Sun care the focus at Face of Grace

There’s a place in Lewes where you can get an orange crush on your face.

It’s not a rowdy bar; it’s the Face of Grace Skincare Studio.

The orange crush is just one of licensed esthetician Valene Hathaway’s treatments that she says will keep skin protected and looking healthy.

“Down here, everyone’s in the sun,” Hathaway said. “[The orange crush] facial focuses a lot on pigmentation from the sun and can also focus on scarring from acne. I use specially formulated Vitamin C and Vitamin A serums.”

She said the typical client for the orange crush is usually someone in their mid-30s or older.

Hathaway is focused on sun care and urges everyone to “practice safe sun.”

“The sun is very good for you, but we do need to be careful at certain times of the day,” she said.

“I’m more holistic. I focus on the person as a whole – lifestyle, diet, sleep, stress, all of those things that impact the skin. I’m focused on protecting your skin barrier,” Hathaway said.

Face of Grace is a quiet space, with calming music and welcoming woofs from Pudding, Hathaway’s adorable dachshund, who serves as chief smile officer.

Clients can choose to have Pudding keep them company while they get a facial.

Yen Dean of Lewes loves having Pudding with her while she has her treatments. Dean said Hathaway has enlightened her to the benefits of skin care.

“It’s helped me a lot. She taught me a lot, especially about sunscreen,” Dean said.

Hathaway offers three facials: outer peace, orange crush and higher dose. She said they all take 75 minutes and are customizable. She said women and men can come in for as little as one facial or one every month.

She said her facials are gentle, with the goal of long-term skin health.

Hathaway and her husband moved to Delaware from New York City in 2021. She opened her studio at 34005 Wescoats Road at the end of 2022.

She has five years’ experience as a licensed esthetician. 

Hathaway said she made skincare a career after getting facials for acne. She said she realized how confusing and overwhelming the skincare industry can be.

“I’ve made all the mistakes that everybody makes: over exfoliating, buying a product just because it worked for somebody else and not understanding your skin. I started getting facials, and had somebody guide me and explain my skin to me, which was a game changer,” Hathaway said.

She also uses a traditional Chinese medicine technique called Gua Sha. 

“It’s a gentle form of massage commonly used with a flat stone to clear stagnation and blockages in the skin,” she said.

Hathaway said there is a lot of competition popping up in the area, but there is room for everybody. She said competition helps people find the best provider for them.

She said she wants to be realistic in her approach to skincare for people in a beach community.

“You’re never going to leave a facial with me telling you to avoid the sun for three to five days. That’s not sustainable,” Hathaway said.

For more information, go to shopfaceofgrace.com.