Skoah

I treated myself to a power facial for my birthday, and had been wanting to try Skoah, so I booked myself an appointment. I tried to book by email, but they needed a credit card to confirm the appointment (which I totally understand) so I called with my CC to confirm the appointment.
When I arrived, they offered me a beverage while I filled out a short survey. I was then shown to my room shortly there after. The esthetician asked me about my skin so I gave an overview of it. She left and I changed, got into bed and the esthetician returned. The facial itself was a lovely experience. It was relaxing with soft musician and the products felt nice on my skin. When it was over, my face looked nice, glowing and supple.
When I went downstairs the esthetician showed me some of the products she had mentioned that would help with some of my problem areas. The sales push is fine, and I felt comfortable saying no.
However, the next day, my face was quite itchy and irritated. I started feel hot to the touch and itchy. I thought that it was because I had some wine (it started during dinner) so I didn’t think anything of it. The next morning, my face was irritated, red, blotchy and broken out. I saw areas of acne (or pus), my neck specifically was super red and itchy and overall my face looked a bit swollen. I’m writing this review 4 days after the facial, and I still have redness and the skin is starting to flake. It probably looks like I had a bad sunburn to most people, but if you look closely, you can see blisters on my skin. I’m guessing I’m having an allergic reaction to the products that they used on my face. This likely won’t happen to other people, but if you have sensitive skin (I’m also allergic to fruit waxes and coincidentally Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream), this might break you out.
I’ve had other facials where I did not break out, specifically at Julep, so I’ll be returning there for my facials from now on.

Roya is amazing! She listens to any skin concerns and expertly chooses product to help! I love how explains each product, not only how it works but why it’s needed.
The store is clean and has a nice atmosphere. They don’t pressure you to buy product. The facials are affordable as are their memberships –which I actually just bit the bullet and signed up for. I love their product and you only have to use a little bit so well the serums might be more of an investment they last a long time. Even after two facials I can tell the difference in my skin it’s happier and cleaner and more hydrated.
Can’t wait to come back and highly recommend to anyone looking for a good facial.

I went to skoah for about a year for my facials, every 1 – 2 months. The products are great for my skin and the aestheticians were skilled; the facials were very enjoyable. I stopped going to skoah, however, because the product push is ridic. I’ve had many facials at many spas and get that this is a part of the game but skoah takes it to another level. My breaking point came at my final facial by which point I had essentially purchased most of the face products I believed I would benefit from, and I figured they might finally ease up, but instead I came down from my treatment to face an onslaught of body care products and a lengthy presentation of why I should buy those. Seriously?! I think ultimately good product will sell itself, and skoah is good product, so the aestheticians need to lay off.
Also, I share the experiences of other reviewers that they move the aestheticians around to the various locations a lot and as a result do not honor specific requests for service providers. This happened to me multiple times.

Great service at this skoah location but the facialicious facial wasn’t as relaxing or cleansing as ones I received in Vancouver.
Same products were used but the extractions were extremely light and caused my skin to break out because they weren’t done properly. Come to this location for the friendly staff and great products but skip the facial.

I had an enjoyable complimentary fitskin facial with Sarah a few weeks back. Before she started, she informed me that the session was going to be on the more educational side. We discussed my normal skin regimen, which, as I learned, included some big no-no’s that I needed to stop immediately (St. Ives Apricot scrub — stay far away, says everyone it seems). Throughout the next hour, she explained every product she was using and its purpose. I was able to ask questions as they came.
Afterwards, Sarah prepared a note card with a recommended regimen. She showed me some of the products she specifically recommended in their storefront boutique. Of the ~10 products that she used, she only pointed out 3. Given how expensive some of their products are, I appreciated that she didn’t try to sell me all of them a la department store makeup counters. I ended up buying a hydrating mask, which has been doing my skin wonders.
Their facial prices run a bit steep so I am not able to afford coming back here on a regular basis. Regardless, I highly recommend this place if you are as clueless as I was about skin care. From following my «homework», my skin is much softer and smoother than it was a month ago. Thanks, Sarah! Hope to see you again sooner rather than later!

I am a recent Skoah convert! Yes, it can be expensive but I’ve just come to terms that it’s expensive being a woman.
If there’s one thing I need to splurge on, it’s going to be for my skin. I’ve always had sensitive, combination skin that pretty much acts like a 2 year old throwing a tantrum multiple times a month. I get everything from little blackheads to deep cystic acne. I’ve everythings from natural remedies to Proactiv over the years. The first time I went in to Skoah I received a free first time facial. They gave me some detailed instructions on how to take care of my skin. Even though the facial was free, I ended up spending about $ 120 on skin products but after just one month my skin is better than it’s ever been. (Plus, their products last multiple months. I’ve only used 25% or less of each bottle in one month.) Their products are gentle on my skin and having a custom-​tailored régime has worked great so far!
Yes, the facial may seems salesy… but that’s the understanding that I went in with. I wanted a recommendation on how I could make my skin better. Skoah was able to provide me with both the products and methods on how to achieve better skin. I definitely would recommend this to anyone.
Note: They offer great products and services for men. (I actually use their SPF 25 daytime lotion for men because it’s oil free and light.)

