Back in in the day, my college roommate introduced me to Georgette Klinger, a day spa before before the term “day spa” came into being. Georgette Klinger, an immigrant from what is now The Czech Republic, started her career by creating some simple facial skincare products in her kitchen. She opened her first “salon” in 1941 in New York. She believed in exercise and good nutrition, and she was a whizz at treating acne. Her salon became so popular and successful, there were two locations on Madison Avenue in New York alone, and 8 other locations in major cities throughout the U.S.
Photo via Flickr/matusiak
I was broke in college and graduate school, so my roommate Carol was kind enough to let me use the masks and some of the other products that she bought at Georgette Klinger. At some point, I must have come into some money because I started going there myself, from time to time, and the aestheticians at Klinger taught me how to take care of my skin. When I worked in advertising during the 1980s and 1990s, I was a frequent client. The salon was filled with Eastern European women who performed miraculous facials and massages. They were incredibly well-trained and skillful. Frankly, I had never found another day spa that did as good a job.
Although her daughter, Kathryn, took over the business for a while, it was, sadly, sold in 1988. Not sure if the company was sold yet again, but the Klinger Corporation, no longer owned by the Klinger family, went bankrupt in December 2007. Things had not been the same for a number of years. They gave up on Georgette Klinger’s eponymous line of skincare and makeup products, and replaced them with “designer” products. What a shame. I know you’re not supposed to keep makeup and skincare products beyond a few months, but for sentimental reasons, I have held on to a jar of moisturizer, a tube of the most incredible hand cream, and a tube of “eye foundation” — a precursor to eye primer. Since then, I have not been able to find an aesthetician who could do a facial like the women at Georgette Klinger…until today.
Several months ago, I bought a Groupon for a facial at M. Lekkakos, a local business in Wenham MA where I live. I had to use it by next week, so I called several days ago and set up an appointment for today.
Rulla did my facial, and it was the best facial I’ve had in more than 10 years. She started by putting on a peel made with alguronic acid, a marine ingredient, that made the peel smell kind of like lobster. Since I live on the coast and lobster is my favorite food, smelling like lobster is OK with me. In addition, I recently wrote a review of a serum with alguronic acid, Algenist Concentrated Reconstructing Serum, that I liked a lot, so I was happy to try a peel using that ingredient. She cleaned my skin thoroughly, cleaning out enlarged pores and blackheads, lancing a milia (whitehead) that’s been bugging me for ages. Basically, she did what you expect from a facial that, surprisingly, other aestheticians in the past told me they didn’t do.
In addition to the peel and mask, the facial also came with a face, neck, decolletage, hand, arm, feet, leg, and scalp massage as well. I asked her if she also did body massage, and she said no. I was shocked because that was just short of a full massage. Anyway, it was great! Unbelievably relaxing. The best facial I’ve had since Georgette Klinger by far, and that includes the facial I had at the Canyon Ranch day spa in Las Vegas.
She applied a moisturizer by Osmosis for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin after the facial to help my skin calm down. Because I tend to develop small blackheads on my cheekbones at the corner of my eyes, she applied and suggested I buy Thalgo Firming Eye Contour Gel instead of eye cream because she said eye cream is more likely to clog my pores. Hmm, I just bought a jar of Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Eye Cream a couple of weeks ago, and I still haven’t finished the OWN Lifting Eye Cream that I also like. She gave me a sample of the eye gel to try at home. I am eager to see how it performs. For summer, the gel might be a good choice.
I don’t remember what I paid for that Groupon, but whatever it was, it was an incredible bargain. Their regular facial is $100, and I think it is worth it because it lasts an hour and also includes an almost complete massage. I was so pleased that I booked my next facial when I was checking out. They gave me a discounted rate of $80 either for being a repeat customer or for giving them my email address. Whatever the reason for the discount, I say great! So in two months, I’ll be back again for a repeat performance.
If you live in or are planning to visit the North Shore of MA, consider booking a facial with Rulla at M. Lekkakos. I have nothing to gain by this recommendation other than sharing a great facial. If you do, let me know what you think.
M. Lekkakos, 154 Main St., Wenham MA, 978-468-9540, ask for Rulla
#MLekkakos
So, does anybody have any memories or stories about Georgette Klinger salons or products?
