What to expect, from hello to glow
No front desk, no rotating staff, no menu to decipher on arrival. One hour, one room, and the person who will actually be treating your skin. Here is exactly how it goes.
The boutique is one person, and that surprises people.
There is no reception, no one to check you in, and no other clients moving through. You are booking an hour of my time, in a private room, and I am the one in it with you from start to finish.
That is the whole model, and it is why the treatment can be built for your skin on the day rather than delivered from a menu. It also means a first visit here feels different from a spa, so it is worth knowing what to expect before you arrive.
How your first visit runs
- We talk firstFifteen minutes or so on your skin, your history, what you have tried, and what is actually bothering you. Bring your products or photos of them if that is easier.
- I look properlySkin under magnification, cleansed, so I am responding to what is there rather than what you have described.
- The treatment, adjustedI will have a plan from booking, and I will change it if your skin says something different that day. Reactive skin means we do less, and I will say so.
- Explained as I goYou will know what I am using and why. If you would rather have a quiet hour and talk at the end, say so and I will keep it quiet.
- A plan you leave withWhat to use, in what order, and what to stop. Written down if you want it written down.
- No sellingI will tell you what your skin needs. Whether you buy it here, elsewhere, or not at all is genuinely your business.
Will I be able to find it?
The studio is at 15 Red Leaf Ln in Ladera Ranch, in a quiet residential setting rather than a retail strip. Park on the street and come to the door at your appointment time.
Do I need to arrive early?
A few minutes is plenty. There is no paperwork queue and no waiting area, so arriving well ahead means standing outside.
What if I am running late?
Message me. Arriving more than fifteen minutes late may mean a shortened treatment, since the next appointment cannot move.
Should I take my makeup off?
No need. I cleanse first regardless. Come from work, from the school run, from wherever you are coming from.
What if my skin is bad that day?
That is often the most useful day to come. I would rather see the problem than a good version of it.
Will I look red afterwards?
Most treatments leave nothing to hide. Peels can flake lightly for a few days, and I will tell you beforehand if that applies.
You do not need to know what to book. That is what the first fifteen minutes are for.
Before you come
Stop strong actives for two or three days. Retinol, high-strength acids, and scrubs. Skin that arrives already sensitized limits what I can safely do, which wastes part of your hour.
Tell me about anything relevant when you book. Pregnancy, recent injectables, isotretinoin, active cold sores, a pacemaker or implanted device, or any cancer treatment past or present. None of these necessarily rule anything out. They change what I choose, and I need to know before you are on the bed rather than after.
Skip the sunbed and the long beach day. Freshly sun-exposed skin is not a good starting point for anything.
Bring your current products, or photos of them. Half of what I can tell you comes from seeing what you are already doing.
What to book first
- Not sure at all, want it gentle
- Golden Hour HydraGlow
- Want advice before spending on treatment
- The Glow Edit
- Know your concern already
- Skin concerns
- Want to compare the full menu
- Find your perfect facial
- An event coming up
- The Icon
Afterwards
Most treatments have no downtime at all. You can go straight back to your day, and makeup is fine the same day, though your skin will usually look better without it.
Leave the actives alone for two or three days, keep it simple and hydrating, and wear sunscreen. Freshly treated skin burns more easily than you expect.
Skin renews roughly every four to six weeks, so if you want results rather than a nice afternoon, that is the rhythm. The membership exists for exactly that, and it is less expensive than booking one at a time.
Cancellation. Please give at least 24 hours' notice to reschedule or cancel. Cancellations inside 24 hours are charged 50 percent of the booked service, and a missed appointment without notice is charged in full. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean your treatment is shortened or forfeited, with the full fee still applying. I keep a tight schedule so every client gets her full hour, and this is how that stays possible.
Book your first visit
Golden Hour HydraGlow is where I start most first visits. If you would rather talk before committing to a treatment, book The Glow Edit instead and we will work out what your skin needs first.