Local love: Super+ beauty in Berkeley

The esthetician's chair awaits at the Super+ by Dr. Nicholas Perricone boutique/Image: S. Whittle for Style Wylde

With retail shops for  Aveda, Kiehls, MAC and a Benefit Cosmetics on the main strip,  Berkeley's Fourth street shopping district has been a mecca for beauty addicts for years, but with the addition of the very first U.S. flagship Super+ by Dr. Nicholas Perricone beauty boutique the 'nabe' has been elevated to a whole new level.  No ordinary brand, or space, the Super+ boutique blends the high-end salon experience with the ease and affordability of mainstream shopping. Intrigued by this concept, and intrigued by the major attention the products themselves have been getting from nearly every major magazine, and beauty-focused television shows, I headed down to Fourth Street to discover what Super+ is really all about. 

Super+ products derived from natural nutrients/Image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

The Space

A sparkling glass box on the corner of Hearst and Fourth, the Super+ boutique is impossible to miss. As you step inside, the light filled space seems to explode with color and vitality which made even this hard-hearted writer feel instantly uplifted.  

Super+ client Maya Reynolds relaxes as Esthetician Leila Perrot preps her skin/image:S. Whittle for Style Wylde 

The Products

A completely new line developed by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, the renown dermatologist who developed the Perricone MD line over a decade ago, the Super+ products are built around the idea of super foods. In simple terms,you know all the foods that Dr. Oz is always telling us we have to eat in order to stay healthy and ageless? Well they work ON the skin too, and  the Super+ line is created from those foods. Don't get me wrong, despite being located in Berkeley, this isn't some crazy-ineffectual all natural line that you could easily whip up in your kitchen at home. The Super+ products are naturally derived, and their production includes low-carbon facilities, are free of parabens, mineral oil and animal products, BUT they also have serious science credentials. They have been tested, and perfected in labs  by leading dermatologists and skin care professionals to ensure potency and effectiveness. 

Super Quickie menu adorns the wall at the Super+ boutique/image: S.Whittle for Style Wylde

The Services

In addition to having an extremely knowledgeable sales staff on hand to discuss any issues you may be looking to fix in your skin,  the Super+ boutique has a full staff of licensed estheticians who take appointments for affordable on the premises.  These "Super Quickies" as they are called, range from $35- $75 and address a litany of issues from  tired eyes, to pimples, to skin that is all-around-in-need of a lift.  PLUS, because they use the highly effective Super+ line combined with the latest ultrasonic and LED light therapies ( the same stuff used in all the swankiest salons)  the Super Quickies offer results in as little as 15 minutes.

putting Super+ to the test on SW editor Cynthia/Image:S.Whittle for Style WyldeHow it works

During the boutique visit, a Super+ client Maya Reynolds (pictured above left) came in for her facial appointment, and was kind enough to let us eavesdrop on the procedure. From the application of the first Sweet Clean Cleanser to the finishing moisturizer, Maya confirmed that the facial was relaxing and felt fantastic, and Maya definitely looked gorgeous and glowing in the end. But lets be honest, Maya was gorgeous when she arrived at the boutique!  How would the Super Quickie facial work on someone who actually had less than perfect skin?  

Perhaps sensing my doubt, esthetician Leila Perrot asked me to slide into the chair, and see the results myself.  I agreed, (of course who wouldn't want a free facial!) and we proceed with "After Glow".

Considered the best first-time facial by the Super+ staff, Afterglow consists of: a thorough cleansing with Sweet Clean Cleanser, ultrasonic exfoliation to remove dirt and debris,  a blue "micro current" that creates an "instant facelift effect", application of First Blush Serum,  and red LED light therapy to stimulate collagen production.  All of this was followed by the DELICIOUS smelling Hyper Hydrator Moisturizer (which contains the fatty acids from coconut, hence the scent), and Sun Kissed, a tinted moisturizer with SPF 25 made from anti-inflammatory Turmeric and Zinc.  

The effects were impressive, especially on my forehead which looked almost perfectly poreless, and around eyes where my usual bags and laugh lines had softened noticeably. Leila advised that the effects from a single facial can last days, but are even more profound when done on a repetitive basis. Clearly, this was true as the next appointment after me was a bride-to-be who had been coming in on a regular basis for months to prepare for her wedding.  

The Super+ Boutique on Fourth Street in Berkeley/Image courtesy of Super+

This morning, 12+ hours later I can see why that bride kept coming back.  My forehead still has that fresh-from-a-facial glow, and my laugh lines are still diminished.  Also, if I'm not mistaken, I think my jaw line looks a little firmer, and if that's not a super-miracle, I don't know what is! Much like the bride, I will definitely be going back for more facials on a regular basis.

Extra deal for first timers

As if the affordable facials and awesome products weren't enough to coax Bay Area beauty addicts into Super+ , the boutique is currently offering a FREE Afterglow facial to first time customers who buy 3 products. (a $50 value!)

There are currently two Super+ Boutiques on the West Coast, in Berkeley and in Malibu.  For more information on the Super+ by Nicholas Perricone line, including where to buy the products in your area please visit the  brand's official web home.