I have very sensitive skin and usually break out in a rash after facials, even those for sensitive skin. But at Gorgeous Lady my skin feels and looks wonderful and healthy with less wrinkles even days later! I'm thrilled I found this place. It was a very relaxing experience With great results! I would highly recommend the European facial at Gorgeous Lad! read more

Elena was great!! She accommodated to a same day appointment for a Venus facial & a Brazilian wax :) she asked me about my skin type before the facial and gave me some helpful tips on my skincare routine. Highly recommend!! read more

This is the best place to get your facials and skincare services on the Island. Elena takes great care of you here and her facial massage is really luxurious feeling. Every facial I have had with her has been superb. There's ample parking, it's in a quiet neighborhood, and it's such a cozy Eastern European feeling spa. You will be glad you came here, she's my new go to, no need to shop around anymore. read more

Highly recommend The Gorgeous Lady if you are looking for a facial in the east bay/ Alameda. My facial was wonderful and Elena is so sweet, and great to visit with. She knows what she is doing and you will be very pleased with your experience, I was. read more

Amazing find. Quiet room and Elena is very kind and soothing. I received the mens executive facial and leg waxing. The waxing was great and the facial was so relaxing I kept falling asleep. Highly recommend for mens skincare. Elena was very knowledgeable and friendly. I will be making future appointments for my wife and I. read more

I had the microabrasion facial today . I loved it and when I left my skin was glowing.

Great attention to detail, thoroughness, and high quality products all lead to consistently good results. I'm a big fan!!

Let me start by saying Elena is a lovely lady who was very responsive and easy to communicate with. The facial, on the other hand, was underwhelming. I was dealing with a lot of congestion on my face from hormonal changes and wanted to get a good pore cleansing facial to help with that. I've had lots of facials in the past, most recently a month before seeing Elena, and was hoping for good things after reading reviews. I got the One Fantastic Venus Facial for $160 + LED light. One thing I noticed was that Elena had me pick a facial in advance over the phone without seeing what my skin needed. In my experience, it's best to get a facial tailored to your skin rather than picking something without knowing what it'll help with. I told her in advance I needed extractions (read: a lot of extractions) and had hormonal acne prone skin. Elena barely did any extractions and they HURT. She uses one of those extractor tools that you can get on amazon to scrape the keratin off your face and then push deep into the pore. I have a high pain tolerance and have gotten extractions several times and these were the most painful. Plus, I needed at least 30-40 whiteheads and blackheads extracted (I know because I ended up going to another salon a few weeks after) and Elena only spent a few minutes taking out a few prominent blackheads, maybe 10. Her honey facial was interesting - I've never had it before and liked that it was natural. To be honest, it felt a little gimmicky. I'm not sure if it actually did anything for my face. I was very relaxed during the facial which was great, although I feel like I wasted my money and didn't get any results. My skin didn't look or feel any different the days after the facial, besides for a little improvement in texture. Also, it says online the facial takes 1.5 hours for $160. I'm pretty sure ~25 min of that was the LED light, which is an add on anyways. I ended up going to another esthetician a few weeks later who spent over an hour extracting my face, and now my pores are clean and skin is glowing. Overall, I think Elena's facials are good for those with good skin who want an extra little boost or glow. I don't think it's worth if you have problem skin and are looking for results. read more

Terrible experience. Surprised to see so many positive, glowing reviews! . I also see Elena replies to reviews, especially negative ones, so I look forward to your reply, Elena. :) My main complaint is her personality, when we started out on the wrong foot. the door to the building was locked and I was not given a code, so I called (it was my scheduled appointment time) and I was told to wait until the client she is working with leaves and I can get in through the door that way ... no apology or a acknowledgment of this inconvenience or the fact she was running late when I entered. She just said "Hello Sophia! Your consultation!" Lol and wanted to pretend like that whole situation didn't happen. So I couldn't get settled and relax cuz yes a felt annoyed. An acknowledgment and simple apology does go a long way! I said what I wanted to relax and she responded like it was the wrong answer. Felt like I should have followed my gut and left before my facial after the "consultation". The facial itself was not great. Good information for me to take these Yelp reviews with a grain of salt! read more

Elenna definitely look after the clients above and all, and making sure all your concerns are addressed and met ,Super knowledgeable, painless hair removal over fully tattooed legs. Definitely recommended. read more

This was a fantastic facial with great prices! Elena was so accommodating, she let me come in with a same day appointment and just a few hours notice, which I really appreciated. I love that she customizes each facial to what your skin needs! Elena was so professional and helpful. Not only does my skin feel great but it was so relaxing during the actual facial too! I will be coming back here every time my skin needs it! read more

