AN INTERVIEW WITH GILLIAN MILBERG, SPENCER’S AESTHETICS DIRECTOR
The Spencer’s design team sat down with Spencer’s Aesthetics Director, Gillian Milberg, to talk about all things skincare. Over the last six months, Gillian has worked tirelessly on creating ‘the perfect signature facial’, available exclusively at Spencer’s. You may know Gill from her NYC namesake studio, ‘SkinByGill’, or from her devoted following on her numerous viral social media accounts. Gill is, above all, totally devoted to her craft and the curating of a skincare routine that will leave every customer feeling transformed. When it comes to a holistic approach, Gill has a passionate breadth of knowledge that transcends the experience of simply ‘getting a facial’. Join us as we jump into the creative world of skincare at Spencer’s with the best in the business.
How did you get into aesthetics and beauty more broadly as a category?
I always really liked looking at people's faces. Six years ago I had been working as a casting director and in that process I came to realize that I was less taken with the ‘presentation’ of beauty. I was obsessed with the feeling, the sensation that occurs when someone feels good and you see them happy, via their face. I discovered that I wanted to explore the wellness space and pursue homeopathy as a part of the practice that I would end up in. That's what led me to going back to school. I went to an esthetician school and after I had graduated, I began working at Face Gym. It was a baptism by fire; I was on my feet for 10 hours a day and then that's where I learned the basics. Everyone needs their first touchpoint in the industry and from there I began undertaking my own individual research and practices to find my area of expertise.
Knowing where you are now, at what point did you have the realization that ‘this was my lane'? How would you describe your speciality?
I feel lucky that I was publicly active throughout my journey via social media platforms. I started documenting discussions, findings, techniques on Tik Tok and it just took off. I think this was in part due to the nature of the discussions I was welcoming; I presented thought pieces on skincare to challenge many status quo’s in traditional techniques. One thing led to another and that's how I started. Someone would ask me a question and then I'd spend weeks experimenting, researching, finding the best answer I could give. I've always been very inquisitive and curious as to why we as a general cohort in the skincare community do things the way we do. I am always asking, why? I like to then work a problem backwards to dive all the way down to finding the root cause of any physical condition that shows itself on our skin. Our bodies are complex, it takes time to understand how each part interacts with or is affected by one another, let alone how one person individually differs from the next. So, I’d say that my speciality is that I am extremely research based and trial-led. Many clients seem to take so much of what their treatments are at face value (excuse the pun) simply because they ‘look good’ afterwards. We need to be asking why? Why does my skin respond well to this type of treatment? How can we look at your skin in a holistic way so as to not disrupt the balance of your bodily ecosystem?
That leads to our next questions: When you think about skincare and your skincare routine, how rigid are you with your rules? Are there do’s and don’ts according to Gill? How have your routines changed over the years?
At the end of the day, your skincare routine means doing what makes you feel good. I'm very strict about some things health-wise that I know directly affects my skin. However, when it comes to skincare specifically, I think you should be having fun. Personally, my skincare routine is relaxed and not very long. It's more of a supplement to the other things that I do to be healthy. Your skincare routine tends to only work as well as your other routines to keep your body healthy. Your body, as I said, is complex and everything is related. If you’re going out on the town four nights a week and eating really poorly all day, your 10 step skincare routine won’t do much. Sleeping well is also a huge priority. We all have vices, and vices are good - in moderation! It’s all about balance and your body is very good at telling you when you have become tilted in a direction.
In talking about ‘balance’, what was the brief you had received when approached by founder & CEO Ryan McCarthy about developing the Spencer’s Signature Facial?
Ryan had reached out and expressed the need for a facial that felt very approachable, with no recovery time and maximum efficacy, for a reasonable cost. It’s certainly difficult to check all of those boxes, however, we both agreed that this was something that was missing from the NYC market. We were up for the challenge!
Can you describe the facial that you developed in this program?
What we designed is an extremely efficient, simple and effective facial. It has all the elements you want to hit if this was going to be the only facial you did once every 2-3 weeks. For the exfoliation I chose to work with enzymes because they deliver so many benefits while still gently exfoliating the skin, suitable for all skin types. Enzymes eat dead skin without disrupting your skin barrier, which is important so that our guests don’t have a down time period after visiting. We have also incorporated a strong microcurrent which is great for toning and lifting the muscles but also for skin longevity. Microcurrents produce ATP in the cells which is what we need for our cells to be energized, keeping you glowing and looking healthy and youthful. We use a hydrogen jelly mask because hydration is an area that many people overlook. Hydration indications can also be falsely tied to oily skin - some think that if their skin is oily, they are ‘over hydrated’. The two issues are totally independent of each other and one will always benefit from further hydrating, the skin often reacts incredibly to an intense hydration as we have incorporated. We have chosen to use light therapy from Celluma, I personally believe these machines are the best in the industry for fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity, and hyperpigmentation. No matter what duration of facial you choose, we always utilize facial massage for relaxation and lymphatic drainage. Our lifestyles in big cities are always ‘go-go-go’ and all that activity leads to our lymph system being backed up. I can always see it on people’s faces when they come in - dark circles, jowls etc. We want to move out the toxins and leave you feeling and looking brand new!
Who would you say the Signature Facial at Spencer’s is suited for?
This facial is good for anytime, as you are on your way to anywhere, designed for everyone. You’re not going to leave looking red or sore, you’re going to want to go and show yourself off afterwards. It’s also perfectly fine to use in combination with a more heavy duty specialized facial if you are used to needling etc. This is your every two weeks facial and we have designed the Signature Facial so that it is affordable at that visit frequency. It’s perfect if you’re going to an event, a date, or a Friday night in, or a midday lunch break. Our team of estheticians have been hand selected from an enormously talented pool and we can’t wait for you to visit us!