Crystal Lake, IL Beauty and Salons

Inside Ultimate Exposure Tanning Centers' 34 Chicagoland locations, a full lineup of UV- and spray-tanning equipment infuse skin with a healthy summer glow year-round. Individual sessions in the automated spray-tanning booths—such as VersaSpa—or UV beds gild bodysuits for nights on the town, and unlimited monthly packages fashion a continuous golden hue previously only available to sunbathing satellites. The salon stocks a variety of tan-accelerating lotions from Swedish Beauty, Australian Gold, and Designer Skin, which deepen bronze hues and moisturize skin to fashion a long-lasting radiance.

Board-certified gynecologist Dr. Sheri B. Merchant oversees the dedicated staff at Women’s Doc Medspa, a tranquil retreat focused on female-centric cosmetic-skincare concerns. Trained specialists reinvigorate well-worn epidermises amid an upscale med spa outfitted with advanced equipment and rejuvenating skin treatments, such as custom facials, laser hair removal, Zerona body-slimming sessions, and chemical peels. The med spa’s personal skincare line, DermaQuest Skin Therapy, brims with antioxidant-rich ingredients that aim to combat signs of aging while helping clients retain freshly glowing complexions from the comfort of their homes or office pillow forts.

Salon Couture breathes new life into downtown Elgin with a trendy studio wrapped in exposed brick walls, a violet color scheme, and a spa area closed off by a chic vault door. But as handsome as the space is, it is the botanical-based Aveda beauty products that are the main draw. Manicure and pedicures get an aromatic boost with the fresh scents of rosemary mint and the Caribbean, and facials refresh beauty with naturally derived exfoliants, such as salicylic and glycolic acid, to leave complexions brighter and smoother than a Nobel-winning seal. At the blow-dry bar, stylists reach for Aveda haircare products as they blowout tresses into loose curls, sleek strands, and voluminous styles.

At intimate salon, boutique, and spa Mia Sorella, which means "my sister" in Italian, owners and twin sisters Mary Sirois and Molly Kiefer strive to make customers feel beautiful, whether it be through a haircut and fresh highlights, a new wardrobe, a massage, or full bridal hair and makeup. The boutique staff works to keep customers well dressed with a selection of stylish jackets, dresses, and culottes by designers such as Darling, Tulle, and Level 99. The spa staff pampers complexions and nails, and a licensed massage therapist brings chiropractic know-how, spa experience, and a Swedish dictionary to each relaxing kneading.

The independent stylists at Main Place Salon usher clients into a sun-filled studio where leafy houseplants are flanked by inset lighting above and sleek hardwood floors below. Within these relaxing confines, heads bask in the attentive services of industry veterans, who harness their decades of experience to bestow cuts, color, and style designs to match the latest trends or the neighbor's couture shrubbery. Each of the staff members enjoys the salon's liberating perks—such as setting their own schedules and vacation time—which allows them to fully enjoy their work and in turn happily create new looks for their clients.

A waiting area like a fine parlor⎯complete with soft leather furniture, honey-hued hardwood floors, and a vase of flowers perched atop a coffee table⎯welcomes guests into the specialized laser spa. During Laser l'Amour's signature hair-removal treatments, Dr. Margaret Sierantowicz wields Palomar StarLux lasers to free skin of unwanted fuzz with minimal discomfort and no downtime. Clients strut from treatment rooms after gaining a boost in confidence for beach season or an aerodynamic advantage for human-cannonball-school-admissions season. The staff also administer laser-free microdermabrasions and peels designed to leave skin softer, smoother, and scarless.