Erin is the best - takes her time, detail-oriented, friendly, accomodating, and honestly the best laser results I've ever had.

I just recently started my second series of the PRX treatment and I'm so excited to see what the results will look like. Erin is the nurse that's doing my treatments and she's amazing. She's very warm and friendly and knowledgeable. There's not that many med spas in the Bay Area that offers PRX, so I'm glad I found UA. Also, there's actually a parking garage nearby so parking isn't that bad! read more

This is a wonderful clinic and team. I have been going for years and trust Erin's expertise and care. All the staff is warm and professional. My skin looks so good after Diamond Glow! read more

Urban Allure - Check in area! - Skin Care Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came in for a Diamond Glow facial, and Erin did a terrific job! As someone who was new to the procedure and doesn't do a lot of upkeep, I found it incredibly helpful that she took the time to walk through the process with me. And the treatment itself made my skin feel terrific! read more

Allure was my first experience with cosmetic injectables in the US and I am beyond pleased with the service and hospitality. Jenny and Amanda are simply amazing--they made me feel comfortable and exude positive energy. They really listen to your concerns and aim to give you the best experience. On top of that, they proactively applied offers/promotions without me even asking. The deposit I made prior to appointment was not applied at checkout but within 2 minutes of leaving the spa, they realized it, acknowledged the mistake, and applied a partial refund for the deposit back to my account when it could have easily went over my head. Hard to come across businesses like this these days, highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

I've been coming to Urban Allure for Laser Hair removal for years. The staff is amazing and has a way of making clients feel comfortable. They often offer laser hair removal packages + promos and even have an affordable maintenance offering. I recently also went to Amanda for a back facial. In 1 session she significantly improved the texture of my skin. I am looking forward to continuing my skin care journey with the team :) read more

I have been going to Urban Allure for over 10 years. Over the years I have received regular Botox treatments, and recently Coolsculpting. I cannot rave about Erin, Emily and Amanda enough. They are professional, talented, and overall just wonderful people who provide an incredible service and experience. I have recommended Urban Allure to countless friends over the years, and I truly believe there is not a better Medspa in San Francisco. Highly highly recommend!! read more

I am so glad to have found this gem. It's women owned and I feel extremely comfortable every time I come. Amanda has been doing my Diamond Glow facials and MY GOODNESS I am always GLOWING with her. Highly suggest this place and having Amanda do your diamond glow facial :) read more

This review has been looooong overdue! I had the greatest Diamond glow facial with Amanda! Folks, let me tell you, my face... was AMAZINGLY glowy and dewy afterwards! She started off by pre facial assessment/consultation of my skin, asking me about my skin type and the products I use. Then she would give you the break down of what she is using and why. We then went on with the Diamond glow facial. I can feel the gunk from my skin being vacuumed out. We then went on to the Jelly hydro mask... it smelled SO GOOD , I wanted to wear it (haha). After we were done I asked to see my waste jar... it was icky but satisfying at the same time to see. I definitely recommend anyone who is interested to revive their skin to give it a try. read more

Love this place! Seeking medical spa treatments can be intimidating, but Emily, Erin, and Amanda will put you at ease with their extremely friendly, professional demeanor. They always do their work with care and quality. I've returned several times for follow-ups and leave happy every visit. Also, Amanda gives the best facials, so don't miss out! read more

I have had the pleasure of receiving Botox from Erin many times and every time I am so glad to see my skin look better than ever. She knows how to make the Botox correct all the lines and still keep you looking natural. I cannot recommend this spot enough. The entire staff is so lovely and kind. read more

I decided to goto Urban allure after touring a few other facilities for laser hair removal from my face and I am so glad i did. I don't know why i didn't do this earlier. My hair growth is almost ~0 after 3 treatments - what used to grow out in 1 week now takes 4 weeks and is much lighter. All the people who work here are super nice, the facility is extremely clean and its easy to get/adjust appointments. They are open saturdays which is a big plus for me. The treatment takes less than 5 mins , i have to care for it by putting sunscreen etc but no side effects at all. Highly recommend. read more

