Austin Spa and Massage

The staff at Evo Aesthetic Center and Wellness Spa strives to create holistic balance through relaxing and confidence-boosting cosmetic services. Composed of a physician, a registered nurse, and a crew of aestheticians, the team embraces a broad range of services and specialties. They also work to keep clients informed by collaborating with them to select a treatment regimen and a voice actor to narrate its steps in a reassuring baritone.

Their services range from familiar spa treatments—including facials with vitamin- and antioxidant-rich products—to advanced, medically inspired procedures. These can utilize Fraxel laser systems, microdermabrasion technology, or chemical peels with fruit acids to create younger-looking skin or conceal the appearance of minor scarring.

Soothing music and hints of aromatherapy float through the air at Beyond Beauty Day Spa, where a duo of aestheticians and a licensed massage therapist rejuvenate both mind and body. A deep turquoise color saturates the walls, creating a calm environment similar to that of an ocean-side patio or getting trapped inside a Tiffany box.

Aestheticians Amy and Olga, who have 16 and 40 years of experience, respectively, perform nine custom facials, reviving skin with everything from rosemary and basil to gentle hyaluronic-acid serums. They can also remove unwanted hair with waxing or sugaring techniques, as well as dress up nails during spa manicures and pedicures. Meanwhile, Veronica, the massage therapist, distributes her skills across backs and shoulders by means of Swedish, deep-tissue, and neuromuscular sessions that can last between 15 and 90 minutes.

A team of aestheticians, eyelash-extension artists, and massage therapists works to relax and beautify clients at Whole Body Studio, an oasis of pampering located in a sea-foam green, two-story house. Lash extensions, adhered precisely one at a time to natural eyelashes, are the studio's most popular service. Facials help keep skin in peak condition, and waxing services leave body parts bare for weeks. Two of the massage therapists are also doulas who focus on prenatal body treatments that relax bodies and calm minds worried about the stork being strong enough to carry the baby.

As advocates of health and beauty for the whole body, Krystal Kincaid and the team at The Natural Way offer customized facials, microdermabrasion, and waxing treatments. The studio fosters a passionate belief in natural remedies, and thus only uses natural and organic products—such as paraben-free serums from Skin by Ann Webb—when customizing each treatment to the client's individual issues, from easing acne problems to diminishing the signs of aging. The spa's far-infrared sauna has three spectrums of heat to penetrate the body and relieve pain, improve circulation, aid in weight loss, and boost cell immunity. Clients can augment these benefits by combining an infrared sauna session with a session of the spa's therapeutic massage. In fact, most treatments can be enhanced with an add-on, such as a hydrating foot scrub, or a peppermint cooling scalp massage.

Krystal's journey into the wellness trade began in Florida, where she earned her massage license. When she moved to Austin, her expertise in neuromuscular therapy and Swedish massage proved so impressive to the locals that she soon decided to open her own wellness spa. Her vision found its realization in The Natural Way, a suite spa with four private treatment rooms and a team of therapists who specialize in five types of therapeutic massage. Among these, the ancient method of ashiatsu is a standout. Its foot pressures are designed to ease chronic pains, increase blood flow, and reset the hard drive at the base of the spine.

By the age of 10, Katie Sassen knew what she wanted: a career in the beauty business. She attended cosmetology school and went on to train at the Vidal Sassoon academy in Santa Monica, California. Sassen made a name for herself as a hairstylist in Hollywood, where she also discovered that she had a creative eye for fashion. She launched her own clothing line, which was sold in boutiques in Melrose, Beverly Hills, and Laguna Beach, before deciding to meld her love of hair and clothing design by opening Sassen Boutique & Hair Salon in Texas. She hasn't left all the glitz and glamour behind, however—Sassen travels to the West Coast every six–eight weeks to round up new apparel, including Spring 2012 looks that caught the eye of KEYE TV.

After appointments for services such as cuts, color, straightening treatments, or mani-pedis, guests can browse the boutique area for a whimsical straw sun hat or a pair of ballet flats. The crew can prepare arms and legs to wear one of the shop's one-shoulder dresses with an airbrush spray tan. The formula's active ingredient is DHA, a nontoxic sugar often derived from sugar beets, sugar cane, or recycled Candy Land boards.