My eyebrows look FANTASTIC!!! I loved being able to wait outside in the gorgeous garden area. I arrived early specifically so I could enjoy the weather and atmosphere! Gigi was friendly, attentive and efficient!! Had a great visit and hope to return again soon! read more

Skin City - Vibe - Skin Care Near Me - Oakland, California

I can't speak highly enough about Skin City! The owner Brigitta has been taking care of my skin and body care needs for over 15 years! Sometimes a business will come out the gate strong, then rest on it's laurels... But not Skin City!! Brigitta stays on top of all of the current trends in skin care technology, while also providing thoughtfully sourced products that make my skin feel AMAZING! My new favorite is the avocado mask. It smells delicious and leaves my skin feeling like silk!! The decor is lovely and Brigitta is so warm-hearted and down to earth! If you're looking for a new spot to get your self-care hook up... Don't think twice, treat yourself to Skin City!!! read more

Skin City - Avocado mask at Skin City - Skin Care Near Me - Oakland, California

Neva's used to be my place of choice for swift and fairly painless...hair today, gone tomorrow appointments. But coupled with the fact that Neva's is located in the Marina and is situated right around the corner from Kara's Cupcakes; I found myself spending unnecessary money on cabs and carbs (cupcakes will always have my heart). And so after reading the glowing reviews on Skin City - I decided to go for it. I applaud yelpers on their waxing know-how. Skin City is now my preferred waxing spot. It's easily accessible by MUNI, they have late hours, and I've never had a problem getting a last moment appointment. Perhaps the most commendable aspects of Skin City - is that they're fast (I'm taking as fast as I can eat fast - which is pretty damn fast), thorough, skilled, and clean. If you're finding yourself having trouble getting a frantic appointment at some of the other well known waxing places in the area, or find yourself trekking half-way across the city for supposedly the "best wax in town," save yourself the hassle and check out Skin City. You (and those who may be lucky enough to enjoy their masterful work) - can thank me later. Trust. read more

Ask for Kelly to be sure that your first (or thousandth) trip to Brazil is a smooth and bump-free ride. 4/2006: Returned for another round of caipirinhas with Kelly this week. She'll tell you straight up to relax if you're acting all tense (what can I say - I'm a bit of a prude). As usual, the result was top notch. Highly recommended! read more

Please do yourself a favor and go here!! My experience was soothing and absolutely perfect from start to finish. I decided to call Skin City on a whim yesterday, feeling sore & beat up from a bad spill that I took recently. A fall that that resulted in fractures, bruises and disc issues...not fun:( Was feeling like I needed some TLC and couldn't decide between a facial or a massage...chose a facial since my skin has been neglected as of late due to being in a cast for the last 3 weeks. When I called Skin City yesterday, Michelle answered the phone when I called and she took it from there. Fitting me in immediately (within 2 hours of my call) ...loved that. My facial was better than any facial I'd yet to receive---which is saying a lot because I've had a facial or two in my day. Michelle has such a calm and inviting energy about her that within 20 minutes I was snoring like a baby. A 20 minute nap while getting your skin brought back to life with delicate fingers that can work magic...and the conversation was so easy and light---just like Michelle and my skin city experience. Can't wait to go back! Thank you Michelle. read more

If you're looking for someone in the city who just gets you and your skin, look no further than skin city. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago and got the green goddess peel and I was looking so rejuvenated and glowy after my skin had peeled and new skin had grown. The owner, Brigitta also is super knowledgeable and throughout my entire facial experience, I was able to consult her and ask for advice on skincare and she answered all my questions. She also told me that because I have a solid skincare routine, I don't really need more facials than once a quarter. Many skin care facialists (is that a word?) would tell you to come back at least once a week to keep business. I honestly have nothing but amazing things to say about Brigitta and her business! read more

Okay ladies, this one is for you! I have been searching high and low for a great esthetician to help guide me through my skin care, and FINALLY I found my angel gifted from the gods above. Kimberly is extremely knowledgeable of all my skin care needs and she walks me through every step of my treatments. She fine tunes each of my facials to help manage my outbreaks; whether it's oiliness, moisture, or moon cycle that's the issue, Kimberly always knows the best move to make. She goes above and beyond to make each visit personal and takes the time to walk me out AND carefully craft recommended creams, ointments, and facial soaps that fit the needs of my skin. The entire shop is immaculate. The products are well organized and the space is bright and beautiful. The price is right for the quality and care these ladies take. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