I had a lovely little facial with a woman who asked lots of questions and was chatting in a friendly manner, but who I didn’t quite click with. She loves to eat meat and had been to a Brazilian steakhouse, and I am a vegetarian. I point this out not because I would prefer that my facialist is a vegetarian too, but just as an illustration of one of the many minor ways things kind of just fell flat, conversation wise. However, I couldn’t sit in silence either, as it seems like they might have been trained to be engaging? Just guessing there.
This was how pretty much everything went. The room was nice, but the lighting seemed off — very dark corners, bright by the mirror. Oddly shaped, it was kind of hard to find a comfortable place to rest my bag while I changed. They don’t give you a top to wear while you’re under the blanket, which means that if you roll around funny, your boobs hang out during the facial (or at least, that’s what I was afraid of…) although the bed is super comfy!
I did feel obliged to buy some of their product at the end, though I’m not sure I’m in love with it. They seem to have a reasonably relaxed return policy, though, which I appreciate as I’m sure I’ll be using it.
I’d probably not go back, but I also don’t feel ripped off either. So I gave it ³⁄₅.

The best customer service I’ve had in a long time at a spa. I signed up for the free 45 minute facial and picked the manical (I know its more geared towards men but its more like a normal facial and a foot/​leg scrub (wearing sandals and heels almost every day does a bit of damage to your feet). I came in about 15 minutes early (I hate being late) and the person who was doing my facial wasn’t ready yet but the lady at the front desk (can’t remember her name but she is Australian) offered to give me a arm and hand scrub while I waited (and it didn’t come in the facial I got so bonus). We were able to do it out on the floor which was fine and the scrub and lotion were amazing. They were ready for me and I went into the room which was clean and calming and was a great experience. They had a chapstick and a little note for me which was really sweet of them. She asked me what I was expecting from the facial and examined it and was able to use products geared to my skin type. she never pressured me to buy any of the products but you can buy $ 5 smaller sizes to try (which I always like to try for a few days before I go and buy face products) which is great. I’ve already made another appointment for a facial (the more expensive one) which I will get $ 25 off a product when I come back. awesome!

I went in for a quick free facial 20 mins late, which would be a death knell at most spas. They shrugged it off completely and welcomed me in. Service was
friendly, professional & even light hearted, and I wound with a bunch of new products because I didn’t feel pressured. Definitely recommend!

To give credit where it is due, the products are amazing. My skin is the best it has been.
However, the customer service around spa appointments is surprisingly poor. I have been jerked around twice now regarding facial appointments.
Specifically, they encourage you to book your facials in advance and they tell you you can make the appointment with the person that just did your facial — the person you spent a lot of time talking about your skin condition, routine, etc. But then they call three days before and tell you that person isn’t available downtown anymore but you can have the appointment of you to capital hill. Then someone from capital hill calls and tells you thats the appointment time you booked a month ago is no longer available and the facialist is booked too.
So don’t count on the same person doing your facial, don’t count on them honoring the appointment time and location they said when you booked, and don’t count on a straight answer, and don’t count on semblance of customer orientation.
Very disappointing.

I had a $ 50 off deal for a facial here so I called for a fitskin facial. When I arrived, the staff was great as they checked me in. I noticed right away that there was a nice note and lip balm for me in the facial room. I’m wearing that lip balm now and it’s amazing. It’s moisturizing and lasts all night.
My fitskin facial was lovely. The facialist listened to my skin care concerns, used gentle but moisturizing products as I asked for, gave me feedback on my skin and the shoulder and neck rub was the relaxing cherry on top.
After my facial was finished, the facialist showed me the products she used and wrote them down but she did not pressure me to buy them at all. In fact, she told me if I came back for another facial, I would get $ 15 off a purchase and was supportive of me waiting until I come back.
The facials here are expensive but next time I’m looking to splurge, I’ll definitely be back!

great place!
I was nearby on business for a few days and found myself with a couple of free hours. The place was small but very comfortable and clean. I had forgotten to bring my favorite facial serum on the trip, so I was interested to see the products. I ended up buying the hyda dew mask, which is absolutely awesome… I have been using it every time I have some down time and my skin seems to have recovered from my long flight. I also bought eye candy and skin boost serum, which are very nice. overall, really awesome experience!

I was an out of towner, had been traveling a ton and had a video shoot the next day, so I emailed about wanting to give my face a re-​boot. I have pretty sensitive skin, though, and I’d never had a facial before. The staff answered all my questions and went out of their way to make my experience very personalized.
I was in the market for a new night moisturizer and so far I’ve loving their dew-​luxe. The other up-​sells weren’t too hard, but I did very much appreciate being talked through every step of the facial.
Overall, a great experience.

While the staff was extremely nice and did a wonderful job, i’m not too fond of this spa. i received the double dose facial, and they piled so much product on my skin that i finally caught on that the whole purpose was to try and sell me as many things as possible, instead of what is the best option for your skin. the end of the appointment was a big briefing of every product they put on my face, which made it feel less like a spa appointment, and more like when you go to sephora and they put a bunch of makeup on your face in order to sell it to you. which is more understandable since the makeover is FREE. the facial was expensive, so i was hoping to get more of a relaxing experience with amazing results, not just a test of all of their products.
my first choice for facials will always be penelope and the beauty bar — the results are absolutely amazing and they never tell me to buy any products!

2 yrs in Seattle and I never met a skin trainer who understood my skin so well.
I had an extreme facial with Katie, she is awesome. I will surely go back to skoah.
Katie was not at all selling me products but the other female Sydney tried to sell products and wanted me to take some membership for an year which I was not interested in. I took off 1 star for forced selling.
The best facial I ever had, with foot massage. Katie was great made my skin feel soft and clean!