I had a facial. It great especially if you have seasonal dry skin as it left my skin super moisturized but I am giving her only 4 stars because I went there for the microdermabrasion and I was not impressed. I had plenty microdermabrasion treatments in the past and the machine she uses is not the one with the crystals, it just sort of massaged my skin, and I am looking for a stronger peeling effect. I will return when I get seasonal dryness that even expensive lotions do not hydrate. read more

Elena is nice and professional. I appreciate the samples and tips she provided me during my facial. I had the All Pores Go To Heaven facial done and thought it was a rather simple facial compared to that many that I've had previously elsewhere. The whole facial felt quick - it mainly consists of using the stickiness of honey to suction my dead skin cells and opens up pores. This process itself felt like it took about 15 minutes. Then followed a facemask for maybe another 15 minutes. I enjoyed the honey suction part, however, I feel I could've done that and the facemask at home. I would have to say that the price is pricey for this type of facial. I do not mind paying, as I've paid for a facial in the range of $150+ before. In my personal opinion, I just feel there could have been more and something different that people can't do for themselves at home to actually match the price. Eyebrow wax - I get my eyebrows wax very often and from many different professionals. However, I feel this may not one of Elena's expertise as I had to point out flaws after the wax. It just wasn't clean. I was told because I just had a facial, but if I was warned that waxing would not work well post facial, I would be happy to skip the wax. read more

Elena is wonderful! She did a fantastic job guiding me through the eyebrow and eyelash tinting process and made me feel very comfortable. The result was beautiful and lasted longer than I expected. She also did my facial and I absolutely loved the experience. Another great plus is her advice about homemade toners and skin care that was practical and affordable for me since I am a struggling student. My boyfriend was in the room with us the whole time and she didn't make it awkward or any comments about it. She offered him tea and they even chatted while she worked her magic! Elena is a great aesthetician as well as a warm, kind, and most of all lovely genuine person. I enjoyed my time with her and look forward to going back in the future! read more

Had a pores facial with Elena today and my skin looks really good and smooth. I enjoyed her gentleness and understanding with my clogged pores, her studio is cozy too and I just really enjoyed the facial overall. This was my first time but will definitely be going back. read more

Elena gives a wonderful facial. I love the atmosphere of her place and her warm, yet professional manner. It's not just my face that is revitalized, but my whole being. I look forward to coming back soon! read more

Today I experienced the Honey Facial. Wow, my skin feels so refreshed and rejuvenated. The experience as a whole was both relaxing and cleansing. I love how Elena explained the process and the benefits of the treatment and gave me tips on how to better care for my skin. The atmosphere was wonderful. Elena is professional and experienced but also a very warm and welcoming person. I really enjoyed my facial and 100% will be back. Highly recommend trying this spa salon to anyone but also especially beginners and first timers. You will not be disappointed!! read more

So let me start with saying this was by far the best facial I have received in a long time and I get facials at least 7-10 times a year. Elena was professional, prompt, polite and knowledgeable. She is definitely going to be my full time esthetician. So now let me start with this is not a facility with a reception desk and multiple rooms. I honestly would pick places before based on the website and the aesthetics of the facility, so I was a little hesitant when I pulled up at this dated business park building and walked into the dated lobby and up the carpeted stairs to her room. Yes, you read right it is just a room. The room though, is nicely sized and appropriately decorated. I was actually surprised at how much I ended up liking this feature in the end. Elena is very knowledgeable and thorough. She didn't pick the mask for me until after she fully cleansed my face and then took her cue from my skin. She spoke to me, informing me of all she was doing to my face while she did it. Elena is not a sales woman trying to up-sell you on all her products. She informed me of what she used and informed me as to why I should use these types of products and left it there. I would hate to go to other spas and at the end have the esthetician put out all of these highly priced products just to have to say no or worse feel almost obligated to buy them. Elena knows her stuff and is more than happy to share her knowledge with you. At the end of my time with her she poured me a cup of tea served in a beautiful Russian service set and we chatted. Elena is a consummate professional and understands that the service doesn't begin and end on the spa table. read more

Elena did an amazing job! I did an all pores go to heaven and my face feels great! I highly recommend

As an update...I'm quite disappointed to receive "less than appropriate" messages from the merchant Elena. My mother always said that if you have nothing nice to say...say nothing. Also because I work the overnight shift, once I got stood up from my 11am appt I spent the rest of my day sleeping!!!! It's not professional to mark my Living Social voucher as "used" to get paid for services you did NOT provide. Thank goodness the folks at Living social are decent and will give me my refund so I can try another merchant. This is my RIGHT! I'll always gladly pay for what I receive, but not for anything I did NOT receive. Bad bad form!!!! read more

