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20 reviews for Dermalogica On Montana
Every month, I treat myself to a facial skin treatment at Dermalogica on Montana. I had started going six months before my wedding to get my skin looking its best, but the wedding has since come and gone, and I'm still going there once a month!
My treatments are done by Michelle, who I have to say is absolutely awesome. I've had a number of facials at other spas and salons. None stand up to the quality of the ones done by Michelle at Dermalogica. She takes an initial look at your skin (as part of Dermalogica's "Face Mapping" system) and very quickly comes together with a (perfect) plan of action. Compared to other facials I've had, Michelle knows what she's doing and is really precise with the treatment you need. She is totally devoted to your skin for the full hour; other facials I've had at other spas, the facialists will come and go from the room because they are simultaneously working on other clients! What I like about the treatments at Dermalogica: they feel like they are based on clinical treatments but are done in a very relaxing, calming, caring manner. What's even more reassuring is that Michelle and all the therapists are continuously keeping their skills up-to-date with the latest in techniques with training at the International Dermal Institute.
I highly recommend you book an appointment with Michelle as soon as possible!
LONG OVERDO!!!!
This place really deserved this review.... definitely one of the shining stars in Santa Monica :)
For those of you new to the salon, it can be easily missed from Montana St. Don't let the Montana hype fool you~This place is both professional and chic yet the staff will make you feel comfortable and welcomed.
I try to book my facials with Tawny. She is so sweet and very talented. She leaves my skin looking gorgeous and glowing for days !! :) The whole experience is so relaxing... don't take my word for it, check it out. The beds are so cozy, the Sirius radio in every room is a plus (coffeehouse is a fave) and the neck and arm massage is the icing on the cake :D
After the treatment, try the hot tea it is great after a blissful hour long treatment. If you wish, your skin therapist can recommend products that were used in the facial or whatever you are looking for. Even if you aren't interested in purchasing any, you can always try out samples of Dermalogica products. All in all, a must do, they are even open on Sundays!
Out of a possible 5 kudos:
Ambiance: 5
Price Point: 5
Cleanliness: 5
Friendliness: 5
Location/ Parking: 4
The first time I went to Dermalogica I tagged along with a friend to buy some product after hearing her rave reviews. We went on a Saturday and it was very slow, and unfortunately the woman attending to us was not friendly at all, not mean but couldn't crack a smile. I left feeling disappointed, but after later trying my new purchases I HAD to go in for their facial.
For a place on fancy Montana Ave, an $85 hour-long facial is a pretty great deal. I booked my facial over the phone with a very friendly woman this time around. When I called the day of, asking to move my appointment by 30 min, they happily obliged.
All I have to say was it was 60 minutes of bliss. The room was cozy and didn't feel sterile like at Burke Williams. They had a couple really interesting treatments that were intense - some static electricity type thing to kill bacteria (awesome!) among other techniques. Tawny (my skin therapist) was amazing, chatted briefly in beginning so I was comfortable, but got down to business. Loved the arm massage and neck massage.
My only complaint would be that while she was doing extractions she had the bright bright bright light shined directly in my eyes....and I only had a thin layer of something covering my eyes - but it hurt! I blame myself for not saying anything because she probably could have changed my eye covering.
Aside from that it was a wonderful experience, and I was a puddle of melted happiness at the end. After the facial she showed me some products, and while I bought a few things I didn't feel forced into it. My skin looks beautiful, and I'm booking another for next month!
I can't wait for the next time I go and get a facial. The facial I got was great. The skin therapist are really knowledge about about skin and the products.I was really surprised that they had a special running during the month of August. It was worth the trek from the SGV.
