Amazing Skin By Ashly - Now At Equinox!

When I thought about how I'd like to spend my birthday this year, and how I'd like to do something nice for myself to celebrate, the first thing I thought of was a facial by Ashly Macall Smith. Amazing Skin By Ashly is no hyperbole - it's an exact description of how your face looks when she's done with you - Amazing!

I've been haunted by Ashly's facials since 2010, when I had my last one by her at the Tree House in Venice. I can't believe it's been six years (!) but it was well worth the wait. It had been so long because the Tree House is sadly long gone from Abbot Kinney, so I wasn't sure where Ashly was working, and then I heard she moved to Nebraska. Then I recently heard she moved back, so when it was time to pamper myself for another hard-earned year well lived, I was tracking her down.

Ashly is now working out of the Equinox Spa in Santa Monica, so you pass by all the workout people and head upstairs to the 4th floor. Ashly was coming down the steps as I was going up and we had a happy reunion hug there, before she showed me to the steam room. I had a nice long steam, reflecting on my year, and getting myself all good and steamy ahead of my relaxation time.

One of the best parts of a facial by Ashly is her soothing manner. Her gentle voice and touch accompanies each step of the process, and you're very aware of the TLC you're receiving. I always just let her be the judge of what my face needs, because she's a professional and she knows best. This time around she could tell that I've been at the beach probably too much, and that called for the works. I got the aromatherapy facial with some extra-great extras, like the Cranberry Brightening Mask (that felt like a cool jelly mask of chill), some microdermabrasion to get rid of the old sun damaged stuff, and then a wonderful finale of a Vitamin C serum by Skinceuticals that Ashly says is the very best product on the market. And that I really needed it. I was just thinking it smelled strangely like hot dogs, when Ashly said, "It kind of smells like hot dogs, or soy sauce." Which it does, but when everyone was remarking on how much I was glowing that evening - it was well worth it.

As were the extractions. That part of a facial is always a little brutal, and I always feel like I'm going to emerge like a man with bits of Kleenex all over his face from shaving nicks, but I don't. I always look a million times better than when I went in, and as Ashly says, it really is the  most important and main part of a facial. "It's all about the extractions ... Preparing for them and then closing them." Now I get it. They're not even that bad when someone as lovely and gentle as Ashly is performing them, and I even kind of dig it, in a slightly masochistic way.

There is always some lovely massage to go along with it, and I found myself in almost a trance as Ashly rubbed my neck and arms while one of the magic potions on my face soaked in. We caught up on life a bit, and she told me that there is also a new venture in the works, called Washly! They're elbow-length washcloth gloves for washing your face at night. You know how the water always goes up your forearms and isn't that comfortable when you wash your face? Solved. Plus they're kind of hot and fancy - and made from recovered textiles (in California!) to boot! I can't wait to get a pair, and we'll all be able to on her website shortly.

When Ashly was finished working her magic, I got up and looked in the mirror and was pretty sure I had time traveled. Ashley reversed the clocks of time on my birthday! I can't recommend her services enough, and am fully honest when I say multiple people told me that night that I was glowing, and I don't think it was just from the birthday buzz. Thank you, Ashly dear!

**You can see what I mean on any Tuesday-Friday, from 9 am to 9 pm. You can make your appointment with Ashly Macall Smith at #562-900-5416, and you too will understand why I was obsessed with getting back to her facial table since 2010. (Now we just need to work on getting her back in Venice!)


***Washly photo by Maurice Will Photography

Alexandra Wagner - The Art Of Skincare

One of my favorite people to run into around the neighborhood is Alexandra Wagner, usually seen out walking her darling dog, Mylo. After talking about it for literally years, I finally made an appointment to have Wagner work her facial magic on me at her Abbot Kinney studio, Alexandra Wagner Skincare.

We jumped into the facial before the chat, and I settled in to her bright, airy treatment room, where we pretty much chatted the whole time anyway. Wagner was born and raised in Philadelphia, and that down to earth Philly style is ever-present in this gal. She has always been an artist, and after getting her BFA from UC- Boulder, Wagner made the move to New York, where she began a painting business. While she always painted her art, her business was more like painting rooms on scaffolding painting. This type of work takes a toll on one's body, so Wagner would get weekly massages, and really began to appreciate the art of making people feel good. Then one day a well-intentioned friend asked Wagner what she used to moisturize her face, because she could write the word "Dry" in it (this was New York, remember). That small comment wound up changing the direction of Wagner's life, when she began to get facials, loved them, and started thinking she might like to work in an area that made people feel beautiful, inside and out.

