Noelle's Yelp Notebook 2020 Ocean Skin Care Boutique- is a place that had sold bath bombs, soap and skin care. I used to shop there then it changed to Body Frenzy. Most recently Body Frenzy (the sign outside the shop reads Body Frenzy) aka Body Friendly Carmel was closed for a few months due to COVID 19. Today, June 13, 2020 this shop and many others in Carmel by the Sea are open for business but with social distancing rules. I came inside the store and bought a few items- soap and bath bombs. The Co-Owner was in the store and he was friendly and helpful. In other reviews it mentioned the aggressive sales tactics and it's true - I've witnessed this before. I've never succumbed to the aggressive sales tactics. Today there were no aggressive sales tactics just good customer service. I came in with a mission to buy what I needed and that is what happened. I'm not a fan of the receipt as it lacks the prices. If you're looking for soap or bath bombs this is a good spot. It's nextdoor to Cottage of Sweets. Noelle's Notes Great bath bombs and soaps read more

See all

I was also pulled off the street for a "quick eye cream sample"... which turned into an - I don't know how long spa cream session. They put various Introstem creams on my face and showed me how they cost thousands of dollars on the website, and then offered a set to me for $350 or $900. Here is a dermatologist's review of these products: https://airmail.news/issues/2022-9-3/eye-of-the-beholder# She basically said it temporarily works but then quickly fails. It is a short lasting trick that isn't great for your skin. So glad I didn't buy any of it! read more

Avoid this place at all cost!!!! They will lure you in and pretend that they are giving you a good damn discount, only to find out you aren't saving anything. The sales lady was EXTREMELY aggressive and very pushy. She got up in my face asking me why I didn't want to buy the product. She said it was her last day of work and she wanted to give me a good deal. All BS!!!! Nasty people like her exist and should be avoided!!! read more

They have a great products , I have Red LED from them .really suggested , I heard they have full body LED therapy too I will go and try .

Very rude staff at this store, unbelievable! My 5yo walk up to the gentleman handing out sample at the store front, the gentleman say to my child 'this is not for you' with a dirty look on his face. My child stand there looking at him wondering and ask me why. Would not go to this store even products are offered for free, what a joke! I'd want to say even the product (soap?) are not meant for kids, if they have a refreshing scent that is attractive to my kids then there a high chance we will be interested. read more

Ocean Skin Care Boutique - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me

Stopped by as they were closing to ask if we could use the bathroom. Guy was extremely rude saying no- we even asked and were about to buy a $45 soap JUST TO DO SO but he had such a bitchy attitude i quickly walked out and moved on. From behind I heard his two friends, specifically the woman, ask "are you sure?" to him and as we walked desperately searching the two came up and tried to help us giving us suggestions and directions. Thanked them profusely and Other man then walked away joking "don't get a UTI!" as he left-- Well funnily enough I HAD A UTI. That had just become apparent around that very time. HENCE THE URGENCY. I mean, use your brain. A well dressed woman, BIOLOGICAL WOMAN who deal with ISSUES ALL THE TIME comes in asking to use the bathroom even ready to buy something JUST TO DO SO. CLEARLY, CLEARLY MF, it's SERIOUS. Otherwise why wouldn't I just hold it or go elsewhere? And even if you say NO you can do it nicely. A little kindness goes a LONG way- i will always remember that kind man and woman. but the other guy in the store, complete bitch. Shove ur $45 soap up ur ass honey And give your two friends my utmost love!! like girl YEA I DO HAVE A UTI AND IM DYINGGG BC THERES NO BAYHROOMS ANYWHERE AND STORES ARE CLOSING HELP A GIRL OUT IM HERE 8 HRS ALL THE WAY FROM VEGAS MAN Anywho, I've done hospitality, in the city with the best in the world (Vegas). If yall can't even treat potential customers nice ur not worth buying from. Ciao read more

