Cheryl specializes in lashes and facials. I arrived with every pore clogged with gunk and a major (uncharacteristic) breakout. Horror of horrors, I had picked some!!! Cheryl very gently admonished my picking choice and then continued to give me the best facial I have ever had. Seriously, ever. Of course, this WAS my first facial, so what do I know. Kidding, I've been to Bella, Balboa Bay Club, Claremont, Nob Hill, Re:Fresh... I've been around a wee bit, I know that this was very, very good. Cheryl is very calming, gentle, and like her, the studio is serene. Although my facial consisted mainly of (much needed) extractions, I was still relaxed. Cheryl ended with a hand and forearm massage-- it was great! Cheryl is very knowledgeable, does NOT push product, and has very flexible hours & she'll answer all of your questions. Hip, Hip Hurray for Cheryl!!! ==UPDATE== Went back for a pre-wedding facial, brow waxing and eyelash tinting. I was super scared about eyelash tinting. Cheryl helped me not worry about going blind & I now ONLY trust her with my lashes. Every single pore in my nose was cleared. No small feat. Very, very impressed & I didn't even break out after!! If you are getting married, go to Cheryl! I see that someone has checked "no" for "accepts credit cards?" She does. read more

Original Post: Fantastic facial! Cheryl has beautiful skin herself so her regimen definitely works. She has a very delicate touch and is very knowledgeable. I will be going back on a regular basis. Part Deux: I'm no longer freelancing in SF, so facials with Cheryl are a rare treat. I was just in town visiting friends and was able to squeeze in some pampering. I tend to sweat in the facial region. Blech, I know. I swear I don't have a penis, just extra sweat gland thingies in my t-zone or something. I needed some hard-core extractions. I really appreciate that Cheryl's facials aren't cookie-cutter treatments. Every face is different, so every individual session is different. I get irritated when reviewers are disappointed because they didn't get the exact treatment someone else wrote about. Not just from Cheryl, but from all the spas reviewed on yelp. If you're like me and need 8 million extractions, you may not have time for all the other bells and whistles. You just have to communicate with the person working on you and let them know what you absolutely don't want to exclude. I'm a massage therapist myself and have had clients not tell me the pressure was too hard until the entire massage was over. Ugggh. If I could read minds, I would be a filthy rich psychic and not a massage therapist...you dig? As professionals, we do the best we can in the time allotted. Cheryl is one of the best in the business. Thanks to her, my sweaty man face looks pretty f**cking good. read more

Conscientious and meticulous care, comfortable surroundings, flexible hours, and you feel fabulous when you exit. I just had eyelash extensions put in. For smaller Asian eyes, this, I thought, would be an excercise in futiility. I'm completely pleased with my results and if you want to see details on my experience and the before/after pix, I blogged about it here. http://www.minjungkim.com/2006/05/29/the-deets-on-eyelash-extensions/ I got extensions again the week before my wedding and i was excited with the results. Cheryl is a complete professional that is responsive, considerate, and attentive. Not sure why some of the negative reviews exist down here. I mean Cheryl has taken appointment requests from me via SMS. If that isn't amazing service, I don't know what is. Maybe people who've never been at Studio C before aren't aware that this is a one person shop where Cheryl does NOT answer phones or emails in the middle of an appointment (because that would just be rude to the current client) but is fast and responsive inbetween appointments. Chery's awesome and I can't endorse her more! read more

Amazing! My facial today was such a treat, and my skin is glowing. Cheryl's space is beautiful (restored victorian) and the bed was amazingly comfortable. She had some great suggestions and I can't wait for my next facial! I even got my boyfriend a gift certificate for valentine's day. Quite reasonable, as far as prices go for a great facial here in SF. Highly, highly, highly recommended :) read more

Just went to Cheryl for an awesome facial. I was having some problems with my skin and just a day after my skin is looking a lot better. She is very knowledgeable about skin care. She is also great if you want to get your lashes tinted. I will definitely be going back to her for my monthly facials! 03/05/2006 Update - Cheryl truly does the best lash tints...they last a whole month and your lashes look so natural. I go to her once a month for a tint. I've been to other salons like La Belle, Heaven Day Spa, Chakra Aveda...Cheryl at Studio C beats them all! read more