And if you’re interested in checking out any of the products, here are the links on Amazon:
I am still trying to find any of her products…..I use to get facials at the Galleria in Dallas Texas from Yana.. the best facial ever!!! If you know of any products that are similar the the hand creme and wash off please let me know.
Janet, I was hoping I’d hear from some Georgette Klinger lovers on this blogpost! thank you 🙂 I believe I had a facial at the Galleria in Dallas and also a couple of times at the Galleria salon in Houston when I was there on business. I haven’t found anything that is exactly like any of the GK products, one reason why it was such a big loss. However, Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Foaming Cleanser is similar – though not the same, and for the hand cream, Neutrogena’s Norwegian formula hand cream is vaguely similar. I keep hoping the family will be able to afford to get things going again during my lifetime. They had bought back the name a couple of years ago, I heard.
Hi Allison, Georgette Klinger products are back and available to the public now!
Yes, Laurie, I’ve written about the new Georgette Klinger products. https://www.neversaydiebeauty.com/brand-spotlight/news-about-georgette-klinger-skincare-reintroduction/ https://www.neversaydiebeauty.com/brand-spotlight/the-return-of-my-favorite-skincare-georgette-klinger/ In fact, some were in my Best of 2017 Skincare post too! https://www.neversaydiebeauty.com/skincare-2/my-best-of-skincare-2017/ All the best!
Fantastic blog post! The Thalgo firming eye gel is AMAZING. I’ve been using it for years and it’s my absolute fave. What did you think? And what are you using now?
Kirstie recently posted…What’s so good about Argan Oil?
Kirstie, I am so sorry, that I didn’t see your comment on this blogpost. So good to hear that you really like the Thalgo firming eye gel. I have to admit that I still haven’t purchased it because it’s so pricey and I still have so many eye creams. But I will keep my eye on the price and pounce when there’s a deal. I’m using a Vichy retinol eye cream at night and during the day, Nuance or Estee Lauder Resilience Lift.
I used to get facials at the Georgette Klinger salon in Beverly Hills in the ’70’s as a teenager and in my early twenties. I loved stepping through the doors into the peace and quiet of her salon, leaving the roar of traffic on Rodeo Drive behind me. The scent of the salon is unforgettable; it was the scent of the herbal facial steam, a mix of chamomile, lavender and rose, heavenly. I had a facialist named Miss Young. She would carefully tuck the blanket under my toes and also carefully align my earlobes under the headband that was placed before the facial began. She would give the most relaxing massage to the back of my neck, hands and arms. Miss Young would always ask if I was alright as she left me to doze in the facial steam. The products were pure and simple and made of natural ingredients and not too many of them. One did feel very clean, fresh and re-newed afterwards.Yes, those were the days.
Ana, thank you for your comment and your wonderful remembrance of the Georgette Klinger Salon in Beverly Hills! I never got to try that salon, but your description was so perfect, that it took me right back to the Madison Ave salon in the 1980s and early ’90s. It was heaven 🙂
I still have a compact of Georgette Klinger cream rouge. Its from the 90s and I continue to use it. Cant find anything as pure and creamy. Its old but still seems fine. Any suggestions?
Ann, that’s a tough question, and I’m laughing because I feel the same way about a couple of GK products that I too can’t throw away. That said, we both probably shouldn’t be using them at this point. I am assuming that the GK products must have parabens (e.g. methylparaben etc.) in them because mine too doesn’t smell or look bad. And probably a cheek product may not be dangerous (but don’t quote me on that, lol!). The one I love is an eye foundation, and at this point, I keep it as a museum-piece but don’t really use it. And I think I also have the iconic pink mask powder (but I don’t use it either)! Finding an exact replacement for your cream blush isn’t easy. Most cream blush now come in stick form. For everyday, my favorites are Maybelline Face Studio Master Glaze and the indie brand sold online, Be A Bombshell. I also have a cream blush I love from a Stila Limited Edition palette called Under the Mistletoe. Stila does have cream blush compacts that I suggest you check out to see if they suit you. In powder, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes are all the rage! And MAC has come out with some gorgeous powder blush shades in their new limited edition Aquatic line for summer. Let me know, Ann, what you decide to do. I feel your pain!! 😉
Sometime in the mid-1980s when I was in my 20s, I was introduced to the Georgette Klinger salon on Madison around 51st Street. I was a young African American woman working in legal as a word processor (it was a field back then!), and always had challenges with oily skin and acne. I was concerned about whether the salon worked with Black women’s skin and will always remember how the appointment booker looked at me as if I had just insulted her mother! My facialist, Olga, did miraculous things to my skin and told me every product I needed to purchase. I would often by the 10-visit card and continued to purchase their products for years, getting facials from time to time in the 1990s when I could afford it. My skin has NEVER looked the same. I was so sad when they closed, shocked actually, and quite surprised about the news of how the brand treated their long-time loyal staff. Just horrible. I am delighted to read your blog and discover that a spa in MA has given you the same amazing experience you received years ago at Georgette Klinger. I live in NYC and there are tons of spas here but I don’t have the time or money to go experimenting around. I think I’ll come to MA one weekend and check out M. Lekkakos. If it is all you say it is, it will be worth the trip for the facial and the products. Thanks so much for sharing!
