Hello and cheers(!!!) to the first blog post of Small + Local, a new segment on ze blog where I share my thoughts and experience on (as you might have guessed by the title) small and local businesses.
I've always loved shopping and supporting small because for me, it translates to shopping with intention.
The intention to visit businesses located only in Boston or found during my travels translates to an opportunity to connect with the business owners and their stories. A special, doesn't come often, experience in itself.
The intention to shop POC and/or women-owned businesses translates to recognizing and supporting the mission to have greater representation in the fashion, lifestyle, and beauty industries.
All this to say, I've been wanting to share these experiences for a very long time now and I've finally got my life together to do so.
And noOoOOow, let me introduce y’all to the CLT Method!
Located in South Boston aka -- and more commonly known -- as "Southie", the CLT Method is a day spa focused on offering unique services to their clients that touch on everything non-invasive and anti-aging - think customizable facials, anti-aging and body contouring treatments (e.g. Lymphatic Drainage), AND they serve as the only spa in Boston that offers the 4D Fotona Laser treatment.
As someone who rarely, if ever, takes herself to the spa, I could not keep up with all of the options. How do you choose or know what you want? What do all of these treatments entail exactly and what’s included in a membership?
To get the answers, I had to see it for myself and was invited by the CLT team to try out their Red Carpet Facial. With a weekend trip to California coming up, the stars aligned and I booked some time to go on the Friday before my flight, excited to uncover all I didn’t yet know.
Let me start by saying, the team at the CLT Method is absolutely incredible! I was able to spend time with and get to know Alessandra Borjas (Aesthetician and Marketing Coordinator) and Andrea Gonzales (Founder and Owner of the CLT Method). I truly felt like we had all been friends for years, everyone was so sweet and welcoming and they never got tired of my countless questions - of which there many.
I took a tour around the spa and all of the different rooms used for treatments, checked out their main waiting area and bathroom (my fave room in the entire spa, tell me you don't agree when you see the pics), and got a look at all of the products they offer at the front. I was really impressed at how chic and fun the place felt, almost as if I had already taken my flight to LA and gone to a spa over there instead.
Once the tour and my obsession over the bathroom was completed, I went into one of the treatment rooms to get settled for my facial. And the vibes, y'all? Immaculate. There’s a warm glow, music to help you chill out and relax (which I personally appreciated, given that is not something I know how to do), and a heated table with soft sheets and blankets for you to lie comfortably while your skin is magically transformed.
The Red Carpet Facial that I tried out uses 5 comprehensive steps to transform your skin and revive your complexion. Using Lymphatic Drainage, Diamond Dermabrasion, Biosonix Ultrasound with LED light, Microcurrent lifting, and Negative Ionization + Full Spectrum LED Light Therapy, this facial treatment addresses the 5 signs of aging, reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores, improve skin tone and texture, and reveals softer, brighter skin.
Now, I have sensitive and dry skin, and truly live in fear when I introduce something new to my skincare routine simply because of the likelihood that it'll cause a bad reaction. For that reason, I often don’t venture too far out when it comes to skincare products or treatments.
However, the Red Carpet Facial turned out to be perfect for me. I can personally say that the facial left no signs of irritation and all the signs of a hydrated and refreshed face after it was completed.
Before & After Results
The first picture on the left is right before the Red Carpet Facial. The two pics in the center and right are after. My skin was smooth, lifted, and quite literally glowing🌟.
For me, a facial was exactly what I needed to kickstart my weekend trip to California and I came away from that experience making a mental note to book another appointment in the near future.
As someone who gets an adrenaline rush over the number of “To-Do” items she can check off her list every day, I find it really challenging to intentionally take the time to recharge and take care of myself. The great thing about the CLT Method is that they give you the opportunity to literally pencil in “Me Time” with their memberships, which allows you to put money in the bank for yourself to use when you need it (more on that below!).
So that’s my take, friendships. I love it, recommend it, and would definitely go back again.
