Page 10 – January 8, 2003               Business                 The Elmhurst  Independent   

Deborah Davis Day Spa Puts On A Happy Face

By Jo Ann Cycon
Staff Writer

ELMHURST -- On a busy Saturday in the rush of the Holiday season, there is nothing
like a visit to a spa, specifically the Deborah Davis Day Spa, located at 131 North
Addison Avenue right here in Elmhurst.

While waiting to meet Davis, several men came in and patiently waited to purchase
gift certificates - a gift any woman would like to find in her Christmas stocking.

Clients leaving the salon looked rejuvenated and relaxed, with glowing complexions
and big smiles; others looked as though they were walking on a cloud. It was clear to
see the hid­den benefits of a day spa. Leaving the stress of a fast­-paced,
multi-tasking world out­side the door, Davis and her staff rejuvenate tense muscles, hydrate and nourish clients from head to toe.

It was also clear there was something here that I needed ... the works!

Although she had spent most of the day working her magic on her clients, Davis
apparently practiced what she preached, because when I first met her, she showed
no signs of stress and her creamy-colored complexion glowed. (Later she told me
that she was not wearing makeup.)

"Have you ever had a facial?" Davis asked. It had been a year since this
‘50-something’ Baby Boomer had a facial. What gave me away, I wondered, my
dark circles under my eyes or my dull complexion? Davis invited me to the "back of
the house" to analyze my skin.

First, she inquired how I was "running" that day - hot or cold? (Any woman more
than fifty years old can appreciate what she's talking about!)  I replied, "Today's a
good day, I'm average." Davis instructed me to lay on the table where she created a
cocoon around me with layers of soft warm coverings.

"Your face is very dry, you really need to hydrate yourself," she said. "I drink at least 8
glasses of water a day," I replied.

"You need that for your body - but your skin is different. Your skin is flaky; your pores
are enlarged and your skin is a little yellow in spots."

Although relaxed, I felt a bit like I was in a confessional. With my eyes closed, I
visualized jars of partially-used creams and bottles of toners that lined my bathroom
shelves, guaranteed to make my face firm, the circles disappear and minimize
fine lines. I confessed to Davis that I was a skin care junkie. She assured me that I
was not alone.

"Many women are just like you, they commit themselves to using a certain
product or products that someone behind a make-up or perfume counter
recommends. Be aware that a product cannot achieve its desired effect if your
skin is not in good condition."

The light bulb went on in my head - this must be the reason why the moisturizing
creams just sit on my face.

"Applying facial make-up makes matters worse. The make-up does not go on
evenly and rubbing anything against the face will only lift dead skin cells." A build-up
of dead cells was inhibiting the effectiveness of my collection of moisturizers and eye
creams. My twice-a-day regimen to ward off aging, firm my face and minimize fine
lines was in serious jeopardy!

Davis suggested a glycolic exfoliation treatment, a specialty of the house and the
latest new treatment in the skin care field. As she applied it with a brush, my face
became warm, like I was blushing. (Not like a hot flash!) Davis asked how warm it
felt on a scale of one to five. It started out as a ‘one’ and never got higher than ’three.’
The treatment lasted thirty minutes. Davis recommends a series of six treatments
for best results.

While the treatment was working, Davis discussed her 21 years experience as
trained and licensed esthetician. She has worked with Dr. Howard Murad, a
board-certified dermatologist, pharmacist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UCLA; and Dr. James Fulton, who has developed skin care products
for some of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world. Dr. Fulton is at the
forefront of new breakthroughs in product development.

Davis is also a CIDESCO Diplomate, the industry's most prestigious
esthetic qualification, representing the highest level of professional
education and experience.

In 1981, Davis opened her first spa in Oak Brook, renting space in the Gazebo Salon.
Then she opened a day spa in Elmhurst, eventually relocating downtown on Addison
Street, its current location.

The salon has five treatment rooms: two rooms are reserved  for facials; another for
full-body hair removal, waxing, electrolysis and permanent make-up; and two are
used for body massages treatments. The spa employs male and female certified
massage therapists, who perform Swedish massage, sport massage, pre-natal
massage, aromatherapy massage, reflexology for hands and feet and hot or
cold stone massage.

“I grew up on a farm where my family raised tobacco. I spent a lot of time outdoors,”
Davis said, preaching the benefits of using sunscreen to prevent sun damage. “
At the time, I did not realize how vulnerable I was to sun exposure because I am fair
skinned. It lead to severe skin damage.”

I told her about an upcoming trip I have planned to Cancun and asked if I needed
to get a base tan.

"A tan is your body's way of  protecting your skin and its DNA," she said."
However, a tan is a by-product of skin damage. It is not a benefit."

"No matter how you apply it, [even using make-up that contains sunscreen], it is
absolutely important to use it," Davis said.

"I carry sunscreen with me in my purse and in my car and apply it as often as possible.

When asked about the level of protection, Davis says that more is not better.
The higher the number, the more chemicals are added and that can cause
a serious skin reaction.

"Use a number 15 and apply it every 90 minutes;" she said.

