TOPSHOP

ELLE RECOMMENDS MAKING THE FOLLOWING STOPS A PRIORITY DURING YOUR NEXT EXCURSION.

WHEN IN… TORONTO RADFORD

At Radford, Victoria Radford’s newly opened beauty studio in ritzy Yorkville Village, the Hollywood Facial is a top draw. (They also offer hair and makeup services.) In phase one, low-frequency sound waves are used to prep the skin for iontophoresis, a mild electric current that follows in phase two. “Imagine if you took two magnets and tried to force them together the wrong way around,” says Radford of the treatment. “It uses that force to push product much deeper into the skin.” All of Radford’s facials are completely customized and aim “to visibly improve the individual’s skin as much as possible within the treatment time,” she says. Whichever treatment you get, expect to glow.

WHEN IN… NEW YORK DR. DENNIS GROSS

The American approach to skincare is decidedly high-tech, says Dr. Dennis Gross, a favourite of celebrities like Olivia Palermo and the seemingly ageless men and women of the Upper East Side. Beloved by ELLE editors for his Alpha Beta peels, sold as part of his eponymous skincare line, Gross is known for achieving results for his clients without them having to book weeks off work. “My mantra is you have to keep the skin balanced,” he explains. “I do the science; it’s all about using the optimized amount [of an ingredient] that can be absorbed per day without irritation.” At Gee Beauty in Toronto, Gross designed the exclusive Alpha Beta Lift + Lighten Photo Facial, a whirlwind treatment involving a peel, an LED light, an IPL laser and a hyaluronic-acid and algae mask designed to improve skin texture, discoloration and the look of fine lines. “We are cocktailing lasers now the same way we cocktail ingredients,” he says. “There is no such thing as one laser that does it all.”

WHEN IN… LONDON DR. MICHAEL PRAGER

When Dr. Michael Prager first tried Botox in the early ’90s, he did not like the results, despite having been injected by an experienced practitioner. “I decided to do it myself in a slightly different way,” explains the German-born, London-based cosmetic doctor. Nineteen years later, Prager is believed to be one of the biggest users of Botox in Europe, having gone through 2,500 vials for over 6,000 treatments last year. Ironically, it takes more product to achieve his trademark natural look, which sees the face as a whole—not just a collection of lines to freeze. “An average patient receives between 100 and 120 units, with the lower face and neck usually receiving more Botox than the upper face,” says Prager, who uses a technique pioneered by Dr. Fredric Brandt. (Dubbed “the baron of Botox,” the late dermatologist was renowned for his skills with injectables.) Clients emerge with their faces looking refreshed, not immobile.

WHEN IN… LOS ANGELES JOANNA VARGAS

During awards season, it’s not unusual to find celebrities making daily stops at Joanna Vargas’ spa in West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel. The bicoastal facialist opened the location earlier this year when her former outpost couldn’t keep up with the demand. Clients on both coasts demand glowing skin, but “the challenge in Los Angeles is how dry the climate is and how much sun people get, even in their cars,” says Vargas. “Melasma is a huge problem.” To address this, Vargas created the Supernova Facial (Mandy Moore and Elizabeth Moss are fans), which incorporates the micro derma brasionesque Aqua Peel, a multi-layer mask with medical-grade collagen (skip this if you’re claustrophobic), microcurrents, a cryotherapy wand and a blast of oxygen to cap it all off. The next best thing to four machines on your face is Vargas’ Supernova Serum ($378), available anywhere you can get an Internet connection. n