Samantha Susca doesn’t chase trends—or dopamine cleansers.
She’s after what works. What lasts. What makes your skin (and your nervous system) feel like it can finally exhale.
If you know, you know. Samantha is one of New York’s most quietly respected facialists. As the former head esthetician at Casa Cipriani and now founder of the cult-favorite Refinery4 studio, she’s built her practice on clinical expertise, intuitive precision, and a level of personalized care that doesn’t demand the spotlight but always commands results.
No fluff, no noise—just treatments grounded in real technique and a philosophy that your skin doesn’t need more. It needs better.
Clients come for the glow, stay for the perspective, and leave with results that loudly whisper—just like her tucked-away Seaport District studio. That “You look rested—what’s your secret?” kind of energy.
And outside the studio? The skincare guru is refining how she moves through the world: enforcing tech boundaries, reclaiming her mornings, ditching business casual for good denim, and saying full-body fck yes to rituals that bring actual joy.
So we asked her to share what’s hitting right now—the serum she’d recommend in her sleep, the lip plumper that had clients convinced she got filler (she didn’t), or the chocolate-covered orange peels she treats like nightly turndown service.
This is Samantha’s current fck yes list. Let’s get into it.
I can’t promise I won’t look at my phone in the morning—I’m a new business owner, after all—but for about two years now, I’ve refused to respond to messages before a set time. It lets me focus on getting ready mentally and physically, and drive to work in peace. After that, I reply with care, without emotion, and without overcommitting if I’m already stretched thin. I used to answer my phone immediately, 24/7, which made it seem like I was always available—and gave others the expectation of an instant response. Free time isn’t the same as availability. Mornings are sacred; they’re the only part of my day that’s truly mine.
Auteur Serum Phi
Inspired by Phi, the Golden ratio, this serum restores hydration, balance, harmony, and skin regeneration, bringing everything back into equilibrium. I don’t know math, but I know skincare—and I was excited to try this serum. It’s the brand’s latest launch and, while definitely an investment, it does not disappoint.
There’s a French idiom, “Je suis de mauvais poil,” which literally means “I am of bad hair,” but really means you’re in a bad mood. For me, a bad day’s best fix is a good haircut or color. I had a rough experience recently, and a friend recommended Abbie at Arte Salon in Noho. I’ve already sent all my clients and friends her way. She’s sweet and just gets it. Being a girls’ girl means trusting your hairstylist like no one else.
Until recently, I worked somewhere with a dress code. Now that I’m my own boss, I’m thrilled to ditch business casual and rock jeans to work. A well-tailored pair with killer slingbacks is effortlessly chic to me—the ultimate freedom move. My favorites are Mother and Frame.
I don’t have much time to read but I do have time to listen. One favorite is Diary of a CEO. The topics are totally outside my usual day-to-day, and I’m always hungry to learn. The latest episode features Dr. Tara Swart, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who, after personal loss, explores death and near-death experiences from a scientific view. I’ve gotten fascinated by stories of scientists who’ve had NDEs. The book I’m making time for is Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon whose own NDE upended everything he thought he knew about life and afterlife.
Who wouldn’t want a clinically proven lip plumper that’s like half a syringe of filler? I hate needles and would never voluntarily get one for vanity. I tried Botox once and hated it so much, never again. When I heard about this lip plumper, it sounded too good to be true—until clients asked if I’d gotten lip filler. I now stock it in my studio, and it’s a best seller.
Need I say more? One before bed every night, like my own five-star hotel turn-down service.
Because the world’s burning around us and even the smallest rituals bring joy. $8 lattes, guilt-free.
Everything about it is phenomenal. The products, the founder—lovely and chic. The branding is spot on. I especially love the An-Balm and the spice cake lip gloss.
Perfumes are usually toxic, but I can’t get enough of these. Veronique Gabai makes products without synthetics that are biodegradable, sustainable, and clean. Every formula is ethically sourced and traceable.