ANGELA CAGLIA
Angela Caglia understands the alchemy of a carefully orchestrated facial. After one of her treatments—with, say, Helena Christensen, Alexandra Daddario, or Barbra Streisand—there is the quiet reveal. “I like to see them look in the mirror,” the Los Angeles–based aesthetician says, sounding like a fairy godmother known for bestowing incandescent skin. “That’s my favorite part.”
Caglia traces her interest in beauty transformations to her childhood in California’s agricultural belt. “My grandfather was a big farmer, and I would make masks with all of his apricots and peaches,” she recalls of her homemade experiments. Meanwhile, the era’s prevailing aesthetic had the volume turned way up. “I grew up in the ’80s, when my mom was caking on her Lancôme foundation and pink lips and Aqua Net hairspray,” she adds. “Women were just packing on everything—like a costume, almost.” When Caglia decamped to Paris in her early 20s to study at La Sorbonne, she got a memorable lesson in the French school of beauté: clean red lip, a flutter of mascara, and de rigueur facials. Upon returning to California, she landed a job with the skin care institute Yon-Ka Paris, the first stop on the road to becoming a sought-after aesthetician.
After building her name, Caglia built her namesake brand. The line’s runaway success—Cell Forté Serum with BIOMSC™ which debuted last fall as a VIOLET GREY exclusive—rather audaciously draws its power from human mesenchymal stem cells; through a patented biotech process, her lab formulates with the surrounding supercharged liquid, rich in growth factors, peptides, and exosomes. “It’s legit,” says Caglia, unabashedly likening it to the Fountain of Youth for its noticeable effects on pigmentation and barrier strength and bounce. Find it and more top-tier indulgences in her well-edited BAG.
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I’m obsessed with the VIOLET GREY cosmetic bags. Not only are they well-made and chic, they also have a dark lining inside so they always look neat and clean. I have every color—perfect for travel.
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This formula of mine is in a league of its own. I love the high-end organic oils like sea buckthorn, rosehip, and meadowfoam, and the spa-like aroma of ylang-ylang and frankincense transports your senses immediately. It’s the perfect oil to add to any regimen, especially in the colder months.
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In a world of instant gratification, this peel is on point. I love the formula, which has glycolic acid along with hydrating and soothing ingredients. It’s great before an event or trip if you can’t get in for a facial. Tina Chen Craig is the real deal!
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A fabulous at-home treatment in between facials. (I use two in my treatments with clients.) I love it because it stays cool and doesn’t cause inflammation—sometimes a factor with superficial heat on the barrier—while delivering red light to stimulate collagen synthesis.
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Obsessed with the luxury and feel of the Tiffany blue compact, and the balm is made with the best natural oils. It’s heaven for an instant lip facial, especially in the winter, to keep lipstick even and long-lasting. A must-have in my bag!
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This breakthrough serum has won five top beauty awards since launching exclusively at VIOLET GREY a year ago. It replaces retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and even peptide serums. The power of human stem-cell exosomes, growth factors, and cytokines cannot be matched. It’s a religion. My Hollywood clients go nuts if they run out. Me too!
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I don’t wear fragrance. I only wear Portrait of a Lady. It’s literally the best thing I’ve ever smelled. It’s beyond.
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