This review is long overdue! I have gotten the diamondglow facial with Stephanie Hwang twice now and both times I could not believe the positive results I saw on my skin. I have gotten facials at many med spas throughout my life (eg. SkinSpirit, LaBelle etc.) and nothing has shown results the way this treatment did. Following the treatment, my skin was actually glowing! It honestly had never looked better. Stephanie Hwang was awesome and both times customized the serums infused based on my concerns and the results I was looking for. I highly recommend this treatment and ask for Stephanie! :) read more

It's been a while so I wanted to provide an updated review. It has been several years and happy to report the laser hair removal services of Erin and Emily have been flawless. No regrowth and completely soft, smooth skin. Erin and Emily are so professional, pleasant and just a joy to work with. They are always honest and provide reasonable if not cautious expectations. I never thought the results would be this great! I have recommended many people over the years who are all thrilled with the results! Thank you Erin and Emily! read more

No more waxing since 2010! I bought a laser removal package for- about $500. I must say, I really had no business spending this kind of money but it has been well worth it. Emily is gentle and works fast. After 4 treatments, hardly any hair grows and maintenance is cheap. If you hate hair - get rid of it - you can - but it will cost ya. TIP: After so many treatments, they jack up the voltage and it can get a little painful. Um, after a long while they jack it up so high you don't want to do it anymore. If you can't tolerate the pain, just spend the extra money and time on their numbing cream. read more

I absolutely love this place! The ladies here are so kind and extremely knowledgeable. I wish they were in Marin so I could go more often!

Amanda is amazing! She is friendly and very knowledgeable about her craft. During my Deluxe Glow, she walked me through the process end to end and the results were night and day. I've never felt so refreshed. I've also seen some of the other ladies in the past (mostly Stephanie) and they are also wonderful. 10 stars! read more

I used to get laser here but I havent been in a while. I turned my mom onto Urban Allure and shes been going ever since. Coming back I had such a great and personable experience. Relatively inexpensive and the results are amazing! I came to get a different treatment of the cosmetic kind I had such a nice afternoon with the girls here. The location is so central, I recommend taking BART to beat the traffic and parking woes. Starting with the receptionist Amanda was so sweet and made me feel really welcomed and relaxed. I had to wait just a few minutes for the doctor and she was so sweet and beautiful, we chatted about my mom and what I've been up to. It was just fun and lighthearted! Facilities clean and inviting. Very professional staff and office. The appointment took maybe 30 minutes and then I went for some lunch. Very happy with results already. Will definitely be going back for any of my cosmetic needs that they offer! If you're on the fence about trying a new place, definitely come here! No Beverly Hill fakeness or overcharging here; just professional women offering outstanding services. They are very focused on making the customer happy and I would be surprised if they did always do their absolute best to keep you coming back! Five stars all the way! read more

