Beauty & Spas in Rancho Palos Verdes

Let’s face it, living in Los Angeles is a breeze: idyllic weather, pretty people, and regular celeb sightings to name a few of the perks. However, there is one annoying  downside -Traffic! I don’t know about you, but the traffic situation in LA has gone from bad to worse. I find myself constantly frazzled about getting places on time and strategizing the best routes to get me places on time with minimal stress. So my antidote to this constant stress and the frenetic pace of life in LA is treating myself to regular massages. Although I adore a good rub, massages can get a little spendy, right? Well, there is no need to sacrifice pampering and relaxation if you are on a budget, so I’ve taken some time to scout some of the best areas and locations in Los Angeles for top notch, ‘get those nasty knots out’ massage places for a fraction of the price of their chi-chi counterparts. Sound good? Here are some of my favorite areas: The San Fernando Valley is super easy to navigate and find parking, so I am rather partial to this area. The Valley (as it is more commonly know as) has a plethora of Asian Foot Massage joints along Ventura Blvd. that offer high quality, relaxing one hour massages in a cushy chair, fully clothed for about $20-$35 including tip! You get to soak your feet, have your kinks worked out and they spend most of the time on your feet (my fave part). The best of the bunch is Happy Feet in Encino because it’s clean, well laid out and it has a waterfall in the middle, which makes it feel like a relaxing Asian spa. Korea Town (located in the Mid-Wilshire district of LA) is filled with great affordable spas where you can get amazing skilled shiatsu massages (a pressure point massage) for about $50/hour. I can honestly say that I have had some of the best massages ever in Korea town. As an added bonus, you can use the saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms and add a Korean scrub to your massage (can you say hello baby fresh skin!) and for typically under $100 including tip. My hands down fave is Olympic Spa  intimate, authentic, women only and top notch services. I leave blissful and transformed every time I visit. Thai Town (located on the outskirts of Hollywood) is known for delicious authentic Thai food restaurants and amazing healing Thai massages. Thai Massage is typically performed on the floor, wearing loose fitting clothing for 1 ½ hours (for about $65) and combines Ayeurvedic medicine, Hatha yoga like stretching and Chinese acupressure. I had the most profound Thai massage experience with a Thai Massage Master at Thai Sabai in Thai Town  It was intense, relaxing and tremendously therapeutic, I loved it!

I must confess: I am just a little bit obsessed with all things pampering and beauty, and I have made it my mission to find the best beauty professionals in Los Angeles to ensure that I look my absolute best on a regular basis. Over time, I have created what I fondly refer to as my Glam Squad, my go-to professionals for all of my beauty maintenance needs. No I’m not a celebrity, I’m just a normal woman who wants to look and feel pretty and well put together, and these gifted pro’s get it right every single time! Lash Extensions Nicole Murnin-Certified Xtreme Lash Stylist La Sirene Irresistible Beauty Los Angeles I started getting lash extensions (individual lashes that are glued onto your real lashes & filled in every few weeks) over two years ago and I haven’t stopped. This is probably my most favorite beauty indulgence because it instantly changes the way I look and it makes me look refreshed everyday without make-up. I freely admit this is more of high maintenance beauty service, but the results are well worth it! I have been getting my extensions from Nicole from the very beginning because her work is stellar, clean, long lasting and she knows exactly how to make my eyes look fab and flirty. She is mobile, professional, a great listener and uber-talented. Love! Eyebrow Shaping Laurie Zadeh-Eyebrow Stylist Beauty Boutique Studio City Never under estimate the power and importance of a well groomed brow! Your brows frame your whole face and when they are shaped right you feel totally put together. Laurie has been grooming my brows for almost 10 years and her work is amazing! In all honesty, I have thin sparse brows but when she gets her hands on them (typically once every 4-6 weeks) and cleans, shapes and tints them, I emerge with full well arched brows and it totally changes my face. And I just love how she ends every brow styling session with a little aromatherapy brow massage, Fab! Rockin’ Blowout Julie Justice-Hair Stylist Syndicate Salon Encino Julie wields a blow dryer and brush like a master! Her blowouts are full, smooth, polished, gorgeous and last for Days! I recently got hair extensions and have become addicted to Julie’s masterful blowdry’s. She takes her time (usually 30-40 minutes), she gets good tension on the hair and dries with confidence. The results are perfection every single time, and when I dabble with other stylists, they suffer by comparison. Natural Looking Camera Ready Make-up Lisa Siegal-Makeup Artist Senna at Syndicate Salon Encino & Locations Throughout SoCal I adore getting my makeup professionally done because when it is done right, it brings out my natural beauty and lasts for hours. I only have my makeup done for special events and photo/video shoots. But, when I want to look like my best self, I call Lisa at Senna. Lisa is a seasoned make-up artist with a skilled hand and a light touch. I always look enhanced and beautiful, but not made-up when I leave her chair. Senna’s make-up line is exquisite and Lisa’s work is natural, finessed, luminous and stunning. I’m ready for my close-up!

I am proud to admit that I recently turned 45 and you would never know it by looking at me. People regularly compliment me on my skin and always ask what my secret is, so here goes: Regular Facials (supported by using great anti-aging products at home)! Simple right? Well, I have been getting regular facials for a long time and one of the best perks of being a beauty insider it that it allows me to try out some of the best facials in town and vet the most noteworthy to share with you. I am thrilled to share the following list of some of the best kept skincare secrets in LA, many of which are frequented by some of today’s top celebrities. These are definitely more indulgent and costly services, but isn’t more youthful radiant skin worth it? Nadia Thibault Institut d’Esthetique The Center at Coldwater 12930 Ventura Boulevard Suite 104 Studio City, CA 91604 Nadia Thibault is a seasoned professional and has more than 30 years experience in European skincare treatments. Nadia is my local go-to esthetician and I adore her because she is thorough, skilled and ‘no pore gets left clogged’ in her capable hands. She does a classic, in-depth European style facial that my skin craves and glows for weeks after treatment. Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts 8428 Melrose Place Suite C Los Angeles, CA 90069 Kate Somerville is probably one of the most well-known celebrity estheticians in Los Angeles because she is passionate about glowing skin and developing transformative skincare products. Her Clinic is a gorgeous vision of white, it feels like a well appointed boudoir and it offers clinical skincare treatments that are both pampering and results driven (I adore the DermalQuench Oxygen Treatment) A-List celebrities regularly frequent Kate’s Clinic for the FAB treatments and privacy, in fact the last time I was there I almost ran over the paparazzi who were in pursuit of scoring a photo of one of Hollywood’s top starlets. Spa at Four Seasons Beverly Hills 300 South Doheny Drive Los Angeles California 90048 This is another celeb fav hangout spot and it will come as no surprise that the Spa is top notch. I recently experienced the most divine treatment called the Effervescence Facial featuring the patented iS FiSZZ Facial System by Innovative Skincare. This sensory masterpiece is designed to smooth, brighten and transform your skin instantly using a variety of warm, cool and effervescent modalities. Imagine the luxurious sensation of champagne-like bubbles on your face! This was one of the most unique facials I have ever experienced, it made my skin radiant and the results last. Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie 701 Stone Canyon Road Los Angeles, CA 90077 The Hotel Bel-Air is a hidden gem tucked into the mountains of Beverly Hills where the wealthy and famous come to escape and unwind. La Prairie is the gorgeous Swiss beauty brand, known for results oriented, powerful, anti-aging products and I enjoy coming to this spa because it’s remote, serene and totally indulgent. I love getting the La Prairie Signature Facial which is customized to my skin’s needs and incorporates a wonderful assortment of La Prairie’s revitalizing products = Heaven!