To those of y'all that want to try them out, I encourage you to reach out to the CLT team and/or do some research on the services and procedures you're interested in to get all the information you need. The team is also happy to do consults and I've included a Q&A section with the gals below to help you learn more about them.
Thank y'all for reading and for all the support as usual. I hope you found this helpful and if you do decide to pay CLT a visit, let me know in the comments or message me here on my site or on Instagram.
XO,
Lo
CLT Q&A with Alessandra and Andrea
Q: Could you please elaborate more on the vision behind creating your day spa, The CLT Method?
A: I’ve always been a skincare junkie and have tried a lot of anti-aging things out there! The CLT Method was born after a few years of trips to LA and New York that uncovered what I found to be the most result-driven skin/body care treatments I ever had. Most of the treatments at The CLT Method are treatments and/or use machines no one else in Boston uses. I basically wanted to share with Bostonians what the West Coast and NYC beauty queens have been using to look young without injections or invasive procedures;-)
Q: Tell us about your and your team's backgrounds and how you got into the industry?
A: Everyone comes to this team with their own unique wealth of experience. For an example, we have one Aesthetician with over 20 years of experience as an Aesthetician who can also sell you a home and another with a keen eye for beauty (and an even spray tan) and a Masters in Marketing. We have a Nurse that is an Advanced Injector and also cares for children in a school system and another that is a Master with our laser and doubles in the Emergency Room. Our massage therapist can improve your circulation with cupping or clear your chakra with a Reiki healing, but is most known for her ability to cinch your waist with her hands. It’s just how we roll at The CLT Method;-) We’re a multi-faceted group of professionals that use our knowledge and eye for beauty to deliver optimal results!
Q: Does CLT provide consultations prior to the service so that each client gets information on what may be best for them?
A: Yes we do! Right now I am working with a lot of brides preparing for their weddings, but we have consults with anyone interested in improving their skin/body.
Q: Could you tell us more about the benefits of having a CLT membership?
A: Our membership allows you to put money in the bank for yourself. Basically our system charges you $100/month and this money sits in your account until you come in and use it. We require a 6-month commitment, but when you come in for a service, you get 20% off of it (applies to facials, massages, tans) and you also enjoy the benefit of 10% off of any of our products.
Q: What would you say are your most popular services and packages?
A: Everything is popular right now;-) I made it a point to bring result-driven, cutting-edge treatments and machines to Boston. So all of our treatments are being booked. But since summer is upon us, we are definitely seeing a lot of spray tan and lymphatic drainage appointments!
Q: Is the CLT Method for all ages?
A: It sure is;-) Whether you want to prevent the signs of aging or have us help you turn back the hands of time, we are well equipped. One common misconception is that our treatments are just for women though, and they’re not! We have male clients and men should definitely step up their skin care regime! A lot of what we offer can help men age gracefully without injections as well.
Q: What are your biggest skin-care tips?
A: Stay out of the sun! I use my Colorescience SPF brush religiously throughout the day. This helps avoid sun damage and any hyperpigmenation issues so that is first and foremost. Then I will steal my aesthetician’s number one piece of advice and that is to use a washcloth every time you wash your face. This helps you get your skin nice and clean at the end of the day and also gives you a light exfoliation. Besides that, use medical-grade skincare. Cosmetic skincare is not cheap! But it isn’t regulated or tested the way medical-grade skincare is so spend your money wisely;-) Q: So I know first-hand that the Red Carpet Facial is especially great for those with sensitive skin, would you recommend any others?
A: Our LED facial is great to promote lymphatic drainage and for clients that suffer from redness or rosacea!
Q: Where can we find you all on social media?
A: @thecltmethod
Q: If there's one thing you want readers to know about the CLT Method, what would It be?
A: We may have opened in Covid, but we are a small business that offers so many cutting edge anti-aging solutions! Come check us out before your ex’s new girlfriend beats you to it;-)
