River Oaks’ Secret Skincare Guru is Now the Talk of Social Media: Her Chic Room in Houston’s Most Luxe Shopping Mecca Becomes a Uniquely French Retreat

As our social media feeds are full of ads for beauty products and the latest skincare treatments that will lead to the fountain of youth, it ironically becomes harder and harder to pinpoint what the right combination of TLC is for our oh-so-important skin and faces. We definitely need some expert input. Et voila! One of the best skincare experts in Houston — Deborah Michelson — has been gliding under the radar, serving her beauty conscious and devout clients for more than 19 years.

And now, social media is catching on.

Snaps of her pristinely chic facial room in the swank River Oaks District hair salon Bella Rinova have graced the Instagram accounts of Houston notables like Paloma Contreras, bloggers Lily and Jane Morris of  ItsLilyandJane and Kathleen Jennings Beauty. Michelson’s own Instagram account @beautifulglowingskin offers helpful tidbits and tips on skincare that have garnered a rapidly growing following.

The buzz in part stems from Michelson’s alignment with one of the world’s most prestigious and exclusive beauty brands, Biologique Recherche. She is the only aesthetician in Houston trained in its use and the only location selling the line’s coveted products. Biologique Recherche can also be found at several places in Dallas including Joanna Check Studio and The Spa at the Joule Hotel.

Created in Paris 40 years ago, the brand has, of late, been taking the beauty world by storm with a cult following of the celebrity elite and the skincare savvy. You’ll find it in the country’s best skincare spas. A few of the products have been dubbed “Jesus in a bottle” by some of its more fanatical fans.

It takes a dedicated aesthetician to qualify to carry Biologique Recherche. Michelson has logged countless trips to New York and Los Angeles to learn from the brand’s founders and team of expert doctors and aestheticians. The brand insists on a specific process for facials including an in depth lymphatic massage that claims to improve circulation and lifts the skin, one of Michelson’s specialties.

The line’s complex menu of products requires a trained aesthetician to determine which combination is best suited for each client. Thus, the Biologique Recherche facial becomes an exclusive, bespoke experience to restructure one’s skincare routine.

“If the client has been to L.A. for three nights of drinking and eating, they need different products than if they were in Aspen for a week,” Michelson says.

Michelson also has extensive training in specific skincare to treat cancer patients, which has been a longtime passion project and coincidentally, an initiative taken by Biologique. This guru recognizes the growing need for special attention for the high percentage of individuals affected by cancer and she uses her talents to give back.

The Future of Skincare

There is a reason that devotees of Biologique Recherche dish out buzz-worthy accolades on their skin transformations. “The line is all about the skin health. It builds better skin. It’s not peeling yourself or breaking your skin down,” says Michelson, who believes the brand is taking the industry into the future of skincare.

She has a strong confidence in Biologique Recherche’s unique philosophies and the French attitude towards skincare as a culture.

“The French do not wear makeup. They place great importance on skincare. They take their time with their products,” Michelson says, concepts which she encourages her clients to adopt.

Michelson’s main mantra for skincare: Consistency is key. Commit to a routine and stick to it. The hard work will pay off as the client ages, she insists.

“A lot of my business is education, I have to educate my clients,” she says.