Monica, thank you so much for sharing your experiences at Georgette Klinger! I’m so happy that you also have (mostly!) great memories. It was such a shame that the family sold the business. It was such a mistake for them and for their customers. I keep hoping they’ll get it back (I thought I read that they did) and that they would resurrect it but so far, nothing. I am going to M. Lekkakos for a facial with Rula on Wednesday, the last of their 20% off Wednesday promotions. Rula is a very good esthetician who gives a facial similar to the women at Klinger. The salon itself it not as spacious, well decorated and beautiful as Georgette Klinger salons were. The products they carry are not private label like at Klinger. I really like the facial that Rula gives me, but I’m not sure I’d travel all the way from NYC for it — there’s gotta be someplace good in the city, lol! But if you do, let me know so we can get together! Thank you again for your comment, Monica!
Monica, Olga told the friend who introduced me to Klinger that a facialist in Russia could be imprisoned for harming a client’s face. And although I doubted even then that the Soviets needed much in the way of an excuse to imprison people, her point was well taken–the aestheticians at GK came from a culture where skin care was serious business.
It has been five years – five – since I finished my last jar of Georgette Klinger Eye Cream #2. I used that eye cream religiously, morning and night, for 20 years. MY husband used it daily for about six years. No other eye cream could touch it. That is is still true today. When I ask for a cream that is sticky and will stay on the skin for at least four hours, SA’s look at me like I am nuts! That cream was awesome! Sometimes, I would wear just it, eyebrow pencil and red lipstick. That eye cream’s transparent yellowish tint minimized dark circles. Because of this eye cream, I still have no lined eyes or crow’s feet. And I never stop searching for a jar of it on eBay, or via blog posts like this one. If anyone has a jar, or knows of a decent substitute, I would love to know!
Kit, I never got to try the Klinger eye cream, but I was in love with the eye foundation. I still have some of the eye foundation, the hand cream, and the two part pink powder mask. But it’s so old, I don’t use them. Even with parabens as an anti-bacterial, they would still be ancient and I’m afraid unsafe. I keep them as ‘museum pieces’. It was heart-breaking that George Klinger Salon closed, and that whoever bought them discontinued the Klinger product line (that was so stupid also). I don’t think I’ve found replacements that I love quite as much, but I’ve found some good products. As far as eye creams go, that’s tough since I never tried the one you love so much. I am using several. My favorite is Algenist Firming & Lifting Eye Gel. It definitely lasts on me for more than four hours. I use it above my lid for the crepey area under my eyebrows, and I apply it below the eye too, but I do not have dark circles. Take a look at it in Sephora and see what you think. Thanks so much for your comment. Hopefully, one day the Klinger family will reopen and remake the product line, sigh
I have fond memories of GK in NY. My mother was a devoted client for many years, then it was my turn. Loved her product and the esthethicians were extremely curteous and knowledgeable (Astrid, Joanna, etc…). The eye cream was the best, today I used the last drop of the Dream Cream PLUS to massage the face and neck. I had few jars in the Frig. and now all is finished. Wish the family kept the business of producing their line of product instead of selling it out.
I, too, have very fond memories of the GK salons. I had facials in New York, Beverly Hills, and in Chicago when a salon opened in the windy city. It was a mere 100 mile drive from my home in Milwaukee. Over the years I used many of their make up items as well as the GK skin care products. My absolute favorite was the #2 eye cream. When the salon closed in Chicago I managed to buy the last nine jars of the #2 eye cream. I kept them refrigerated and they remained in perfect condition. I am now using my last jar and I have no idea of what I will do when it is used up. Any suggestions or ideas of a decent replacement?