First laser hair removal with Janessa (a registered nurse!) was awesome. I've done laser at two other places in the past and had very little results. I was always rushed in and out. Janessa took her time and was meticulous about zapping everything and paying close attention to how my skin was reacting. Very very happy so far. My boyfriend also came here and has been super happy with his results. I will update review again at the end of treatment! Update: One year later and I had pretty good results. Maybe it eradicated about 60% of the DARK course hairs on my face. But unfortunately it did not get rid of the thinner dark hairs and I am still very much waxing/buzzing my face. I don't think it's the fault of this shop.. I've done at least 20 sessions of laser removal at 3 different offices and I guess it's just not a very effective treatment. At least for me. It's somewhat effective but not entirely. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Hope this doesn't sound cheesy but what they did for me was LIFE CHANGING. I'm so happy I fortuitously found this place! Erin has been doing my laser for about 3 years now. She is such a kind and meticulous nurse. They have the best laser technology ! I have thick stubborn middle eastern hair which I got from my beloved papa and as much as I love all my other features of resemblance from him, I decided it was time to part with that. And then I found urban allure and they truly changed my life. Literally for decades I've spent precious TIME in my life shaving, knicking, bleeding, waxing trying to get rid of my pesky hair-- time I could have spent LIVING or sleeping in just a little more that morning before work when all you wanted to do was hit that snooze button just one more time but darn it, you planned on wearing a skirt that morning to work, and you remember that your legs need a shaving. So you avoid hitting the snooze button despite your body's calling..... shower , and in your rush, knick yourself with the blade, and of course still manage to miss several hideous spots. And of course after after spending all that time , just a day or two later that sharp prickly hair is poking out again and heaven forbid you have a date that night-- don't let them anywhere near your legs for a stroke that just turned into a surprise poke! Sure fire way to kill the mood! Really, how long you going to keep doing that before investing in laser and in yourself?! I'm most upset about the thousands I spent on wax memberships for literally YEARS because I was too scared to invest in laser technology. Finally after one of my family members visiting me from Canada showed me her results and was raving to me about how the laser technology changed her life, I decided to take the plunge. But she warned me that I must do my research and pick a salon with trained staff and good technology. I did my research (thank you Yelp) and finally decided on urban allure. Urban allure has exceeded my expectations in every way. The staff is always so kind and professional. Erin my nurse always does an amazing job. Their facility is immaculately clean. I have done nearly my entire body there. I have had exceptional results . I have also had the opportunity to compare their results with that of a competitor which I used while I was in another city for another area and it doesn't even compare. I experienced near complete disappearance of my hair with the 4 starter treatments that come in their packages. Other salons recommend starter packages of at least 6 treatments and even after 6 treatments the results aren't as good. On top of the initial 4 treatments with their packages , I have done at least 2 treatments of maintenance in most areas. I'm practically hair free (hallelujah!!) AND my skin is soft like a baby! I don't know what it is about this technology but when I compare it with my friends , who sometimes have done 8-10 treatments elsewhere, I'm so happy in my choice of Urban Allure (thanks again Yelp!) !! I have also shared this place with my friends, colleagues from the hospital who are always short on time and my family including my mom who went in yesterday for a bikini treatment and she was equally impressed. Their pricing is reasonable. Make sure to check out their website for their monthly promos. Just think no more waxing, shaving, tweezing, or threading. Think of all the money and more importantly time you saved not doing those things or making soooo many appointments across a lifetime! I'd like to scream at the top of my lungs to the entire world how Urban Allure has truly changed my life in hopes that everyone comes here but alas, the best I can do is write this review. DO IT. Come on! don't be chicken! And don't just do it anywhere. Do it Here. You'll thank me later for how I (actually they) changed your life :) read more

I've been working with Urban Allure for about 3 years, doing botox and fillers. They are awesome and super cautious. They never over do it and none of my friends can tell that I regularly do these procedures. They just believe that I have good genes and look naturally 10 years younger - which is exactly the results that I've been looking for. read more

I'm very picky when it comes to anything that has to do with self-care and Urban Allure exceeded all expectations. Their staff was informative, friendly and welcoming. Stephanie performed my laser hair removal- she's the best!! During the entire visit, I felt very comfortable- she explained the entire process, answered all my questions thoroughly and it was pretty much painless! She also introduced me to wonders that is Latisse, which I ended up loving so much that I recommended it to a few friends. Prices are competitive for SF and service is unbeatable- wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Urban Allure and their women staff are amazing! I feel very comfortable here and lucky to have found such a great place. I can't say enough nice things about the staff, services, treatments, and products that they offer! Amanda has given me two Diamond Glow facials that were the best I've ever had; my face and skin have never looked better!! The results are fantastic, and I've had many facials in my life. I look forward to many more treatments in the future!!!!!!!!!! read more

I love this place!! I'm getting laser hair removal for brazilian and it's been working amazing. Their prices are not bad and I got a really good groupon. The touch ups are only $50 for every 5 minutes, and I was told a brazilian takes 5-10 minutes. They are super quick and efficient there, which is great because I like to come on my lunch break. Definitely recommend it! read more

