A Private Oasis for Skin Renewal

Gabi Meise's private skin care studio in West Hollywood is a groovy, calming oasis where she works her miracles and makes clients feel completely at home. Her facials take place in a uniquely designed alcove lined with bricks and a cedar ceiling, which lends a warm and cozy feel to this sanctuary for the skin.

Gabi's diverse skin care background includes training at the Aveda Institute as well as extensive experience working at a dermatologist's office, and she brings her combined expertise to provide completely customized skin care for her clients. For example, she uses dermatologist-strength serums and microdermabrasion treatments for problem skin, as well as gentle, nourishing products for dry and sensitive skin. Because she makes it a point to customize each treatment to the client's individual needs, Gabi picks and chooses the best products from several of her favorite high-quality lines, including Yon-Ka, Sundari and Epicuren. And her attention to detail is unmatched – it's apparent in everything from her music selection to the finishing touches she adds to a daytime facial (colored lip gloss and mineral powder) so that clients can go about their day without looking too shiny or blotchy.

Gabi's standard facial includes microdermabrasion and usually lasts between an hour and 15 minutes and an hour and a half, but if your skin needs some extra work, she'll take as long as necessary to make you look and feel completely renewed. We opted to skip the microdermabrasion during out treatment, and our skin was nonetheless glowing like new by the time she was finished with her exfoliating, invigorating and moisturizing applications.

Treatments at Gabi's private studio are normally priced on the high end because they are so comprehensive, but clients also have the option of visiting her expertly trained technicians at the Haven beauty collective in West Hollywood at reduced prices.

Review originally published 3/9/2006.