The next part of the treatment include a facial steaming, opening the "windows of
the face," the pores. Davis then applied a full neck decollete, a lip, hand and elbow
treatment. While a soothing melody played softly in the background, Davis massaged
my arms and hands. She checked my face and decided to include a fruit enzyme
treatment to remove the last traces of dead skin cells.

After the treatment was over, I looked into the mirror and saw a definite
improvement. My skin glowing with a clear and even skin tone. The flakiness,
dullness and color-variation were gone.

When asked about all the acne treatments on the market today, Davis said,"
There are a lot of doctors prescribing medication that can have very serious
side effects. I have had a lot of success treating acne on teenagers as well as adult
clients." Davis recommends a series of therapeutic treatments.

"We have seen dramatic improvement in weeks," she said. Davis works with
dermatologists for clients with stubborn cases.

Davis’ husband, Jeff, Manages the front of the house.

"We are interested in developing clients, not customers," Jeff said.
"Deborah's name is on the front of the building. We are not just performing
a service; we cater to [clients'] needs."

"When a client leaves the facial room, rather than encourage them to buy a product,
I prefer to offer them some samples," Jeff explained further. "I don't want any of our
clients wondering a week later why they bought a product. If they are happy with the
results, they will come back to purchase a full-size [product]." The spa carries three
lines of facial products: Murad; Clinical Formula, developed by Dr. James Fulton;
and the spa's exclusive line of skin care, bath and body products.

Jeff stressed that service is the core of our business. The salon boasts a clientele
not only from Elmhurst, but worldwide. Business has grown from good results and
through referrals. Many of the appointments are booked in duplicate for
established clients accompanied by their friends, who have become
Deborah Davis Spa devotees.

Davis is vigilant in searching out new treatment and methods.

She is part of the network that includes five other day spas in the Chicagoland area.

"Our clients benefit from our combined knowledge and experience," she said.
Davis is looking to expand the consortium to include spas nationwide.

Recently, the spa added a hot cocoa body wrap, billed as a guilt-free indulgence.

"I'm the guinea pig for any treatment that we consider adding to our line of services,"
she said. "Wrapped in hot cocoa, the treatment stimulates and pro­motes hydration
of the skin." Followed by a gentle body brushing with a full-body mask of cocoa and a
body wrap, it's a chocolate lover's dream without the calories!

Davis also offers make-up services, which include permanent make-up, make-up
classes, consultation and wedding day application and color analysis. Special
services include lash tint, brow tint, scalp treatments and ear coning (natural ear
cleaning). She soon plans to offer a line of yeast-free vitamin supplements.

Face the facts, we can't do it alone. I plan to return for follow-up treatments.
Thank you, Deborah Davis, for helping me save face.

For more information, visit www.deborahdavisdayspa.com or call 630-834-4111

Cosmic Cosmetics

By Dale Duda
Family Living Editor

Cleopatra may not have been the first to entice her man with her alluring, dark eyes,
but she surely is the most famous. And when Marc Antony fell for her charms, he
signaled to women of every age that it pays to make themselves irresistible.

There seems to be no limit to the contrivances the fairer sex will employ to create
a face that will launch a thousand ships. Short of cosmetic surgery, the number of
cakes, creams and colors women apply to their faces is nothing short of
mind-boggling. And arriving just in time to complicate the beauty scene even more
are permanent cosmetics.

Women, and men too, now can have colors applied to their faces, scalps and other
body parts in the same way tattoos are done. No more messy eye and lip-liners in
the morning. If your eyebrows are too thin, or if you're balding, you can fill in the sparsity
with permanent strokes drawn to look like tiny hairs. Ugly tattoos can be "covered up"
with skin-toned dye. And the nice thing is, you don't have to go into the city with a
drunken sailor to have it done.

Reputable cosmeticians and some dermatologists offer their artistic services in
clean, plush offices right here in the suburbs. Although people are not yet breaking
down the doors to have Cleopatra eyes, the practice is beginning to catch on. "This
is very much a procedure for today,” says Deborah Davis, a paramedical aesthetician
and owner of Deborah Davis Day Spa in Elmhurst. "Everything is so fast-paced," she
says. "If you don't  have to take the time to put eyeliner on, It saves you time."

She says professional women who want to look their best but not spend a lot of time
doing it, as well as homemakers busy with children, are good candidates for
permanent cosmetics. Most women who have the procedure are ages 20-40, says
Davis, who has thin lines of permanent liner on her own eyes. Older women whose
eyesight is not quite as good and whose hands aren't as steady are interested in it as
well, she says. "The process was developed for older people who for can’t see well
and for people who wear contact lenses or  have allergies to cosmetics,” says Davis.

Balding men can mask some of the thinning by coloring the scalp, which gives the
appearance of more hair, but of course, when all the hair has receded, the. color
likely will remain in the scalp.

Women with permanent cosmetics especially appreciate looking made-up when they
wake up in the morning or when they go swimming, says Davis, who has been helping
women look good for 13 years. Eyeliner, whether permanent or temporary, can make
the eyes look deeper and more defined. Lip liner makes lips look fuller and more
shapely.