O.M.G.
amazing. i had courtney and even though I should be open minded, i think i'll stick with her in moving forward. she did a good job... solid facial, but not on an elevated level. what sold me on her was her expertise. i've been a solid believer my whole life that I had oily skin. which i do, she agreed, but my skin of late was extra oily because she says it was actually DRY. who knew! and she was right. I've followed her recommendations since and used the products she sold me on and i'm glad every time. don't regret a penny of it.
but then I docked one star because i hate driving to santa monica and looking for parking :)
Did not enjoy my facial here. It felt rushed and worse, there was nothing enjoyable about it. I don't like to chit chat with my facialist but my facialist literally would not shut up for the entire hour long treatment. She kept asking me questions about me & didn't get the hint when I kept giving her monosyllabic responses, but instead starting yammering about all sorts of stuff. The mood was also ruined because instead of calm-inducing music she was playing rock music at a fairly high volume. And the lighting in the room was not dimmed at all so it made for a very sterile, non-relaxing atmosphere. Worse yet, they gave me a strong sales pitch when I went to pay (and like a sucker I caved & bought stuff which didn't even work!).
I have never been back and it's safe to say I'll never return.
I was very disappointed by my experience today at Dermologica. The facialist and facial were just okay. The customer service was pretty ridiculous...ridiculously bad.
I had the whole day off and the ONLY thing on my agenda today was my facial at 4:00 pm. When I walked in 5 minutes early, the girls in the front disagreed and claimed the computer said my appointment was 3:45 pm. I must have look 100% confused and baffled, but instead of acknowleding the miscommunication, they treated me poorly. I even tried to make amends by apologizing for the confusion on timing. However, my facial was rushed, it lasted only 45 minues (supposed to be 1 hour) and I felt cheated.
Wouldn't you if you paid $85+ tip for your 1 hour facial only to receive a half-assed effort?
All in all, I felt the girls at Dermalogica were snobby and rude. They mistreated the situation and I will not go back. Even if I was wrong and the appointment time really was 3:45, I would have expected them to at least ACKNOWLEDGE that another client was coming in (which I'm not even sure is true) and that my facial would have to end at 4:45.
I would not recommend this to a good friend.
Since I use Dermalogica's moisturizers, I decided to try their retail location. I found the girls at the front desk to be quite friendly. When you check in for your facial, they have you fill out a questionnaire: Do you have any skin complaints? Do you use Retin-A? What XM channel would you like to listen to? Would you like a cup of "un-tea" after your treatment?, etc.
Michelle, my skin therapist, did a great job with my facial. (I consider myself an experienced spa goer, fyi.) For $85, I think it's a good deal if you're not looking for a fancy spa experience with steam room and sauna. It's pretty much a show-up-and-get-your-facial kind of joint. I also added a touch therapy, reflex point on the feet, and that was a highlight! After the facial and touch therapy, Michelle met me out front and recommended a few products for my skin type. No hard sell, but I walked out with a cleanser because I dig their products.
They lose one star because they didn't seem to refer to my questionnaire. My XM station came on about 1/3 of the way through my treatment, and Michelle asked me after if I would like a cup of tea. That said, I had a good experience overall and will be back.
Had a great facial. Very cozy room, you pick your own music. My skin therapist name was Andrea, she ROCKS....I was in heaven, felt relaxed and safe. My skin was glowing for weeks, I had the galvanic tx...I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPA.....
First, thanks to Amy L. for her review. This cold weather has done a number on my skin, so when I decided to try somewhere other than Burke Williams for a facial, Yelp was the first place I looked.
My appointment this afternoon was for their standard "face treatment." (Dermalogica doesn't refer to it as a "facial" because they feel that what they do goes beyond that.)
The staff was extremely frendly, which surprised me just a bit because it is, after all, located in what I've typically experienced as "snooty" Montana street.
The decor/architecture is very futuristic, stark white and rounded. Even the treatment room had no corners.
My treatment specialist, Ashlee, was very nice and very genuine (as opposed to fake nice). She started with a facial mapping to determine the state of my skin.
She'd warn me if what she was about to do was going to be cold, warm, etc. There was a really cool procedure she did that involved a mesh overlay on my face and some sort of pulsating magnet that made me tingle all over (the feeling you get when your foot falls asleep) and changed the taste in my mouth as it "altered the pH" in my saliva.