I've been to numerous spas, from the ones in Chinatown to more upscale medical spas in San Francisco. The service was okay. I received the facial with Cheryl about a good year ago. The facial massage was very basic and I have received much more thorough extractions elsewhere. At the end of the facial, I showed her the products I was using on my face and I had many questions for her professional opinion. She grew impatient and it showed on her face. What was the icing on the cake for me was she simply said, "Well I need to go, I have a client coming in soon." I thought that was terrible service, considering the price of the facial was not cheap either. I also did not see any results from her facial, normally I'd leave a spa glowing but this facial did nothing for me. I will continue my hunt for the best facial place. read more

update 4-4-07 Saw Cheryl a week after my facial for lash extensions. I'm totally addicted! Love love love them. --- Experienced my first Studio C facial this morning. One word ... WOW! Cheryl's hands are like warm little mitts. My skin never looked so clean. She got down and dirty with all my blackheads. (I felt sorry for her). That bed ... fluffy and cozy. All the massage ... amazing. She doesn't do full body massage though (bummer). Cheryl was also very accomodating. I almost had to cancel because my nanny got sick ... she suggested I bring my 4 month old daughter with me. I was afraid Anabel might cry and make the appointment unrelaxing but the music was so soothing, she slept the whole time. Cheryl let me relax, unlike many other facialists who talk about product the whole time. She never tried to sell me anything. Next week I'm getting lash extensions. I can't wait. read more

I've been going to Studio C for over 2 years (3 to 4 times a year). I'm definitely loyal to Cheryl. She knows how to treat my skin. The best part about her facials is that she takes out every single one of my blackheads (poor Cheryl). Even though it can be uncomfortable, I appreciate that she devotes most of our appointment clearing up my skin. I've gone to the fancy spas in the city for facials (cough Nordstrom Spa cough) and they usually just take out one or two of your blackheads then spend the rest of the appointment trying to scare you that your skin is going to fall off because you didn't use x, y, z products five years ago while massaging you. I've bought a couple of several skin care products from Cheryl and they work well with my skin. Note that it took me several visits (as well as trying out the samples at home) before I purchased from her. She does not pressure you into buying the products. The only downside with Studio C is that you have to book your appointment ahead of time (I book my next appt. after each session). It's not the type of place to call last minute for an appointment (or drop by). It's okay the wait is worth it. read more

As a virgin to the world of advanced skincare I must say that my first time getting a facial was nothing short of amazing. Now be patient with me as I attempt hopelessly to be objective. It is indisputable that any shop along Union St will be a bit posh and borderline LA but maybe that is exactly what I was going for. Upon my arrival Cheryl graciously offered me tea while I filled out a form detailing my pertinent medical information. After hydrating myself I was taken back to a dimly lit room with soothing music playing in the background in which Cheryl thoroughly explained the entire process of a facial from start to finish, what to expect and when, even detailing the not so soothing parts followed by an in depth analysis of the imperfections on my face. Shortly after she began. And to be quite honest, I do not remember much after that because I fell into a deep state of relaxation in which I vaguely remember getting steamed, pinched a bit, and oh yea getting massaged. So do yourself a favor and just go to Studio C Skincare already. You know you want to. I am going to. Again. And Again. read more

I came out of Cheryl's studio looking ten years younger. I highly recommend Studio C. She got me in on short notice -- 3 days! She responded immediately to my e-mails about the appointment. I had no trouble parking nearby and my appointment started right on time. She was very professional and kind throughout! I've never been much of a girlie girl. I have a bit of a laissez-faire attitude towards beauty. I don't exfoliate or use expensive creams, and I don't buy makeup in department stores. As far as makeup goes, I wear only a bit of foundation and transparent lip moisturizer. Even my my standards, my skin has been sadly neglected this past year, and if I'm totally honest, probably since my daughter was born 3 years ago. Cheryl smoothed out my neglected skin and hydrated it again. I left her place with my skin looking much more smooth and healthy. I needed a lot of extractions, which she did quite skillfully. She is very thorough and professional. I love it that she owns her own business, too. read more

