Jul
25,
2024
Need to re-set your skin? Face feeling the change in season and having a hard time? Come take a break inside the hidden gem that is the Ole Henriksen Spa tucked away on Sunset Plaza.
Ole Henriksen Spa is known in LA as a renown temple of pure relaxation and tranquility, home to the most state-of-the-art technology and treatments for your body. We had a facial with Gary and he is a dream. If you have the chance to experience his expertise do not pass him up. Every treatment at this Danish legend’s spa includes a full consultation and extractions if you want/need them. If you aren’t aware, Ole Henriksen is considered one of the best in the skincare industry and his technique and approach to skin and body is known for being a clinical Scandinavian approach. These techniques are of course taught to all of the wonderful technicians who work there, and they are clear masters of their field. We’re still floating on cloud nine from our facial with Gary and it’s been two weeks!
The spa is located on Sunset Plaza, but pro-tip, when you park in the lot don’t go up to Sunset Blvd. Ole Henriksen Spa is actually located in the back facing the lot, giving it yet another layer removed from the hustle and bustle of this busy street. When you walk inside you’re greeted by their wonderful staff who will guide you through a bit of paperwork and lead you into their private ladies area. Once you’re all set there there is a calming hallway lit with a soft glow that immediately reduces the tension bright light makes so many of us carry in our day to day. At the end of this hall you’ll find their steam room as well as a shower area. We enjoyed out time here, getting our skin nice and moist for our appointment with Gary. Once again we didn’t have to worry about being “on time” as your sole purpose here is to relax. The Ole Hendriksen staff came for us and guided us to our appointment room where we met Gary and settled in for a lovely treatment.
For this facial we chose to focus on hydration to achieve a move glowy aspect to our skin. When you’re in the room you can chat with your esthetician and decide what works best for you. Gary’s biggest advice was creating a plan for yourself. You can’t walk into a facial and expect a miracle (though we swear he kind of performed one). Gary believes in routine and having a set facial schedule that works for you to have the best results for healthy skin. Everyone’s skin is so different, he paused before adding that it isn’t once a week versus once a month that will achieve results for everyone. It’s truly getting to know your own skin and coming up with a routine that best fits your need. Though he does believe a monthly facial will work miracles as long as you do the up-keep at home between appointments, and honestly we agree.
While we were having our facial done we were able to try the new products from Ole Henriksen Spa’s owner. The new line is called VSoto and we have been really into them ever since. He was so gracious and sent us home with their eye cream (which has pearl in it) As well as VSoto’s mist toner. It has been a godsend and every time we mist it, we like to pretend we’re at the spa. Sometimes if you can’t go, you just need to bring a little bit of it home with you, don’t you? Being fans of the line we were glad to have a chat with the owner, Vance Soto. Enjoy the interview below:
PPLA: What prompted you to start your own skincare line?
VS: I have always been obsessed with skincare, especially as someone who really struggled with acne in my younger years. I would try anything and everything. I became even more involved when I started in the spa industry over two decades ago (eeeeeek). I had the opportunity to carry, work with, and learn from many brands. However, once I had the privilege of purchasing the legendary OLEHENRIKSEN Spa in Los Angeles, I really got serious. I noticed products that were missing from our offering, both retail and professional. I also was hearing from my clients what they wanted and needed. I really wanted to bring the spa to their bathroom counter—spa treatments in a jar, one might say. I felt there was a way to blend the spa aspect with the results-driven “see and feel a difference” aspect. At one point, I was literally making VSOTO products by hand and retailing them to clients, but it started professionally only at first. We used it in treatment, and guests immediately asked what it was and if they could purchase it. That was the seal of approval that we had something special. We knew it had to deliver results because that’s what happens in a spa treatment—you must see and feel a difference.
PPLA: Is there a specific ingredient you knew you wanted to work with and why?
VS: I really wanted to work with essential oils, and those are a big part of our products. It was also a way for us to deliver clean beauty with no fragrances, using nature to deliver skincare benefits. Even though our formulas have grown and evolved over the years, we have always stayed true to essential oils. But we also use a lot of ingredients that are hero (mainstream) ingredients that have now become staples in the industry. However, we are always on the hunt for new and unique ingredients to work with. Even our chemist will joke that my ideas can be quite “challenging” because I like to be creative. I think there’s always a way to use something new and find those skincare benefits. We always knew that we wanted to use beautiful, clean, results-driven ingredients.
PPLA: The products are scented exactly like the scent that stepping into a spa evokes. It’s very memorable without being overpowering. How did you achieve that?
VS: Through a lot of trial and error! We knew the scents had to be extremely memorable. We’re a spa-grade brand, but when you enter a spa, one of the most powerful senses is your sense of smell. It’s widely known in the spa world that a spa needs a scent, and guests will remember you by that. So, if we are staying true to bringing the spa to your bathroom counter, then the aroma had to match. I also involved my master estheticians and leadership when a new scent for a product was in the development phase. I believe in others’ opinions, especially my team. They always had great feedback. I would also create my own mixes over the years and see what clients and team members gravitated towards.
PPLA: What is the most important step in a skincare routine, in your opinion?
VS: This is always a tough question to answer because, in my world, so many steps are important. Outside of using sunscreen, which is a no-brainer, I have to say I am partial to an extremely good multi-purpose moisturizer. In addition to giving you that glass skin and hydration, many can act as a backup serum. Each product and step definitely plays an important role in your overall regimen, but a really good moisturizer, in my opinion, goes very far, which is how I created our Ageless Exotic Glow Crème. I wanted to create the ultimate moisturizer that gave you that post-vacation glow. One thing to remember, though, is that exfoliation is key to any regimen (don’t overdo it) to remove dead skin cells and allow a fresh face for products to penetrate more efficiently.
Written by Carolina Bonetti
