Holly did an excellent job!...as did Kim in the past! Come to think of it, I've never had a pedicure at AvantGard that was anything less than amazing! From Frankie and his colleagues in reservations, to the front desk folks, to the nail technicians on the front lines - every person on the AvantGard staff is top-notch! Thank you all. read more

Do you want an oasis down the street? You have found it with Avantgard. The aesthetics are beautiful and the staff professional and welcoming in a manner that makes you feel relaxed as soon as you walk through those beautifully heavy doors and move into lightness. Sierra was my esthetician/facialist. Fantastic and knowledgeable. It was one of the best RX facials I've had in a very, very long time. My face was glowing for the next two days. No makeup needed. I felt relaxed as I walked back into the world. If you haven't been to Avantgarde, please give yourself a gift. read more

AvantGard Spa - The calming sanctuary, where you wait for your appointment to start - Skin Care Near Me - San Carlos, California

I had a Myorelief Therapy massage this morning with Patcha that truly hit the spot. I suffer from occipital migraines and tend to hold all my stress in my neck and shoulders- and let me tell you, I feel renewed! Even if traditional massages are not your thing I highly recommend this treatment. We targeted my areas of tension and honestly uncovered more I didn't know I had. He was so helpful, I will definitely be back!!! read more

I used to love this place, but I can no longer come here after discovering how horribly the massage therapists are treated. I was offered a job here, and I declined because it sounded like trafficking. They assumed I would work for free???? On probation...until I "earned" my wage...I've been doing this for over 15 years, and that's not a thing...That's not real. Also, they assumed I didn't know the state's break laws...I literally run my own business. It was bizarre and actually pretty heartbreaking, since I just wanted to work there because I loved it there. :( I hope everyone working there is safe... read more

I had an incredible experience at Avant Spa by Pacha it was my first time here! My fiancé surprised me with a pampering day, and I couldn't be more grateful. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and taken care of. The facility is spotless, professional, and beautifully maintained. They offer a range of services including nails, makeup, and even shopping areas it's a one-stop self-care haven. Now let's talk about Pacha, the massage therapist he was amazing. He has such a soothing voice, which immediately put me at ease. Before starting, he asked me thoughtful questions about any areas of pain or injuries, and also made sure to tell me I could undress to whatever level I felt most comfortable with, which I truly appreciated. The massage itself was next level. Pacha is not only professional and personable, but he also has incredible customer service and a calming energy. I loved how he began and ended the session by ringing soft chimes and guiding me to take deep breaths while inhaling calming aromas like lavender it was such a peaceful ritual that set the tone perfectly. Tip for my fellow women with larger breasts (I'm a triple D): definitely ask for a breast pillow! Midway through the massage, I started to feel discomfort and burning because of the pressure on my chest. When I asked if there was anything to help, Pacha brought a breastfeeding pillow, which made a huge difference in comfort. I had no idea they even offered that! Everything about this experience was top-tier. Yes, it's on the pricier side the massage was $185 not incliding tip but it's worth every penny. I highly recommend booking with Pacha, but make sure to schedule at least two weeks in advance he's in high demand for good reason! read more

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I've been coming here for the past 22 years! Love our local day spa! Ask for Andrea, her microdermabrasion is the best!

Wonderful massage. Staff very professional Avantgard is an outstanding Day Spa. Offers various services and products. It's a hidden gem in San Carlos. read more

The facial was one of the best I have ever had. Kat was amazing. Highly recommend AvantGard and spa

For the last several years, I've been seeing Pacha regularly for deep tissue massages, and I can confidently say he's saved my body--from everyday wear and tear to periods of high stress. From the moment I walk in, the atmosphere is serene and inviting, with calming scents and soothing music setting the perfect mood for relaxation. What truly stands out is the level of professionalism, care, and personalization Pacha provides. Before each session, Pacha always takes the time to understand my specific needs and preferences, ensuring the experience is tailored. Whether it is adjusting the pressure, focusing on tension points, or incorporating essential oils for added relaxation, every detail is thoughtfully considered. The massages are absolutely divine. Pacha's skilled techniques melt away my stress and leave me feeling completely rejuvenated. I especially appreciate his ability to balance deep tissue work with gentle, soothing strokes, making it both therapeutic and indulgent. If you're looking for a massage that is not only relaxing but also customized to your body's needs, I can't recommend Pacha enough. I always leave feeling lighter, refreshed, and eager to book my next session. read more

It was my first time here and I had such a wonderful experience. Not only was this spa very tranquil and clean, the staff were exceptionally friendly. I had a life-changing massage from Pacha. They are extremely knowledgeable, communicative, and attentive. I told them it was my first professional massage and Pacha made sure I was comfortable and relaxed. I told them I've been having off and on shoulder pain and their techniques really helped. Pacha also recommended me some tips/shoulder exercises to do everyday to alleviate my pain. A week later...my shoulder pain was completely gone! I highly recommend Pacha and learning about their holistic approach to wellness. read more

Had a great facial at Avant Gard spa today. Andrea was amazing. Not only is the spa beautiful with great amenities. The product selection was fantastic as well. read more

I ALWAYS get a fabulous pedicure from Vanty. She is gentle, knows how I like my nails cut & trimmed and very professional.

