Where Care Meets Craft
Local beauty and self-care specialists not only enhance the appearance but also nurture confidence, connection, and well-being.
While there’s never a bad time to care for your skin or otherwise invest in how you look and feel about yourself, the onset of autumn may very well be the perfect time, according to Bonnie Benedetto, the practice director of Bella Body Medical Spa in Yardley.
“Fall is laser season, also known as clean-up season,” says Benedetto. “You’ve just finished a season out in the sun and your tan is fading away. We can get all that cleaned up and offer a plan for the next couple of months to take you into the holidays and through the new year.”
Bella Body, which opened in 2011, provides clients with anti-aging and spa treatments of the highest quality, delivered in a serene and welcoming environment. As a full-service medical spa, Bella Body offers clients a diverse selection of medical-grade beauty services, including body sculpting, dermaplaning, injectables, and microneedling.
“Whether you’re looking for basic skin health to make the skin strong again, treating skin damage, or wanting to give the skin a nice lift, there’s no better time than now,” Benedetto adds. “Ultherapy is one of our favorite treatments, which can give the skin a natural-looking lift without having to go under the knife.”
Fall is also one of the most popular seasons for weddings—a day when everyone needs to look their best and brightest. As the owner of The Makeup and Wax Room in Warrington, Eileen Gelman loves “being a part of people’s lifelong memories,” even if it requires some degree of personal sacrifice. For a recent bridal party in Warminster with 11 bridesmaids, Gelman had to leave her house at 6 a.m. for a 7 a.m. start time, just to make sure they feel rushed.
Gelman, who has more than 25 years of experience as a professional makeup artist and licensed aesthetician, provides her clients with stunning looks and a wide range of high-quality professional aesthetic services. She also keeps busy with her own lines of cosmetics and beauty products, which she has sold for nearly 30 years. While some clients come to her studio, she travels for events, including weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other special occasions, as far away as Delaware and Brooklyn. She and a team of makeup artists often head to the wedding venue to work on the bride and the bridal party; it takes about 30 to 45 minutes per person.
In addition to special events, Gelman has clients who come in to get makeup on milestone birthdays or graduation portraits, and they often bring in a few girlfriends to share the rite of passage. Regardless of the occasion, Gelman has worked hard over the years to stay abreast of shifting trends. Going in to the heart of autumn this year, Gelman sees a lot of interest in green and earth tones. These trends tend to trickle down from the fashion world—another interest of hers.
“In 1998, some of my regular clients would come every single weekend to get their makeup done just to go out to dinner with friends or family members,” she says. “They still come in for new cosmetics, waxing, and facial services, but they most often save the makeup application for special events.
“I have clients who have been coming to me for more than 20 years—grandmothers, daughters, and granddaughters—and they tell all of their friends,” she continues. “The fact that they love my work and they trust me means the world to me. It is the best feeling of all.”
Beauty and self-care are intensely personal, and many don’t know where to begin in terms of what’s best for them. Benedetto says that’s where the provider comes in. The right provider will work hard to understand a person’s goals and preferences before they craft a treatment plan.
“Our providers are excellent in their consultations,” she adds. “We have a robust list of services, and it can be overwhelming to some. All of our providers have a calm way about them, and they will explain our services in terms that are understandable.
“It’s important for someone to have a realistic approach in terms of what they’re trying to accomplish, and it’s our job to guide you,” she continues. “We have to be comfortable saying, ‘I know you want that, but I don’t think this approach would be best for you.’ There are many services, and we’re here to give a look at the big picture. If you come to a place that has excellent providers you can trust, you’re going to get a result that makes you happy.”
Bill Donahue contributed to this story.
Beauty Spots
The Philadelphia area has an abundance of professionals who specialize in beauty and self-care who are devoted to helping their clients look and feel their very best—for special occasions or “just because.” Following is a short list of local providers known for their ability to deliver exceptional results.
The Philadelphia area has an abundance of professionals who specialize in beauty and self-care who are devoted to helping their clients look and feel their very best—for special occasions or “just because.” Following is a short list of local providers known for their ability to deliver exceptional results.
Ame Salon & Spa
Wayne
amesalonandspa.com
Wayne
amesalonandspa.com
Bella Body Medical Spa
Yardley
bellabodymedicalspa.com
Yardley
bellabodymedicalspa.com
The Makeup and Wax Room
Warrington
themakeupandwaxroom.square.site
Warrington
themakeupandwaxroom.square.site
NS.Aesthetics
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
nsaestheticsrn.com
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
nsaestheticsrn.com
Oil Divine
Newtown
oildivine.com
Newtown
oildivine.com
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, August 2025.