Highly recommend! I called yesterday and asked about the prices and how it's works, joy was very nice and professional she answered all my question and booked me a consultation and first treatment for today. I went in filled up all paper work Emily the nurse was very professional and pleasant and she makes sure to explain everything before she start the treatment. The actual laser hair removal treatment wasn't painful they use a very high quality machine that you finish the treatment very fast and painless! If you need laser hair removal that's the place to go! read more

Urban Allure has been taking care of my skin since first opening in downtown SF. First with facials, later with sun exposure related brown spot removal, and even with eyelashes. Erin Valenzuela, a registered nurse, has assembled a staff who provides expert professional services, including an M.D. for prescribing Latisse, the eyelash volume enhancer product. The practitioners are relaxed, friendly, punctual and never press products or additional treatments. The quiet "spa" atmosphere of this cozy salon is the perfect place even for a relaxing massage. Well worth the trip from the East Bay. Simple to park or walk from Montgomery BART. Since I gave my sister a gift certificate to inspire her to take the big plunge and try brown spots removal, she makes a point to book appointments for herself when she comes to visit from the LA area. After her recent visit, we discussed the possibility that she might even break new ground and try the lip plumping treatment. Sisterhood is powerful. As is expert support for the busy professional woman to look her best. read more

The best in the area (that I have tried so far)! Now, I wont bother going anywhere else! The office is nice and tidy; very cozy and has never been overly crowded. The ladies have never been anything but nice or friendly and never pretentious. (At other places, I often feel out of place or feel that people are condescending. Not at all with Urban Allure.) I do have a preference for some over others, but they are very professional and the more you go, the more you get used to everyone. I love that the website lists prices and details procedures. It's so much easier to know what procedures and treatment areas are offered rather than having to inquire. Another reason why I chose UA, is because they use a laser that doesnt require the application of sonogram gunk (aka some sort of massive quantities of ky jelly like substances). (Other laser places need the jelly substance that acts as a cooling agent.) UA's laser uses a blast of cold air but they will demonstrate the procedure on your hand if you're scared to death (like I was.. um, I mean, my friend was). They have done it all before (at least that's what they tell me all the time) and I believe them, cause it seems old hat to them! I wanted to be hairless (ahem, from the waist down). And having been a virgin on the bikini wax scene, I was very reluctant to sign up for such things. Esp at the prospect of getting a brazillian laser style. So, here's the skinny... The brazilian covers the trail to your belly button, your love triangle and the back end... all up in your biz. __________________________________________ The procedure... You have to shave first... I usually do it a day or two before. (and you never realize how much hair you have all deep inside crevices until you are given the task to shave down there.) I asked for numbing cream. They leave you in a room with numbing cream, gloves, a tongue depressor (for scooping and spreading), plastic film and a cloth like cover. You're left alone to apply the numbing cream, then cover the area with the protective plastic. You then cover yourself with the cloth. You are on your own for about 30 mins. Then they come a'knockin. You are given gauze to remove the bulk of the cream. Then wipes to remove any residue. (This is also super fantastic, cause I always try to be super clean when I get there. This is like double insurance!) They give you more alone time and come back in about 15 mins. Then it's down to business. The first set of business has you laying on your back. They ask you to bend your leg and have it turned out to the side, like a frog. Then they zap away. Then they (with gloved hands) move you so that they can get more into the crevices. Then on to the other side... Then it's flip time. And they just have you lie on your tummy this time. And it sorta feels like they are prodding you, getting into your most hidden regions. You almost cant help but feel violated, but at the same time you hope that they succeed at getting every last hair. (I've heard that other places are not as thorough in regards to being true brazilians.) Then it's over and you are given aloe gel to apply to the treated area and time to re-dress. __________________________________________ The hair seems to start falling out after the one week mark. Until then, the area can still have the appearance of stubble. Because the area can be sensitive, shaving over it is not highly recommended, nor is it very effective. You are advised not to pluck, extract or help the hairs along in anyway. I do so anyway (but only after they seem to come out with little to no effort). You almost cant help it. But so far it hasnt detracted from the effectiveness of the treatments. It is recommended that you exfoliate the area. I guess the hairs are more fragile now and have a harder time pushing their way through the surface of the skin. After my first treatment I had two unsightly ingrown hairs (but I'm proned to such things). Now I used a wash that has salicylic acid. That seems to have stopped the recurrence of ingrown hairs. woohoo!! They also offer touch ups if they missed a spot. The results are completely worth the aforementioned process! The pain seems to be on the level with eyebrow waxings. I'm extremely happy to be have less hair!! Highly recommended, all the way around! __________________________________________ Side notes: I wish they had better business hours, but they are always willing to work with you and come in after hours or on wknds. As of late they have been offering wknd hours w/out special requests. For your birthday you get a 10% discount coupon seems to be good for about a month or two. They often have seasonal specials online. I would recommend this place to anyone that asks, and sort of wish I can just spring this recommendation on people!! read more

