Beautifica Day Spa

If I could rate this salon a zero I would. The absolute worst customer service and facial I have ever received. The woman who did my facial (who I know for a fact was not the owner, but I have experienced inconsistency in the owner’s mood on past visits) was not only rude but clearly had no idea what she was doing. I can’t give her name because she never introduced herself, just brought me up to the room and started the facial. I echo other reviews that mention the actual tme the «aesthetician» was working on my face was no more than 20 minutes; I was in the room for 45 but the majority of time was sitting waiting for her to come back. She seemed completely disinterested in what she was doing and didn’t even thank me when I tipped her (I’m still kicking myself about why I even tipped for such horrible service!). Really disappointing since I like to support small community businesses but Cynthia and Beautifica make all of Auburndale look bad!

You cannot reach them by phone, they do not respond to your voicemail messages, and if you do manage to make an appointment, they call and cancel it the day of. This happened to me three times, and I was not able to get a refund from living social. Unlike groupon, living social doesn’t provide a refund for such unethical business practices.

I went here to use a groupon for a Vitamin C Facial. I believe I met the owner, but perhaps nice. Either way she is a super (model) tall and is nice, but not a great esthetician for facials. I did read the reviews of them having issues with appointments so I called to check mine twice and didnt’ have any problems. They were running about 15 minutes late.
The upstairs is devoted to facials and other skin treatments. It’s a nice room with good ambience. The esthetician appeared stressed and a little rushed and that’s why I didn’t give this place 3 – 4 stars. I’m a big believer that facials really depend on who’s doing them so perhaps they have someone else. When I was ready she came in, but her hands on me and it was off to the races like a NASCAR experience. Wooosh… woosh, rub, rub, splat some stuff on my face and quickly wipe it off.
After about 30 minutes her hands and tension calmed down, but unfortunately it was already done for me.
I think sometimes people dismiss those that are coupon carriers as if we only go for the deal. HOWEVER, I go to find people I can use for the future.
Unfortunately I will not be going back.

Initially, I gave this place a 5 star rating. However, the last time I went, I did not have a good experience. The owner, Cynthia recently hired a new person to do the manicure/​pedicure. The new person did a horrible job with my pedicure. And I was in pain and almost in tears because the way she handled my foot was awful.
Additionally, I made this appointment months in advance, came in early to my appointment. But was seen 30 – 45 minutes late.
Another concern I had was: A few month ago, I purchased a gift certificate for a facial. However, I changed my mind and requested to change the gift certificate for a gel manicure/​pedicure for a deal that Cynthia was giving. When I used the gift certifcate for the last time I went, my gift certificate was not noted in her book and she forgot what she offered me and told me the gift certificate was only good for a gel manicure. At the end, I am left with a $ 5 credit, which I will not be using because I am not returning back to this place. My last experience made me a bit upset.
I won’t be returning back to this place.

Worse nail salon I ever heard of. I didn’t even have to go there, I already can tell you! If there’s a half star I would have given it. I am not sure how small this place is, but I can’t even swallow this an reschedule my appointment. I’ve brought groupon, so even though this is not in my neighborhood, I would still travel from South Boston give it a try. Today I was my 3^rd time rescheduling this appointment in the last 3 months. On a typical friday afternoon, there’s traffic. I call them half way when I know I was late the lady on the phone told me to reschedule it and come again some other time. I assume this is a super tiny store? No other employees could help even a walk in? No one wants any extra customers in her store? I am afraid to try going again wasting my gas. I’ll never going back again, and I would tell you should never go. This nail salon is un-​recommanded!

My apt was canceled twice & when I had to rebook I had to wait another 3 weeks… Also the owner has no peronality at all and acts as if she doesnt even want to be there!!! I got this from Groupon and asked for a refund!!!

One word: Yikes.

I also had a groupon that I bought awhile back. I just came back from a gel manicure and thought everything went well. The manicure was done well and was done efficiently, so I’m good.

Let me give some advice to those business owners who use coupons to bring in new clients. There are some of us who may actually come back, if we like what we see. Sometimes I’m in the market for a new hairdresser, or restaurant, or mechanic, and the coupon brings me in, but it’s up to you to keep me there. I am also a business owner, and I run lots of promotions, but I work just as hard on my paying clients as I do on my coupon people. And you know what? 90% of them come back. Isn’t that the whole point of doing a coupon promotion?
Apparently not at this salon. From the moment I walked in the door, I felt that I had crossed some sort of invisible line with my coupon, and that I had already been written off. I felt like shouting out a promise to tip on the full amount, just to get them to like me.
I will give credit where it is due: my facialist was very friendly and chatty, and worked hard at getting out every blackhead. But the facial itself left much to be desired. I guess when I think of a spa facial, I imagine some pampering. There was none of that. It was just… very utilitarian. Yes, my skin was clean when I left, but I definitely didn’t leave feeling relaxed or tranquil. I paid $ 35 for my coupon, and I felt that I received a $ 35 facial. The whole atmosphere was just strangely unwelcoming.

