Molto Mario

A legend built on a lotion. That’s what Mario Badescu is. When the late cosmetologist emigrated from Romania to New York in the ’60s, little did he know that his name would become synonymous with a zit-zapping, whitehead-wiping miracle product called Drying Lotion.

Of such pink stuff are American dreams made, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Mario Badescu is the skincare line that used to be every supermodel’s beauty secret. Then, a few years ago, when Naomi Campbell revealed that she made pimples disappear overnight by applying Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion, a cult was born.

Today, almost every lovely celebrity, it seems, has a favorite Mario Badescu product. Flawless beauty Charlize Theron relies on Cellufirm Drops to plump and tone her skin. Sarah Jessica Parker loves the Herbal Hydrating Serum, which diminishes fine lines. Even youngsters like Hilary Duff have gotten in on the act – TV’s teenage Lizzie McGuire uses the Rosewater Spray to rejuvenate her skin.

Clearly, after 35 years, Mario Badescu has become a Hollywood institution, but prior to that, he was New York’s best-kept secret, according to Simon Abadi, vice president of Mario Badescu Skin Care.

"In the late ’60s, he was the facialist of Jackie O and New York high society," Abadi reveals. "He was a pharmacist and cosmetologist from Romania, who worked out of his New York apartment. He had a chair in the middle of his living room where he would give facials, then he would go into his kitchen and whip up potions out of natural ingredients for them to take home."

Badescu’s philosophy was simple: Combine all-natural ingredients like fruits with old-world skincare techniques to come up with products that really work. To this day, Abadi, whose family bought the company after Badescu passed away in the ’80s, abides by that philosophy. There’s no fancy packaging, no hype on the labels, no P8,000 price tag to make you believe that cream is worth more than it is. The plain plastic bottles seem to say: "It’s what’s inside that counts." And the prices are refreshingly affordable, ranging from P395 for eye makeup remover to P1,045 for the best-selling drying lotion.

While there are 200 products in the range, Rustan’s Essenses is offering a core line of the top 50 bestsellers here, plus eight more formulated for combination skin, the most common Filipino skin type. "There are no very rich creams," notes Boogie Trinidad, Essenses’ division manager. "We also have products for men."

Abadi, who admits he’s very picky about who can carry Mario Badescu products, felt an immediate kinship with Rustan’s. "They gave a very strong presentation, and we felt comfortable with the Rustan’s family," he says. "We look for high-end partners that will take the brand and nurture it, because there are so many items. We also need a very knowledgeable sales staff to prescribe to customers."

Which is why Abadi arrived with Lauren del Preore, a skin specialist from Mario Badescu with "extensive product knowledge," to train local staff and treat the press to the famous Badescu "mini-facial."

"This has grapefruit and papaya extracts," says Del Preore reassuringly as she takes off my makeup with the Enzyme Cleansing Gel. These natural fruit acids gently remove oil and the pore-clogging debris that cause breakouts.

Next, she refreshed and exposed the baby-new skin underneath with the Kiwi Face Scrub, "with real kiwi seeds and extracts of seaweed and kiwi."

The Alpha Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion followed, an alcohol-free toner with fruit acids to both exfoliate and nourish combo skin.

Then, Del Preore’s skilled fingers gently massaged in the Ceramide Eye Gel, with more alpha hydroxy acids to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. "A tip is to put it in the fridge to cool during summer," she says. "It’s great for battling puffiness in the morning."

Next came a chance to relax with the Flower and Tonic Mask, a clay-based treatment with refining, calming ingredients. "It’s the most gentle mask," she observes. "If you apply it just on the T-zone, it helps tighten pores."

While soothing music played in the background, Del Preore’s magic fingers then smoothed in the AHA and Ceramide Moisturizer, with lemongrass extracts and ceramides to make skin look radiant.

Cellufirm Drops came next. Charlize Theron’s favorite product has collagen in it to plump the delicate eye area and prevent fine lines. "It’s very rich in vitamin C," affirms Del Preore.

Last came the revitalizing Facial spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, "which everyone needs in their bag, especially for travel," insists Del Preore. "I even use it on my hair."

During this half-hour mini-break, I felt as if I had been transported to Mario Badescu’s exclusive Manhattan salon, where Gwyneth Paltrow and Natalie Portman go for facials. Until now this spa is still very exclusive. There’s no sign at the building on 52nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, just a very helpful doorman who ushers clients in. (These clients are now the daughters of Mario Badescu’s fans back in the ’60s and ’70s.)

"Our one and only salon in New York is where Badescu used to live," Abadi says. It has 40 rooms that are always fully booked, even on the weekends. In addition to facials, they offer massages, waxing, and mani-pedicures.

"The only thing we don’t do is hair," he concludes.

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Mario Badescu is available at Rustan’s Essenses Makati and soon at Essenses in Rustan’s Tower, Shangri-La Plaza.