Elizabeth Grace Hand has quietly become one of New York City’s most influential figures in the beauty world — not through viral trends or splashy celebrity endorsements, but by building a practice rooted in authenticity, expertise, and thoughtful care. As the founder of Ställe Studios, a treatment‑focused skincare destination in SoHo, Hand’s journey has blended intense curiosity about skin, a lifelong battle with acne, and even an unexpected romance that became intertwined with her beauty worldview.
How It All Started
Hand’s path into skincare began with personal experience. Growing up, she struggled with acne and tried countless treatments — peels, prescription medications, and various routines — with little success. This early frustration sparked a deeper interest in both understanding and solving skin issues rather than just masking them.
After training as an esthetician at Christine Valmy International School, she moved into the professional beauty world, working first with Dermablend at L’Oréal and eventually with Dr. Barbara Sturm — designing training programs and facial techniques for the brand’s global offerings.
Her philosophy evolved through these experiences: lasting results come not from intermittent fixes but consistent, thoughtful care. This principle later became the backbone of her own business.
Building Ställe Studios
In 2021, when a temporary Dr. Barbara Sturm pop‑up she was associated with closed, Hand’s clients still wanted regular treatments. Rather than let them go, she took a bold step: turning her own East Village apartment into an improvised facial space on weekends. Clients loved it. Demand grew so quickly that what started in a one‑bedroom soon needed a proper home — and eventually became Ställe Studios in SoHo.
The name Ställe draws inspiration from a Swedish word meaning “a secret special place you return to for comfort and relaxation.” That sense of calm, combined with results‑driven skincare, defines the studio’s ethos: bespoke, intuitive, and deeply attentive.
At Ställe, treatments aren’t off‑the‑shelf protocols — they’re customized experiences tailored to each client’s skin needs, goals, and daily life. Every session begins with a detailed skin analysis and may include steam, enzyme exfoliation, LED light, gentle extractions, or targeted massage techniques like the studio’s signature buccal work. These facials aim for visible improvement while leaving clients with a glowy, lifted, relaxed finish.
Clients of all backgrounds — from fashion insiders and influencers to those simply seeking better skin — rave about the dewy, “angelic” radiance Ställe facials deliver, often describing the experience as both therapeutic and transformative.
A Skincare Love Story: Elizabeth & Jon
Hand’s personal and professional worlds intersect in her relationship with Jon Folkesson, the man she met on Valentine’s Day in 2019. Jon moved to New York from Stockholm and was introduced to Hand through a mutual friend. Despite her skepticism about dating at the time, they connected — and Jon’s skincare routine changed dramatically as a result.
When they first dated, Jon didn’t have much of a routine beyond an occasional face cream from Aēsop. With Hand’s guidance, he developed a more thoughtful regimen — including essences, growth‑factor serums, moisturizers, and consistent sunscreen use — and he enthusiastically adopted her suggestions.
He now follows a structured morning and evening routine:
- Starting with hydrating tonics and essences like Retrouvé Conditioning Tonic, which works well post‑shave and calms skin,
- Using Chanel’s La Solution 10 and a high‑SPF sunscreen,
- Adding serums like BioEffect 30 Day Treatment and Retrouvé Intensive Replenishing Moisturizer for hydration and barrier support,
- Incorporating masks and exfoliants — including oxygen‑boosting and enzyme treatments — a few times a week to maintain clarity and glow.
He even ventured into Botox, initially hesitant but ultimately appreciating its subtle, confidence‑boosting results.
Jon reflects that a disciplined routine doesn’t have to be complicated to work — and that skincare can be a meaningful part of a healthy lifestyle, not just a female‑oriented ritual.
Hand’s Personal Skincare Philosophy
Elizabeth Grace Hand’s routine is as curated as the treatments at her studio. She believes in consistency over intensity, using a mix of gentle daily care and occasional targeted treatments. Her go‑to cleansers include micellar and enzyme‑based formulas that respect the skin’s natural balance, and she layers hydrating mists, growth factors, moisturizers, and occasional acids depending on her skin’s needs.
She swears by hydration and gentler exfoliation — products like Retrouvé’s Skin Brilliance Priming Pads, essences that feel like a blend of classic cult favorites, and targeted serums for pigment and post‑acne marks — all chosen for efficacy and skin comfort.
Her belief is that skincare routines should feel joyful, not punitive, and that real results come from thoughtful, balanced products paired with consistency.
In Her Own Words
Rather than institutions or rigid rules, Hand champions personalized routines and mindful care. She sees skincare as a form of self‑care and connection: in her studio, she’s known for building close relationships with clients — the kind that extend beyond simple treatment rooms into lifestyle conversations about wellbeing, confidence, and everyday feeling good in your skin.
In Summary
Elizabeth Grace Hand’s rise as a trusted facialist and founder of Ställe Studios is rooted in personal experience, professional curiosity, and a deeply human approach to skincare. Her journey — from troubled skin to industry insider, from apartment‑based facials to a beloved SoHo destination — reflects a belief that great skin doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through consistent care, thoughtful products, and a practice that treats both the skin and the person behind it.