Every time I get a spray tan here, people think I’ve gone on vacation. When they find out that I only went to Newton, they want to go too! I live in Charlestown, so this isn’t totally convenient for me, but I make the drive anyway because the results are so good. Also, Cynthia, the owner, is so sweet (I can’t believe these other reviews saying otherwise!!) and it’s always a pleasure coming to see her. Friends and co-​workers have all come here now because of seeing how good my tan looks… Also, with good moisturizing, it lasts over a week. If you buy one of the extending creams and are dilligent about using them, it lasts two weeks!

WARNING — WORST PLACE EVER!
I don’t know where to start! I am absolutely perplexed about how this place could ever get anything beyond 1 star. The owner is rude, harsh, unaccommodating and treats her staff similarly. In fact the only other person that I met there was very lovely but she quit after 2 weeks! I’m surprised she lasted THAT long!
The only reason I went back was because I bought multiple Groupons – what a mistake! Further, the gel manicures there don’t even last a week! I now go to a wonderful place in Waltham, where the gel manicures last a full 2 weeks plus with LOVELY, warm, kind people that work there! Lastly, I originally chose this place as the owner said that they use a special all natural remover (no chemicals) for the gel process. When I got there, she just used the cheaper, 100% chemical acetone! When I asked her about it, she said it costs extra and that I should buy the remover from her and do it myself at home! WHAT???

THIS place is CLEAN! First timer today. Too many friends got a nail fungus from one of the places I used to go in Waltham and I tried yet another Waltham spot and the woman HURT me — no kidding. OUCH.
You will have to make an appointment in advance because she seems to book up pretty quickly but I would definitely go back. I had a mani-​pedi and here is what I liked: 1) she did not hurt me 2) she wears gloves and uses tub liners 3) did not insist I have cuticles removed (removing them is BAD for your nails yet many places insist).
Prices are a about $ 10 higher than the other places but hey no fungus no pain — totally worth the extra $ 10.
Consider me a new loyal client.

Wow. Don’t waste your time and money here. My friend and I went to get facials and we both came out thinking that it was the worst facial we’ve ever had and something that we could do at home. The woman that worked on me was cold and robotic and told me nothing about what was going on or what to expect. You felt like you were expected to just lay there and shut up. The facial massage was very disappointing and superficial at best. However, I think I got the ‘good’ one compared to my friend. She was not offered anything to pull her hair back from her face and looked at me like someone died when I asked her about the steam. She didn’t even get that to open up her pores. Now, we got the same facial and 2 totally different experiences. Her woman did not even get her until 15 minutes after the hour and she finished at the same time as myself. We both got the collagen facial and we both left thinking that they bought this mask online for a $ 1. I would never in a million years pay $ 40 for it, let alone $ 100 like they are asking. Yes, this isn’t Newbury Street so don’t charge Newbury prices and at least give great service.
The place is dirty looking and old. It looks like nothing works. I would never go there if I saw the place before I bought the coupon (especially the sign on the outside).
I would be shocked if this place is still open in a year. You can’t charge a fortune, give crappy service and crappy quality products, and expect people to return.
Good luck to them: they’re gonna need it!!!

If you are looking to get a great facial, please save your money and purchase a nice face cream instead. This was the worst facial I have ever received. My three year old niece can do just as good of a job. The whole facial was 40 minutes and very basic. I also added a hot stone hand treatment which consisted of a drop of lotion with hot stones on top of a towel that were placed on my hands — that’s it (no massage). I also got a lip wax which turned into a face wax b/​c the wax was slathered all over my face with no accuracy. Awful! I am glad I used Living Social deal but even with that price it was totally a rip off.

Oh, I am so torn about this review! (I had a living social coupon, which is why I tried it.)
The girl who gave me my facial, Gabriella (Gabrielle?) was so nice, seemed very knowledgeable, and actually extracted stuff from my face — comodones, she called them. I haven’t had a facial that has done this in a while, and I really needed it, so that was great.
Why only 1 star then? Because I could never go back here. How I would love to invite Gabriella to my living room, though!
(1) The place was disgustingly filthy. I mean, the bathroom had stains and spots all over the walls, the baseboards were gross — like, spilled stuff on them, then covered with dust. I mean, it had a totally gross feeling — the sink, too, totally dirty, and when I went to turn on the water to wash my hands, it started making this loud rumbling sound. I promptly turned the water off.
Furthermore, the room where I had my facial was also filthy. The floors were filthy again — several balls of dust everywhere, particularly around the wiring for the facial machine. And then the floors were stained (with paint? varnish?) everywhere. (I actually touched it to make sure it wasn’t dirt — that’s how I know it was a stain.)
(How could I have stayed, you are asking?! I was seriously contemplating leaving — I mean, I was wondering– will living social give me my $ 40 back if I walk out bk this is so gross? But I had changed, and then I heard Gabriella coming back up the stairs, and she had been so nice when I was 5 minutes late!)
The linens looked clean, which is good — I totally inspected them. The little cloth thing I put over me was totally tattered — red & white striped (not as in «adorable for Christmas» but as in– a total rag). But it, too, looked and smelled clean, so I wasn’t afraid of it.
(2) I got the deep cleansing facial, which lasted about 45 minutes. This is disappointingly short for what should be an $ 80 facial. There is no massage during this facial, bk they extract more. (I was told they don’t want to massage oils back into the skin once so much extraction has occurred) — but people, you can massage before the extraction, or massage the neck, shoulders, and arms after the extraction. A little bit of massaging should always go with a facial!
(3) The walls are sooo thin. Even Gabriella apologized for this as a conversation was going on in the other room that we could hear. You can hear everything — people going up and down the stairs, the water being turned on outside the room, etc.
In the end, I have to give this only 1 star because I will never go back, and therefore, I could never recommend this place to anyone. I’m sorry, Gabriella! You were wonderful, and my only advice would be to find a salon that can showcase your talent!

