocolate fondue.

To enjoy the pampering of Amanda Brixius and the Un Spa, stop in at 43 South Main Street or call 426-3555. Hours are Tuesday–Thursday 9 am to 7 pm, Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, and by special appointment.