Oh, Joyce, it is so wonderful to hear from another Georgette Klinger devotee! You definitely got me beat – driving 100 miles to go to the salon! But yes, I’m sure it was so worth it. I had a couple of jars and tubes of my favorites, but I had moved from NYC to the Boston area in the last years of the business and I didn’t realize it was coming to an end. First, her daughter took over and then, when I saw they were using Vincent Longo makeup and I asked about it, I learned that the business had been sold. In my naiveté, I didn’t expect it to go out of business so quickly. I am still bereft! I’m glad you got your products to last so long. Also, I think the GK skincare contained parabens so they last longer than if they hadn’t and the fridge certainly helped a lot. I have a couple of jars and tubes in my medicine chest, but I keep them for old times sake, gazing upon them with fondness. I am not sure I used the #2 Eye Cream – was it pink cream in a tiny jar? I have a number of eye creams that I like but you’ll have to tell me what benefits you’re looking for. I like Shiseido IBUKI Eye Cream for terrific under eye brightening. I’m currently using new StriVectin Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles on my crow’s feet and some disturbing wrinkles that recently began to form under my eye socket, and so far so good. I also really like PCA Revitalizing Eye Gel – it can be used on the skin under the brows and on the eyelid as well as under the eye. I have sensitive skin on my eyes so I need gentle eye creams/gels that both soothe my inflamed eyelids and also help tighten the loose skin under my brows/above my crease, and PCA seems to be doing the job so far. I hope this helped somewhat. Thanks so much, Joyce, for reading my post and taking the time to comment. I still hope that the family will get their act together and reopen the salons. I heard they bought back the name and I think the skincare/makeup formulas several years ago, but nothing seems to be coming of it yet. Let me know if you hear something!
My heart broke when i learned she closed. I was a college student in the 80’S In NYC and saved my pennies all year to make the august sale last me several months of facials. I was hoping to grow up and afford frequent GK care. Graduate school occupied my finances till the 1990’s and that day never arrived in time. I threw out my last little paddle about 10 years ago. My skin looked so amazing. Yes i was younger, but even then the improvement was remarkable. It was actually an emotional experience for me to do without GK. So happy to find another GK devotee. Thanks for the recommendations on products. I wonder, do you think you could recall the procedure for face cleansing and care? It was so specific…. the paddles to apply the product, and never to use the hands to clean, is that right? I forget.. cotton pads dampened to remove the product. I forget how the toner was applied… but i do remember to use my ring finger to apply eye cream! One genuinely felt she was cultivating beauty…
Lise, how nice to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I felt exactly the same way that you did about GK. It was where I learned about skincare. And their approach was so professional and non-judgmental. They were trying to form a relationship with their customers, and certainly with you and me (and probably about a million others) they succeeded. BTW, if you want to buy more makeup spatulas, there are a number of inexpensive options on Amazon. The methods/procedure that you describe are quite standard now for skincare. Yes, I think they did you cotton pads to apply and remove most of the skincare products. I apply toner with cotton pads now. For cleansing now, there are so many options. I use either a Foreo Luna, a Michael Todd Cleansing Brush (like a Clarisonic) or a konjac sponge to clean my face after I’ve removed my makeup with Micellar Water applied with a cotton pad. I think GK’s principles have helped me maintain good skin all these years even after they closed. I still dream that her family will resurrect the salons one of these days. One can hope!
Amazing. I too will never forget my Georgette Klinger experiences. I had never had a facial at the time nor had I been to a spa, when my older sister took me for my 20th birthday in 1986… I was hooked! The most amazing experience, I have yet to recreate. My sister and I adored the products and she was a loyal customer. My sister has since passed away from breast cancer, but I cherish the memories I have of our special girl outings to Madison Avenue and all of the amazing estheticians and products that were behind those silver doors. I was so upset when they closed. Miss the August sale too.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for taking the time to tell me about your visits to Georgette Klinger and sharing your memories about going to GK with your dear older sister. I learned about GK from my college roommate whose mom gave her the money to go, and my friend was kind enough to let me try the pink powder mask that you mix up with a liquid activator, if you remember that one. I believe I was in my early 20s after I graduated from college when I saved up enough money to go there myself. I became a fan, and when I worked on Madison Avenue, I used to buy a series of facials (6 I think it was), and boy was that luxury. One year, I bought a series of massages, wow. A couple of years ago, I found a local woman here in MA who was almost as good as the women from Eastern Europe who worked at GK, but she left and now I’m without again. I agree, I miss the August sale. So sad that the family screwed up and lost such a wonderful business that had such loyal fans as we still are!
