Dermalogica: Space Age Skin Care in Santa Monica

Dermalogica's flagship store and skin care center is unlike any spa we've ever been to. Located on chi chi Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, it feels like a futuristic doctor's office: clean and white, but offering vitamin water and groovy tunes instead of elevator music and dated issues of Highlights magazine.

We were shown into a white, kidney-shaped treatment room called a pod, and offered a choice of music, ranging from the upbeat to the trippy to the traditional spa stuff. We settled on a fun Salsa selection for a nice change of pace.

The Dermalogica Skin Treatment consisted of a "face mapping," during which the therapist gave our skin a thorough examination to determine our special needs. The mapping was followed by a double cleanse, a "galvanic" treatment to change the Ph in our skin and make extractions easier, high-frequency "iontophorisis" to encourage the products to absorb deep into the skin, and a lavender-scented hydrating masque. While the masque soaked in, our therapist moved her skilled hands down to our aching feet for a divine reflexology massage. She finished off with a hand massage before removing the masque and applying the "Dr. Lucas pulverizer," to hydrate the skin and help it absorb moisture.

When we came to, our therapist escorted us back into the store area, offered us a refreshing beverage, and recommended a selection of Dermalogica products catered to our skin's individual needs.

Review originally published 12/15/05.