I have been going here for almost 4 years, BUT NO MORE!!!! I am still in shock about the treatment I received today!!!! I had 2:30PM brow appointment, and I called 2 hours ahead of my appointment letting them know I would be running about 10-15 min late, and if it was an issue to please call me. I NEVER HEARD BACK! On my way to the appointment, I called to confirm. The receptionist finally picked up the phone told me it would be too late, and I would be charged a rescheduling fee due to their rescheduling policy - which I have never heard of until now. I said it would not a problem to reschedule, when would be a good time for Rocia (the girl who does the eyebrows). The receptionist told me not till next Wed. I agreed, saying that would be fine. She continued to tell me, there will be a cancellation fee. But, I never canceled, I was running a few minutes late, which I called 2 hours prior to verify that it wouldn't be a problem. Then she tells me, that I can come and they would only have time for my lips, but they would charge me for my lips AND eyebrows. "Even though we won't have time for your eyebrows" NOW ON What Planet THIS SOUNDS AT ALL LOGICAL?!! WTF RIGHT???? A few minutes later the eyebrow lady gets on the phone trying to save the day, and says, "If you come by, we can see you now!!!" That said, I got there in less than 10 min. WAIT IT GETS WORSE............... So I go there, and they are both SILENT, and Eyebrow lady is very awkward, and she starts telling me that they never got a voicemail. She continues by saying that it wasn't the receptionist's fault, and that their cancellation policy was very strict - yet, in the four years I've been going, I've never heard of getting a cancellation fee for being 10 MIN LATE!!!. But, they NEVER got a voicemail, so now, they are accusing me of being a liar, on top of everything else! She did not speak to me AT ALL through out the eyebrow process, and continued till the end telling me that I was wrong. WAY TO MAKE YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMER OF 4 YEARS FEEL COMPLETELY INVALUED!!! MAJOR DISLIKE! I will promptly be ending my relationship with this salon. Despite the mixup in communication and their "new" policy, they should have been more accommodating. read more

When you see some alien-faced Real Housewife on TV, it's hard not to be amused by her useless ruse. BABY. You don't look young. You look like you're made of Play-Doh. It's SO funny! Until you realize that frozen face is the same age as your own. That's when laughter turns to tears. While I absolutely refuse to puff up, fill in or paralyze any part of my mug, I certainly don't want to look like someone who has done all the bad things I have done. I think that's what they call the Botox paradox. And so someone suggested I try IPL, the topical face zapping that gets rid of broken blood vessels and sun damage and gets you your glow back. I had no idea where to go and no one to ask (since all my friends have a healthier self-image than I do), so I did a keyword search and found Urban Allure on Yelp. All the 5 star reviews convinced me to give this place a try. And all I can say is, this was Yelp at its best. Thanks, my controversial little review site, for introducing me to this wonderful staff, taking the rummy redness out of my face and de-freckling my chest. So now if you want to know that I spent most of my youth in bars and on the beach, you'll have to ask me. Because my face just got a lot better at keeping secrets. read more