Skin City - Skin Care Near Me - Oakland, California

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I decided to book a facial at Skin City because the place looked really nice when I walked past and I'm also trying to support the local businesses in the Laurel, as I live nearby. I'm so happy I gave it a try! I felt so welcomed and comfortable since I met Brigitta (and I'm quite introvert). The whole experience 'Signature Plus Facial' was delightful and so much worth it. I love how much knowledge you earn about how to take care of your skin without being overwhelmed, and I appreciate that Brigitta informs you about products that suit your skin but at the same time there's no pressure to purchase them. I left feeling extremely relaxed and refreshed. My skin was glowing on the day, but what's more important, my skin significantly improved since that facial and the results are long lasting. Thank you Brigitta, I will be back! read more

I have cystic acne that loves to bubble up when I'm stressed or premenstrual. Usually facials and extractions irritate these spots and make them break out horribly, so I was nervous to trust my finicky face to someone new when I was a week away from my period. I just got home from my waxing/facial appt and looked at my skin and the facial that Gigi gave me has me glowing. Even better than that? My eyebrows are beautiful. The best part? She extracted EVERYTHING from my problem spots, and they are already shrinking. I am so happy I could cry; these problem areas really do a number on my self esteem, but I know that I will keep coming back to Skin City to keep my face looking it's best! read more

Wonderful Experience! Beth was great!! She was great to talk to and did an amazing job on my eyebrows and bikini wax. I think this is the first time EVER that I have come home without sticky eyebrows. They are the cleanest they have ever been. The bikini was practically painless (as painless as a bikini wax can be) and the over price was amazingly decent. I definitely recommend Skin City and I will be coming back here again! read more

This is the mecca for hair removal and esthetician services. The prices and products are so reasonable, you can't afford not to go monthly. As I write this, I realize the phrase "you can't afford not to" sounds hokey but you get the drift, no? They do the fancy waxing and any variation on it you might need. The facials are genius - I've never had a break out or looked terribly scaly afterward. If you're like me, you like to keep your reptilian nature on the inside where it belongs. Everything is super-immaculate but it doesn't have that "day-spa" feel so don't expect the "pampering" experience. Not that anyone is ever anything other than completely lovely and professional. You just don't get the frills and you don't have to pay for them, so there you go. Waxing, facials, electrolysis - they got you covered. Extra points for being a woman-owned business, easy parking (they will coin your meter if you are having a multiple appt.), and they respect your time by never making you wait. For anyone who's leery about Brazil: listen to my (imaginary) grandma when she says, "No one's gonna come to your house if they can't find it, sweetie". read more

Every time I move to a new city I dread finding a new esthetician. I dread it because after waxing my face turns a painful red. And I dread it because whenever I introduce myself to a new person I have to tell them this and they don't believe me. Until they see it that is. And I dread the awkward conversation that comes with first getting to know the person going through this beauty regimen with you. I'm happy to say Beth at Skin City quickly dispelled all those dreads upon meeting her. She was so friendly and easy to talk to. When I told her about my red face problem she didn't minimize it or scoff at me - she just got a bunch of different creams and calming salves at the ready. Because she spent so much time talking to me she kept my mind away from the pain that is ripping out your eyebrow hairs with hot wax. And best of all my red face only lasted a few hours instead of a day or more. And with that I have found my new waxing salon to call home. It was much easier here in SF than I had anticipated and for that I have to say thank you to the previous reviewers, and of course to Beth herself. read more

Who knew having someone rip hair out of your body could be such a pleasant experience? Kelly was so great to talk to that I almost didn't realize that every few seconds she was violently removing my hair. Almost. I would for sure go back without a second thought. read more

I rarely give such negative reviews, but I feel completely underwhelmed with the facial I received from Kimberly. It's $110 for their 90 minute signature facial. She was 15 minutes late in starting our session. No apologies or mention of being late. She ended our session 15 minutes early and didn't make up for the fact that she was late to start. She was not all that friendly. She seemed really "out of it", and the facial was average at best. I didn't learn anything new about what I should/shouldn't do for my skin. I would not recommend anyone to come here for a facial. read more