After a very relaxing treatment, including a mini massage on my arms and shoulders, I got dressed and discussed a skin cleansing regimen with Ashlee. I was actually in the market for a lot of products (cleanser, moisturizer, stuff to fix my problem spots, etc.), so I was very interested in hearing her recommendations.
The Dermalogica line is pricey, but I was up for the splurge, especially considering I buy most of my stuff at Rite Aid and my skin needs some extra TLC.
Between the 5 products I bought (including some small sizes just to try it out), 6 samples they gave me and the 3 bonus products I got because I spent more than $75 on products, hopefully my skin will continue to glow.
Also, $75 for an hourlong treatment isn't bad at all, particularly when compared to $75 for a mini-facial at Burke Williams. I'll definitely go back to Dermalogica.
OK, so this was my first facial, so maybe I shouldn't give 5 stars, but I thought it was absolutely fantastic. Michelle worked with me, and she was great. Super friendly, not pushy about products, and made sure she sent me home with samples of all the products, which was smart, because I will be buying again when I go back.
The facial itself was heavenly. It was just what I needed to give my dried up skin some TLC. Her massage pressure was dead on, and the products used are absolutely great. I can tell just from the samples that they're good stuff. She did a good amount of extractions, which were totally necessary. I noticed one girl below was unhappy with the number they did on her. Ask them if they're sure they can't do more! What are they going to say, no?
I will absolutely be going back, and I recommend everyone give this place a try.
Mod and professional! I was incredibly relaxed after my facial at Dermalogica with Ashlee.
They offer one service - every facial is customized after they do a "face mapping" outlining the 14 areas of your skin. There are also add-on touch therapies which I'll have to try next. The staff was super friendly. They were out of one of the products I wanted and gave me enough samples to hold me over until it came in the next week. My only gripe is that Dermalogica products can be expensive. But my face was glowing afterwards and I'll be going back soon.
Update (September 2007) - Tawny is my monthly gal here and I cannot recommend her enough.
Oh My My!!! WHAT an experience!! After a long summer of hitting up the beach and soaking up the sun, I realized that I needed to pamper my skin with some professional TLC.
I had heard fanstastic reviews on Dermalogica, but never used their products, as I use simple Tea Tree face wash from Trader Joe's. I thought I'd indulge with the thought of my face glowing as if it had a halo surrounding it, from the exfoliation and toner/moisterizers. Boy was I right!!
Since I work 2 blocks away on Montana, it is another plus that I get the "Montana discount"! Yay!
I walked in and Ashlee took me right back into this room that looks like a futuristic pod, with all sorts of machines with neat-O buttons and lights! She then tells me to undress and slip into the sarong that is lying on the bed that I am to get into. Mmmmm....so cozy!
The facial itself is so soothing with all of the steps of cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and hydrating. She even massaged my head, shoulders, neck, arms, hands, and feet!! One surprise was that she wrapped my feet and hands in a warm, damp towel, massaging so lovely that it sent my head into space.
When I was finished and dressed, she asked me to meet her at the Skin bar for my cup of tea, and go over her recommendations for my skin. I bought more than I probably should (not to mention the TONS of samples she gave to me!), but it seems that it is working from the comments that have been made by my co-workers! My skin looks and feels amazing. I can't wait to go back next month!
I hate facials. i hate people touching my face. But, with age comes with more drama - adult on-set acne, sun spots, sensitivities to products, etc. This experience was amazing. I got the 75-minute touch sensory, all-star facial. It was relaxing and painful (exfoliation) but my face has never felt so healthy. I left with a glow, and educated about products and makeup. It was worth every penny and I would like to go back a few times a year to clear the impurities. I had a girl named Ashlee who was awesome, and man, that neck and upper back massage was HEAVEN.
Note: I'm bumping my review below down to 2 stars because I was still breaking out weeks later from my facial. I would not go back to get a facial here.
