Facials by Karina

KARINA. IS. AMAZING.
THERE IS NO BETTER FACIAL IN LOS ANGELES, let me tell you why:
1) Karina is extremely– and I mean EXTREMELY– knowledgeable about skin care, skin medication, skin remedies, etc. to the point where I would not even see a dermatologist for acne problems until consulting with Karina FIRST. Trust me. Go see Karina first & THEN proceed to seeking medical advice if still necessary. Karina will even recommend certain medications to discuss with your doctor if she feels they will help, but please rest assured that just one of her facials alone will have a massive effect on your face and do wonders to improve your skin/​appearance. You will end up saving a lot of money & time by seeing Karina INSTEAD OF/​BEFORE consulting with a dermatologist.
2) SHE IS HONEST. She will tell you what your skin problems are, what may have lead to them, what may be contributing to them, and how to prevent them from flaring up again. She cured me of my acne when I literally thought it would be a lifelong struggle. Now it only ever flares up once in a while and Karina is ALWAYS able to help manage it when that occurs. I went from seeing her monthly to only really needing to see her a few times a year.
3) All of her masks/​procedures are natural and effective. She will literally attack and remove acne on your face, even extracting acne that has not yet reached the surface or fully flared up on the skin. She will also remove irritations from shaving (razor bumps, etc.) This can be a painful process… beauty is pain sometimes… but a truly good facial should actually hurt a little bit and require a day for healing. If you’ve ever had a facial that didn’t hurt or require healing, you didn’t really have a facial.
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IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH ACNE GO SEE KARINA NOW! DON’T OVERTHINK IT!
I have been a client of hers for two years now (on and off) … I credit Karina with solving my acne problem and leading me down the road toward taking better overall care of my skin. I swear by her moisturizer and would highly recommend you purchase that when you go to visit. It’s the best moisturizer I’ve ever used and I will literally have to set up a way to still get it if I move out of state. It’s that good. I really can’t say enough positive things about Karina or her services.
In a town full of phony people trying to get ahead, Karina epitomizes the exact opposite. She is genuine, considerate and very passionate about what she does. You will not get any bullshit or any bad advice — Karina is the REAL DEAL.

The facial I received at Karina’s was awesome! I also bought a few products from her personal skin care line. It was really the deepest cleaning I have yet to have. She recommended some products for my skin type and have booked for a follow up facial in 4 weeks. Thanks for all the information and help Karina!

I have been coming to Karina for about 9 months. Found her through Unilocal when I was looking for a spot to get some help with my skin. Wasn’t having any major issues, just always something here or there… being in my late 20s I figured it was about time for my face to stop always having a zit here or there. After several months, I have noticed such an improvement in my skin! I really like that Karina uses natural products, some of which she makes herself… I have been using a face wash she made and all my friends love it. She’s great, give her a try. Your face will thank you.

I have been going to Karina for a few years now. She is trustworthy and highly experienced! She knows what she is doing! She has helped me with my skin so much! I use to have cystic acne and it is gone. She has healing hands and I am grateful to have found someone who is so kindhearted! I feel very comfortable with Karina, she will go the extra mile to help you!!! Once you go to her, you wont go anywhere else! She’s amazing! Thank you Karina!

First and for most I Love Karina and her work. She is an amazing person. She always makes me feel like a celebrity with her facials. She is very kind and honest. Her and her assistant make you feel so glamorous. She will never try to sell products on you unless you actually are interested and you bring it up. Otherwise, she isn’t one of those professionals that try to make extra money off of you by shoving their product down your throat.
Now, her products are amazing!!! I use her face wash, her moisturizer, her collagen, and another cream for my inflamed cheeks that were always red until I began using her product.
As for all of the negative reviews that brought her down to 4 stars it breaks my heart. I have been going to Karina for a while now. I began going by her because of all of the great reviews and also, for her unmistakable 5 stars on Unilocal.It makes me sad to see that her ratings have gone down to 4 stars because she is amazing. She’s been in this business for such a long time and why all of a sudden does she have such negative customers. Im sorry but I don’t buy it. Please go to Karina… You will not regret it. She has been nothing but AMAZING to my skin and myself.
Thank you Karina Jan!
Silva k.

Karina is professional, kind and very good at what she does. She is a very elegant lady who truly cares about her customers. She will not push any product on you and make you feel like you have to buy her stuff. Very gentle, amazing hands. She is also very well versed in current affairs, I always enjoy our conversations. I have had many facials by different people and she is one of the best hands down. Her online booking system is very efficient. Ask her about parking her street is usually pretty full but she has dedicated spots in the back. She works from her home which is immaculate, clean and very serene.
Highly recommend!

Yes, she helped clear my clogged pores, however, my face was left with broken blood vessels that look to now be permanent (it’s been over 6 months and nothing’s changed). I don’t think it was necessarily worth it since I didn’t learn much about my skin issues anyway. Very little interaction, which is maybe what people like? Proceed with caution.