The store is a front to sell overpriced photobiomodulation devices. VERY high pressure sales techniques. It feels like a time share presentation. My wife bought make up, but passed on the 3k device. Later that evening, the "sample" make up they gave her started to dry out her skin. We tried to return the unopened products (with the receipt) but "the manager had just left." After going to the back to call the manager, the salesperson returned to say that they would only give credit toward one of the $3,000 devices. RUN do not walk to stay away from this store. Consider yourself warned. read more

Scam Scam Scam Do NOT buy these products!!! WARNING! I bought the Ivy lumiscent and they told me only to use it once a week. This was suspicious. But I waited. When I finally tried it / after my cc transaction went through / the bottle was EMPTY! Cannot believe it. I paid $500 for nothing! FRAUD !!! Rip off! read more

I purchased the Ivy Luminescent Syringe for my wife at $200. Was supposed to get 30-40 applications. Went dry after 2. Impossible to contact the Ivy company. Obviously Ivy doesn't want to be contacted. Based on this and other reviews here, stay away from this place and Ivy Cosmetics. read more

We were initially attracted to the store BODY FRENZY by the cute dessert-like soaps in the window. We were greeted by Sam who gave us some great free samples. He tried the Ivy Cosmetics (a Japanese cosmetics company) serum that comes in a hypodermic-like gold twistable vial. Within three minutes, I noticed my under eye bags completely disappearing. My left eye responded better than the right, but soon after, the right caught up. He then applied a tiny drop of eye cream and I have to say, both my husband and I noticed a miraculous difference. The serum does retail for $899, I did a lot of research. Sam gave me the serum plus the eye cream and a free gel for around $200. I'm really happy with it all so far. I'm really sad though, to hear all of the bad reviews. read more

Amazing service! I did a facial there a few days ago and I am really impressed... recommended!

Small businesses especially right now should honor their word to customers.The usual scam, Made it clear that I wanted all initial prices for Instrostem products honored if I wanted to reorder. Eddy the salesman promised that all pricing had been entered into a computer account and would be honored. Called today and of course they said I lied about the prices I paid. Have offered a copy of my detailed receipt with product and pricing. Their initial response was to hang up! I called back and again offered a copy of my detailed receipt. If I don't receive a call back today, I am going to contact Introstem and let them know how their products are being sold as a scam in this wanna be upscale shop. Mostly agree with other reviews this does not represent Carmel well. If they decide to do the honest thing and call back today I will gladly re write my review. read more

So, let me get right to the point. Exactly what happened to others happened to me. The gal chatted and complimented me until I got coerced inside the store. She told me "get 3 bath bombs for $20 and get the 4th one for free". I could tell they were cheap bath bombs (wrapped in plastic and main ingredient was baking soda...with fragrance instead of essential oils). But, at $5 each I thought "why not". The next day I looked at the receipt and had been charged $20 EACH. I was LIVID. I would never pay that much for a cheap bath bomb. She was so busy chatting my ear off complimenting me that I didn't even notice the total on my receipt! On a positive note, I went back to the store the next day and got my money back; even thought they were INSISTING "No returns due to Covid19". I wouldn't take no for an answer. This just happened yesterday and the return is not yet on my bank statement (so keeping my fingers crossed). Just keep walking past this store when in Carmel! PS. Currently the sign outside says "Body Friendly". Yep...the name keeps changing just like others have said! Shady place and shady people! read more

I recently visited this store and purchased the Luminescent Syringe and love my product! I did not pay the hundreds of dollars that reviewers are stating they paid, however, so perhaps you should throw back a wheel and deal to the sellers. This stuff is on Ebay for $34.99 just FYI. Shop around before you buy and don't let demos fool you! read more

Body Frenzy, new owner beautiful soap stories We are coming to the Carmel every year , last year me and my wife got inside this place that's looks like a fairy tail we love the soap we love and service thank your very much see you next year Sean read more