The best place to go for facials & eyebrow waxing! They always do an amazing job, would highly recommend! Super courteous, helpful estheticians and relaxing environment. read more

I just had an amazing facial treatment with Andrea. My skin feels and looks fabulous. I recommend Andrea with her very capable hands and great experience. This was my 3rd treatment with her and I will be back in the very near future. I am an an Esthetician so having a facial is a real treat to me. Susan Uzunoglu read more

My husband bought me a gift card last Christmas. I decided to finally use it. The spa was very nice and comfortable. It was clean & had a relaxing ambiance. read more

Great relaxing vibe of the place! Facial quality was below par. If you're someone with a generally healthy skin.. It's a good spot with good ambience and above average quality products. For people with slightly aging skin or acne issues, I wouldn't recommend this place. I could see comedones on my skin right after the facial and when I showed them to the aesthetician, she said just wouldn't admit. There are cheaper facial spots out there with better expertise. I wouldn't recommend this place. read more

I've been here three times and have seen different aestheticians, all of them have delivered amazing results and lovely service. They really listen to your concerns and requests, the results don't lie! Ambience is top-tier, and the facility is pristine. You really get what you pay for here and all of the staff are friendly. Thank you again Hannah for my latest facial, and special shoutout to Frankie :) read more

Beautiful and peaceful ambiance and great job the esthetician did on my eyebrow wax. Looking forward to going back soon.

Great service and very nice clean place. Would definitely recommend. Pedicure is kinda expensive but it's a pretty nice experience

Marina was an exceptionally good masseuse. She only spoke when needed and was very tender when needed. I am taking chemotherapy and she was respectful of the fact that I have no hair. I would recommend her to anyone and will return soon. read more

After having an initial facial skin consultation with Lavonna over a month ago, she recommended products for me to use daily and also to schedule a customized facial. Based on availability I was able to schedule an appointment with Khim for a month later on a Saturday morning. From the moment you walk into the door, you can feel the luxury and warmth of a customer-focused establishment and a clean spacious lobby with products for sale on full display. Front desk welcomes me to check-in and offers a drink, hot or cold tea, or water. Their in-house made wildberry tea is delicate yet refreshing. Once checked in they ask me if I want to check out products in the shop or wait in the lobby area for my esthetician to come get me. I chose to wait in the lobby area, which is another room that is filled with nice decor and comfortable seating with side tables. Khim came to greet me in the lobby and bring me to start the customized facial. She was warm, friendly, smiling, and made me feel comfortable to ask questions as this was my first facial ever. Khim was fantastic and amazing with the facial and as an esthetician. The facial itself was relaxing, not painful, and she made sure to explain every step and the products she was using so I knew what was going to happen. My face felt smooth and refreshed, and also visibly brighter and radiant than before. I look forward to coming back for my next facial and to my esthetician recommendations! Parking: Plenty of street parking and private parking lot in the back read more

Avant Gard is a full service spa that I feel so lucky to have nearby. It's my personal wellness celebratory space - the reward for making good decisions over the last month. And the services feel like a reward, whether it's a facial that leaves you glowing and resolute to take good care of your skin, pedicures which make it a pleasure to walk into a yoga class, or into the pool, or a transformational massage. Nora - thank you for today's exfoliating massage... I'm energized and relaxed at the same time! read more

I realllyl appreciate how helpful and considerate the staff and massage therapists are at AvantGard. Pacha has been exceptionally helpful in addressing my chronic back pain issues. He is very knowledgeable about stretching exercises, listens and is very attentive to his customers. I highly recommend this spa and his services. read more