I had a good experience at Dermalogica this week. I was impressed with how pleasant everyone, and the girl that did my facial, Michelle, was really fantastic. She did a great job answering my questions, telling me everything she was doing (without talking too much), and as much I the extraction is always painful, she was not screwing around there. She really went to town and knocked out my blackheads, which I really appreciated. She was also great afterwards explaining their different products and did not pressure me into buying anything (although I probably bought too much). The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is that I broke out about 2 days after my facial, which is surprising since I don't often break out. Not sure if I can blame it on the facial or if it something else, but it's always disappointing when you get such a great facial and then it's kind of ruined by ugly pimples!
I'm a Murad girl. I still love their products, but alas, I have a close friend that works at the corporate office of Dermalogica. He will share his discount with me, and I will make him sandwiches. It's a perfect situation. So, I stopped in today to check out the product line and to see what would be comparable to the Murad products I currently slather upon myself. I let it be known to the girl working, Jessica, that I had no intention of purchasing things today. I just wanted to get a heads up on what to buy, and then order it from my friend. Despite having no sale in sight, she was extremely helpful and polite. She did the complimentary face mapping, which is a basic diagnosis of your skin. Afterwards, she pointed me in the right direction as far as products go. Had I not stopped in, I probably would've ordered the exact opposite of what she recommended. My own ideas were way too harsh for my skin. She wrote it all down, told me what was optional, and sent me on my way with free samples. Anyone will be nice to you when they're making money, but the true test is when they're helping you just to help you. They definitely exceeded my expectations and I will be back soon to get a full facial.
Great place for a facial! They do stuff that other places don't...like the galvanic thingee...don't ask me wat it is...it's like some current going over your skin that makes it glow. And their extractions are thorough and not too painful. Their products rock too. $75 for a 60 minute facial...pretty good compared to other spas out there!
It's been a mere 4 days since my first Dermalogica encounter and I'm already planning my next trip back. Here's why:
First they are genuinely nice when you arrive.
Then you get this amazing facial experience in a soothing white pod with glowing light, where you are almost transported to a different planet.
Then they serve you a soothing tea while they work the "assumption close" on you back at the counter, all the while mapping our your problem areas and writing up your "prescription".
My husband's a salesman - I thought I had heard it all, seen it all - but they are GOOD. I was so proud of myself at the time for buying only one product. But now, as I slowly use up the samples that were specially-selected for my skin concerns (preventative maintenance), I can't ingnore the magnetic pull back to all the products in my prescription that are waiting for me. I thought I had gotten above it all. But the truth is, Dermalogica is really good stuff, inside and out.
I think I'd like to work at Dermalogica... the girls there get to wear yoga pants and they all had perfect skin... I'm talking no makeup, naturally glowing, perfect skin. Which was a good sign. On top of that, they were super nice, but very genuine about it. I went in because my face was freaking out on me. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong, but Michelle, my skin therapist, informed me that my skin was "congested". Ohhhh, that's what that is. When I went into the treatment room, I was a little freaked out by the machine and all the little tools. I was also terrified that some stranger was going to shine a giant light on my face and make me look at my clogged pores. But my fears were never realized, and the experience overall was very pleasant. The hour went by quickly. It included a lot of exfoliation, moisturizing, and a neck/shoulder/arm massage. Afterward, my face felt completely different. I was nervous about the sales pitch I would receive at the end, since I tend to crumble under sales pressure. Michelle mapped my face, gave me a worksheets with the products she recommended, and went through a little demo of how to use them. She probably lined up about $700 worth of skin care products, but was not pushy at all. My only warning to those of you on a budget is that the skin treatment feels so good that you'll want to buy the products at the end. I bought a cleanser and an exfoliant, which set me back pretty considerably. But they came with 3 free eye-care products, and she gave me free samples of all the products she told me about. All in all, $75 for the treatment is definitely money well spent, and so far I've been happy with the products. You definitely won't encounter a snooty Montana Ave vibe, I'd recommend this place to anyone.
thank you andrea for giving me the skin i have always wanted!!!