If you like being pressured through unprofessional hard sale tactics, then this is the place for you. A young man calls out of the storefront for my girlfriend and I to get a free sample of facial cream. We took the small packet of the Venofye product and then he commenced a 10 minute sales push that would have made a used car salesman proud. A small bottle of his "miracle bee venom" normally sells for $700, but we could get it "today only" of course, for $200. He then proceeded to show us photos on his iPhone of all the Hollywood celebrities who use this unbelievable product. We repeatedly told him that we were not interested and his come back line was why? Too expensive? In a hurry? No, just not interested in buying anything from a person who comes across as a con man selling his scam to people on vacation. NOTE - This shop does NOT currently have exterior signage showing the name of the business. However they pass out business cards with the name: Body Frenzy. The store is located on the south side of Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Monte Verde St. next to the Cottage of Sweets! AVOID!! read more

Ocean Skin Care Boutique - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me

Visited Monterey last April and was suckered in to going inside Body Frenzy by a pretty young woman who hooked my husband in to coming in for a free gift. When she finished with us, she hooked us in to buying 3 skin products for wrinkles, much like what happened to several others on this site. We paid $400 for 2 "Lavelier"serum. I have been trying to get it to disperse the serum in them every since we started wanting to use it and our others were almost empty. Nothing, I repeat nothing comes out of either one. We tried to call them about it, but there is not even a phone number to contact them that I found on line. I will never return, it is a $400 expensive scam. We live 4 hours away from Body Frenzy and were unable to return to talk to them in person. Don't get duped. Wish I had seen these reviews earlier. read more

Terrible scam!!! This place should be ashamed body frenzy or whatever this fraudulent business is calling themselves is complete scam!!! They sold me expired face products & when I tried t return the next day they said no final sale on everything only store credit & shoes a tiny sign behind the register that wasn't visible for any customer to see The salesman Ricky & the lady who is the owner/ manager should be ashamed doing business this way, they remind me of the people at the mall that work in the kiosks trying to yell at you and sell you something they literally chase you out of the store trying to give you samples and bring you in. I never usually fall for this type of marketing, but storefront is nice and the previous owner of the store years ago had good products now they're just using the store as a scam for Tourists... If you read these reviews, you understand I'm talking about Carmel police should really get involved. This is ridiculous. They need the investigated. You wouldn't think that this would happen in Carmel they usually have good reputation for legitimate storefronts ..I have never in any type of shopping experiences all my 35 years on this earth experienced this type of customer service!!! stop trying to steal peoples money. read more

This place has apparently changed names several times - the sign on the door last week, when I was there, was Body Frenzy but yet the name on my receipt is "Body Friendly Carmel". To cut to the chase, I've lived to be 66 without getting scammed but these people are very good. I bought the "Ivy Cosmetics Luminescent Syringe" (with two "free gifts") for $300 ("down from $500"). The salesperson, an Israeli woman named "Nofar" showed me, on her phone, that the website price was twice the price, should I buy it online. It wasn't until I got home that I: 1. Looked up reviews and found MANY people who have had the exact same experience, over years. Given how long this has been going on, not sure why Carmel-by-the-Sea hasn't done anything about it, as the aggressive sales tactics don't fit with the classy setting. 2. Looked up the product online - $34.99. 3. Tried to look up the website she had shown me - did not exist. Who knows what it was that she was showing me. Lesson learned. I don't want these people to have my credit card number to charge future things so I closed it. Beware. read more