Wagner got her esthetician start working at Jurlique in New York, but the Southern California weather started looking real good to her, and she transferred to Jurlique out here. After a short time on Montana Avenue, Wagner needed some flavor. It was too clean over there ... but Venice was perfect. She rented space at the now gone Tree House, and then had a space located above (also now gone) Culcha. Now you can find Alexandra Wagner Skincare in the Beauty Bungalows at 1636 Abbot Kinney (along with Lavish Tan, Kelley Baker Brows and Stephanie Hobgood Hair - a wonderful, one-stop beauty mecca) in her lovely space, complete with a deck overlooking the boulevard.

The signature facial I received was pure bliss (aside from those always gnarly but necessary extractions, but Wagner made even those very tolerable). Everything smelled good, it felt great, and I emerged from the room like I'd been in a time machine ... I think Wagner may have shaved a good 10 years off of my face! The best part was when my face was kind of stinging from the extractions, suddenly a wonderful, soothing wave of liquid calm was applied, and just as I was about to say "What is that, it feels amazing!", Wagner said, "Oh, and this is my new White Tiger serum."

The White Tiger Serum. Wow. I'd attended Wagner's launch party for the new product a couple months ago, but as the party was so packed (and fun), the samples of the serum were already gone. I can't really explain how good it felt when she applied it to my freshly buffed out face, so you should really check it out for yourself. It contains white turmeric and tiger grass stem cells, hence the White Tiger name, and I don't really know about the science of it all, just that it felt like nothing I've had on my face before. Sublime (and soon there will also be White Tiger cleanser, etc...).

I felt even better about that facial when I learned that with every signature facial Wagner gives, she also gives back. As a fine artist, Wagner loves to share that gift. When a doctor friend invited her along on a trip to Cambodia in 2008 she brought along $2000 of art supplies to give to needy children there. She painted with kids afflicted by HIV there, and said the experience was so intense and beautiful, that she wanted to bring that feeling back with her to Los Angeles. Once back, she decided that with every facial, she would give an art kit to a child in need. Since then, kits have been delivered to homeless kids in Hawai'i, kids in Kenya, and recently 100 kits were donated to Grandview Elementary right here in L.A. ... so it's a facial you can feel REALLY good about.

The fine art part of Wagner's life also continues, as she paints as often as she can in her home studio. She had a great art show at the now long-gone Epoxy Box space on Venice Boulevard (remember that fun?), and hopes to launch another one as soon as her time permits ... which, with all she's got going on, could be a minute, but will certainly be well worth the wait.

Wagner loves to walk the block or so to work every day with Mylo ... and loves walking to dinner, walking to a friend's house, walking to the beach ... living in a place where you can walk to it all. I mentioned at the outset that I love seeing her walking, and we both lamented that with all the changes happening in town, you don't really see people as much. Now all the people walking down Abbot Kinney seem to be strangers as all the locals kind of avoid it, especially on the weekends, when you would see everyone out and about. The community is the real reason we all love it here, and I know I'm a broken record about all that, but I don't care. It matters. As Wagner reminded me, "We have to stay positive."

Positive is easy to stay when you're in the company of Wagner. "I want to make people look and feel more beautiful, to encourage them to want to take care of themselves. Giving your skin a little love makes you and I both feel good." That was a true story, because I left there feeling all aglow, inside and out.

But don't just take my word for it, take Vogue's:

http://www.vogue.com/13253093/best-facialists-new-york-los-angeles-celebrity-model/#comments

And now you can book your own appointment to be - and feel - pretty as a picture.

Alexandra Wagner Skincare
1636 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
310.399.0123
AlexandraWagnerSkincare.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraWagnerSkinCareCA
Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexandrawagnerskincare/

*Photos courtesy Alexandra Wagner

Jessica Luk at Spa Sophia - An Oasis on Abbot Kinney

I'm a lady that enjoys a good facial. "Good" would not do justice, however, to the one I just had from Jessica Luk at Spa Sophia on Abbot Kinney, right up the street. I didn't even know the little haven of peace and beauty existed until my friend Jessica started working her magic there. It's tucked in up a staircase above Primitivo restaurant, yet you feel like you just wiped the sand off of your feet at a friend's comfy beach house.

Luk is a California native, who grew up in La Cañada. She always knew she wanted to work in the wellness field, but it wasn't until she had a corporate job (and all the stress that went with it) that she really honed in on what it was that she wanted to do. She found that her own facialist really helped her detach from the daily rigamarole and feel good about herself, and figured she could pass that along to her own clients one day. After attending esthetician school at the Aveda Institute (Great sign. I've only used Aveda ever since I had hair.) in San Francisco, Luk got licensed and moved down to L.A. with her new husband, Tyler.

