Solas Skin Care

Lauri is amazing. Her energy is lovely, her space is beautiful and relaxing. She is very knowledgeable and skilled. She somehow makes waxing less painful with her products and technique! Everyone who meets her loves her — I have referred many friends to her who are now regular clients. She’s a gem!

Highly recommend this place. I was looking for a place that does the facial infusions and this place did and is walking distance from my place. Even if they were far, I would still come here. I usually go to Vanessa and she is amazing. As previous reviewers have said she knows her product and never tries to up sell you. My skin has gotten so much better and it only loves Osmosis products. Vanessa is very nice and friendly. I’ve been coming to her for over a year now. Whenever my mom comes to town, I also book her an appointment. She too likes her a lot.

Vanessa is the greatest! I come in every month, and have been for the last 5 months, for the Infusion facial and my skin continues to get better and better. Vanessa goes out of her way to ensure that I am informed about what is happening with my skin and which products will help and why. Everything she has recommended has been spot on and I always look forward to my next appointment. She is also just the sweetest. I could not recommend Solas and Vanessa more. I am so happy that I found them!

Lauri was fantastic! She got out a ton of tough clogged pores for me– but didn’t leave my face all red and scarred! Also, she massaged me with hot stones and ensures I felt totally comfortable and relaxed. All in all a great facial and I’d definitely go back!

I don’t write reviews on Unilocal,but I had such a good experience with Vanessa that I feel like Solas really deserves this.
I’ve always heard that you shouldn’t trust your skin to just anyone, and now I understand why. The last facial I had left my skin irritated for 2 days, so I just assumed that there must be a healing period post-​facial.
With this in mind, I booked my first appointment at Solas on a Wednesday to give my skin some time to calm down before an event on Friday. It wasn’t until Wednesday when I was going over my appointment details (they had sent me multiple confirmations so this was completely my fault) that I realized I had accidentally booked my appointment for Thursday.
I was convinced my skin would look horrible for Friday, so I called Solas to hear my options. Vanessa assured me that they use naturally calming products and that she does very gentle extractions, so my skin wouldn’t scar the next day. Even so, she was understanding enough to offer to let me change the appointment if I felt it necessary. She was so confident that I would be fine, I decided to just keep the appointment.
I’m so glad I did.
Vanessa was SO great. She was extremely thorough, gentle, and professional – but friendly and talkative enough that it was easy to warm up to her. She was also conscious of my pain tolerance, making sure to ask me how I was doing during sensitive parts of the facial.
Naturally, I was still really nervous about how my face would look on Friday. She made me feel comfortable enough to voice my concerns, and she let me know what she was doing every step of the way. Even though she was confident my skin wouldn’t be irritated the next day, she was even kind enough to offer to come into the salon on Friday before the event if anything did come up. So above and beyond sweet!
Long story short, she was right. I woke up on Friday and my skin was glowing. Not a scar or bump in sight. I am so impressed and couldn’t be happier that I decided to go in!
Bottom line: Vanessa is AMAZING. I would recommend Solas 100%. I will definitely be going back!

I’m one of those lazy people who, while I’ve been an avid consumer of Unilocal reviews for years, never write them myself, until now. Lauri Roberts, owner of Solas, has been the ONLY person I go to for all my skincare needs for nearly 10 years, and I’m embarrassed that I’ve never told the world (via Unilocal) how amazing she is.
It’s hard to concisely summarize why I’ve been such a loyal client of Lauri’s for so long, but I will try to put it into three categories: Quality, value and customer service.
Quality: The quality of service Lauri and her team provide is unmatched. Prior to finding her, I salon hopped, for both waxing and skin care, and was never completely satisfied. Either the products weren’t high quality, the services were sloppy/​rushed, or the venue wasn’t up to standards of either privacy or cleanliness. (We’ve all been to these salons… you know what I’m talking about!) At Solas, they use the best, highest-​quality products on the market. Lauri is meticulous about the quality of services she provides having truly perfected her techniques, and the Salon space itself is incredibly inviting and just exudes a healing energy.
Value: Solas is a gorgeous one-​room salon, so it is truly YOURS the entire time you’re there. You’re not rushed, and Lauri really takes the time to understand your skin, making sure that you get the service you want and need. She tailors every single treatment for the specific client’s needs. If I’ve been traveling a lot, I get a hydrating treatment. If I’ve been in the sun, I get a healing treatment. She makes sure you understand the products and that you are getting the best service. There is no «one size fits all» at Solas.
Customer Service: It’s obviously a very personal service to have someone waxing different areas of your body, or touching your face. If the esthetician is unsure or inexperienced, it can be a terrible experience. I know… I’ve been there. Horrible. But Lauri is an absolute pro. It’s no doubt that this work is her calling because she’s just an absolute natural. And as a result, you feel completely comfortable and relaxed. And the spa itself is so comfortable and intimate that the second time you go (and every time afterwards) will feel like home. Can you get waxed at one of these cheap, strip-​center, waxing places that are popping up all over the place? Sure you can. And you’ll get exactly what you pay for: a cheap (probably sloppy, perhaps even painful) job by someone who makes you feel uncomfortable and has been on the job for exactly two weeks. Or you can go to Lauri and never ever go to anyone else again.
I just can’t say enough about Lauri and her professionalism and skill in skincare and waxing. Go to Solas. Your skin will love you and thank you.