Wow, just wow. I had a gift certificate that my mom got me for my birthday to here, so after a couple of weeks of 12-14 hour days at work, I REALLY needed to relax and unwind a bit. I had never been here before, but the options were plentiful. I opted for the Get Glowing massage (or something along those lines - 90 minute massage with dry brushing) and a pedicure with callus removal. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted. The front desk folks were super nice and inviting, they offer you water and tea, there's a beautiful lounge to wait in, or you can look around their little gift shop. Im a sucker for gift shops and had to stop myself from buying everything. Bath bombs, scrubs, lotion, CBD gummies - this is going to be my new go to for gifts. Now for the actual procedures! My massage was done by Nora. She was sweet and made sure I was comfortable. The massage itself, and dry brushing, was probably THE BEST I have ever had. The massage table was very comfortable, and Nora's techniques eased my aches and pains. I was so relaxed, and as a highly anxious person (even during some massages) all of my tension melted away. Now for the pedicure! The chair for the pedicure was SO comfortable. While I sipped on some peppermint tea, the wonderful Van worked away on my feet. I'd like to note that I have a love/hate relationship with pedicures/manicures. I always love how my nails are after, but tend to tense up during the process (did I mention Im an anxious person?!). Ive had a couple of folks cut me in the past, and Im sensitive to different sensations. Van, however, also eased all of my tension. I played on my phone a little while she did her thing, and never felt the need to look/watch out of tension. She was meticulous and had amazing attention to detail. The callus removal was so satisfying - Ive never see a tool like what they used (like a metal spoon kind of). It was easy, effective, and less ticklish than the standard pumice stone Im use to. My toes look perfectly even in shape, the color is beautiful, and overall I am incredibly happy with the results and the process. I definitely will be back, and look forward to seeing Nora and Van again! read more

Came here a couple months back for a facial and it was great. Pricing is a little steep but I think it's because of the area. Super relaxing and the products have better ingredients than other places (more natural ingredients). I felt like I was in a really peaceful place and they took care of me. I didn't realize their location/entrance is not on El Camino (that's the old one) but once I found out, it was easy to find. read more

I had an Intentional Aromatherapy Massage with Amalie (I hope I'm remembering her name correctly), as well as a Refresher Facial with Emma. First thing, all of the covid precautions are enforced and amazing. I felt super comfortable there. Temperature is taken at entry and hand sanitizer is everywhere. All of the technicians were geared up and enforced social distancing which was very nice! Again, I felt so totally safe there. The intentional aromatherapy massage was amazing. I did a 75 minute and felt like every single moment of it was worth it. Amalie (again I hope I'm remembering her name correctly), was super respectful of my problem areas and made me feel comfortable. The rooms have what I believe were air purifiers in them. The massage tables have masks built into them so you're not suffocating when laying on your stomach. You wear your own mask when on your back. Amazing massage, probably one of the best I've ever had. I have so much tension in by back and she did not leave one knot unknotted! I felt ten pounds lighter after it was over. She also let me take home the remainder of the aromatherapy oil blend that I created through their app, they have so many options and it's personalized so you get to choose a scent that you love. Afterwards I had a refresher facial with Emma. Because it's a facial, you obviously don't wear a mask. With an air purifier directly beside the chair and Emma super geared up with safety shields and masks, I felt totally comfortable. She was amazing, I felt like I knew the reason why she was doing certain things and didn't feel lost during the process of applying all of the products. She created a treatment that was specific to my skin issues and helped me understand why I may be having the problems that I have (dry skin, maskne, general acne, skin care routine tips). She gave a killer scalp massage, and finished with a CBD serum massage after an extraction. My face felt so fresh and clean! I felt totally relaxed the whole time and appreciated her honesty when it came to products! I ended up grabbing one of the items that she used on my skin to help with my acne which I'm already obsessed with. Aside from some hormonal acne that I've had for the past two weeks, my skin is visibly changed, cleaner and more glowy. Overall, the customer service, atmosphere, and services are A grade! This visit was my first time having a service other than an eyebrow waxing, and I will definitely be back! Thanks for the wonderful services! read more

AvantGard Spa - Super clear, glowy skin a day after the facial. - Skin Care Near Me - San Carlos, California

Wonderful spa. Low key, quiet, excellent staff and a lovely atmosphere. Definitely worth the money.

The ambience of the spa lives up to its name and is very unique. I got the best massage of my life from Pacha and will be coming back again next time I am in the area. They were very affective at relieving my back and shoulder pain while making the whole massage feel like a spiritual experience. Amazing! read more

Their facials are amazing. Stephan who did my massage was amazing and addressed all my painful areas and I felt so good afterwards.