I have difficult hair. It's very curly, often frizzy and long down to the small of my back. Thankfully growing up, my mother was a trained beautician and she gave me every haircut until I grew up, moved out and had to find someone else to do my hair. I have tried some of the best places in NYC without any success, they just did not know how to do my hair. Like I said, it is not white girl straight, it is Puerto Rican crazy hair so they did not know how to handle it at all. Every time I went to a salon, I was left with a defeated stylist who would give up, throw my hair up in a ponytail and send me on my way....and then I found Elena! I had an unexpected stay in the hospital for a few weeks and when I got out, I discovered the back of my hair to be in one huge matted knot unlike anything I had ever seen. It was just an impossible mess to undo and I was at a loss thinking I would have to cut all of my hair off and resort to the afro. I really needed professional help! Elena was my stylist and she got right to work trying her best to work out the knots. Her patience was impressive but after some time it was clear the knots would not yield. I was in tears waiting for her to give me the chop when she gave me some tissues, told me it would all be okay and then she worked her magic. She was able to cut out the knots without it being noticeable at all that all that hair was gone. Then she trimmed the rest as I had asked. It looked great, I was able to keep the length and I was so thrilled I went back for her to give me highlights. The highlights came out perfect, she knew exactly what she was doing and helped me pick out the best color for my hair. My hair takes color very quickly so she kind of had to keep applying and rinsing section by section. Again her patience was wonderful and she made the entire experience enjoyable. The best part was that she actually knew how to style my hair and for once I left a salon loving the way I looked! She gave me big beautiful banana curls and I just loved how soft my hair felt. I also bought a few of the products they sell there and are so happy with all my purchases. I highly recommend going to see Elena for all your salon needs. She is very sweet, incredibly talented and professional. I have never recommended anything on Yelp before but this was such a surprisingly wonderful experience, I had to share. Thanks! read more

This is a very subjective review based on my personal preferences for how I prefer my facials and massages, and my skin-care needs. I have had facials very regularly for some 20+ years now, across the US, and a few countries outside the US as well. My skin seems to need a little more rigor than one would offer with ultra-gentle strokes or products that are almost benign that they would never harm your skin, but will likely not give great benefits either (unless used for half your life-span). I am alluding to the honey facial that I got from Elena, where she uses the purest honey exclusively for the facial massage. The facials were good. Elena was good. The first time that I went to her, I used her Groupon promo, to test-drive. And then I followed up with regular facials. Not a single hassle with her Groupon promo. She is very, very gentle with your skin, and she has my highest recommendation if one never had facials done, or very infrequently done to get started with a regimen, or would generally like to see her very regularly (every 3 weeks) for skin maintenance. While I would have definitely considered her as my aesthetician for regular facials (ever 3 weeks), it would have been too expensive for me. I probably could get away with a facial every other month for the same price as hers ($80 - $120) at some other med-spas that I have come to rely on over time. But I would highly recommend Elena for anyone that wants to get started with facials. read more

I love my facials with Elena. She creates a soothing, relaxing atmosphere in her cozy studio. I like the products she uses and her facial massage is just lovely. I very much look forward to seeing her and so is my skin. read more

Elena uses Jean D'Arcell products which are excellent and some of the few out there that can be used on my sensitive skin. Her location in Alameda has a parking lot behind the building (free) and it's quiet there. Her face massage at the beginning of my facial got rid of the headache I had all morning. Hooray! The studio is one room on the second floor of an office building, and the restrooms are down the hall. If you are expecting a "full spa experience", then this is not it. Personally, I like the more one-on-one kind of facial without the spa attitude. Elena asked me about my skin, gave a good facial, and offered a nice cup of tea afterward. read more

Elena is the best. Because of her care, I can see my skin coming back to life: glowing, getting compliments, even getting carded at 42! One of the best parts is that the products she uses are such high quality, and natural. She really cares about skin, and is so generous with her knowledge. I just enjoy her kindness and warmth so much, it's a bonus to the great skin she's helping me see again. I just can't imagine ever trusting anyone else with my face. read more

Elena is not only a wonderful esthetician, but a great philosopher too! I had a wonderful visit with her for eyebrow and lash tinting and a facial. She customized my facial based on my particular skin concerns and actually took the time to do thorough extractions. She explained how to better take care of problem zones and also what not to do. This was not my first facial, but it's the first one I've had where I left with my skin actually feeling cleaner and pores looking significantly smaller than when I went in with the results lasting a week later. Also, my skin did not break out at all, as it sometimes does, after having a facial and having dirts be brought to the surface but not necessarily cleaned deep enough. Elena was very careful with the brow and lash tinting. It was my first time doing this and she was very careful to explain how everything worked with the dyes around the eyes, how long it lasts, the grade of lightening of the dye etc. The room is beautiful, welcoming and comfortable. It's like going to a little eastern european spa. Elena herself is very warm and open and treats you like a friend, not just like a cold client. She is personable while still maintaining professionalism. Also, her prices are not bad at all so I will definitely be back! read more

Elena is wonderful sweet funny and so honest!! . My experience here was wonderful . I started off soaking my feet in rose water followed by a yummy cup of tea. I felt so relaxed and fell right asleep. The place is so cutely decorated. Parking was super easy too which I was like amen about . I would highly recommend her ;) read more