My wife and I visited this shop in December 2021. We met a salesperson named Ana. She was enthusiastic, kind, attentive. Also working there were three other people, two were sales I presume. One of these was a woman who sat disinterested next to the nice fireplace in the shop. She was glued to her phone. It's a small space so we were near her and we either did not exist to her in the best case and in the worst case we were resented for being there or perhaps jealous, as [poor] salespeople can be of colleagues engaged in a possible sale. Awful salespeople will be jealous and show their "disapproval" that a customer will see. There was also a guy, presumably sales, who walked around us to stand at the front door with his back to us looking down at a paper on a podium (for a long time). Prior to that, he had been standing at the register, only glancing up expressionless. Angry? Resentful? Hated his job? Both of these people definitely did not make us feel welcome. Maybe both hated their jobs? If Ana was not there we would have left. And we certainly would never buy an item that was entirely optional on impulse from those two. I've read reviews here that seem to describe the people I am referring to. We told Ana we would buy the product she offered. As she was preparing to write up the $300 deal she introduced us to a cosmetician(?) Dermatologist(?) Ana said he would give us a consult at no cost after our purchase was complete. He was congenial, chatty, engaging. When we completed payment, we noticed he had left and was on the outside patio, talking to the sales guy described above. We waited. He did not come back inside. He didn't excuse himself. If he couldn't or did not want to give us the consult, fine. He didn't apologize, however, or even acknowledge us. He stayed outside. I have a business that depends on sales and I would fire each of these three if it was my business -- better yet, I would not even hire them. We thanked Ana and left with our purchase. Fast forward - we were in Carmel again in February. We walked by Body Frenzy. The shop was tainted like a crowded elevator where someone had passed gas... except in this elevator, three people had all passed gas. Ana was the only proverbial breath of fresh air. We walked by the front door and saw Ana who, when she saw us, remembered us from our previous visit. We came in. The others weren't there. She was engaging and kind, informative, patient, and enthusiastic about talking with us. We stayed for some time until closing after having spent over $3,000. To the business owners: Ana is the only person worth keeping. Hire more like her and the business will improve. You can teach sales (or just park a warm body in a space), but you can't teach kindness or care. If you lose Ana all you'll have is a stifling elevator to escape from. Appreciate her. Bonus her. She just saved a customer for you who, on their second visit, spent ten times the amount they spent on their first. Also, who *are* you? It's kind of creepy not to be able to find out who owns a business you're thinking of buying from and you're not listed online anywhere! I would have told you privately about our first experience in real time instead of using this public forum now after the second. Anyone reading this should ask for Ana. If she is not there, leave. read more

Great product I bought infrared red for my hair growth I started noticing hair growth after 3 months so kept using it now 9 month . Happy with results I will give 5 if was little cheaper I like the new management there very professional read more

I was vacation with my wife we were offer sample next thing we are inside trying different product it was my wife birthday so I couldn't say no cause was expensive but after free month my wife noticed big difference as I noticed also . the skin care rep was very professional he recommended a regime including red light therapy. Happy with the product worth the money since I'm against invasive procedures that is the best natural way read more

A great big rip off!!! The whole thing is a scam. They make it sould like it is some miracle. Stuff makes your skin itchy and dry. Should have known better. Never again!!! read more

Had a tray of 'free' soaps that lured my 7 year old out front then man complimented my skin with soaps and we looked at bombs inside. By 2 get 3rd free. By then he's telling me he has serum for under eye wrinkles. Usually this "Ivy" cream is $899. If I buy today, $300 and free bath bombs. I say no not today and he says he will toss in free $300 moisturizing serum for my 'rosacea.' Trying to rush out I pay my bath bombs and I'm shocked $40 for 3 (1 free?) for not amazing quality. At this point I just want to go, don't argue and tell him I'll think over lunch. My husband almost fell for thinking I'd like nice skincare & I'm like no way this is a snake oil tactic. Googled Ivy and how are these products even real? Retail is $899 and $299. How would I get $1200 products from website for $300 here? Skeptical. read more

This place is a scam. They sell overpriced products. They told me one price and when my husband went to pay they used a different hand held card reader and covered the price. They charged us 2400.00 for the cream. He said half off 500 would be 24.99 NOT half of 5000.00. The cop we talked to said they were under investigation for fraud. Thankfully Amex refunded but we had to threaten them that we would call the police before they would give us a refund. "I don't know how to do it" "just take the cream and mail it back". One lie after another. Stay clear of them!! They deserve a -1 read more

