The Best Holistic Facials In Vancouver

The world of holistic skincare can be confusing, to say the least. With so many different types of treatments and products to consider, how do you know which ones actually bring results? After doing some gruelling (kidding!) research, we’re sharing the holistic spas in Vancouver that we’d recommend, along with a list of recommended clean products from experts Gretchen Oppenheim of Wildflower Beauty Bar, the impossible-to-book-in-with Skin Psychic Colette of Clarite Wellness, and celebrity skin care specialist Kristina Holey. —Monica Krake

There’s a reason that Gretchen’s waitlist is so long at Wildflower Beauty Bar in Port Moody. Her holistic treatments leave you feeling deeply transformed from the inside out. Each facial is customized with the understanding that the manifestation of any skin condition is the body’s way of communicating insight from within. Treatments include a combination of Facial Gua Sha, Facial Reflexology, Progressive enzyme treatments, Light Therapy, and a facial map reading that explains how you can literally erase the lines on your face by tending to your emotional health. 

Colette from Clarite Wellness on Bowen Island is world-renowned for her Psychic Facials, which have become next to impossible to book (we couldn’t see anything available for the next two years on her calendar). Her approach is that your whole self—physical, biological, and emotional—is perfectly reflected in your skin and the path to radiant, healthy skin always begins within. She offers a very thorough email consultation with customized recommendations.

Every treatment with Danielle at Bellavance Skin Therapy is infused with heart and soul. Bellavance offers a range of facial options including enzyme therapy, micro banding, micro needling, LED Light Therapy, skin peels, and Craniosacral healing. Complimentary 30 minute skin consultations are a great place to start.

Overall, the best skin results come from understanding how the skin functions. The microbiome of our skin needs to be healthy in order for our skin to be healthy. All of the experts agree that our skin health reflects not only the health of our gut/body, but also of our emotional wellbeing – one more reason to meditate, start a breathwork practice, and prioritize spiritual alignment. 

When it comes to products, it’s important to feed our skin topically with nutrients. The experts we interviewed recommend cleansing with a non stripping cream or oil, like Living Libations Seabuckthorn or Laurel’s Oil Cleanser, followed by a toner to reset the acid mantle in the skin and balance the pH. This Rose Glow Complexion mist from Living Libations, and this Farm Rose Hydrosol are great toner choices. 

After toning, the best hydration results come when we mimic the function of healthy juicy skin, which means reaching the deeper layers, the outer junction, and the barrier layer at the surface of the skin. Our experts like the Serum Collagen Originelle by Biologique Recherche and Laurel’s Balance Serum. For a cream, Living Libations Rose Glow Cream and Biologique Recherche Grand Millesime are great. And for an oil, this local Rosehip Oil is amazing. And finally, sunscreen. We love this sunscreen by Badger because it’s very moisturizing and has a high zinc oxide content so it lasts a long time. Other great choices include the Colore Sciene Sunforgettables SPF 50 and Face Shield SPF 50.

And finally, if you’re feeling as inspired to care for your skin at home as we are, here’s an amazing Gua Sha Tutorial we’ve been doing, and here’s a list of more Clean Beauty Products for extra glowy skin.

Written by Monica Krake, certified Breathwork Practitioner and founder of Head + Heart. Monica helps businesses get clear on their mission and bring it to life in the most aligned way via breathwork + spiritual website creation.