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The World According to Lance

You don’t know bluemercury’s go-to facial and brow authority? You might be one of the only ones.

Washington-based beauty outpost bluemercury counts Harrison Ford and Lauryn Hill among some of its clients.

In nearly ten years with Washington-based beauty outpost bluemercury, spa director Lance Etchison has achieved a cult following for both his facial techniques and his eyebrow-shaping skills. Over the years, he’s unclogged the pores and streamlined the brows of everyone from Harrison Ford to Lauryn Hill to Monica Lewinsky (back in her carefully groomed deposition days, of course).

Etchison works out of the store’s Georgetown branch but oversees the spa menu and aesthetician training for bluemercury’s growing national reach—now nearly 30 stores and counting. We sat down with Washington’s best-known extraction expert to get his take on everything from do-it-yourself skincare secrets to who’s got the best brows for the White House. It was all so good, we came up with ten foolproof quotes that make up Lance’s Guide to Great Grooming.

Lance Etchison.

1. “I’m so glad to see that women in Washington have finally come around to embracing fashion and style as part of their regular thought process. The ugly navy-blue pantsuit is now fitted and tailored and styled. Even the bobby-socks-and-gym-shoes combination is being phased out. I’m thrilled that women here have finally discovered the ballet flat!”

2. “I don’t know a single woman who goes around with completely natural eyebrows anymore.”

3. “Natural-shaped arches are best. When I look at the eyebrows, I’m looking to see where it naturally goes and start working from there. I always want to create a very natural, clean, classic eyebrow.”

4. “I tell people that facials are like going to the dentist and getting your teeth cleaned. There are just things that we can do that can’t be done at home—like properly done extractions, microdermabrasions, professional-grade glycolic peels, and medical-grade oxygen treatments. Of course, after you’ve had an aesthetician clean your face, you still need to do upkeep at home—just like you still need to brush your teeth the next day after a dentist’s visit.”

5. “The top things that someone can do for their skin is to clean it every morning and night, exfoliate at least three times per week, and hydrate it properly, including moisturizer and eye cream. And everyone should be using sunblock every day. That’s it: clean, hydrate, protect—it’s really basic, and yet people don’t always do it.”

6. “Ideally, you should have a facial at least once every three months—that’s one per season, an amount that can fit into most people’s budgets. That said, some clients come every month and some come once or twice a year. Anything is better than nothing at all.”

7. "My favorite products? I love Sweep from Remede, the line from Bliss founder Marcia Kilgore. It’s an exfoliant made from Italian marble, which retains a spherical shape no matter how finely it’s been ground. It’s gentle enough for nearly every type of skin.”

For facial-like treatments, I love the Remede Skin Exacting Mask, which is great for minimizing pores. Dermalogica has a fantastic hydrating mask, and both the Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peek Mask, and the MD Skincare Daily Face Peel is great at-home mini-peel as well.”

8. “Think long and hard before you do something like permanent hair removal on your eyebrows. Down the road, trends could change and you just might want to have thin, Marlene Dietrich-style eyebrows for a year.”

9. “I’m a huge Hillary fan, so I’d love to get her in here. I think her brows look great—they’re much better than when she was the First Lady—but I do think they could be slightly fuller. If I got her in here, we might do a slight grow-in on her brows. Michelle Obama also looks great, and her clothes are fantastic, but she needs a little help with her eyebrows—which, of course, I’d be willing to give. I think they’re just too thin on the ends. And Cindy McCain? I can’t even talk about her.”

10. “The one rule they teach you in beauty school is never discuss politics and religion, but here you can’t escape it. That said, I have great, loyal clients who are both Democrats and Republicans. Really, I’m an equal-opportunity facialist.”

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Comments

My partner and I have been going to Lance for years. I agree with the other posting which refers to him as a Washington institution!

Posted by: ElizabethB, Jun 25, 2008 10:27:55 AM

Does he write a regular column? Someone link me please!

Posted by: Jane Kurdel, Jun 23, 2008 01:07:43 PM

This guy is hysterical! I want to read more!!!!

Posted by: M.Schier, Jun 16, 2008 06:49:06 AM

He’s really busy and he’s been working every day.

Posted by: Toni, Jun 15, 2008 05:25:58 AM

Ok

I have to admit it to myself, my friends and my loved ones.

I’m.

I’m.

I’m addicted to facials by Lance.

I try and try and try NOT to go EACH WEEK, but I’m weak and give in to my addiction.

Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find a 12-step program that might help me spend at least one weekend out of Georgetown, away from Blue Mercury, and possibly even stay at home alone, watching TV, even perhaps just once forgetting to use my MD Forte Cleanser and Cream....Level III of course....morning and at night....by Dr. Fuchs...

But, tomorrow is another day! And, well, Lance might, he just MIGHT have an opening! And there is nothing like the feel of Lance exfoliating your face, extracting unwanted particles with that LANCE precision...then the dermabrasion and an oxygen finish, and you leave the store, put your sunglasses on, and just wait for the stares, the smiles, the adulation that TRULY happens.

It’s true. When I leave Blue Mercury after having a facial, dermabrasion and oxygen treatment, people notice my face....it truly glows, and the chic wannabees try to sneer but can’t. You just look too darn good! And, if you don’t have the money to go every week, I might establish a scholarship fund.....

Posted by: Shep, Jun 06, 2008 07:46:47 PM

I have been seeing Lance for almost a decade and I wouldn’t trust anyone else near my face. He is responsible for my constantly glowing youthful complexion.

Posted by: Veronica Biltmore, Jun 06, 2008 08:34:08 AM

Lance has worked magic with my skin! You better get some micro! Sorry ladies, I’ve got first dibs!!!

Posted by: Renee , Jun 06, 2008 08:23:21 AM

I have been going to Lance for years, and can attest that he is truly the best! I have taken my out of town girl visitors to see him on our "spa days". He is so good that now when people know they are coming to see me, they request an appointment to stop and see Lance as well. The joke is, "Oh you are going to DC? You HAVE to go and see Lance!"

Posted by: Sarah Grabarz, Jun 05, 2008 07:28:05 AM

Back off ladies(and smart gents), he’s mine! Lance is the master magician of DC brows. His hands are the best in the business...this man is quite the character.

Posted by: Renee Peres, Jun 04, 2008 05:23:20 PM

Back off ladies...he’s mine! Lance works absolute magic with brows. Best hands in business.

Posted by: Renee Peres, Jun 04, 2008 05:21:38 PM

Cool blog post. I love Lance. He is a Washington institution.

Posted by: Jennifer Simmons, Jun 04, 2008 12:06:37 PM

Great article! Wow! An esthetician with a brain! I know who I will be going to see for some treatments and products in the near future.
I’d like to see a feature article in the Washingtonian all about Lance. He seems really interesting and unique.

Posted by: Susan Blake, Jun 04, 2008 12:03:50 PM

I LOVE Lance. I am so glad the Washingtonian has finally discovered this brilliant man behind the spa at Blue Mercury. I have been going to him for years. His facials and eyebrows are the BEST in the city.
Hurry up and book an appointment girls... the secret is finally out!

Posted by: Stella Malone, Jun 04, 2008 12:01:46 PM

I have been going to him since 1999. The best.

Posted by: Clare, Jun 04, 2008 11:46:48 AM

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The World According to Lance

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