Scratch Goods, Therapy for Your Face

Picture it, Chicago...

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, the kind that makes you wake up and say "Goodmorning Chicago!" Anyone else do that? Just me, ok...

The sun was bright and the city got some warm weather after being in the 40s earlier in the week, welcome to a Chicago spring. On this particular Saturday, I planned to take my mentee out to celebrate her birthday. About two weeks in advance, I booked us a Mask Bar experience at Scratch Goods. I was excited to share it with her because I had participated several times before and always enjoyed it.

This visit came with a nice surprise, meeting the owner, Liz. It had been a while since my last visit, and I noticed a few changes. Instead of being located at the front of Randolph Street, Scratch Goods had moved to a new space in the same building, now in the back. During my conversation with Liz, I learned that many of the small businesses along Randolph Street have been replaced, which was disappointing to hear. One of the things I love most about Chicago is being able to support small businesses.

For our Mask Bar experience, we were given three options: a steam session, a clay mask, or a sheet mask. We were informed that we both had to choose the same experience since the sessions are now done family-style. Luckily, we were completely aligned and chose the clay mask. That said, steam session...I'll be back for you.

One of my favorite parts of the experience was simply having the opportunity to sit, talk, and slow down while moving through each step together. We started by cleansing our faces using my favorite product in the store, their tea tree cleanser. I've been using this as my makeup remover since 2021! As we worked, Liz shared insights about the business, and we exchanged recommendations on some of our favorite skincare products. I purchased tea (pomegrante) for us to enjoy while we painted on our masks and caught up on life. The music was also a vibe. The playlist included R&B deep cuts that immediately made me feel comfortable. As it can sometimes be difficult to walk into certain spaces in the city and hear music reflects my taste. That small detail made the space feel even more welcoming.Throughout the session, Liz educated us on each product and its benefits. And before anyone asks, yes, my dermatologist has essentially fact-checked their process. It's legit! What I appreciated most was that the experience felt like being guided by people who genuinely care about what they're creating and sharing.

While my mentee shopped, I shared my background in mental health with Liz and we connected more. Hopefully, I have some exciting news to share about that soon. If you're looking for a laid-back Saturday activity, a unique way to celebrate a special occasion, or simply a solo date with yourself, I highly recommend the Mask Bar experience at Scratch Goods.

Sometimes self-care isn't about doing something extravagant. Sometimes it's tea, clay masks, good conversation, and finding community in unexpected places.

Until next time,

Dr. CharInTheCity