I have to post my 2¢ about the Georgette Klinger experience.
Back around, I think, 1976, I was a young woman with a tendency to break out. A friend at work told me about the literally miraculous results she’d achieved with GK facials and products, so off I went. An aesthetician evaluated my skin and wrote up an invoice that listed a very reasonable number of products. As I headed to the desk to place my order and pay, Miss Klinger herself intercepted me so she could “see what we recommended for you today.” She glanced at the list and said, “Oh, no!” and proceed to take pen to a number of items, saying “You don’t need this, you don’t need this, . . ..” She came close to slashing the list in half and if you think I’ll EVER forget a sales technique like that, you’re sadly mistaken. Miss Klinger walked an interesting line between cutting edge and non-sexy ingredients that just happened to do a terrific job; I believe she was the first to include collagen and elastin in her products (I still have a bottle of the Complex in the fridge). She always made it a point to stop me for a shmooze when I was in to buy products and, of course, I have yet to find anything that compares with her line, including the resurrected one (which is quite good but substitutes a lot of what’s currently sexy for what was proven). It’s so nice that there’s a watering hole for those of us who were “in the know.” And Monica, I remember Olga well; when I could afford a facial, I used her or Rosaly (that’s how she spelled it).
Karen, thank you so much for sharing your story about your “run-in” with Miss Klinger. How amazing! Unfortunately, I never saw her or her daughter at GK when I stopped in, I don’t think. I agree with your assessment of the original GK product line and it’s ingredients. It was an essentially serious, no-frills line that did the job. I too have a few products from the original line that I’ve kept for nostalgia sake. I wish I could remember the aestheticians who did my facials and massages. Frankly, I don’t think I realized that I could choose a specific person back then!
I never met Miss Kathryn either although I was flattered when Miss Klinger once tried to blow off a phone call from her so she could continue chatting with me. My former fiancé met her, though, before he and I met.
I couldn’t afford the facials (a peel was the frosting on the cake) very often back then but when I could, I saw Olga or Rosaly. I REALLY miss the oasis that was that salon, and you summed it up nicely: the products really did the job. And weren’t the post-facial complementary makeup applications wonderful? (Miss Klinger once told me that even though she sold foundation, I should try to avoid wearing it except for “special occasions”–very mom-like.)
Do you remember those beautiful Lucite carts with the bowls of crudités and the Lucite pitchers that had plain mineral water and water crammed with slices of orange, lemon, and lime? She really was ahead of her time!
I love your reminiscences, Karen! Thank you so much for sharing them. I don’t have any friends around here (I moved to the Boston area) who know anything about Georgette Klinger and her lovely salons and products. I certainly do remember the Lucite carts with the celery and carrot sticks and the wonderful citrus water. When I first started going to GK, I had never seen anything like it. It was true luxury but also seriousness to me. I wish there was a way to make it all happen again!
You nailed it: it was both luxurious but very serious about being healthful. And thank goodness there are those who still remember! The Red Door might have had more bling (and the products were more readily available) but for serious products that did the job? There was nothing like GK; I almost felt like the clientele were members of a really cool club. I did, however, go to the Rose Reti salon once for a fabulous makeup job–the makeup artist’s name was Nilo (pronounced like Neil with an o on the end). Such fun in NYC back then–I’m still here but I really miss the NYC that was.
I miss NYC a lot, Karen. It’s gotten too expensive to visit very often. In fact, it’s been 2 years since I’ve been to the city – seems inconceivable to me since I lived there for so long. I came to NYC to go to Barnard and then to grad school at Fordham in the Bronx, and I stayed on for years and years. Moved back to MA in 2001. New York has changed a lot, and it’s become unaffordable sadly. I agree with your assessment – I miss the NYC that was too, even the grittiness. At any rate, so happy you got in touch! Very pleased to meet another “member of a really cool club”!!