I was initially very apprehensive of using my LivingSocial deal when I read the other reviews of Beautifica, but one of my bestfriends was getting married, and I needed to get my nails done. I was able to book an appointment fairly quickly (even though I kept calling them on a Monday when they were closed!), and went in during the last week the deal could be used!
Cynthia (the owner) did both my pedicure and manicure, and she did an AMAZING job for both. She was super friendly and sweet, and we had a great time just talking and exchanging horror stories regarding horrible mani/​pedis (infections, bloody cuticles!). They use only vegan products (who knew that was even an option for manicures??), and a week later my mani and pedi are going strong.
And a note — they have an eversave deal this week for an express facial and eyelash extensions!

You may be scheduled for an appointment before the spa technically opens. If this happens, you may or may not be informed of the atypical scheduling. In my case I was not told.
Regardless of when you are scheduled, you will NOT receive a phone confirmation for your appointment. According to the owner Cynthia «once you’re on the books, you’re on the books» — it’s all on you at that point.
I marked my calendar, but when the day came around I had two conflicting times — the time of my appt and the time that the spa opened. I emailed the night before, I even showed up to the spa 30 min before the scheduled time. I saw no life inside and a sign on the door that said they opened in 1.5 hours. So I returned then — only to find out I had been charged a $ 25 cancellation fee for missing my appointment an hour prior.
Through this process I dealt only with the owner herself. She scheduled the appointment for me, made no mention of the awkward scheduling, and made no concession that a lack of communication with clients is no good for anyone. The utter lack of good faith and steadfast denial that they should have been expected to do anything more is just unsettling.
I honestly hope they are able to nickle and dime their way to hiring someone with customer service skills to work the books. I thew the cost of my groupon and an additional $ 25 towards the fund. Here’s hoping!

You’ll be disappointed if you have a Living Social or Groupon for this spa. A very small spa (1 mani/​1 pedi station only), the owners didn’t properly consider how to make this a good experience for consumers.
My husband brought a pair of coupons for my daughter and I as a welcome home from college gift. When I originally called to schedule, someone rudely told me there was a 3 week wait and that we couldn’t have our services at the same time. Crazy, right? I booked thinking they were mistaken– wrong, I was!
I was told we could only have back to back appts which would have us there from 12 – 2, a ridiculous amount of time for two mani/​pedis. When I called today to confirm our appts, again I was told we couldn’t be served together. I suggested another spa treatment and the person didn’t know what others would work with the coupon except waxing. She was absolutely no help at all.
Really, really disappointing experience. Avoid this place.
UPDATE: Just talked to the owner, Cynthia, who was pretty unfriendly. She stated she never guaranteed that the appts could be together; that if we’d booked a Sunday (not an option they offered) we could’ve and that she wouldn’t authorize a refund. How’s that for customer service. Kinds shortsighted, I’d say. Again, avoid this spa!

This is more of a 3.5 star review, not quite 4 but I feel bad giving it just 3…
I went in with the Groupon for a mani/​pedi. I had to reschedule my appointment last minute actually and they were very accommodating. The spa is SMALL, offering only 1 – 2 services at a time. There’s only one pedi station, one mani station, etc.
Cynthia did my mani/​pedi. She was very gentle, friendly, and warm. The quality of the mani/​pedi is good, I prefer to have my cuticle skin clipped/​removed but this is still much better looking than before. My heels aren’t as soft/​chiseled down as I like but again, good enough!
The quality of the products was good, the whole mani/​pedi took about 40 minutes. Glad I had the Groupon ($ 22 for a mani/​pedi or $ 45 worth of services) because I don’t think it was worth much more than $ 25. Not sure if I would return but I did have a nice experience.

Went there because it was close and I got a gift cert. They were having a special for 1^st time patrons and the massage was only 49 dollars for an hour. The regular price is 85. Good thing that it was a deal because if I paid 85 for that I would have been angry. I am sorry to say that this is the worst massage that I have ever had. The person (man, which they should inform women that it is a man when you book the appointment) was wearing sweatpant and no shoes, just socks while he massaged me. Interesting I thought. The the «massage» started. I almost starting laughing and thought that I was going to see a camara crew from a tv show pop out to say, just kidding we got you. But no this was the deal. I did try to just relax and take it for what it was until the guy started smacking my back, then I was just annoyed.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this but I say for the amount that they charge normally go somewhere else. There are so many places in Newton, try Bella Skin, they are great.