I have been going to Laurie for bikini waxes and facials for almost 4 years, since I first moved to Santa Monica. I had tried a few other places in the area, but they don’t even come close to Laurie. She is sweet, funny and actually cares about her work and clients.
I had monthly facials with her for the year leading up to my wedding and my skin looked amazing! She will never push a product on you, but when she makes a recommendation, she is always right! I now get facials every other month to keep my skin looking good.
So yea, Solas Skin Care is the best.

Perfection. I am lazy when writing reviews, but I will try my least. Perfect knowledgable person, very helpful and insightful for all skin types, using only the best of products. Located in a secluded spot ideal for forgetting that you are surrounded by buses and tourists.
I dislike tourists. Luckily, I forgot all about that as I was getting pampered. Win win!

TL;DR: Vanessa is amazing at bikini & eyebrows, recommend VERY HIGHLY.
Have had several bikini waxes/​brazilians with Vanessa, who is absolutely awesome and totally worth waiting for. She’s effective, works quickly and yet thoroughly, and will not send you out the door without you looking great. She makes the process as painless as it can be, is considerate, sensitive, and if you’re at all nervous about this process (i.e. it’s your first time) then she is ABSOLUTELY who you need to book with.
She’s also done my eyebrows and did a fantastic job – I don’t trust anyone with them but she’s got a great eye and won’t overdo it.
On a personal note, Vanessa is very likable and put me at ease right away, and speaking to her is really enjoyable and makes the appointment go by very quickly :)

Vanessa is my ALL time favorite esthetician. I only go to her now to get my waxing needs. It’s already awkward going in for a brazilian, not to mention it can be painful, but Vanessa makes the whole experience as pleasant and painless as possible. She has numbing solution and uses both peel and strip wax, however I prefer. She doesn’t rush it, takes her time to get every hair and is very thorough… and she’s the sweetest and funniest gal. We talk and talk, and I often forget exactly what procedure I am getting done, lol, as we often end up laughing from the jokes and stories we share. She’s an honest, lovely person who has a lot of experience and actually cares about your session. Sadly, you don’t get that from every spa/​esthetician. I’ve moved across town and still drive over there just to get waxed by Vanessa. You’re awesome girl!

I continue to trust Solas for all of my skincare needs… time sure does fly. I wrote my original review for this place in 2009… FIVE years ago. Consistent quality and genuine service. Thanks, Lauri and team! You guys rock!

I have been a loyal patron of Lauri’s for over 10 years. She has always provided stellar, customized service and makes great treatment recommendations for my skin. I have tried many on the menu and have never been disappointed. Lauri puts the customer first and gives candid feedback on whether or not a product is right for you before you buy. She is a pleasure to converse with when you’re feeling chatty, or provides a tranquil, soul-​soothing environment when you just need to relax. I wouldn’t trade Solas Skin Care Salon for another!

The place is AMAZING! I went here after having horrible breakouts for the past few months and days after a facial from Vanessa my skin was completely clear! Great products too!

Just had my very first facial in life! And it was simply amazing! I really cant wait to go back. Vanessa really knows her stuff when it comes to skin care. She gave me an awesome facial and made sure I was comfortable in the process. I had told her about my upcoming wedding and she said that I should come back a couple weeks before so she could freshen up my face and make sure everything was flawless for my big day. Vanessa is the gal to go to! Seems like she really cared about me as a client and wasn’t just in it to get my money. She actually took time to tell me about everything she was doing during the process. She even showed me how to use one of their products they carry that would be good for me to use at home. I’m hooked!!! Definitely looking forward to going back! Thank you Vanessa!!!