We were on vacation and dropped in the darling little town of "Carmel by the Sea." Got a great coffee there, and walking down the sidewalk, a beautiful young woman standing at the entrance to this shop had a free sample to give me regarding bags under my eyes. I was totally oblivious to even thinking of the tactic that car sales people may use, which is they want to get you "inside' the place.. Well she got me inside the place and then had me sit down. She used the Introstem syringe for my baggy/puffy eyes. She rubbed it in and then had me use a little fan to dry it... Yes - it's true, the wrinkles did disappear - but I noticed that I didn't look quite like myself. The high pressure sales continued - this product by Introstem is $1500 but they sell if for $900, it will only be $450 today (after being there nearly an hour, they'd sell it to me for only $300.... And this beautiful other woman, Maiko was from Hawaii and there for a limited time - and they mentioned a special light they would like to sell me.... Only $15,000???). You can imagine, seeing my wrinkles disappear and the bags go away - it was real - but I didn't quite look like myself, what was the problem... As the sales talk continued on and they switched girls, she finally finished up the other eye and on my forehead and though the wrinkles had fled - it felt like I had a small sampling of dried elmers glue on my face... And I didn't quite look like myself... I believe that the product made me swell up a bit... And thus puffing out so that the wrinkles were less visible. I am SO GLAD I did not buy this product!! Run! I did a little research and it appears that the name Introstem (that is what the eye serum was by) has a parent company of Oro Gold. Sounds like neither issue refunds. read more

Ocean Skin Care Boutique - Body Friendly also known as Body Frenzy, Hard Selling Introstem Eye Serum - Address: 3 Ocean Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93923 - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me

Stay away from this place. It's a SCAM and the salesman preys on people walking by the store. They pretend that they are selling you the last item on the shelf and give you a deep discount. It's a high pressure sale and they tried to cross sell on additional treatments while they're applying the fake wrinkle cream remedy. I got a terrible allergic reaction to the eye cream the salesman applies to test the product. I did purchase the product because I fell for the scam. I returned it to the store the next morning. They said the cash register could not process returns and that I needed to send it to their NY office. So I left the store to think about what to do next. I returned to the store 30 minutes later, I left the product unopened at the store and asked them to credit my account. The product is a hoax. It makes your eyes swell up. The manager of the store is a very angry and mean man. The woman working at the store are like robots and as soon as I walked in to return the item they ran to get the manager. I'm surprised the Carmel Chamber of Commerce allows such a store operate in their community. It gives the city a bad name to allow these scam merchants to operate in such destination vacation location. read more

All I have to say is... if you're drawn into the store to try out their "oh-so-amazing" face care products, have the sales person rinse their product(s) off your face before you make a decision. I guarantee you won't be as impressed as you may be led to believe you should be. They also claim that you can't return products after purchase because "it's illegal to return skincare products in the State of California", which is a complete and utter lie. They just know that once people try their products at home, they'll see that they're all fake. This place is a complete and total scam, and I'm furious that there's a shop like this in adorable downtown Carmel. Shop with caution, and by all means, don't fall for their false promises. Remember... if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. read more

The man and woman who work at this store body shamed me when I was walking by. They literally called me a whale. They were sitting in the doorway of the business watching people walk by and said it thinking I couldn't hear them (or maybe they just didn't care). I'm a recent cancer survivor who gained some weight from the treatments I've had to take over the past 2 years for my illness. I walked away and just cried and wanted to hide. Disgusting people, ruined the rest of my experience in Carmel. Shame on the city of Carmel for allowing this type of crude business into their otherwise cute town read more

AVOID! Aggressive sellers jumping at passersby in a sleazy attempt to hock their wares just like cheap bazaar vendors and gypsies at tourist sites. Why? Because they have to. Products are cheap and not worth the prices. Do your research! Know what you buy. Don't fall for it. These gross people need to use aggression to lure buyers into the store. read more

