Inside the zen-like, black-walled studio of Fort Myers’ Happie Human Wellness, owner Shelby Harvey guides me through the Happiest Here facial, a treatment that combines two of her favorite services—a customized facial and buccal massage.
Shelby’s hypnotic, mellow tone sets the vibe from the onset. The 30 year old takes a holistic approach to skincare, with clean ingredients and hands-on treatments that enhance clients’ natural beauty and protect their health. She steers clear of harsh chemicals that can irritate skin and which some believe mess with your hormones.
As a longtime skincare fanatic, I often question the unfamiliar additives in my masks and creams. New studies seem to pop up every month warning about heavy metals and carcinogens present in many products. When I heard about Shelby’s natural, personalized treatments suited for any age or skin type, I knew I had to check it out. “We’re so quick to use machines and harsh ingredients to attack the skin, when it’s something that we shouldn’t be fighting with,” she says. “We’re trying to find harmony with it.” Shelby isn’t opposed to more intensive treatments. But for monthly maintenance, she says clean and gentle is the way to go (think strategic massaging in place of injectables and vitamin E oil over lasers for scar reduction).
A facial at Happie Human is like getting a spa treatment and working with a private wellness consultant all at once. As Shelby cleanses my face, she asks about my stress level, sleeping habits, gut health and nutrition. Each factor impacts my skin health and gives her clues for tailoring my facial. My skin is on the drier side, so she opts for a gel cleanser rather than a foaming one that would further strip my natural moisture barrier.
After years of working in a local med spa, Shelby launched Happie Human this year to offer a space for her insideout approach to wellness. She describes herself as an integrative esthetician, an emerging, holistic field combining clinical methods with new-age practices. Alongside products from rigorously tested, chemical-free brands, like celeb favorite Lilfox, the esthetician uses soothing sound therapies to relax me.
When we get to the buccal massage, Shelby slips on a fresh pair of gloves and works the muscles around my mouth and jaw to release tension, increase blood flow and reduce inflammation around my cheekbones and jawline. She says this helps define my natural features and creates a lifting effect. The experience initially feels a bit strange, but it’s not painful. Within a few minutes, I’m done giggling and at ease—all the stress I’ve been holding in my jaw melts away.
Shelby is methodical and precise, curating products and procedures according to her clients’ needs. Before I leave, she pulls beauty samples to fit my needs from a nearby drawer and reminds me to take time for myself. Skincare practices—a few minutes of facial massage in the evening or even applying moisturizer slowly and mindfully—can make for restorative rituals.
As for the results of my facial—the proof is in the glow. That night, I attended the David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health Sound Minds event, featuring Brooke Shields as a guest speaker. Here I was, at a party with a bonafide beauty icon, and people kept complimenting my smooth complexion. “It’s all natural,” I told them happily.