I never thought I'd be here ~ never thought I'd be brave enough to FACE the truth, but unfortunately I've reached an age where I can no longer hide from it. Not to mention, my primary care Doctor is keen on reminding me of my age and is mailing me brochures for specials on injectable fillers such as Botox, restylene, juvederm. I was offended by her gesture, but now realize that quite possibly I'm looking a little 'tired' these days (Gawd help me). Life has its challenges. For me, the first challenge is trying to hide 3rd degree burns to one side of my face, which till now has been easy to do, however, the reality is my biological clock is tick, tick, ticking and with this there appears to be a loss in my body's natural ability to create elasticity (thanks, shrinking pituitary gland). So now aging is starting to show, especially on the burned side of my face. Think of the comedy & sad mask ~ yes, that's me, one side droopy with slight wrinkles and the other side fine, fresh supple looking. Oy Vey!!! Another challenge, I don't sleep well at night (because of my nightly thoughts in knowing that planet earth is just a small little speck of dust spinning crazily around the sun's solar system, which can (and likely will) be hit by another cosmic speck of dust which will ultimately annihilate life as we know it; this is always at the forefront of my subconscious mind). Okay, I'm rambling ~ my point is, science has proven that those who lack sleep tend to age faster than those who sleep well, not to mention lose focus easier, and have less short-term memory; wait, what was I talking about again. ; ^) So aside from my third challenge to stay focus, the two previous challenges combined are ultimately affecting my youthful good looks. With this, I have decided to accept the challenge and find a way to combat them. And with much research I've resolved injectable fillers are not for me. So what is the alternative... Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments ~ yes, sign me up! Urban Allure is my go to place for lunch time IPL treatments, and Emily is fantastic. She understands my goal and is helping me achieve (retain) a youthful, fresh and well-rested look. She's even zapped my hands so they match my face... Nice. I can't say the IPL treatment is a pleasurable experience (think putting your finger in an electric socket type pain), nor is it cheep. But as we get oldER, I'm finding age to be painfully expensive (pun intended). As for results, a few weeks after my first treatment I received compliments from friends, acquaintances and random strangers. The results were subtle and slightly noticeable. Hell, I believe the best compliment came from a random stranger, a female checker at my local trader Joes carded me when buying alcohol. She was quite rude too in saying "get your I.D. out, I don't want to have to waste my time ringing everything up." I was surprised, said "wah?" handed it to her and she looked at me, then my license, looked back at me and said "oh my, I had no idea; good job." I took this as a compliment. Another random person is a young lady who is new waitress at one of my favorite restaurants. When seating me she asked, "did you do something different, you look, well, really good." My response, I applied make-up; but I knew the real truth. I have had two treatments so far and now look 20yrs younger. Okay, I'm kidding on the 20 yrs younger (don't need to repeat my adolescence), but I certainly look well rested and the elasticity of my skin has improved greatly. I've two more treatments to go, then perhaps I will look 20yrs younger. 8*) read more