Special shout out to Niane, who just gave me the best massage I think I've ever had. I ran a half marathon over the weekend and booked the massage in anticipation of soreness. She consistently used the perfect amount of pressure (firm but not painful) and also stretched my legs. I feel amazing. Just wow. The spa itself is a nicely appointed facility. However, I'd kindly suggest that the owners invest in a new sound system. The speakers are very static-y (they sound like your grandpa's 1980s car stereo). I've found the static-y, tinny music distracting and annoying every time I've had treatment here. But otherwise this spa is great. read more

I had a wonderful facial at AvantGard Spa. The treatment was excellent. I am a regular nail customer and have not had a facial for awhile. This one was top-notch. Mary Kate L. read more

I called and asked for a facial with deep pore extraction and use of a lancet to get closed pore pimples. The receptionist (Frankie?) told me they would do this in the $145 corrective purifying facial, so I booked it. However, the aethetician did only a few minutes of deep pore extraction with her tool and told me she was not allowed to use a lancet. I'm leaving two stars because otherwise the facial was fine, if what you wanted was a relaxing facial with nice massaging. However, this did very little to extract the blemishes from my skin or improve its appearance. I will not be going back as I feel they misled me. read more

I had a life-changing massage with Res. Perfect pressure! He made me feel comfortable to ask any questions if I had them, checked in with me a couple of times to ask if the pressure was ok and he was easy to talk to and has mad massage skills. I will be seeing him again soon! Worth every penny! read more

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I got the Five Star Massage from Nora and it was such a great experience! I have had massages before, but this was my first time at AvantGard. She made me feel comfortable right away! Part of the Five Star Massage is creating a custom aromatherapy oil to use throughout your massage. She was very helpful throughout the process - she let me sample the oil I customized on my hand to make sure I liked the scent, and even shared additional scent-free oils that are good for muscle soreness (which is exactly what I needed!) This was my first time getting a lymphatic dry brushing and warm stone treatment; at the beginning of my session she walked me through what to expect and tested the dry brush on my hand so I could get a feel of what to expect throughout the treatment, which I appreciated. She also made sure to ask about the level of pressure I preferred as well as any areas to avoid. 10/10 experience and the best massage I have ever received!! I left the spa feeling so relaxed thanks to Nora. Looking forward to coming back here again! read more

First time getting a facial and Trihnity made me feel very comfortable. She explained what she was doing every step of the way. She first examined my skin and then applied a series of creams/masks using a steam machine at certain times. The products used were from the "apothecary wall" - a collection of the spa owner's line of products called Spa Rx. Trihnity kept checking to ensure I was ok the entire time. The spa itself is beautiful and clean. The decor is very relaxing with elements from different cultures, but still looks very cohesive and makes you feel like you've transported to maybe Bali or Cambodia! There is a great selection of items to purchase from the lobby store which includes several local vendors. They try to sell you the spa owner's products.. After the treatment, they pull the products best suitable for your skin type and let you browse. They're not pushy at all, so it wasn't an issue. I personally prefer to purchase familiar/well-known products for that price. My face was glowing for a few hours but saw no difference after that, so for me the experience was just for relaxation rather than my skin itself. Overall I really loved my experience and will be recommending to my friends/family. Tip: There are two Avant Gard buildings. This is the spa. The building closer to El Camino is the nail salon. read more

AvantGard Spa - Decor - Skin Care Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Mateo is the best massage therapist! I followed Mateo from his precious work place to here because his approach is Masaage is very holistic. He is very knowledgeable about the causes of muscle pains and uses effective techniques to address them. As someone who plays golf a lot and am always sitting in front of electronics, I struggle with shoulder and back pain from those activities. Mateo not only works with me to melt the pain away during massage sessions but also teaches me correct postures and exercises to improve my overall health long term. I appreciate him and his work so much because it's always highly personalized he learns about my needs and pain points and improves on each sessions. Thank you Mateo! read more

This spa is BEAUTIFUL. It has a very calming atmosphere right when you walk in. The front desk person was very personable and kind. I booked my facial with Klaudia. Klaudia was amazing! She listened to all my concerns and explained how everything she used on me was being tailored to my skin concerns. She also listened to my (long) list of allergens and assured me I had nothing to worry about. I felt very comfortable and taken care of. Her massage technique was also very calming. After my facial I felt relaxed and my skin is *GLOWING*. read more

AvantGard Spa - Beautiful waiting room. - Skin Care Near Me - San Carlos, California

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As always I had a great massage, the atmosphere was relaxing and the service is top notch. I made an appointment and was called to tell me the massage therapist had injured her leg and I would have to reschedule - when I told the receptionist that it was my birthday that day she appologized and called me the next day to tell me she found a replacement and I was able to keep my appt. Very good customer service. read more

I went to Avant Gard for the first time and was so impressed! The whole experience feels very luxurious, starting with the relaxation lounge where you wait for your appointment. Great ambiance and incredibly clean. I had a massage with Tracey and it was amazing!! She was so attentive and friendly, and asked questions at the beginning to make sure that I had the best massage possible. I also had a facial with Nicole, who was also really wonderful--great facial and very friendly. Everything was so relaxing. I will definitely be back! read more

Res is a wonderful massage therapist! Consistently awesome technique, professional, and positive vibe.