There's nothing glamorous about getting your pubes ripped out by the roots. No, really, there's not. That being said, there's nobody in the world I trust more with my very own 'Netherland' than Ms. Tiffany herself. I've pulled my pants down for her on more than one occasion, and she never disappoints. She's professional, funny, quick (no need to drag out this torturous experience), and thorough. Did I mention I was Indian? Do you *know* what kind of lineage of hair I hail from?! Ok, then. Glad we're on the same page. Just trust me when I say: this review, Skin City & Tiffany are all legit. Oh, and they give you a $5 b'day discount - hurrah! Now, back to my Vengaboys playlist... "Brasiiiiil! La La La La La La La Laaa..!" read more

Yo, you think looking this good comes naturally? Think again. No, the upkeep of miss nancy requires a team of hairdressers, stylists (ie, the sales clerks at H&M), and estheticians (a difficult word to spell after 3 days of drinking). Rounding out the hair removal bit is our very own Kelly at Skin City. She got mad skillz, and shapes my eyebrows for a steal. It's a casual chill salon right within walking distance of Chez Nancy. And Sunday hours, how convenient is that? read more

I walked in this place on a whim, because it was right near where I lived. Ever since I found out it existed, I've been hearing people from all over the city talking about this place. I feel like I discovered an awesome band before they sold out and the victory is SWEET, SWEET I SAY. Getting my first bikini wax here was quick and actually pretty painless. The lady who helped me was amazingly friendly and found a slew of conversation topics to distract me from the fact that she was ripping out pieces of my body. What impressed me more than the waxing though was the exfoliating solution they sold me to deal with bikini bumps. It's called Briggita's Blend and it is made of voodoo cream. It works so well, I'm pretty sure the placenta of a baby angel was used to make it. I've since found that it isn't just to be used for bikini bumps. It has become my regular acne fighting face wash, and I scrub the hell out of any infectious bump I get on my body with this unicorn blood. The price is very worth it too, since the huge bottle lasts forever. read more

I went to Kelly to get my first facial in 7 years!!!! Crazy right...I was completely relaxed. I must warn you, she is pretty fierce when it comes to extractions! She will get down and get rid of those bad boys...lucky for me I had only a few :) Coming back every 3 months for a mini facial. read more

I can't believe I'm just now writing this review... I've been going to Kelly at Skin City for over 2 years. She helped fix my brows after a terrible wax job at Benefit. Not only is she cheaper than Benefit, but she's funnier and much more interesting than the Estheticians at Benefit. All of the staff at Skin City is fabulous. Plus, the ambiance is warm and comfortable and they sell some pretty awesome beauty products and scented candles. Be sure to book your appointment in advance. read more

The girl was 40 minutes late to my appointment. I waited and waited. Then she rushed though my wax. Now hairs are growing back in less than a week. Why? Because she broke off a lot of hairs instead of ripping them out. I guess that's what you get for the price. It seems very relaxing and they are really nice, but very unprofessional, and it's kinda dirty in there too. I was very disappointed considering all the good reviews. I'm switching to lasers. read more

I thought about writing a review about Skin City years ago. I frequented a few different ladies but they all provided wonderful services. It was as painless and pleasant a Brazilian that you could hope for. That being said, I always felt a teensy bit shy about my lovely waxing experiences. Something amazing changed that. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Imagine my surprise when she told me, beaming, that she won a free facial at Skin City. Brigitta, the amazing owner of this business, donates a gift certificate to be raffled by UCSF's gynecologic cancer clinic every month. That's right. This is a fantastic local business who provides amazing service and they give back! Please support this business. Your bikini line and your karma will love you for it! read more

These ladies are wonderful! Fast efficient, reasonbly priced and online booking. Bonus...frequent Buyer carsd for those of us who love collecting those things in our wallets! I have only ulitized Skin City's Waxing services, but there are good at what they do. Hard to imagine giving such high praise for being tortured, but I must say the tourture is totally bearbale when your in the hands of the Skin City Gals. Big Props to Kelly P and Leah G. read more

