I’ve recently entered my 40’s and am much more selective about the level of experience and the places I go for any type of beauty services. Naturally I read a lot of reviews, but I usually avoid writing them. Probably because I’m long-winded and how long it takes to make sure I’m actually conveying what I want to get across. I annoy myself for it. But midway through my session with Madaline (Maddie) today, I felt compelled to write one. This was my second session with her at Xenana.
My first experience at the spa was actually with Shuba, whose reviews had initially drawn me in. I had a wonderful consultation and facial, and on her recommendation I booked a series of three infusion facials with microchanneling. There was a scheduling mix-up for my second visit, and thanks to the calendar gods, my appointment landed with Maddie. The front desk was very kind and apologetic, but honestly, it turned out to be the best surprise.
That first infusion session with Maddie was excellent, and my skin looked and felt amazing for weeks afterward. Today was my second infusion with her (this time booked on purpose), and halfway through I realized how grateful I am to have found not just a spa, but the right person for this new season of self-care I’m stepping into.
Maddie is a natural. She’s knowledgeable, intuitive, and brilliant at what she does. If technical skill is what matters most to you, then stop reading and book an appointment.
The reason I’m writing this review though is because, you know when someone is both excellent at their craft, as if they were born to do it as part of their path, and also just a genuinely good human? That’s Maddie. She knows when I feel like chatting and when I don’t, and she flows with it naturally. For those of us sensitive to energy, that’s such a rare and comforting quality. She makes you feel at ease and cared for in a way that goes beyond skincare. At one point today, I even thought: “If I’d ever had a sister, this is what a ‘good sister’ vibe would feel like, caring, warm, and steady.”
And then, almost right after having those thoughts, we started chatting about something and ended up laughing together over a couple of random stories. Not polite giggles, but the kind of laughter that sneaks up on you and won’t stop, like when you’re a kid in class trying to stay quiet. It was so unexpected and definitely not what I’d ever anticipate in a treatment room (and I don’t get the sense that’s her usual MO either). Just one of those rare, lighthearted moments that sticks with you.
Of course I don’t expect future sessions to go like that, but I’ll still be sticking with her as long as she’s offering beauty services. Maddie is just good people. And when you’re taking the time to nurture yourself, it makes an incredible difference to feel that same energy reflected back by the person caring for you.