I went to Karina for my first time this past weekend and am really happy with my experience. I have a bunch of tiny pimples all around my chin and some acne on my forehead as well, so I signed up for the acne facial. Her assistant does all the scrubs and prepping, and then Karina comes in and does the extractions. The extractions are a tad painful, but I loved it because she was getting rid of those pesky pimples. My skin was swollen a bit on my chin after leaving and I have little scabs today, two days later. I think my skin is just healing and she recommended I pick up a benzyl peroxide treatment from the store to do 2x a week for my chin, which I did and will be doing this week.
I felt like her and her assistant both knew what they were doing and I’m going to continue going to Karina every couple of months. The biggest Aha! moment was that Karina told me I have rosacea on my cheeks. I feel kind of dumb not noticing it before because my cheeks have been getting really red and warm the past couple of months randomly and each time I thought I was overheating or getting sick. Now I realize my cheeks are very sensitive and I’ve ordered calming probiotic skin care products just for my cheeks! I’m so glad to know this about myself now and be able to treat my rosacea.
My facial was $ 95 and she didn’t push any of her products on me, but gave me a sample of an oil and a light moisturizer. I’m really loving the moisturizer and might purchase next time depending on the price; it would be nice to have some sort of product menu with prices and what each product does. Overall, I highly recommend Karina!

I wish I could give her more than 5 stars. The reason she has a cult following is clear and simple. She’s straightforward, won’t give you any bs about buying more expensive products or making unnecessary steps in your skincare routine, has years of experience under her belt, and does her job– gradually improving your skin from whatever condition it was in, before her.
I’ve seen other facialists in LA but they were either too gentle, ascribed me too many products, or just didn’t produce any significant results on my skin. So for me, her tough love has been just what my skin needs. She will tell it like it is, and you’ll listen if you want to get to the root of your skin issues. :)
Before:
I’ve been going to her for over a year now for acne and scars that I had for a decade (teen-​mid-​20s). I went once a month, and I first saw improvements starting in the 3^rd month. It wasn’t completely effortless– aside from the 1-​hour facial itself, Karina takes a holistic approach and recommends making small dietary and lifestyle changes as well. It depends on your body and skin type– mine was to cut back on salt and certain foods, like meat and dairy. I saw results immediately from my first 3 facials in combination with these small changes.
During:
Her facial itself is thorough and relaxing, she has a quiet & calm set-​up in her lovely upstairs apartment. She usually has an assistant helping her as she’s pretty booked & busy around the clock (she takes appointments online), and has some nice music playing in the background. She uses all natural products (enzymes, peels, scrubs, masks), and I love that she uses her fingers sans-​tools to do extractions.
After:
For the next few days, I usually expect my skin to be either slightly bruised because of the extractions and healing spots or perfectly glowing– It all depends on the condition of my skin at that time. Always smooth and radiant. At home, even a year later, I still use her retinol and glycolic, and I don’t find the need to use anything else. My pores are smaller than they were before, my adult acne is 90% gone, and my skin is smooth and glows throughout the month.
I recommend her if you want to improve your skin, you’re willing to listen to some raw no-​fluff advice (all the while coming from a loving mama), and you’re willing to put in a little effort on your own. It might take one month or one year but she really knows her expertise and will help you.

How is it that I have not written a review for this lady before??? Probably because I started going to Karina before I began to hare my experience here in LA on Unilocal.
I first started to go Karina in 2013 – 2014 for some breakouts that were happening with my skin. I put it down to the transition from the UK to this city. Air quality/​diet etc. I had tried many things and a couple of other spas that were far less personal.
Enter Karina. She was frank, straight and very maternal in her approach. My skin needed attention for a few appointments and then I actually improved so much — and along with using a few of her products — didn’t see her for the whole of 2015! Only recently because of an extremely hectic holiday season did I feel the need to return to her and I was reminded of why there is such loyalty to this amazing woman. I would not trust anyone else with my skin because she truly cares about you not only seeing the improvement but feeling/​knowing it deep down.
Thank you Karina, for having been there for the last 2 – 3 years. You make me feel taken of :) xxx

I decided to start a Unilocal account on behalf of Karina so this is my first review. I think she deserves more than 5 stars. I’ve been seeing her for about 6 months now and she helped me save my skin. I found her on Unilocal when I was experiencing severe inflammation on my face.
I have always taken care of my skin since I can remember because that’s what I’ve been taught and being a licensed cosmetologist myself I know it’s crucial. Unfortunately, I had a severe outbreak due to an imbalance within my body. Karina was quickly able to identify what was going on and gave me honest educated advise as to what steps needed to be taken. Initially she couldn’t really work on my skin being it was so inflamed but wasn’t shy to let me know the truth instead of just going through the motions and making a quick buck. She also referred me to the right people and gave me some samples to try before rushing me into an unsure purchase.
Since I have been working with Karina my face and body have healed for the better. I am very pleased, to say the least. The knowledge she has shared with me I am thankful for. I thought I was doing the right things and turned out I was over doing the wrong things. She is very genuine and passionate about what she practices. I’m very grateful to have found her.