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you give this "establishment" your business or money. I purchased a skin care item that I had a severe allergic reaction to and immediately spoke to the manager - Jacob- who assured me he would give me a refund. After several failed attempts to return the items via UPS (they refused shipment) and my mother in law physically going into the store, we still had not reached a resolution. It is months later and not surprisingly, they stopped answering my call and Jacob has not been available since his promise to refund. I would give them ZERO stars if I could..... read more

Scam and ripoff! I went in. The woman working there convinced me to try the under eye cream. Said I would be back tomorrow to get away. She said they were closed. On a Saturday? The before and after pictures she showed me I found on line. Usually $1000 but today $500. Don't do it! Glad I walked away. read more

Rude, pushy and tacky. If you have to pull people off the sidewalk to get a sale, you are obviously desperate for business. I was having a nice day until the salesperson had to point out all my imperfections, and made me feel ugly. This place is ugly!!! read more

They ripped us off. The syringe was completely empty and of course they will not answer their phone. Watch out they are very pushy and I would make sure before you leave the store the product they sold you has product in it. SCAM SCAM SCAM. read more

Extremely poor quality items with cheap ingredients (baking soda). I was looking at their bath bombs and they told me that they were having a deal where it was buy 2 get 2 free for $19.99, thought that was good, turns out it was $20 each bath bomb that were wrapped in cheap plastic, had a sticker on them, and were made with cheap ingredients that would sell for only a few bucks at a drug store. Avoid this place at all cost, they're not worth it read more

Run fast, run hard and don't be duped by the friendly person stationed in the doorway like a circus barker. I walked by with my dog and the girl in the doorway initiated a friendly conversation. She wanted to give me a sample and invited me in. I said, no, had to go. She said it would just take a minute. Assuming she didn't have the sample in her hand, I walked in and immediately another girl took over the door position and the one speaking to me wanted to put some kind of syringe with a wonder cream under my eyes. I said no, gotta go. She persisted and continued to try and get me to stay. I bolted. Horrible business that just doesn't suit the laid back vibe of Carmel. read more

Stay away from this place. Just like the other reviews, I was sucker in. Everything that Niki told me was mis-information to get me to purchase their over priced creams and devices. STAY AWAY - STAY AWAY. The bath bombs are just a way to get you in the store. Super High pressure sales - even though I told her multiple times I wanted to think about it - she totally lied and told me I could get my money back in 30 days - I found that is not true and I am now fighting for a refund. I don't understand how they can be compliant with Covid rules. People are taking off their masks, they are giving facials (aren't Spas' closed) and they are using the same products on different people. On Sunday, there were at least 8 people in the tiny store - (4 of which were sales people). read more

I love this place I'm using the product and I love the result !!! the people there are so nice , and I got the best service thank you sir Benza read more

Very pushy saleswoman. She insisted on giving me a "free sample" which was actually a 15 minute demo on their $200 eye serum. We ended up purchasing 2 bath bombs that we were charged $43 for!! We were not given a receipt so I only saw the cost of the transaction when I checked my bank account later on. There is no phone number or website online, so I'm unable to contact to inquire about the price of their bath bombs. I feel I was scammed!!! read more

Now called Body Frenzy. Very much like another review posted here ...a woman in the doorway got us to walk in because she said she has something for us. Fast talking she put a cream under my eye to take away wrinkles. And yes it appeared to do that. I told her it felt like egg whites tightening my skin. She claimed it's Sophia Loren's beauty cream. However I looked it up on the internet and Sophia Loren does not endorse any facial creams ....let alone some product at "Body Frenzy".....she likes her olive oil! So playing along I asked about how much was the tube of cream. It started out at something like $999. Whoa! Then it came down to 500 and then to 299 with some free lotion for our hands. She was such a high pressure sales woman talking about collagen and stem cells....I was polite and said I'd like to think about the purchase cause it's a lot of money. Asked if she was going to be working tomorrow or later in the week. She said no. But when I was walking down the street the next day I saw her In the store with another customer. Beware of this place. read more