Dermalogica

1022 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica (310) 260-8682

Like its clean, no-nonsense signature packaging, the famous skincare line's day spa on trendy Montana Avenue invests in an aesthetic of minimalism and modernity.  The flagship location is spacious, immaculate, and fragranced with essential oils and Casablanca lilies.  In the center, is a voluptuous structure which houses 3 futuristic pods treatment rooms that are more like nurturing wombs replete with color-therapy that ease the mind instantly and pipe in your chosen music genre. 

The treatment begins with Dermalogica's proprietary Face Mapping system which combines three techniques to examine 14-mapped zones in the face and colletage to determine the skin's current condition from zone to zone.  A visual examination under a high-powered lens is followed by an examination by 'touch' and finally a reading using the centuries-old tradition of Chinese Facial Diagnosis which uses the skin as a reflection of internal organ health.  Needless to say, there is tremendous attention to detail and even hidden corners of the face reveal their secrets and express their needs. 

The Customized Skin Treatment includes the rudimentary cleansing and exfoliation but also uses many cutting edge technologies to bring you flawless skin.  An electric brush starts the exfoliation process and is followed by a galvanic (high-frequency) with a negative charge which feels like an electric spider as it tingles, zaps and scurries over your face (not an altogether unpleasant experience) to soften congestion and enable extractions.  Once the gunk is expunged through manual extractions, a 'peltier' with a metal cheek to cool and calm the skin is used.  When the galvanic is used again, it's on a positive charge, now helping product absorption.  While the treatment is underway, you may feel like there are a lot of unnecessary and inexplicable gadgets being used "after all we've all had facials before and they haven't needed any of the zapping, unheard-of gadgetry employed here" but once the treatment is over and you inspect your visage, the results are clear (pun intended). 

While a mask finishes the almost hour-long treatment, a delicious hand, neck and shoulder massage using the same 'peltier' but with a warmer side this time, is used to relax the muscles and prepare you for the world awaiting.  At the end of the treatment, the skin-therapist will recommend an at-home regiment with the treatment line free from irritating ingredients like alcohol, colors and mineral oil to maintain results.  Of these, the miraculous Skin Hydrating Booster and Active Moist are boons.