Spray Tans by Amber: My first time was today and I am the whitest looking girl in my family with a naturally tanned mother and sister and I have never seen myself with a tan in my life! Well, I look GREAT and I feel even better. It looks totally natural, not orange, but glowy and like I have been on the beach for 3 days. I will be back! Amber uses a machine and sprays you herself so it's not for the shy, which I am, but I didn't feel that way with her. read more

Based on an experience last year. I've held on to my silence for too long. I really, REALLY wanted to fall in love with this place. I was not new to brazilians, I was merely curious about trying a new place out. Was referred here by a good friend who recommended Brigitta. I booked with another girlfriend (not a n00b to brazilians either) of mine so we showed up together, unfortunately we did NOT have Brigitta due to booking late in the week. I don't know if the girl we had was new...or what but she was definitely nice...definitely sweet... And she definitely made my nani cry. Not only did she make MY nani cry, she made MY FRIEND'S nani cry, too! We literally held ice bags on our crotches that evening while all of our friends laughed their asses off at us. When I went home and showed my husband he exclaimed: "OH SH$%! YOUR SH@#'S FU$%^D UP!" The waxer I had that day did not have a system going on. You know the system...small sections speedily waxed at the top, middle, back...done... She waxed the top, then went to the middle then back to the top. Then over parts that were waxed already, and in the end I was a swollen mess in pain. I promised my nani, I will never go anywhere else other than my regular waxer from now on...2 stars for the very nice, clean store front and the nice owner...the price was right...the aftermath was not =( read more

I have been to skin city before and was disappointed with the results, but it's such a great location that I decided to give it another try. Wish I didn't. Usually when you get a full leg and Brazilian it means no hair will be left on any parts, but after the session I noticed that there are a lot of patches left untouched. Kimberly didn't even use tweezers after the waxing to remove the missed hairs, they were very noticeable. Also usually other salons put some sort of a lotion to get the sticky residue off, but here they just throw you a damp towel to clean yourself off, which didn't help and now not only do I have to redo the waxing, but also somehow get rid of being sticky all over. Not giving this place any more chances. Don't know how they have so many stars. In 5 years of getting Brazilians this is by far the worst one I have ever gotten. And just like everyone else says - Kimberly is not nice at all, but I thought that doing a great job will somehow balance that out. But with such horrible results and personality, I will advice my friends to never ever come to this place. read more

Kelly rocks. I met her drinking with Val A. and Deb S. at a girlz night out, and thought she was hilarious and noticed how her skin glows and her makeup was super fab. Like expertly done, not like my smudged makeup and occasional pimples and dried up flaky skin can get depending on the weather and my mood. So Val and Deb told me Kelly works at Skin City and is their super waxer for all that unwanted hair and also does facials and brow tints. I checked out Val's super fantastic brows, and decided to try her. I got a mini facial, brow wax, and tint. Kelly was superb, she has excellent facial massage fu - I almost fell asleep, my brows turned out perfect and nicely tinted - so no more brow shading for at least 4 weeks; and she gave me some great samples (serum and SPF products) to try to soothe my dried up flaky skin with sun splotches. Finally the whole cost of the facial, brow wax, and tint was super cheap, under $100 - whereas I paid much more in a dozen other places. read more

I usually don't talk about the "what, where & how" when it comes to my waxing cuz a girl has to keep the mystery alive, HOWEVER, I just had had thee BEST Brazilian wax EVER!!! Yes kids, I said thee BEST Brazilian wax EVER! This was my first visit to Skin City because I've been pretty loyal to another salon on Church Street (just becuz) and don't get me wrong they've been good, but seriously I KNEW there was better out there and no doubt, I found it. I've always loved the name "Skin City" (so clever- right?) and after reading many yelp reviews I knew this was the spot I needed to try. I had an appt w/Tiffany and she is one "Awesome Blossom" who DOES NOT disappoint. I won't lie, I was a bit afraid that they didn't use "hard wax" for those sensitive areas, but no need to fret my pets... YOU DON"T NEED IT :) Tiffany was great to talk to, did an amazing and extremely thorough job (gotta luv that) and honestly it was pretty pain less and YES I am telling the truth ;) Even if you don't normally "do the Brazil thang" but wanna mix it up once in awhile- trust me, this IS the joint! Tiffany and Skin City, you now have a new and loyal fan! read more

