Miranda Sturce
The Protocol: Miranda Sturce
Our series featuring the daily routines, expert advice, and beauty tips of industry insiders (read: those who’ve got it down to a science). Because we should all have a Protocol.
For over 15 years, licensed esthetician Miranda Sturce has treated the faces of Emma Roberts, Nicki Hilton, even our own Tina Chen Craig, so it’s no surprise she’s a wealth of expert skincare intel. Known for her customized HydraFacial, the New York City-based facialist has built a top-tier reputation out of her Park Avenue spa, thanks to her “magical hands,” as well as her deep intuition and knowledge of the skin.
Trained by a gua sha master, Miranda applies a self-developed technique that simultaneously releases stress in the face, helps increase circulation, and works to clear out the accumulation of toxins, while integrating classic Thai and lymphatic techniques. Offering customized treatments depending on what your skin needs at the time, she’s known for leaving clients with sculpted, radiant skin.
Here, she reveals her advice on lasers, Korean spas, and the optimal diet for glowing skin.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I thank God for blessing me with another day, then I sit in bed for about five minutes and visualize how my day will unfold.
What are some of your top go-to products?
The RETURN Eye Concentrate is truly the best of the best. It's like magic in a bottle. As promised, it has helped with puffiness and dark circles. Moreover, I used to suffer from dermatitis around and on my eyelids. I tried everything from eczema creams to various eye creams, but the RETURN is the only eye cream that’s helped calm down inflammation and dryness.
The Resurfacing Compound is a favorite of mine because it is super-gentle yet highly effective. It's great for even the most sensitive skin and excellent for those with acne-prone skin, since it doesn't contain any ingredients that could potentially clog pores.
The SUPER Hydrator is truly a standout product in the market. Its milky consistency glides onto the skin beautifully, leaving it with an unbelievably healthy glow and a feeling of deep hydration.
What’s your diet like on a typical day?
I usually follow a Mediterranean diet, so my typical breakfast consists of eggs served with a side of roasted pepper spread, olives, feta cheese, cucumber, and tomatoes. For lunch or dinner, I enjoy lemon chicken soup, salad or a hearty stew such as beef or bean stew, along with grilled salmon, lamb or chicken paired with rice.
After my meals, I always crave something sweet, and my go-to treat is dark chocolate, particularly from Läderach, along with an extra-hot cappuccino from Ralph’s coffee.
My beverage choices mainly include water and tea, I have a particular love for different kinds of tea, especially Albanian Çaj Mali, also known as "mountain tea" in English.
What's the last thing you do before you go to bed?
I write down a few things that I am grateful for and then listen to a guided meditation to unwind.
Who’s your beauty idol?
My grandmother is definitely my beauty idol. At 82 years old, she doesn’t have many deep wrinkles. For as long as I can remember, she has always made sure to take care of her skin and maintain a routine for her body and mind, which contributes to her overall beauty.
What’s the most high-maintenance aspect of your beauty protocol?
Halo laser sessions with Dr. Lisiecki. They help improve fine lines and wrinkles, texture, scarring, and discoloration. It really leaves the skin baby smooth. I also commit to using my LED mask at least 3-5 nights a week for about 30-60 mins.
What’s the best piece of beauty advice you’ve gotten?
Keep life simple.
What’s your 24-hour plan for getting ready for a big event or photoshoot?I drink plenty of water and tea, give myself a HydraFacial with LED, perform a gua-sha facial massage, use hydrating and moisturizing masks, meditate, and focus on positive thoughts.
What do you do when you want to reset, regroup, or detox?
I love having sessions with my Reiki practitioner, Richelle, and my hypnotherapist, Dr. Kazi Anam. They both help me reset.
I also enjoy visiting traditional Korean spas for their excellent saunas, some reaching temperatures as high as 392 degrees fahrenheit. In the particular sauna, you stay for about 5 minutes, but you feel incredibly rejuvenated, detoxed, and experience reduced aches and pains.
Additionally, I love traditional Korean body scrubs and Ashiatsu massage.