My skin has been very bad for the past 6 months and I was pretty desperate.
I’ve met Vanessa, by chance on a photo shoot that we both worked on. She did the makeup of the 3 models that day and she was just AMAZING. Very soft, delicate and elegant makeup.
While working I told her about my skin and the fact that I was pretty desperate to find someone who could help me.
I went to Solas Skin Care last week. Not really expecting anything from it. (I went to so many places before spending a lot of money and not getting any good results.) After a long facial and some advices on new serums that I’ve purchased at the salon, my skin is finally back to normal and I feel amazing.
She was very kind and helpful and the result is PERFECT. I couldn’t have wished for a better experience. I TOTALLY recommend them to anyone!

Just had the most amazing experience at Solas Skincare. Needed a last minute bikini wax (way last minute — we’re talking about me calling salons at 11am on July 3^rd), and left a message at Solas. Received a call back in a couple of hours (don’t be scared to leave a message — I almost didn’t!!!), and was so kindly squeezed in for a standard wax. This was the least painful one I’ve ever received. I’m not going to say it didn’t hurt — but I’ll certainly be booking again (usually the pain scares me away, and I have to go to a different location/​esthetician). I was given tips and tricks for no irritation, and was sent happily on my way.
1 hour 30 min free parking in the Santa Monica Public lot LITERALLY right next door. Adorable, clean, easy to find location.
Oh, and no double-​dipping, thank GOODNESS.

Getting beautified in LA has often been a hit or miss experience for me. On the one hand, there’s a high concentration of knowledge for the latest and best practices. On the other hand, there’s high risk of getting persuaded to «enhance» yourself beyond necessary. You could make one small ill-​advised decision and end up with that face, you know, the face, the empty but unfortunately popular one that carries no emotions.
Luckily, Solas skincare provides the extreme opposite of the above-​described high-​pressure environment. Nestled into a quaint courtyard away from the hustle bustle of Third Street Promenade, you feel like you’re coming for a cup of tea and some soul-​pampering at a friend’s house. And that’s almost exactly what you get, with an excellent massage as a cherry on top.
Lynn is also the type of esthetician and person who can freshen jaded Angelenos, including the former ones like myself. Not only is she genuine, caring, and funny, she also gives a kick-​ass facial. I’ve followed her around the US for these precise reasons, see my other review for her here:
The best thing about Lynn is that she constantly strives to give a better experience to her clients. This last facial she gave me, she also added the element of hot stone therapy, which is not a new concept, but completely elevated when in the expert hands of Lynn. While your face is getting spoiled rotten, your décolleté is receiving the peace of relaxing and therapeutic stones. It’s getting pretty and feeling loved all wrapped up into a nourishing afternoon at Solas Skincare.
So get that dirty word «botox» out of your mind and book an appointment with Lynn already.

As a one of the few men who have had too many skin treatments to count, the service and professionalism I received at Solas Skincare from Lauri (owner) was simply the best. Her products are fantastic and Lauri is extremely knowledgable and you can tell she has benefitted from using the products herself as her skin is flawless.
The salon has a great vibe and you will not only come away with better skin, but you’ll feel better too.

I am so happy I went to Solas Skincare and got a facial by Mercedes. She was fantastic. My skin feels amazing and the little extra massage was just what I needed. Because the space is off the busy street, its quiet, super private and very clean.
Mercedes explained everything to me and was always making sure I didn’t have any irrational or if it was too much for my skin. I can always appreciate the clear step by step process knowing what to expect. She was warm and kind throughout the process. There was no rush and certainly took her time with me. Lets just say I felt like a princess.
If you live in Santa Monica and need some extra TLC make sure you visit Mercedes, she will take care of all your skin needs.
BTW they also do waxing massage, name it!

I’m pretty much just echoing the Unilocal consensus here, but Solas Skincare deserves all these glowing reviews!
I’ve been in LA for a year now, but hadn’t found a waxing place I was comfortable with. It is amazing how much you can pay for a wax in Brentwood/​Santa Monica without getting a satisfying experience.
Anyway, called Solas on a friday evening looking for a last minute appointment before the 4^th of July (total long shot). Lauri was able to fit me in the next afternoon, which was awesome.
Her space is pretty tucked away, but beautifully decorated and the perfect size. And Lauri is clearly an expert at waxing and a great person to be around. The wax was quick, complete, and way less painful than I’m accustomed to. And, perhaps because I wasn’t experiencing searing pain every 30 seconds, I came out more relaxed than when I went in.
Price are very reasonable for a clean, high-​quality wax. (I always wish Unilocal reviews mentioned specific prices, so: Brazilian wax = $ 55+ (mine was 55). You can find more of her pricing on her website, just google.)
Left with an appointment for next month and thrilled to have found a go-​to place for the future! One step closer to making LA home.