Update 6/10/14 - I just had my fourth session, and I still love this place and the results. AND... I didn't know this going in, but (DRUMROLL PLEASE) after you complete your package, they let you do maintenance sessions for $50 each! (Or really, $50 per five minutes, so if you need a lot of breaks or have a lot of overgrowth, it could be $100). This is an AMAZING deal compared to other laser places that my friends go to. One of my close friends got her Brazilian at another place downtown and she had to buy a second package of three sessions to make sure everything was lasered away... And since she has light brown hair, there's still a bit of fuzz left over even after all six treatments, which she spent way more money on. She almost died of envy when I told her that I'd be getting maintenance sessions for $50 from here on out. Seriously, I haven't heard of any other place doing this. It's an amazing deal. I still stand behind the importance of the numbing cream I stressed so much below. Just do it. It feels weird and the saran wrap is awkward, but you'll regret it if you opt out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I am sitting down to write this, I have realized that this is the third review (out of twenty-ish yelp reviews I've written) that involves my vagina. I'm not sure what that says about me, but it doesn't seem to be good. That being said, I have so far had really great service at Urban Allure on my journey to hairlessness. I got a Livingsocial or Groupon deal for this place for laser hair removal (full Brazilian, obviously), and I had my first session a little over two months ago with Ashley (I think). She was SO NICE. She also seemed pretty excited about my dark hair and pale skin combo... First thing she said when she walked in was, "Oh my god, is your hair that color down THERE, too?! You are going to LOVE your results." And so far I have. She did warn me that it was going to hurt really badly because of how well the laser targets the follicles when you have really dark hair and pale skin, but the results seem to be worth it so far. Speaking of the pain, it was WAY worse than I had ever expected. I'll admit, I was a little over-confident going into it because I've always prided myself in my high pain tolerance. I asked a friend of mine (with light brown hair) who'd already done the full course of treatments (somewhere else) how much it had hurt, and she said I would probably be fine without the numbing cream. GET THE NUMBING CREAM. I didn't. I thought my skin was burning off (it wasn't). I thought I was going to pass out (I didn't). Ashley was so nice, though. She let me take a ton of breaks and even brought me cucumber water and a few almonds and dried cranberries when I got light-headed and lost the color in my face (it was that bad). The good news is that I was completely bare for a good six weeks. Now, nine weeks later, I have my second appointment this evening. I'm getting the numbing cream. read more

Awesome. Amazing. One of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I'm on my second treatment for facial hair. Sweet and patient staff. Knowledgable and graceful RN. Comforting and even-priced services. Great products and clean/organized facility. I was *very* nervous about a laser to the face and about ensuring the correct machine settings for my dark hair (course) and dark toned skin (chocolatey brown) (*be sure its a YAG* for dark on dark). I wanna keep my review short given we are all looking for different bits of info, but message me if you want more info on my experience as a first-timer or re my experience at UA. A yelper did that for me when i was looking and her experience and feedback helped me move forward and so, I want to return the favor. Whatever you do, do your homework online, at the various offices with the nurse, or with folks you know and trust. An informed shopper is the best shopper. good luck!! read more

Somewhere between high school and college, I developed super sensitive skin. Although I tan pretty quickly, it also makes my acne scars darker. And even though I didn't pick at my face, most of my pimples left scars which became really irritating, because although my acne is clearing out, it leaves its mark to remind me of my teen years. I tried IPL to get rid of my scars at another spa, which worked at first, but any bit of sunlight, even though I SPF30ed it, brought back the marks. I tried peels and creams and stuff, which worked minimally, so I decided to Yelp a new facialist. Thank goodness for Rocio at Urban Allure! She assessed my skin and said the most effective would probably be the Vitalize peel, with facials in-between for extractions. She was super nice, and was very thorough. I've never once had a facialist work on my face the ENTIRE session - usually they leave you to steam and walk out of the room. Rocio's hands literally never stopped working on my facial the whole time I was there. Kudos! I've had two peels so far, and although she told me that sometimes people get darker spots the first two sessions, my skin is getting lighter. I can't help but pick at my skin when it peels, mostly to look presentable for work, but even though I've been pulling the loose skin off, my skin is looking better. I can't wait to see the result after a couple more peels and facials! read more

Erin is a gem. I highly recommend laser hair removal and Erin was so friendly and professional, she immediately put me at ease. (I was a little concerned about burning my skin, which proved to be silly). Here are some details: It's not a spa - not anywhere close. Whoever wrote that is insane. It's more like a nice doctors office. Very clean. Secondly, it really doesn't hurt! I have no idea why I have wasted so much time and money waxing. Don't do it! Just head to Erin and get that shit lasered! Finally, Erin's very upfront about the process - what's happening and what you'll experience. It was great to know "You'll see a bright flash, feel a zap and smell burning hair." Really that's all there it to it! I highly, highly recommend Urban Allure. read more