I love this place! As several other of my reviews note, I like a nice, thorough Brazilian wax. It's difficult to find a waxer who combines the attention to detail (read: lack of mercy for all body hair), speedy technique, and soothing personality to make the wax worthwhile. Luckily, I have found my new waxer in Tiffany at Skin City. She's goooooood. So far, almost no regrowth at 2 weeks post-wax, no ingrowns, and the wax itself was pretty painless...as far as waxing goes. When I lived in the East Bay, I went to Annahita religiously. It's pretty hard for me to justify a trip across the Bay when I can just walk a couple of blocks to see Tiffany for a great wax that totally rivals that of "the enemy of hair" herself. read more

Love this place. I have very full eyebrows and had been going down to San Jose for over two years to my old salon because I was scared that I wouldn't find another that does a good job (ie actually leaves eyebrows worth noticing). I was so relieved when I finally tried Skin City. Most of the staff have discount loyalty cards (I've got them for Kelly and Tiffany), and you get a discount for your birthday, which is awesome. The prices are actually a few bucks cheaper than similar places in SF, and now that I'm not within walking distance, I might just be making special field trips. They are SUPER fast, efficient, practically painless, and always on-time. And my eyebrows are beautiful, so thank you. read more

So this was my first facial in 2 years and the second pro facial I've had in my lifespan of 23.75 years of life. And I have NEVER gotten my brows waxed. I know, what kind of girl am I? I experienced a wonderful facial and brow wax with Kelly and tried to warm up to the receptionist. Because I have a complex that requires me to please everyone, I will return to try and crack a smile on her face. Enough of me, let's get to the facial. Like I said, it's been a while since my last facial. After being poked, prodded, and criticized by my former aestetitian, I put off my skin for a while. But this Saturday, I have a double header: my bf's college graduation and his cousin's wedding to follow. I'm meeting a lot of his family on a very big day. So I put my plan into action: teeth whitening, hair cut, brow wax, and facial. Kelly was so nice. We had a lot to talk about but she also let me chill out to enjoy her magic fingers. (She does this thing with her fingers in between your eyes where there's like a rotating finger tap. Like a little chorus line.) She also gave me lots of helpful advice that makes my skin care regimen easy and with prices like Skin City's ($55 for the mini-facial I got), I want to make Kelly my go to girl for cleaning up my congested skin. I'll add a star when I get that receptionist to smile... read more

I hadn't been waxed in years and decided to give it another try. After getting waxed with Michelle, I was shown the light. She is amazing! Her casual, comfortable and friendly demeanor make the experience enjoyable and something to be looked forward to. After just one brazilian wax, I noticed that my hair grew back softer and also with half as much hair. I realized that keeping up on my waxing really will for make for a very attractive 'brazilian' area. I have been keeping on track ever since. If you are curious about waxing, I highly recommend going into Skin City and requesting Michelle for the best possible experience. read more

I've waited 1 year to review this place b/c I wanted to keep it a secret....but alas, I've caved and want to spread my good cheer. Just call me the Vajizzle Fairy. I've visited several salons across the Bay Area for Brazilians and none is as good as here. All 3 estheticians I've been treated by are phenomenal. They're all so great at keeping the conversation and jokes flowing to keep your mind off the pain. On top of that, I have super sensitive skin to the point where I bleed every time I get waxed. Not here though. Fast. Painless. Funny. Cheap. They make the most unenjoyable form of upkeep a pleasure. I always walk out of here: 1. thanking God for this place 2.perplexed over how no one else has nailed it like these gals 3.smooth as a baby's butt Magic. Hands. Do It. read more

