Formachika Beauty Therapy, Jingumae

After the havoc wreaked on my skin by the cold of the winter, I was in search of a deeply moisturizing and revitalizing facial to start spring off right. I found what I was looking for at Formachika Beauty Therapy, tucked away on the top floor of a hair salon named Watanabe Hair Dressing in Jingumae. This modest and, in true Japanese fashion, tiny spa room is decorated and made cozy by owner Chikako Ikeda.

Chika is a seasoned esthetician, having studied both in Japan and in New York. She specializes in extractions and deep cleaning to promote cell turnover. Extractions are not commonly offered as part of a facial in Japan. Chika explained the importance of removing infection from the skin, but doing it with a gentle approach to reduce pain and inflammation.

The bed used at Formachika has a slab of volcanic stone called embedded inside to promote energy flow and circulation throughout the body. Chika takes her services several steps beyond the norm, starting by asking a series of questions prior to your service to identify any pain or symptoms that could be effecting the condition of your skin. She then performs a massage and evaluation of the belly and organ function, and applies pressure to specific points and zones of the belly for therapeutic relief.

Chika uses top-rate, all natural American and Japanese products in her treatments, including Aveda oils for aromatherapy. She has a collagen electroporation system she will use to stimulate the face, and her anti-aging massage techniques are the best I’ve had. She uses a technique that exercises the muscles in your face, promoting collagen production and tiny line reduction.

Chika takes her time to learn about your lifestyle and how it is shaping your skin condition. With that knowledge, she focuses on your individual needs to promote cell turn over. She recommends that you visit her once every two weeks for the first three months. You can then shift to once a month treatments, and she guarantees you will notice a difference in your skin. Some have told her their facial elasticity improved. She offers a specially priced trial cleansing and exfoliation for just ¥5,000, and a 90-minute anti-aging facial costs ¥15,750.

After my first visit to Formachika, my skin looked and felt refreshed and rejuvenated. I don’t know if I’ll be able to commit to the recommended schedule, but I honestly believe that if I do, I will see noticeable results. And really, that’s about all I can ask for in a facial.

The Deets

Address: 3-25-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-5411-5633 or 090-6544-0608

Open: Tue-Fri 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun & hols 10 a.m.-8 p.m.