Balian Springs spa CEO's best skincare tip is free
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Stephanie Chon
Social wellness is booming. And while D.C. may not (yet) rival New York City's bathhouse renaissance, Alexandria's luxe Balian Springs is quickly becoming a go-to for society soakers.
- If you haven't met the 37-year-old behind the DMV "self-care social club," it's time to know Stephanie Chon.
Zoom in: Chon comes from spa royalty. Her family runs Spa Castle, a staple Korean bathhouse in New York.
- She oversaw one of our region's most creative pandemic-to-office conversions when she built Balian. And now she's expanding on its mega-complex of hydrotherapy pools, saunas and salt rooms.
- A 50,000-square-foot addition focused on medically administered wellness (think therapies and spa injections) is slated to open next year.
Between the lines: Chon is leaning into the social side of self-care, creating more experiences like this winter's apres ski-style pop-up. An expanded membership program is in the works.
The intrigue: We had to ask Chon for her skincare routine — expecting a high-gloss, high-cost answer.
- She surprised us (one of her staples is free.)
- "It's often the simple things that don't cost that much that do the most," Chon tells Axios.
Her #1 hack: End every shower with five minutes of "really, really, really" cold water.
- The goal: tighten skin and boost circulation.
- Not ready for full-body shock? Dunk your face in a bowl of ice water instead.
The under-$200 upgrade: A filtered showerhead.
- Chon uses Filter Baby on her sinks and Canopy for shower heads.
- "I'm noticing a big difference in my skin and hair — they shake up every cell in my body."
The splurge: Monthly Korean body scrubs — a $135 luxe treatment at Balian, but Chon also likes no-frills versions.
- Expect a vigorous, full-body (fully nude) exfoliation. "It sheds your skin like nothing else," she says. "You feel like a baby afterwards."
Her secret weapon: A suitcase full of K-beauty products whenever she visits Korea. Her stateside favorite: a MediCube Gel Collagen Mask (around $20 online).
- After she started using it, she says people began asking: "Are you doing something different with your skin?"
What's next: Balian is hosting an International Women's Day immersive spa day on March 8 featuring workshops and women-owned brands ($165 includes the event and a spa day pass).