A good friend recommended Kelly to me about 7 years ago, and I've been totally loyal ever for the best Brazilians ever. I don't even get ingrown anymore, and Kelly has it down to a 10-minute science. Zip zip zip; you're done. Sometimes I almost wish it took longer because I really like Kelly as a person, and she seems genuinely interested in our conversations. I can honestly let down my guard and forget about the somewhat awkward position of gossipping whilst being denuded. I recently was on vacation in Colorado, and was painfully reminded of how miserable a sucky Brazilian can be--$70 for this unbelievably long procedure that ended with 10 minutes of tweezing one by one by one. Yeeouch!! And I really don't have that much hair down there. I've had friends that complain about Brazilians and how they'll never do it again, and now I know what they mean. You have to find a truly talented waxer if you expect to maintain this, um, style. And Kelly is it!! Kelly was pregnant last time I went in, so I'm not sure of her availability at this very moment, but do ask for her--she's the best. read more

I have been going here for a few years now for Brazilians and the location for me can't be beat. It is in a great neighborhood with lots of shops and cafes nearby. I would like to give a big shout out to Brigitta, the owner of the salon for her attention to detail and care for her clients. She really stands out as someone that is looking for the best results for her clients, and will go out of her way to make sure that is accomplished. I have very sensitive skin and after a few waxes with the other estheticians I was getting ingrowns and very irritated skin. Brigitta mixed a solution of a few different things to help try to calm it down and after a few days of it I was totally back to normal. Its the extra care that really shows she is invested in her clients, and makes me want to continue to be a customer. read more

I was soooooo happy after leaving Skin City yesterday, and how many girls can say that they feel so happy after leaving a torture chamber? Well with Brigitta in her beautiful salon it was the opposite of a torture chamber. The salon was beautifully painted, there was a Monet poster on the ceiling for me to stare into, the table was really comfy, the light was dim and calming, and Brigitta and I chatted the entire time to take my mind off the pain. She really knows what she was doing, and when it was all over she sprayed some lavender, gave me some dewaxification lotion so I wasn't all sticky, and gave me some tips on products to keep me looking smooth and sexy! Now I am feeling soooooooo sad that I have to move away from SF and I won't have Skin City to take care of my beautification needs any more. Go there! You can even book online! read more

Had a wonderful hydro-facial treatment last week at Skin City with Brigitta, the owner. My skin felt awesome after! It was plump and hydrated, my fine lines around my eyes miraculously disappeared, and my hyperpigmentation was considerably lighter when I left. I'm hooked on these treatments! Brigitta was so very knowledgeable about skin and a lovely person. Her clinic is calm and serene and I felt pampered. Can't wait for my next treatment. read more

I tend to over analyze things, it sucks, especially when it comes to writing a review about a place that is kind of a second home (sad for me on one level). I want the review to be purfect. Whatever. Skin City has been my go to place for over 10 years. I had my first brazilian wax there and ,what can I say,it changed my life. Kind of like riding with out training wheels. I see Kelly and have been also been a client of Gigi's. They are both solid, talented ladies who run a professional, clean and community minded business. I like that. Skin City holds it down. I know, have referred and met so many ladies and men who go there and love it. SF institution read more

Quick update: Since my initial review I've been going to Skin City regularly with Tiffany for my hair removal services. She is super fast and I have NEVER ever had any residual skin bumps on any parts once she's finished. 5 stars! Ladies, she also makes awesome flower fascinators which she now sells inside. read more

I love it here!!! I am not a fan of waxing down under, but lets face it .. it is the easiest way to maintain. I have had interesting experiences with this before and decided to yelp " bikini wax" and skin city came up as one of the highest scores and most reviewed. I made my appointment and worked myself up and then the appointment came and in I went. Kelly Kelly Kelly Kelly.. can I say her name over and over because she made this process SO EASY. I mean in and out in 15 min?? are you kidding me. I was soo happy with a) the results and b) that she was nice but didn't try to learn my whole life and prolong the waxing time. We chatted after and she was super nice and I was just in awe how little pain I was in and again how fast the whole process went. I went back in the next week for an eyebrow wax and tint and exactly the same thing! Kelly is the bomb, but from what is sounds like everyone there is! Try this place! I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

Just had my first experience at Skin City - and it was chill and professional. Prior to coming to Skin City, I was traveling to Lower Pac Heights for waxing - but no longer. Michelle at Skin City was a skilled master who made me feel comfortable and got the job done efficiently. Pricing is reasonable. Atmosphere is relaxing. The employees are ace. This is the place I've been searching for in Lower Haight. Ask for Michelle! read more