Doing her research, looking for a place to work, Luk found Spa Sophia. It fit right in with her desire to work in a place that was small, intimate and holistic vs. some big scenester spa ... a place where you really know your clients, and what they need. She came in to meet with owner, Sophia Marzocchi, they instantly clicked, and Luk started giving the excellent facials I'm about to tell you about last fall. Then Tyler got hired as a bartender at The Tasting Kitchen, so the darling couple book-ends Abbot Kinney, and we're lucky for it.

I walked upstairs on a sunny Venice morning, and Luk showed me in to the light, airy room where I was to be pampered for the next 90 minutes or so. I wanted it to be my bedroom at the beach ... all painted white with exposed beams and black and white surf photographs on the wall. Sun streamed in and the trees outside waved their branches gently, already creating a relaxing atmosphere.

I got naked and climbed under the crisp white sheets and soft, furry blanket to settle in for this highly anticipated treat. I'm not one who really likes to talk - at all - during facials and massages and stuff, as I feel like it kind of defeats the purpose of total relaxation. Luk completely honored that, aside from gently telling me when things might tingle, "feel pressure" or freak me out. She was so gentle and calm, but surprisingly firm during the massage parts. She is so tiny and adorable, you wouldn't think she could get into those knots like she does. The perfect combo, really.

The products smelled great, the classical music played softly, and soon enough I started to melt away into the process, not even thinking about the myriad things I wanted to accomplish on this day - a real miracle! As Luk said, "The more relaxed a person is, the better the facial, the better their skin." Suffice it to say, the facial and skin were waaaay better after this business. There was a moment when Luk applied a "Cinnamon peel" to my face that it tingled/burned almost to the point of not being able to take it. I breathed deeply, and I swear to God, I focused through my third eye and went into some kind of mental tunnel that I can't even really describe because I don't even know what I just said means. But I did. Then Luk started fanning over my face and just as soon as I went into that wormhole, I was back, hearing birds chirp outside. I swear.

That trip out was followed by a mask that made me feel like I was devolving into an ape. As it dried, it felt like my face was turning into an ape snout. I know that sounds insane, but go get this done and tell me it doesn't. Luk told me later that as the mask dried, my face looked like a 98 year old woman. Awesome. But it sure didn't when all was said and done. My pressure points were pressed on and activated, my face was extracted and polished into a time-travel tween, pretty much, and now all I can do is gush and urge you to copy me.

One thing that I liked so much too was that I can't recall another facial in recent memory where the esthetician didn't leave the room. They always go out and leave you under the steam and do whatever while you lay there going ho hum. Luk was with me the whole time. If steam was going on my face, she was massaging my hands, arms and head. No time was wasted, and it was all sheer Heaven. Even my tunnel trip.

After I was back to reality - kind of - Luk and I talked about how great that facial was and why, and also about Venice. "My job is to make you feel comfortable and educated about your skin." She is excellent at that job. She gave me the "Epicurean Facial" (if you do indeed want to copy me), but like she said, your skin is always changing, so while that one might be perfect for me now, in the Summer, when I'm all beached out, I'll probably need something different, as my skin will have different needs. I thought that was great too, as many times, you don't know better, so you just get the same thing you always do. Luk knew my skin better than I did, and I felt totally at ease in her more than capable, soothing hands.

About Venice, Luk said, "I know it sounds like such a cliché, but I really like the community the most." Clichés happen for a reason, of course, and here it serves as a catchall for our people, businesses, and the neighborhood itself. "It's a proud little place."

That it is, and that it deserves to be. Especially when there are people like Jessica Luk making you feel beautiful and great, and friends waving at you on the walk home. There just aren't enough superlatives to describe how fantastic I felt, as I dreamily strolled home among the bursting out jasmine and tree blossoms falling around me on this bright, sunshiny day. Blessed is about the best I can do.

Book your own bliss (everything from waxing everything to microdermabrasion) with Jessica (or Sophia Marzocchi or Amanda Coggin  if Jessica is booked solid, as she surely should be) at www.spasophia.com or by calling them at #310.564.6676.

Spa Sophia
1027 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Suite B

Robyn Frazar

Oh, Man. I've been rocking it a bit much lately, and my face was starting to look like Keith Richards (maybe it was the scarf I had wrapped on my head, but still ...). Fortunately for me, I have a friend in one lovely Robyn Frazar, Licensed Esthetician. Robyn works at Alexandra Wagner Skincare, conveniently located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, so all I had to do the Saturday after an insane last Friday night was teeter my bicycle up the road a short spell.


I managed that, and was so delighted to see what a lovely space Alexandra/Ally Wagner has created for her skincare clients up a flight of steps from the bustling Boulevard. Airy, sunny, crisp, soothing ... it was calming before I even stripped and laid down on the cozy white sheets of the facial table.

