Flawless
Anej Skin Studio’s skin care and wellness experts deliver real, noticeable, and lasting results through European-style treatments tailored to each client.
After only five minutes of speaking with Jena Salzano, one thing is clear: She is deeply passionate about skin—and skin care. “I could talk about it for years,” she says. Her passion for the work has fueled the success of Anej Skin Studio, the Yardley-based skin care and wellness enterprise she founded two years ago.
Recognized as Best Skin-Care Sanctuary in Philadelphia magazine’s 2023 “Best of Philly” issue, Anej offers facial sculpting massages, body services, and a curated selection of top skin care brands in a sophisticated European-style spa experience. Some clients have referred to Anej as “skin nirvana.”
Salzano has gone to great lengths to create a restful and rejuvenating atmosphere to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. That having been said, she knows it’s something specific that brings clients back again and again: results.
“Because of where we are located, between Princeton, Philadelphia, and New York, our clients are very savvy,” says Salzano. “They are coming to relax, of course, but they keep coming back because they see real improvements in their skin’s appearance and health.”
A graduate of the Rizzieri Aveda School with almost 20 years of experience in the aesthetics industry, Salzano wanted Anej to offer results-driven techniques based on European skin care practices.
“In Europe, skin care is regarded so highly and starts at a very young age,” says Salzano. “They get facials every few weeks just like how we get our hair done.”
Salzano was also inspired by the quality of skin care products favored by European spas, which must meet strict EU standards for consumer beauty products. In addition, those products often contain higher concentrations of ingredients compared to domestic skin care solutions.
“The products are just more active than what you can get off the shelf at CVS or Sephora,” she says. “For example, if you have a product that includes hyaluronic acid, it isn’t number 30 on the ingredient list; it’s one, two, or three.”
Salzano is especially pleased to use Biologique Recherche products. Developed by a biologist and his physiotherapist spouse, Biologique Recherche utilizes raw, cold-pressed ingredients to restore, shape, and perfect the skin. Now led by the founding couple’s son, Dr. Philippe Allouche, the Parisian company’s focus on aesthetics provides a continued source of inspiration to Salzano.
She adds, “Dr. Allouche said, ‘Imagine you are a sculptor.’ It’s very rare that a doctor truly understands real aesthetics.”
Despite Biologique Recherche’s cult-like following, its products are rarely available for purchase online, which is why Salzano is particularly proud to offer them through Anej’s new online boutique. Opened in celebration of the studio’s second anniversary, the online store offers clients a convenient way to purchase Biologique Recherche and other hard-to-find lines, such as Swiss-based Valmont and the vitamin-rich Environ. Anej also has products for clients interested in clean beauty solutions, such as Augustinus Bader and Agent Nateur.
Whether it involves the products available through the online store or those used in her Yardley studio, Salzano always insists on excellence.
“The products we have are a curated selection of niche beauty brands,” says Salzano. “I try the products on myself, along with the staff, to see if they make the cut to be on our shelves and in our treatment rooms.”
While some of the solutions carry a higher price point than what can usually be found in a drugstore or big-box store, Salzano wants to ensure clients continue to see real and lasting results. That’s why Anej pairs its products with effective facial-massage techniques.
“Facial massage is our cornerstone because it pushes all the active ingredients deeply into the skin,” says Salzano. “We can also use the hands as tools to help sculpt facial muscles, stimulate lymphatic flow, and fight gravity. The benefits of facial massage are truly incredible.”
One of Anej’s most popular treatments—and a great starting point for new clients, Salzano insists—is the Anej Bespoke Facial; the hour-long facial is customized to each client’s individual skin needs. Another favorite is the Le Lift Facial, which uses Biologique Recherche to exfoliate and hydrate the skin, while also stimulating muscles to lift and redefine the face, neck, and décolletage.
Another popular service is the Glass O2 Dome Facial, which originated in Korea. This treatment uses a hyperbaric chamber to deliver purified oxygen, anions, and infused serums, with the end result being plumped, even, and almost glass-like skin. Salzano’s personal favorite is the IonixLight Facial.
“It combines microcurrent, microdermabrasion, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and oxygen, and it has negative ion therapy,” she says. “[Post-treatment] the pores are refined, and the skin is smoother, brighter, and tighter. It’s the closest I’ve ever seen to a noninvasive face-lift.”
Anej also provides a range of wellness options, including the Thai Herbal Poultice Massage and Himalayan Stone Therapy, as well as body-contouring services.
“Our Sculpt Corps is my favorite body service,” says Salzano. “It begins with belly massage that stimulates flow, gets circulation going, flushes water retention, and helps with digestion. Next, one of our technicians goes into a pinching technique that helps to break up fat, which can then be naturally excreted.”
Salzano credits much of the studio’s success to the expertise and dedication of her employees. From studio manager Alexis, to aestheticians Alexandra and Alison, to massage therapist Lori, she says “everyone has a different skill set and personality so we can always find the best fit for each client.”
Going forward, Salzano is determined to build on Anej’s reputation as a leading destination for results-based European skin treatments customized to each client’s skin type and beauty goals. She also hopes to educate clients about proper skin care, given the explosion of not-always-reliable content available through platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
“Every time you visit Anej, we’re going to go over what your goals are, how the products you’re using are working, and what we might need to ‘cocktail in’ for the particular season,” she says. “Even if you are one of our many longtime clients, we always want to make sure that your skin care fits your current lifestyle while providing real, noticeable, and lasting results.”
Anej Skin Studio
19 E. Afton Ave.
Yardley, PA 19067
www.anejskinstudio.com
19 E. Afton Ave.
Yardley, PA 19067
www.anejskinstudio.com
Photo by Alison Dunlap
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, December 2023