Amazing. nothing more to say. Karina is a skin expert and cleared my face up within two visits of seeing her. She never pushes her products on you, and if she makes suggestions as to what will help your face, she will always help find the best and cheapest product for you.
I continue to see her every couple of months and it’s the best decision Ive made for my skin.
Go see Karina. If you have acne. If you just have blemishes. If you need advice on skin care. If you just want a great facial. Go.

Thank you again for your help :-). You always do a great job! Thumbs up! I love the way you interact with your clients, asking how’s life? :-) Thumbs up again for that!
I really really love her products! Those are the only facial products i am using. No breakouts to my skin! Esp. I have sensitive skin.
Again, thank you! :-) good job!

She knows more about skin than the derm. Fabulous facial. So happy to have found Karina!

Karina was simply lovely. I received one of the best facials I’ve ever had with this woman. First off — she does the facials in her home which took me by surprise at first. But her space is inviting, warm, and incredibly relaxing. She was conversational and relaxed and answered all my questions about my skincare routine. She started me with a chocolate enzyme peel, then moved to a deep cleaning, extraction, and a clay mask. She was also very generous with samples (I received a facial oil, 2 moisturizers, and a cleanser.) I will come back again and again!

Saw Karina based on the Unilocal reviews. Usually Unilocal doesn’t steer me wrong, but boy was I disappointed. The facial itself was a tad better than mediocre/​normal, but her personal tone and attitude was really off-​putting. She was a little rough and harsh, both physically and verbally. Made weird racial «jokes”/comments during my facial (who does that?) that wouldn’t make anybody who grew up around here feel too comfortable. On top of that, she kept leaving to deal with a personal business matter, leaving me lying in the bright room for minutes on end. I get that sometimes that happens, especially when your home is also where you do your business, but 3 – 4 times is a bit much.
At the end, she pushed her products on me. I tried one as I’m a sucker for homemade skin care. Unfortunately the mask dried out my skin horribly, and the oil sample she gave me broke me out. Really wish my experience turned out better – I wanted to like this place.

Where do I start? I love Karina! I have been coming to Karina since May and I am so thrilled to see the progress that is being made in my skin and how patient, informative, and caring she is. I feel safe when I come to Karina and I know that my skin is in GOOD hands. She is completely transparent and does not try to up sell you or sale you anything that isn’t absolutely imperative to the well-​being of your skin. She gives you all the tools and tips you need to get your skin exactly where you want it to be!
I have referred MANY of my friends and I will continue to refer people. Her home is peaceful and spotless, like a spa. I prefer Karina over any upscale spa, in fact. Thank God I found her and I continue to see improvement while I follow the regimen she gave me. THANK YOU, KARINA!
P. S. She’s very maternal and just as sweet as can be, while being brutally honest and helpful at the same time :)

Went for the first time on the recommendation of a very close friend with similar skin issues and am an instant regular!
Karina is honest, straight-​forward and no nonsense, exactly how I like it! I have been to a plethora of estheticians and spas and have a book of horror stories about how I was treated and the state of my skin afterwards; understandably I was very wear of seeking out yet another facial.
I had a horrible bout of adult-​onset acne last year due to an extreme amount of life stress and still have marks, micropigmentation, scarring and ultra-​sensitive skin as a result. I also have a mouthful of allergies. I let Karina know about them in advance and she asked me again when I arrived what my issues were and even read all of the ingredients of the products she used back to me. Karina was super careful and incredibly attentive, explaining every step she took during the process.
It has been 5 days and I am already thrilled with the results. There was not as much redness and post-​trauma as I expected (read: EXTREMELY sensitive skin) and the initial dark marks/​bumps that emerged as the after effects of the extractions are already almost completely gone. My skin is in the snake-​skin peeling phase and the new skin emerging underneath is gorgeous.
I am infinitely thankful for FINALLY finding a great place to get a facial and an effective method for improving my skin! Going makeup free has never felt/​looked so good! See you next month Karina!

I am super impressed about my skin result.
I went a couple days ago and my skin is so much better and smoother. Karina told me everything I needed for my skin. I always wasted so much money for skin products which never helped. I will defiantly book my next appointment with her. Can’t wait to come back.

So now to update my review almost 2 yrs later. My skin has cleared up sooo much now I only have breakouts if I don’t wash my face in morning & nights.
FYI-​DONT miss your appointment! There is a 50 $ fee for that.