Cheryl is great! I have had great lash extensions, and she always returns my calls or answers, and has gotten me in even when she is booked. I have yet to get a facial, but am looking forward to doing so when I don't feel compulsive about my lashes. (It's a total addiction, these extensions!) I appreciate her gentle touch, her quaint salon, and her professionalism. read more

Cheryl is my hero. At 26, my skin is finally starting to look like an adult's. I love the down comforter, the hand and foot massages...seriously, I just love this place. The experience is amazing and the results are obvious. Yay! Update 3.2008 - I've been seeing Cheryl for over a year now. I still love these facials more than any other treatment I get. I go once every 6-8 weeks, which is not enough, but the budget demands it. Because I don't go regularly (or maybe just because this is how my skin works), I break out every time I get a facial. However, if I leave it alone, it all goes away within a day or two and then my skin looks a bazillion times better than it did before (and it's already wayyyy better than it was before I started seeing Cheryl). I really think the long term results have been very good for me. I'm having to tighten up my budget and I'm doing everything in my power to make sure I can still see Cheryl at least once every couple of months because I just don't know what I'll do without it. read more

Cheryl ... I love you! I started going to Cheryl before my wedding to get my skin in order before my big day, and from my first appointment I was hooked. Cheryl is such a professional and loves what she does, and it comes out in her amazing attention to detail and integrity as a professional. I had other facials in the past, where you think after wards, when you think why didn't I just pay myself $100 to rub my face in a circle. Not so, with Cheryl. She really looks at your skin, and monitors it, and will get you on the fast track to goregous perfect skin. If you have any doubts, look at her own flawless skin! Cheryl got me on the right products for my own skin, but never, ever pushed me to buy anything! Such a breath of fresh air! I slowly would add products, but basically just stick to a great cleanser, and a daily moisturizer with sunscreen! Before my wedding I got eye lash extensions! She is very very talented such a perfectionist she will not let you out the door until she has it right. I have read some other reviews from people below, and really really can't believe what they say. Yes, she is slightly expensive... but well well worth it! If you can't afford it, or don't care about the quality then go somewhere else...but please don't knock Cheryl! She does a fantastic job, and you won't be disappointed. FYI, for the people who complain about not getting an appointment, its because her regulars LOVE her... and we book up way in advance! So don't hold that against her either! I always fall asleep in the cozy & dark room above union street, always knowing I am in the good hands of Cheryl and wake up goregous and beautiful... doesn't get much better than that! read more

After having the most amazing facial ever from Cheryl, my face actually felt like a breath of fresh air. My skin was glowing. I went on a wednesday afternoon, and luckily no one was after me, so she took her time, and I couldn't be more pleased. I'll be scheduling my next visit very soon :) read more

Once upon a time, I was a 17-year-old in Gilroy with some pocket money from a part-time job at Banana Republic who read about facials in a teen beauty magazine. Little did I know, my first facial with Cheryl would change my life on skincare and health. Despite the $$$ price and treatment, Cheryl treated my 17-year-old Gilroy self with nothing but respect, lots of skincare advice and warmth. Within a month of treatment, I went from teen to beautiful skin. Cheryl treats skincare like an art constant picking-up new training but sticks to what matters most: natural products, comfortable space and personalized attention. She even once called to check-up on me when I went on a date after a treatment! You won't regret your treatment at Studio C Skincare. read more

I've been to Cheryl twice now and plan on making it a regular thing as long as I can afford it. I've never had a full-length facial before and now I see why it's worth it. The room is not totally pimped but it's very cozy and clean. She has Pandora on which creates a nice atmosphere. My facials have lasted about 50 minutes and last time I counted how many things she put on my face: 17! There's extractions, steaming, a zapper thingy, a mask, and probably my favorite part: a neck, chest, arm, and hand massage. She does the extractions as fast as possible which I'm thankful for. And I was surprised that my skin wasn't bright red when I was done. She's great because she has really soft hands but also because she doesn't try and sell you any products. She may reccommend some but definitely doesn't push them. She also gives a good facial. She'll tell you about your skin (she told me more than any dermatologist ever did) and she won't give up on difficult extractions! My only complaint is that Cheryl's offered me water both times now and I've said yes but she always seems to forget to give me it! Also, seeing Cheryl takes a huge chunk out of my wallet- $90 (not including tip) to be exact. read more

