Reviewed: NYC’s $1000 Facial | Who What Wear

I love getting facials. In my opinion, there’s really no better self-care option out there. Facials not only give me a built-in amount of time to not stare at a screen and try to relax, but they also give tons of skin benefits that make the treatment truly worthwhile. My facials typically fall on the more affordable end of the spectrum (I have bills to pay!), but when I got an invite to try “the best facial in NYC,” which comes with a whopping $1000 price tag, I was immediately intrigued. 

This facial is from none other than JTAV Clinical Skincare, a luxury skincare clinic in Manhattan. Founded by Joie Tavernise, an NYC-based skin expert and medical aesthetician, JTAV’s signature facials are completely tailored to each person’s individual needs. Unlike many facials, JTAV facials combine clinical devices with tried-and-true facial techniques, rendering them a unique experience. 

That being said, there are a few things you can typically expect from a JTAV facial. Usually, Tavernise will deeply cleanse, exfoliate skin with a Hydrafacial, dermaplane, extract clogged pores, and use LED light. Depending on your needs, Tavernise will also use Laser Genesis therapy for tone and texture, Clear + Brilliant for more extreme tone and pore-size issues, or intense pulsed light for hyperpigmentation. 

The experience itself felt like a mix between a relaxing facial and a dermatologist appointment. Tavernise seemed to know more about my skin than I do (and even spotted some places I may have picked at too much). Each step felt methodical and results-driven, and I felt like I could ask questions as she went along to get a better understanding of the process. 

My skin is typically pretty clear and leans dry, but lately, I’ve been experiencing a lot more breakouts than usual thanks to stress and hormones. I let Tavernise know this, and she made sure to customize my facial accordingly, targeting problem areas while still ensuring my skin remained hydrated. 

Honestly, the best part of the facial is that (aside from the clinical devices) Tavernise used a lot of skincare products that you can buy and use at home—which is great for those of us who can’t spring for a facial the price of our rent. I asked Tavernise to walk me through our entire facial, including all the products she used. Keep reading for the full rundown straight from Tavernise herself, not including the laser treatment and LED light treatment Tavernise used to even tone and texture and help mitigate breakouts.