I purchased a Groupon for a facial, "1 Sanitas Pumpkin Enzyme facial with Microdermabrasion."
For starters, this place is located in what seems to be a shared office space for beauty services, think office size spaces on a single floor. Interesting concept for hair or waxing services, but not exactly in line with the spa environment that is geared toward consumers who seek privacy and serenity. With that said, this "beauty office space" comes with no signs, and upon walking in there are no guiding signs or an info station to point you in the right direction. I went the long way, walked completely around, as I was stared by other patrons at other beauty stations along the way, before finally reaching Skin Bar which is actually a short walk to the right upon entering.
Parking is not so bad, there's meter parking along the street, and there are parking lots parallel to the businesses.
When I made my way inside, my esthetician seemed friendly enough introduced herself and asked me to lay down. I explained to her that I recently moved from FL, and my skin was reacting to the climate change. She suggested a glycemic mask to help replenish my skin, at an additional cost of $30. I agreed but asked her to reiterate what came with my Groupon. As advertised, I was to receive a pumpkin infused cleaning, exfoliation, custom mask (of course I asked why this couldn't be the masked I was being charged $30 for, but she said the mask I "need" is an add on), moisturizer, sun screen, microdermabrasion, & eye cream. In retrospect, all I really received were 3 out of the 7 listed above.
As she started my facial, she left the lights on only realizing 20 mins into it that the room was uncomfortably bright. Shortly after, when I finally started to relax, she dropped a bowl on the counter making a loud abrupt noise that scared the Holy Ghost out of me. After jumping up she pulls me down, and proceeds to lather me up like turkey on thanksgiving, equally sloppy and messy, only to clean me up with cold towels and cold hands. When it came to extractions, the steam machine was not lined with a plastic bonnet to protect user from boiling hot water drips, so yes, I was a victim of burn marks. The extraction portion lasted, no exaggeration, 2 mins, where she squeezed my nose & chin once & declared she had finished. I was stunned, this is my favorite part, the SOLE purpose of getting a facial is to have someone else squeeze the juice out of you while you bask the glory of beautiful skin. When it came to complete the microdermabrasion, the fun really took off. The machine wasn't working, so I laid there as she troubleshooted the machine for 12 mins popping in & out of the room in dismay. Finally she says, I can't fix this, we'll need to switch rooms. Mind you, I'm naked with only a towel to cover me. With the sense of urgency in her voice, I gather my things and bee line for the door like if we were conducting a fire drill. So there I am in a towel walking across all those mini beauty salons to the end of the aisle where Skin Bar's second room, face and body bare, embarrassing much? I get there, and she's still back in the other room & this rooms door is locked. So I'm standing there, holding my things, greeting everyone as they enter the building. She makes it back, unlocks the door & apologized for the ordeal. I lay down and expect us to really get things in motion, considering all the time that was wasted. But nope, another esthetician pops in and says hello to the woman performing my service and leaves. A few minutes later, she returns & comes into the room and has a full fledged conversation with my esthetician. Asked her why we were there, advised her that there was a client scheduled to arrive in 30 mins, even introduced herself, as apparently the two had not previously met. I took my eye swabs out and gave this woman a look of wonder, how unprofessional can she possibly be? My esthetician then explains to her that the microdermabrasion machine is broken and encouraged her to examine the problem. She walks out and I think, "finally!" But low and behold, she comes back a THIRD time explaining that the machine just needed a "little tape" because air gets through. My esthetician hears my sigh and subtle throat clearing, I tried my hardest to be cordial, and asks her colleague if there is "anything they can offer me for having to walk across the business hall way in a towel (she attempts to whisper this while she's a foot away from my face, really?). Her colleague urges my esthetician to "take it up with the owner". The whole ordeal to troubleshoot, switch rooms and entertain conversations from the other esthetician took about 30 mins, but somehow I still ended up finishing promptly one hour after my arrival ( in what parallel universe is that even possible when facials within themselves take an hour?)
In the end, I was offered $10 off mask price. Horrible experience, never again. read more