She is amazing!!! I had terrible acne and it seems that is all gone thanks to Cheryl. Also I recommend doing lashes extensions with her. The best place with affordable prices, I love it..!! read more

Cheryl is really great at her job. I have acne prone skin and I scar easily and I am VERY wary with facials after having an awful experience once and a few mediocre ones, and I really trust Cheryl to take care of my skin and leave me looking good afterwards. I've been here like 4 times, around every 6 weeks, and each time my skin feels lighter afterwards (my pores are less clogged and it totally feels like my skin is lighter!) and my skin isn't red or irritated or anything. Cheryl doesn't overdo it and my skin looks and feels really good afterwards. I had a facial at a fancy doctor's office and although I love the MD the facial was a total waste of money (and it was a lot more expensive and shorter). Cheryl does a great job at making you feel cozy and comfortable and the process is honestly not that painful. I've had a few painful facials and Cheryl's extractions felt fine. It didn't really hurt. Basically I trust Cheryl to do do the job well and leave my skin looking good afterwards. And she's very nice too. read more

Cheryl is so awesome! I tried her as a yelp recommendation as another try to get my skin under control. It really has never looked better!! She is the extraction queen. Yes, it hurts, but beauty is pain people. She is also very sweet and it's clear to me that she is also interested in my skin looking better-- not just a job to her. Highly recommend! read more

Cheryl is the best! I've been coming to Cheryl for almost 3 years now. I've been to many different estheticians before and my main complaint was they never did enough extractions. Personally, the reason I go for facials is extractions because I want my skin as clear as possible. She does a phenomenal job and has even helped get rid of some of my milia, which most people will not help with. Every time I leave, I feel refreshed and clean. She also does this amazing shoulder massage at the end that almost puts me to sleep every time. Absolutely love and recommend her! read more

Cheryl was nice enough to squeeze me in for a bikini wax at the very last minute. I was flying to Vegas the next morning and totally forgot to get a bikini wax ahead of time. I showed up at the salon at 8:15pm and was Cheryl's last client. I've gotten a brazini and a brazilian wax before (at Liz Dulchich and Dermaplus) and the aestheticians usually just go for it with few questions. Cheryl was super nice but seemed to ask me a lot of questions...how much I wanted to take off and what shape, do I want more off the bottom/sides, etc. I helped out a little bit by pulling the free hygienic panties in the shape that I wanted to be waxed. Cheryl did a good job, I didn't have any left over stickiness or irritation afterwards...it just wasn't as relaxing of an experience as I've had in the past. Sounds kind of funny to say that bikini or brazilian waxing would be relaxing but my previous experiences sorta were. I think Cheryl was in a hurry and looked pretty tired from just finishing up another client so I won't fault her for the above as she took me in at the last minute when no one would :). Oh, I was impressed to see so much high tech equipment in her studio...I guess for facials. Makes me want to come back for a facial experience. read more

All of the 5 stars are not lies. My skin went haywire on me recently as it tends to do every few months and I was in desperate need of a facial and extractions. I called and she said there were no evening appointments until June! I was super disappointed but I expected that since my schedule is really hard to work with (and she seems so popular). Well, within 10 minutes she called back and had a cancellation that very night. The room is super relaxing and you literally crawl into a nice comfy bed to get your facial. She analyzed my skin, figured out what I needed and got to work. Nothing about extractions are relaxing (they hurt like hell) but in the end its always worth it. She explained every step she was taking and by the end of it I could already tell that my face was going to look a million times better. She gave me an awesome head and hand massage too. She didn't try to push me to buy products and her prices are so great for how much work she puts into your face and the time she spends. I will definitely be back and plan on making my appointments weeks in advance so I can be sure to get in. Thanks Cheryl! read more

