The SkinSpa Institute

What makes The SkinSpa special is its staff. The owner, Christal does facials and massages herself, though she has licensed massage therapists, estheticians, and a manicure/pedicurist.

I first went there about two years ago. I had acne for about 6-7 years and I was at the point where I felt nothing could help. I had cystic acne and scars, and my self confidence was really low. Whenever I would seek help, I would be told that I needed to go on heavy antibiotics (i.e. Accutane), or I needed to change products, none of which worked.

I started with Crystal, and from the very first time, she was very helpful, courteous, and understanding. She never made me feel like I did anything wrong, I just needed to learn the proper ways to hydrate, clean, and exfoliate my skin. I must stress how empathetic she was to my condition--as a young adult, she had suffered from cystic acne too.

She warned me from the start that I may not see results until possibly a year later, in which I replied, it didn't really matter how long it took since I have been living with acne for so long already.

However, I began seeing results within a month. By about a year later, almost all my acne (including cystic) was gone, and I began the "maintaining" phase.

For the most part, I was using the Acne Facial treatment, however, when my acne began to disappear, I mixed in the Microdermabrasion. If you buy a set of 6 treatments, you get one free.

I have also had massages there, and the massages are excellent as well.

I really, really recommend The SkinSpa Institute.

I am rarely moved to posting user reviews unless I have an exceptional experience. My visit to The SkinSpa this week was truly exceptional, in the best possible way. Their phone manner was friendly and helpful, they have a parking lot (plenty of private lot parking plus easy street access is a big plus), and this cozy, small spa is the real thing. It is intimate, warm, and beautiful without the sterile, impersonal, snooty attitude you get at almost every other place in LA or the OC (I���ve been to just about all of them). I could tell from my phone calls to them that I would be treated well and they exceeded my expectations, even helping me pick a restaurant to go to after my treatments (and calling ahead for me too!) which was great. I booked their June treatment package special (listed on their web site) and it was amazing. They give you a soft pair of spa socks when you walk in the front door (you leave your shoes there), which are so comfortable! The monthly special also included a free pair, and I would have bought one anyway, so that was nice. I had the Aromatherapy Massage, from April, it was incredible and she was just ���darling��� with magic hands. April explained everything to me in advance, checked in about pressure and temperature, and let me relax and enjoy her wonderful technique as well as the essential oils I picked out myself. Then I had the Guinot Hydradermie facial which was absolutely amazing! Christal performed my facial and I can honestly say it was the most thorough AND most relaxing facial I have ever had. And I've had many, many facials, all over L A and the mid-west. The Guinot products are gentle but very active--and my skin looked and felt absolutely incredible afterwards and days later it's still glowing. All in all, this was the best spa experience I've had, from my first call through my treatments to the chocolaty snacks and organic teas were a treat. Relaxation and results! I'll be back with all my friends and coworkers!