I've been coming here for about 8 years now, not so much because I particularly like this place but…read morebecause I like to make getting a facial a routine (about once a month). Jenny's Skin Care is an appointment-based business. One of my biggest issues here is the waiting. Even if I have an appointment, I still start 10 minutes after my appointment time (sometimes an additional 10-20 minutes if she's running late). Sometimes if she's overbooked, she tends to rush your procedure and isn't as thorough.
Finding her business can be a bit tricky. It's one of the several businesses inside a building for Far East Trading Co. The other businesses in the first floor sell mostly the cheap clothing/jewelry that you'll find in all other Chinatown stores. There should be a banner out front for Jenny's Skin Care, but it can be easily missed with everything else hanging outside. In order to see the actual entrance for Jenny's Skin Care, you have to walk into the first floor of the Far East Trading Co. building and head straight down the narrow walkway/hallway (the businesses are lined up along both sides of the walkway). Walk all the way almost at the end of the hallway and you'll see a single glass door on the right where you'll see a banner identical to the one on the outside of the building. If the glass door is locked, you're going to have to call the number provided on the door (or the number from the banner that can be seen through the glass door) to reach Jenny so she can unlock it for you. If the glass door is unlocked, then head into the hallway and up the stairs that lead to another glass door, where you'll see Jenny's desk, couches, shelves of skincare products, and magazines in a clear coffee table in the lobby area.
Jenny is the owner and performs all the facials. (Jenny's Skin Care also has a person that does body laser treatments that reduces visible fat & sculpts, but I have never tried these treatments because they're pricey and, for the most part, only the elderly women in Chinatown use this treatment.) Her facials are very helpful in removing pimples, preventing acne scarring, and cleaning my face thoroughly. She first steams your face to open your pores, and while this is going on, she may clean your face and/or put a cooling gel-like substance on dry parts of your face so the hot steam doesn't make your face burn. Then she uses a two sided metal stick (one end has a sharp-tipped needle and the other end is looped) to poke and pluck those pimples/whiteheads/blackheads out. She has other numerous machines that help with the procedure, such as one that helps close up the open wound from larger pimples, one that helps remove difficult blackheads that she couldn't scrape out, and so on. She is very understanding of the pain you're undergoing during this procedure and checks with you to see if you can handle her doing it anymore. She stops immediately if you tell her or give her any indication that you can't take it. It helps that she plays some soft jazzy/light rock/romance instrumental music in the background during facial procedures. (For older women, she also helps massage neck & shoulders in addition to the standard massaging of the face
like all other customers.)
Next, Jenny prepares a custom mask for your skin type, and after she spreads it evenly over your face, she'll leave you to rest (I typically sleep) for 20-30 minutes so the mask can set and work its magic. This part of the facial experience is usually a hit or miss for me. I can sometimes have a very peaceful, calming half hour sleeping through soft, soothing music; other times, I'll be trying to rest/sleep but won't able to because I can hear Jenny and other customers/visitors speaking very loudly in the lobby area (normal volume for those who speak Chinese). Jenny speaks very little English so addressing your concerns to her in English might not always work. After roughly half an hour has passed, she will return to wipe the mask off your face and apply any finishing touches (additional moisturizer, creams for acne, etc.) before you get up to pay and head out.
My facials typically cost around $60 each, but my family members have been sharing a prepaid package for years and that rate may be a result of that package price. Moreover, my facial is a standard/basic one (for the everyday issues such as oily T-zone, dry areas on cheeks, occasional blackheads/whiteheads that need to be removed, acne issues, and so on). I know that other middle-aged women have come in to be treated with anti-aging kind of procedures and those can run $80 or more. All of Jenny's products are Asian brands, but they're very well-known trusted brands (i.e., T&J, SK-II, etc.).
Overall, I'd recommend giving her facial a try (I can't argue with the results). If you liked any of the products she used, ask for a sample! Also ask for validation on the 1st hour for your parking stub from Washington Sq. parking lot!