I hadn't had a facial in more than a year. Luckily, Cheryl had a cancellation, so I went to her studio on Union Street for an appointment. She's a one-person-show, and does an excellent job of returning phone calls as well as calling you to remind you when you're appointment is as well as directions to her location. The space is clean and well lit, and reminded me of a lovely spa. After offering me water, and having me fill out some paperwork, we chatted for a few minutes about my current skincare regime, as well as the products I use. Once inside the treatment room, I was offered a soft terry wrap to put on before climbing under a comfortable duvet on a heated table. I had the European facial for $90 (60 minutes), and it made my skin feel great. Cheryl offered to tell me each step she was performing (or not) which was, in my opinion, classy. Several masks, extractions, steam, etc. later, I left with glowing skin. Not bad for being stressed out from end-of-school finals and a heavy workload. Highly recommend! read more

I have been seeing Cheryl for about a year and my skin looks so much better than it ever has -- no joke. Cheryl is warm, friendly, conscientious, has great customer service (always calls a couple days before an appointment to confirm), and expert in her field. She is also on a one-woman crusade to abolish all blackheads from my face. She has the kind of dedication that can only be matched by my own obsessive-compulsive nature. I think it's great. Does it hurt? Hell yes -- but anyone who expects pinching and poking to feel good is in denial. Extractions should hurt. Period. The rest of the facial is awesome, pleasant and sleepy-making, so it's definitely much better than a trip to the dentist and just as good for you. I highly recommend Cheryl. read more

I should have written this review years ago, because that's about how long I've been a satisfied client of Cheryl's. She does such a thorough medical facial that my acne has totally disappeared! I really appreciate her work, her sense of humor, and I REALLY appreciate how meticulously clean she is with her tools (that's what sold me the first time I saw her). You'll leave here satisfied that all of your pores were cleaned, and your face is renewed. Also, she's really nice. :0) read more

I went to Studio C after reading all of the great reviews on Yelp! My skin was in need of some TLC and my usual facialist was booked, so I thought I'd give Cheryl a try. Sadly, she did not live up to they hype on this occasion. Here's my experience: I contacted her for a facial. She made an appointment for me at 7:30pm on a Friday. I asked her, if she had time, would she be able to do a brow/lip wax. I added, 'I don't want to monopolize your Friday night, so only IF you have time.' She assured me it was no problem and she could do the wax & facial. On the evening of my facial, I arrive 15 minutes early at 7:15pm. Hey - it's my first time as her client and first impressions count. Showing up late would be poor form. As it turned out, she was running late and ended up taking me at 8:00pm. (30 mins late) She proceeded with the wax and finished at 8:30pm. She paid a large amount of time to my brows, more than anyone prior, and still, there were stray hairs remaining. Now, I appreciate attention to detail, but after the amount of time she spent, I would not expect there to be so many strays left. (I'm not very hairy at all.) The facial began at 8:30pm. At 9:30pm, she informed me it had been an hour. Here's where it got realllly uncomfortable. She stopped working on my skin and repeated to me that the facial had gone on for 60 minutes. Huh? I was confused because she hadn't even finished....she just finished extractions. She said my skin was really blocked and extractions took longer than normal. Yeah, she spent more time on extractions than I had EVER experienced....she started at the hairline. Most facials I've had only focus on the t-zone, as my skin is sensitive. Her online facial description included a hand and foot massage and that had not happened yet, nor had she done any moisturizing. I was confused. Why did she stop? Did she want me to pay for 90 minutes because she didn't budget her time correctly for a 60 minute facial? It felt sooo awkward that I almost said, "No thank you" and left. She kept repeating the time....I didn't know what she wanted me to say. After what seemed like the longest, most awkward 5 minutes of my life, she agreed to finish the facial. But I don't think it was what she wanted. At this point, I felt really bad for her because I could tell she was tired. I left at near 10pm. I mentioned the cyclic acne on my chin. She replied with "Yeah, a lot of my clients get that, I don't know why." Well, I knew why but did not want to embarrass a professional by bringing that to her attention while she is working on me. Her studio IS lovely and very comfortable. She is very sweet and a Yelper. In fact, she told me a story about how she gave a less than favorable review for a place she went to, so I know she appreciates Yelp for feedback. Anyway, she has room to grow. I wish her well. read more

The facial was great; Cheryl was very nice; her studio is small but cozy. The facial cost $75. Her studio is inside a building with several other businesses. From the street, you'll see two doors. The sign for Studio C is on the left side of the building, but go through the door on the right side. read more