This is my go to place for skin care. I do not live in SF anymore, but still refuse to go anywhere else. The staff is helpful and their prices are very competitive. Any questions I have asked have been answered honestly and explained thoroughly. I have never felt pressured to purchase, make future appointments or talked into anything I do not want or need. If you are looking to give your skin a little pick me up, this is the place for you. Also, there are several close parking garages, and security in the lobby are always very friendly. read more

I've thought a lot about whether or not to write this review. I LOVE Emily, and have had a great experience with all of the staff when I went in for laser hair removal. It's worth 5 stars. They recommended I treat myself to a facial in the autumn of 2011 (it's June 2012 as I write this), and I went for it. HUGE mistake. Do NOT get a facial at Urban Allure. I wish I had read a review like this before I did, because my face is scarred, and every time I look at the big dark mark on my face I wish I never went to this place. I have had many facials in my life and have pretty tough skin. The only facialist that works at this place was aggressive to the point where I had to tell her how much the extractions she was doing hurt. She told me to bear with it, but in the end she left three permanent marks on my face, one of which is large and dark. Seriously, it's not worth the risk. read more

This is the only place i've been to for laser treatments, but so far i've been extremely happy with my results that i don't feel the need to look somewhere else! I'm in and out of the place in less than 15 min for each underarm treament, i wish i had found this place sooner! The staff here is great, professional but still friendly. I love it! The only downside is that it's located in the financial district which means HORRENDOUS PARKING. Every time i come i worry about getting a ticket! I wish they had their own parking lot or could valet parking because the one garage i found was $12/hr!!! Are they crazyyyy???!? :( read more

My skin has finally found it's heaven. These ladies are extremely professional, yet unpretentious. They made me feel totally comfortable, and the results have been amazing! Every single penny: worth it. read more

This review is a little tougher to write because i have a different set of stars for the spa vs. the esthetician... first let me validate and say that i can be a bit of a spa whore. I've been to many. I've also been in strong pursuit for a good (not even great, just good) eyebrow artist (yes, they are "artists"). i have "strong", as they've been described, eyebrows, that, if not properly groomed, could easily be mistaken for two overstuffed caterpillars that crawled onto my face and died. So you can see, why its important that I find the right person to shape them nicely, pulling them away from my eyes and out of my mouth. Ok, so they're not THAT bad, but you get what I'm saying. Many many estheticians West of the Mississippi have been driven through auditions of becoming my #1 eyebrow lady. And, I'm happy to say that Rocio of Urban Allure has been recently chosen to play leading lady in the film that is the "Life of And Times of My Groomed Brows". She was absolutely wonderful, patient, and as meticulous as a mid-century painter. As far as the spa is concerned, it's pretty nice, but more of a "4 star" nice (just being honest here). It feels more like a doctors office then a spa...I think the right lighting, aromatherapy smells, and softer tread amongst the staff could give it that 5-star oasis of relaxation feel. They're not far off, and I have to say that the staff was pleasant, I didn't have to wait long for my appointment and the location was conveniently close to Union Square. All in all, I'll obviously be back...and maybe next time, I'll even try some of the other treatments they offer. read more

What do you want from a laser hair removal facility? Let's discuss each point: 1. Accessibility to appointments- depending on which area you are having treated, appts usually only run 20m or so. This place puts you on hold so many times while you're trying to book an appt, it ends up taking 20 min! I think they blew up because of their bloomspot/Groupon/whatever offers and can't keep up. Which brings me to my next point... 2. We all have different skin types and different reactions to lasers but this place seems to base their setting on which box you check on page 2 of their 'inventory forms.' They don't want to hear if you're inbetween 2 skin types or have other concerns. They book their appts so close together that they just want you to shut up and reveal your hairy area so they can start zapping away. 3. When I expressed dissatisfaction with their services and asked for a prorated refund, I was told they couldn't do that and not even asked what was wrong. Don't you think you should ask WHY and see if you can make it better? Guess not! There are TONS of laser hair removal centers all over the city and my suggestion would be going to one like Serenity MedSpa or somewhere else because this place is only interested in taking your money. I guess you do get what you pay for. read more