Alexandra is a Philly girl, who came out to L.A. via New York City six years ago. She had a painting business and found herself beating up on her body a lot, which led to a new awareness for her own well-being. When you realize how much some TLC helps your mental health, via facials, massages, good diet, exercise, all those good things, then you do your best to give yourself that treat once in a while, the best you can. Alexandra had that light-bulb, got her esthetician license, worked in NY and LA (at Jurlique, where she met Robyn), and then took the plunge into owning her own business.


Alexandra Wagner Skin Care was located above Colcha up the street for four years, until moving to the current location this past March. And it's gorgeous. You can wait for your appointment with a little people watch on the sunny balcony overlooking the Brig end of Abbot Kinney, and then go inside and forget all about it.

I certainly did. Adorable brown-eyed blonde Robyn heard my tall tales of the night and wasted no time in showing me to her facial room, instructing me to undress and get comfy. No problem. The music was good, the air was fresh, and I was almost out before she returned. That was short-lived though, as while I'm usually a lady that loves silence during any service, Robyn is so fun and insightful to talk to that I found myself jabbering away the entire time. Even during the very thorough extraction segment of the deal. Yep.

They use EmerginC products in their "Signature Facial", all of which smell delightful and leave your face sparkling aglow. That probably also had a lot to do with the enzyme peel, microdermabrasion, , those darned but vital extractions, mineral mask, "Gommage" (stuff that super-exfoliates with balls of goo that roll dead skin off your face - awesome), and even a cooling oxygen treatment that was a bonus tingling of fun facial first aid.

My favorite part - aside from the chats - was when Robyn applied this enzyme peel stuff that kind of stung, and then fanned my face as my eyes were closed, like with a fan fanned. I fully expected to open my eyes to find a glistening manservant there with a sprig of grapes to feed me. I shared this folly with Robyn and she replied, "If I have grapes, I'll feed 'em to you!" This is one of many reasons why we love her.


More of those reasons: A born and bred California girl (Encinitas, and now West Side!), Robyn is a truly lovely soul. When asked about what got her into her line of work, she said, "I want to establish REAL connections with people ... My whole purpose is to be an example of love, and put that forth in my every interaction." Which she does. She plays guitar beautifully, and is an avid supporter of all her musician friends (a point we bonded over early on). She loves Yoga, and the whole mind/body/spirit school of thought. She got her Esthetician License, worked for a Doctor in a medical spa, and then found herself at Jurlique until she was snatched up by Alexandra. Venice's gain!

She has recently thrown most all of the vice-y stuff in life out the window, to research for herself (and how she looks and feels) what doing without alcohol, sugar, processed stuff, and I forget what all else, but she wants to explore the more radical approaches to skincare issues through how we operate on the inside. She means business too. Meaning, you can't buy her a drink, but you can buy her a Kombucha! (though recently that seems to be slightly alcoholic too, I was surprised to find out).

Even after all that Robyn did to my now seriously soft and beaming face, there is still a bunch more things to try, like Micro-current treatment that tones facial muscles somehow, high quality waxing of both brow and bikini, multiple kinds of facials, and I'm still hoping for those grapes ...

Both Alexandra and Robyn adore working on Abbot Kinney, and support all the local businesses ("Most of our furniture is from Surfing Cowboys."). Though clients come from all over (even Orange County!), they love that the local clientele mostly show up and park their bikes out front. I forgot where Alexandra lived and asked her if she was in Santa Monica, to which she replied, "Absolutely not". She is firmly a Venetian. A girl after my own heart.

They love the Venice community (once again, the dominant feeling of Blogtown/Venice itself) and as Alexandra said, "There's not a lot of places like it left in AMERICA." Robyn added, "I love the progressive minds of Venice. People have art, flair, energy ... they value their friendships, they're free-spirited, and they, for the most part, want to make a difference in the World". Amen, Sisters.

When I wafted back down the stairs after my luxurious pampering and gab session, I was relaxed, refreshed, was told I had a "glow". Whether that was true or not, I at least no longer resembled old Keith. (At least on the outside). But better than that, I felt inspired by the knowledge that good people continue to share their gifts, make a living, and send people on their way feeling a little better about both themselves, and the world at large ... all in just over an hour.

Make your appointment now. Tell them I sent you. You won't have to tell me you went ... I'll know just by looking at you.



Alexandra Wagner Skincare

Alexandra Wagner/Robyn Frazar
1636 Abbot Kinney Boulevard (up the stairs)
Venice, 90291
310.399.0123
www.alexandrawagnerskincare.com