I booked my appt to get eyelash extensions with Cheryl by email. We confirmed the 5 pm appt time and place through email but she called me later to get the credit card information to secure the appointment time slot for the very next day. I was at lunch during the call and it was extremely noisy in the background (lunch in the FiDi). Apparently she said that she had told me to open the gate and come upstairs but I didn't hear this. I was rushing to get off the phone and was pretty short and brief with her b/c I didn't want to be rude to the person I was having lunch with. When I arrived at her place, I tried ringing the doorbell numerous times (apparently it doesn't work). I tried calling her a few times (no answer), so I left a message. I just stood out there on the street for 15-20 minutes not knowing what to do at that point. Finally, she calls me after 20 minutes and asked if I was coming. I told her that I've been standing outside and she said to pull on the gate and come upstairs. Why didn't she tell me by email when we confirmed the appointment time? Or peek downstairs to make sure that the client is not standing outside? So, we get started and it's about 5:20-5:25 at this point. We ended promptly at 5:59. She said that the time had run out and if I wanted to pay more for another half an hour, I could do that. She still charged me full price. I hadn't even gotten the full fill at that point, which left my lashes very thin looking. I didn't want to pay extra 50 bucks for the half hr, so I just tipped and paid her and left. I tipped a full 15% too. As for the customer service, I don't think it was that good. I thought that if she had the time and no other appointment was after me, why wouldn't she just go past 6 o'clock since she's charging me for it anyway? I don't feel like it was 100% my mistake for not knowing that I had to pull on the gate (the outside looks like a residential duplex flat-how was I supposed to know?). I came here from a recommendation of a friend who was getting hers the same day, but we won't be returning. I will return to another lash extension place that I went to prior who seems to work faster, more precise and uses a better glue. I wish it worked out. But unfortunately, it didn't. read more

I had my lashes done last week and they are FABULOUS! Cheryl really does great work. She's a perfectionist, and it shows. I've had lash extensions put on in Seoul, NY, and LA, and they never looked this fluttery and natural before. I've been batting them ever since. The procedure was also the most comfortable too. She has you lie down instead of sitting up in a chair for 2 hours. I took a much needed nap. There was also no clumping like some of the other applications, and all the lashes were single lashes instead of 3 on 1. Her pricing is reasonable ... more than Seoul, less than NY, and comparable to LA. I can leave the house without makeup on and feel put together. read more

A week has passed since my facial with Cheryl, and I'm still in awe of how smooth my skin is. I really couldn't have asked for a better treatment, from start to finish. She was really great about informing me on every step of the facial so I knew the purpose of each procedure...and then when it came to extractions, she patiently and meticuously unclogged every congested pore on my face! I also really appreciated the fact that she offered 20 minutes of LED therapy for the same price that other places charge for 10 minutes. I fully intend to make visits to Studio C a regular part of my skin care regimen. After this experience, I realize that other facials I've received totally pale in comparison... read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Cheryl as yet. I've been coming here about 10 years and pretty regularly for the past two years or so. What can I say that hasn't been said before? Cheryl is amazing! She understands skin really well and is great about suggesting routines, products as well as general lifestyle changes to benefit the skin. The best thing about her facials are her extractions! I too have a love/hate relationship with them, but man is my skin amazingly clean post-Cheryl! Several times I asked her what she did to my skin after looking in the mirror after a facial- such a difference! I also love the products she uses- you know if Cheryl is using them, they are quality. read more

Just visted Cheryl yesterday and had the most amazing 90-minute facial of my life. She is truly an expert in her craft and I have already booked another facial with her for next month. read more

I've only gone to Cheryl a couple of times so far but I've been very impressed. Cheryl's the first aesthetician I've had in San Francisco who I'd consider going to regularly. The space where she's located is cute. But really, I'd go back because she is so skilled at what she does! After getting a facial with Cheryl, my skin looks glowy (not blotchy and red like some facials leave me). I have somewhat dry and sensitive skin and Cheryl seems to know how to work with my skin type. As many people have mentioned, she seems extremely busy and it's hard to get an appointment with her. I've started booking ahead of time and she's actually very friendly and offers to call me if any cancellations come up earlier than my scheduled appointments. She also followed up with me by email a couple of times to ask how the facial went and whether I was happy with the results! read more