I always enjoy going to Elena's and getting my facial and haircut. My skin always feels so soft and looks great after! I recommend her highly! read more

Elena is AMAZING!!!!! This had to be the best wax I have ever had She was funny, sweet and made me feel great!!! I had no pain at all I can't wait to go back!!!! Rachel read more

Do yourself a HUGE favor and book an appointment with Elena as fast as you can ~ she has MAGIC FINGERS! I had the privilege of receiving facials from her twice now, and trust me, it won't be the last. She is a lovely gem that I happened upon with my girlfriend and we are thrilled to have found her. Everything is heavenly, from the atmosphere, the room, the music, and especially Elena herself! I've given gift certificates to a number of my friends now, and I'm looking forward to my next one. The papaya facial sounds absolutely wonderful, but then again, they all do. RUN, don't walk, to The Gorgeous Lady and that's exactly how you'll feel, and the effects last for days! read more

I had the pleasure of a facial with Elena and it was perfect! Her newly remodeled spa is gorgeous and I love the new relaxation room. Elena provided me with a great customer service .My skin feels wonderful after treatments , all the masks and products were selected by Elena specifically for my skin type . Thank you so much for taking great care of me read more

I purchased a groupon and really enjoyed my time with Elena. She is professional and doesn't push products on you. I LOVED the eyelash and brow tinting she did. I had a waterfall facial.. but didn't really see that great of a difference in skin texture the next day. I think I prefer more aggressive treatments at my age.. But my skin was dry and is less so now. Overall it was very relaxing and a treat to have! Parking on site is nice too. read more

I come to Elaina for facials. She's very thorough, she's taught me a lot about my skin. Not only putting products on my skin but how nutrition impacts my skin which I would not have thought of. I've been coming here over the past 6 months , thanks Elaina :) read more

I'm writing this review out of the blue because I am still in awe with the results from my facial after going through photos in from my phone and being reminded of how effective Elena is. This review is long overdue- I had a facial with Elena back in October 2019 before my sister's wedding. She was graciously able to squeeze me in. I came in with very puffy eye-lids and a little bit of acne, and she is a MIRACLE at lymphatic draining and extractions that wouldn't scar before the event. I didn't realize I had lymphatic build up, but my eyelids were completely normal and tight after the service. I requested micro current because I read good things, but was also afraid to start too young and do damage (I'm in my mid-20s), she did a lower voltage to make me feel comfortable and explained the process every step of the way, and assured me it was ok in moderation. My face had never looked better, it lasted that way for almost a month too! My whole face looked sculpted and had more muscle tone than I've ever seen. I was mostly happy to be rid of my puffy eyelids, which I get a lot. I model part-time and have been having issues with lymphatic drainage, so I will DEFINITELY be going back to her as soon as quarantine is over and a few days before future photoshoots/bookings. I recently moved to the city, but will absolutely travel to Alameda because she is better than anyone I have ever been to. May I also mention that she designed her salon BEAUTIFULLY and has amazing product recommendations. I cannot wait to book another facial with her! read more

It was my first time coming in for a facial yesterday, and I liked my experience! Elena was great; it was a very soothing experience for the most part, and it when it came to extractions, of course it really hurt, but surprisingly, my face wasn't nearly as red as I expected!! Can't wait to go back for my next appointment in a month! read more

I had my first facial with Elena today. She was very meticulous with the extractions and gave me some good advice for home care and didn't try to push products. She's really good and I'll be going again. Her space is super clean, quiet and beautifully decorated. It was a wonderfully relaxing experience and my skin looks great. Thanks Elena. read more

My girlfriend and I came here with a fairly late appointment. Elena was very accommodating it taking our last minute appointment and letting us both stay in the room. While my gf got her facial I was able to relax on a comfy couch with provided tea. There's even a little sit in sauna, the kind where your body is inside and your head sticks out. She was very knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. Great experience. read more

Something others rave about I did not like, which is how long it all took. I bought an online deal for a facial. Once I was there she offered to do a lash and brow tint at a great price, so I said yes. The brow tint was way too light, so she had to do it over again. Then the facial, which was fine but nothing special, took a long time. . I told her about an area I wanted special attention, which I did not get. I was there for two hours. Way too long. Very nice lady though. read more

I just had the most fabulous facial, I am hooked and am a Big Fan of Elena. After she pampered my face, my skin now feels soft, fresh, alive and glowing. That says a lot for her skills, her products and my skin that needed so much help. I love the fact that she spends this time on me, not rushing to get me out or pushing her products, she made me feel special and spoiled. I already booked my next appointment with her in December. Thanks Elena. read more

This was the best facial experience I have had. Elena is very knowledgeable and friendly and uses great products and techniques.