"In my business people look at me for answers," says electrolysist Grace Langford of
Wheaton. "You have to look the part." Langford, 25, works at a salon in Wheaton and
recently had her eyes and lips permanently lined. "I didn't want to have to mess with
my eyeliner every morning and have it running down my face by the after­noon. This
is subtle enough that when I take off my makeup it looks like me only a little better.

"Langford says her family is accepting of her having permanent cosmetics applied
and that her mother is considering having it done herself. "As long as I didn't come
home with a shark on my arm, they were OK with it," says Langford , who also had
bald in her eyebrows filled in with permanent cosmetics.

" I'm not neurotic about my appearance," she adds. "I don't run out and buy every diet
book on the market. The idea is to enhance your own natural beauty." For some
people, the process may be beneficial, says Dr. Ana Eng of Elmhurst, a
dermatologist and dermatopathologist (one who reads skin slides). "For some
patients, it's worth it if it changes their psychological outlook. There is a place for it,"
she says. But Eng warns that the procedure can put some people at risk for
complications.

Before having it done, people should be screened for allergies (to the dyes), herpes
and facial warts (which can flare up as a result of the needle pricks around the lips),
thick scar formations known as keloids, and other skin diseases such as scleroderma
or psoriasis. People with vitiligo, a condition marked by loss of pigmentation in the
skin, should not use tattooing to fill in the white blotches, warns Eng.

But for some people-  those who want fuller lips, but don't want cosmetic surgery or
implants, permanent cosmetics may be the solution. Permanent cosmetics may suit
the pocketbook better, too. Cosmetic surgery usually runs in the thousands of dollars.

A lip line costs about $375. Still, it is a procedure that takes time and commitment.
"I tell people straight out that it hurts and it takes a long time," says Davis. “I work
slowly and place the needle just where I want it.” A little bleeding, scabbing, the and
puffiness for several days is expected.

If poking needles around your eyes and lips is too much, there are always temporary
cosmetics waiting to do their magic. "We're in a good time in history right now," says
Lynda Williams, cosmetic buyer for the Nordstrom specialty store in Oak Brook. "The
science is so advanced that there are a great variety of products. That variety includes
creams that give a temporary “face lift.” Wrinkle “reducers.” Skin-color correctors and
lotions for men that take the sting out of razor burn. “The idea is to enhance your natural
beauty.” Says Williams. “Were in a time now that’s really exciting for beauty.”

Strictly Business

Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry-March 1999

Beauty Business Provides Total Care

By Mindy Spicer
Strictly Business

The Deborah Davis Day Spa in Elmhurst is a unique beauty business dedicated to
providing complete skin care.

"I've been in this industry for over 25 years," explained owner Deborah Davis.
"Back then you had to start with hair. However, since I was a child I had been
fascinated by skin, and I always knew that's what I wanted to concentrate on.”

Ten years ago, Davis decided it was time to strike out on her own. "It was not an
easy thing. I was a single mother with two children. However, the more people said I
couldn't do it the more I was determined to make it work!"

Davis started doing facials in a single room in rented premises in Oak Brook. She
remarried, and her husband Jeff Cooper started running the nuts-and-bolts side of the
business, looking after accounting, bookings and strategic planning. "People very
often don't make the connection that we are married," said Cooper. "However, we
have found it to be a great partnership.

"We lived in Elmhurst, so I really wanted to move the business here," said Davis. The
opportunity presented itself and they took up residence at their current location at
131 N. Addison Ave. two years ago.

It was also a natural progression to move from facials and skin care to creating a
cosmetic line. "In addition to having our own cosmetic line, we also specialize in
custom blending," said Davis. "For example, we can custom-blend foundation to
suit skin type and color. We can even custom-blend lipstick, which means you can
have a unique color that is all your own."

Davis has also branched out into a myriad of head-to-toe services, such as body
wraps, massage of all types, color analysis and hair removal. "One of our unique
specialties is permanent makeup," said Davis. "We have several procedures where
we can give you permanent eyebrows, eyeliner or lip color. Strict sanitation and
sterilization guidelines are followed, and we can even work to camouflage scars
or birth defects."

Davis prides herself on keeping up with everything that is new and different in the
industry. "Starting in March we will be offering microdermabrasion, or the
‘power peel’ as it is also called. We try and stay on the cutting edge. If there is
something new out there, I'm going to learn about it and bring the best ideas into
my business."

Davis feels that one of her best idea ever was to bring the business to Elmhurst.
"The Elmhurst Chamber made us feel welcome from the very beginning. The
Chamber gets people involved and you can meet other businesspeople without
having walk into each individual business.

"I have many Chamber members who come here and I met them through Chamber
functions. I probably would not have met them otherwise. The Chamber puts people
together, and I think that is really good for everyone," she said. "And specific functions
like Elmfest  bring people to town, and that's good for all businesses and good for the
town in general. "The bottom line is that I love this business," said Davis. "This is all I've ever done professionally, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do!”