Policies and FAQ
Do you sell gift cards?
Although I wholeheartedly welcome and appreciate referrals to my practice, I do not offer gift cards. Please don’t book an appointment for anyone other than yourself, as I am only taking new clients in a very limited capacity. See below.
I just want a 60-minute facial. Why do I have to book at 90-minute New Client Facial?
Due to high demand, I am only able to take on one or two new clients a month. My work is most beneficial to folks who are interested in committing to regular treatments. Because of this, the first session includes a comprehensive intake. My aim is to understand your skin history and goals. As skin wellness is intertwined with physical, mental, and emotional well-being, our conversation will delve into your lifestyle, skin history, current skincare regimen, and any other pertinent details. No concern is too big or too small. The intake process is typically 20 minutes or so. In order for you to get a full treatment, it’s best that we have a longer session. Thanks for understanding.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
I value your time, and I appreciate that sometimes schedule adjustments are necessary. I kindly ask that you provide at least 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling of appointments. When you forget, cancel or change your appointment without adequate notice, I am unable to fill the appointment time.
If an appointment is cancelled or rescheduled with fewer than 48 hours notice, the card used to book your appointment will be charged 50% of the cost of the session, regardless of the reason.
No calls and no-shows will be charged 100% of the cost of the session.
Payment cannot be refunded or applied to a future appointment.
Please do not come to your appointment if you are experiencing any contagious or infectious respiratory, gastrointestinal or skin symptoms of any kind. If you are showing signs of illness, your session will be canceled and you will be charged full price for the facial (this really has never happened, but it bears a mention).
Please remember: cancelation policies are never a punishment. They are an agreement we make when choosing to work together. They are necessary for keeping a small, service-based business like this one viable. When you book a session, you are agreeing to the cancelation policy. Thank you for understanding.
What is the best way to cancel my appointment?
In general, you may cancel or reschedule appointments on the Jane app, which lives in the BOOK A FACIAL tab of the website. From here, you may also add yourself to the waitlist or schedule a 15-minute product pick-up slot.
If you are canceling within the 48-hour window, you will be prompted to email me.
If you are canceling with very short notice, you may text or call me at 503.967.8422.
What if I am late?
First of all, don’t worry! It happens. However, a late arrival will shorten your appointment time and cannot be made up by running into the next client’s scheduled appointment. I understand that delays happen, and so I allow a 20 minute grace period. After 20 minutes, your appointment is considered missed and will be charged as a missed appointment.
What is your inclement weather policy?
In the event of snow and ice, you will not be held to the cancellation policy. We will be in touch in this case, and if it’s not safe for you to trek over for a facial, no problem!
How do I prepare for my treatment?
Please avoid the following a week before your appointment: face waxing, exfoliation, retinols, peels or other activating products. It’s fine to come with either makeup or bare skin; I will remove make-up for you at the beginning of the session when I cleanse and prep your skin.
Please come to your session fed, hydrated, and not overly caffeinated, keeping in mind that you will be lying down for the duration of your session. It’s a good idea to give yourself a little extra time getting here, especially for your first visit. We have a cozy waiting room with tea if you are early.
Can I come in for a facial if I am pregnant?
100%, YES! I love offering facials for parents-to-be. The treatment table is highly adjustable, so even if you are very far along we should be able to find a comfortable position for you. Of course, let me know you are pregnant as there are a few ingredients and modalities I will avoid.
Can I get a holistic facial if I’ve had botox or injections?
I will avoid massaging areas treated with botox within 4 weeks, or fillers within 3 months. Always update me if you’ve had any recent cosmetic procedures.
Can I leave a tip?
I hope you love your treatment! I do not accept gratuities. If you would like to offer something extra, I wholeheartedly appreciate reviews on google and yelp. These mean so much to small businesses.
I chose to go tip-free early in my private practice for several reasons. Firstly, I always found the exchange awkward. I would avert my eyes as I handed my clients the iPad, pulled out of their peaceful state of post-facial bliss to calculate an unclear percentage to tack onto their bill because…why, exactly? And how much? Do you still tip someone who owns the business? What if you did not budget for that tip?
As a recovering people-pleaser, I have often found myself tipping exorbitantly to be “nice.” After all, a 20% tip on a facial can easily be $40 more than you had planned to spend. Sometimes I leave with a slightly crummy feeling that I overpaid, even if I had a great experience overall. To be clear, I still tip generously. I did work in the service industry for over two decades, after all. At the same time, I maintain that it’s an outdated system that needs critiquing.
The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of service workers, particularly female workers, within a tip-based system. Women workers dominate the beauty and massage industries and rely heavily on tips. Can you imagine tipping your acupuncturist or dentist? Finally, tipping is a system that hearkens back to chattel slavery. That reason alone should be enough to abandon it.
As a practitioner, I like clean, clear boundaries with my clients. I base my prices according to my experience, skills and service demand. And when you book a service with Vena Cava, the price shown is what you can expect to pay for your service. I hope that as a culture, we abandon tipping. Instead, let’s begin valuing all service workers and hold businesses accountable for paying workers a livable, fair wage.