Factio Magazine: Without giving too much away, what is the secret to beautiful skin? How do your facials differ from others in town?
Mila Bravi: My secret - is no secret. My facials are an open book altered for each client individual type of skin. When clients come to me I disclose to them what I found through analyses of their skin and suggest what I feel is the best prescription for her/him in achieving the healthiest and glowing skin and for slowing down the aging process. This totally open communication between the client and I, together with delivered results creates mutual trust which is so important and beneficial for the client.. My clients who come to me from places where they use to have facials tell me that my facial is different in technique, procedure and quality of the routine of it. They also mentioned that my approach in home program is also different and delivers better results.

FM: How did you get into the aesthetics industry?
MB: The first beauty I ever recognized was my mother. She used to say that the age is not the big factor in looking beautiful. Women are admired for their beauty. Healthy skin and its glow is the essence of beauty. It is the absence of radiance that diminishes beauty at any age. From my early age I was in love with marvelous code: ‘cleanse’, ‘freshen up’, ‘nourish’, ‘glow’. After high school, three years of medical school I was irrevocably bewitched by the power of beauty creation. I went to the Academy of Beauty Therapy for two years. Through the studies of anatomy, biology, chemistry and physics I became more interested in discovering, developing and maintaining beauty for people I dreamed to help. Then I started the fellowship in Moscow Institute of Beauty with specialization in the cosmetic rehabilitation of skin. But, change was in the air. My family and I immigrated to the USA. Here I earned cosmetology licenses in several States and started to work in Chicago. I have been promoting and implementing beauty ever since.

FM: What's the most important thing you can do to educate your clients?
MB: I always tell my clients: Health and Beauty, which are very much intertwined, are a fine invention if the truth and knowledge about them be known. The skilled woman can invent beauty over and over again and with extraordinary effect. This is when my routine comes into the picture. I perform a facial which includes: a).suction vacuuming to bring up impurities, b) extraction of impurities using special instruments I brought from Europe and my finger tips, as a part of cleaning process, c) use of d’arsenval device to increase blood circulation and deliver new and enriched with oxygen blood to the surface which in turn creates freshness and glow of the skin, d) application of specific for client individual skin type masks for purposes of nourishment, tightening of pores, hydrating and moisturizing, e) face massage to soften wrinkles, remove tension from facial muscles, increase blood circulation and to relax entire body, f) use of different tonics to tighten the pores and to freshen up the skin. Than I give recommendations for home daily routine and explain how to do weekly facials at home. Now the client sees the results. To those of my clients who take their skin care seriously, my facial/lesson becomes a way of life.

FM: When did you realize you had made it in this business?
MB: When I delivered visible results to my clients and saw their happy faces. This what lead me to these results:
My technique. In addition to my education in former USSR, France, Italy and Germany, I continue to learn the latest innovations in our industry. I never stop learning. Clients tell me that routine of my facial is unique and always delivers positive results for them;

My line of products. I learned early that being a perfectionist and providing quality (in addition to love of my profession) was the only way to succeed and stay in business. To achieve that I, with the assistance of cosmetic chemist who worked 30 years for a famous and huge French cosmetic company, has created my own 45 products line of skin care products, which I periodically update. In my line I have products which are not available anywhere. Clients love and order my products even when they leave Chicago. I received several proposals from different companies to develop with them manufacturing and distribution of my line of products. I might consider it when I stop my salon activity;

Love. Love for my clients, my profession, my products and love to beautify people and make them feel good;

Recognition. Recognition of my activity by clients, by skin care professionals and the Press.

FM: What are your future aspirations?
MB: The beauty business is a great obsession of mine. I love to watch and share the happiness of my clients. Through my salon, clients use the finest quality, top-of-the-line skin care products. Now when I have done it on a small scale I would not mind to make all my beloved America beautiful, maybe on TV (infomercial) or helping cosmetic companies to adapt proven for 25 years in my salon fabulous skin care products. Maybe to teach and train young aestheticians if God will continue to feed me with energy. Maybe write a book about my experience. I am open for suggestions as well.

FM: What do you love about your business?
MB: I love my career. I never have been bored a day in my professional life because a true skin care beauty business addicted me and gave me steady job. To see a lot of satisfied clients. My products give me an enormous personal satisfaction. And what is most important is that my clients who came to me 25 years ago with a lot of different skin problems, got rid of them but still come to me to maintain the health and beauty of their skin. In time they are 25 years older but their faces did not age in that time. Their skin is still fresh and glowing. I love them all and many of them became my friends.

FM: What have you learned over the years running your business?
MB: Our business is a very competitive one. This business grows 30% a year. There are hundreds salons in existence today. People today aware of skin care much more than 25 years ago when I started. And people are very smart and very well educated. To survive in our business and to satisfy today’s consumers, you must give them only the best. Best service, better products, highly trained by professionals, good help (like a team), do everything to earn respect of the clients, always educate yourself to the latest in the industry. All of this requires time and will bring recognition to the business and the community and in turn will make you stay in business.

FM: Can people with problem skin, turn their skin around to be acne or problem-free with your products and facials?
MB: The answer is yes. People with problem skin have to be serious and patient to the salon visits, home routine and follow my recommendations. If acne already damaged skin, I cannot remove scars. Following my recommendations will prevent acne from spreading further and eventually clear skin from problems natural way. (See testimonies on www.metromix.com).

FM: What is the biggest misconception about getting facials?
MB: In Europe beauty secrets have been passed on from mothers to daughters through the ages. Even primitive women painted their faces with berry juice. Roman beauties whitened their faces with chalk and gorgeous Cleopatra loved her mimosa extract for her face and milk bath for her body. Misunderstanding and luck of knowledge is the biggest misconception about getting facials. Beside important contribution to health, proper skin care provides color, freshness and glow to the skin. To the woman it brings special qualities, because the beauty is the best incentive to self-respect. You may have great inner resources, but they do not show up as confidence when you do not feel pretty. People are more apt to believe you and like you when you know you look fine. America is relatively young country. The people who immigrated to this country were busy to get food on the table for their families and establish themselves. They did not have time and knowledge to think about care of their skin. This time has passed. The new generation understands the importance of skin care. This awareness is growing every day. Skin Care is taking us by storm and it is here to stay for years to come.