“When was your last facial?” Vanessa asks, as we head back to her posh, immaculate facial room.
“Ummmm….” I pause to ponder. It slowly dawns on me that I can’t even remember the last time a skincare professional touched my face.
Vanessa waits patiently for my reply, as I sputter through my mental calendar. Finally, I sheepishly admit, “At least a year.” (Real talk: It’s probably been more like three.)
She seems only mildly concerned, but definitely sympathetic, as she directs me toward a comfy table. She gives me a moment to climb under the covers and get settled.
What happens next can only be described as this… absolute magic.
Go and Glow: Skin Transformation by Vanessa, Costa Mesa.
Photo: Samantha Chagollan
Magic… in that whatever amazing-ness Vanessa massages into my face smells, and feels, incredible.
Magic… in that her background music isn’t your typical spa-music snoozefest. At first, the tunes make me feel like I’m lounging in a swanky Parisian café. Then, the songs progress through Led Zeppelin, and Bob Marley, to a whole other level of musical bliss that has me so relaxed, I barely care she’s extracting junk from my pores.
Magic… in that she really does transform my skin in an hour.
Vanessa Grosso isn’t a magician in the traditional sense – she’s a highly experienced, and very talented, aesthetician.
I’m on her table experiencing one of her signature treatments, the Micro-Lift Facial. Using a combination of electric microcurrent, and LED light therapy, Vanessa says this facial is like a non-invasive face-lift. The low-amp, electrical wavelengths trigger collagen production and help increase elasticity. For true, lasting results, she recommends multiple treatments over 4-10 weeks, but says most clients see noticeable results, right away.
Photo: Samantha Chagollan
Vanessa also offers oxygen facials, peels, diamond-tip microdermabrasion, and other corrective treatments. Every facial is customized to the client, depending on their specific needs.
In my case, my skin is extra sensitive, so Vanessa changes her game plan mid-session. She notices the skin around my chin getting a little reactive, so she chooses some milder products to use on me.
Whatever she’s doing, it feels absolutely amazing. And she’s right – when we’re finished, my face feels different, better.
Products For Every Skin Type, at Skin Transformation by V.
Photo: Samantha Chagollan
As we sit down to chat a bit about her background, Vanessa tells me how much she loves our fair city. “I’ve lived in Costa Mesa for 25 years,” she says. “I really love it!”
When she’s not working her magic as an aesthetician, she loves hanging out at Daydream or Neat Coffee, grabbing a bite at Outpost Kitchen, or taking a creative class at Home Ec. “I love that young entrepreneurs are popping up all over the city,” she says. “They’re really supporting each other and opening the doors for others, too.”
Which is part of how Vanessa came to open her own business in Costa Mesa. Living on the Westside, she was inspired by all the innovation happening around her. So, about a year ago, she decided it was time to jump into the ring.
Vanessa studied cosmetic chemistry at UCLA, and has more than 15 years of experience as an aesthetician. Having worked previously as certified master educator for a skin product line, she has taught, and worked, her way through five-star spas around the world.
Speaking of skincare products, her studio is filled with an array of options to further your treatment.
Photo: Samantha Chagollan
“I can help you fall in love with your skin again,” she says joyfully. “There are solutions to aging other than injections and fillers. We don’t have to treat skincare problems with drugs and antibiotics.”
She goes on to explain why skincare starts with nutrition. “Everything that shows up on your skin comes from the inside,” she says. “And the lifestyle you live is how you radiate beauty.”
Through Skin Transformation, Vanessa has succeeded at providing a luxury, facial experience – with clinical results, at an affordable price – here in Costa Mesa.
As I get up to leave, Vanessa’s next client makes her way in, looking like she’s ready for her own magical experience. I can’t wait to come back for my next appointment, because I can attest – Skin Transformation is transformative! ♥
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Follow Vanessa on Instagram @skintransformationofficial or check out her website to see the services she offers, book an appointment, or purchase a gift certificate for a customized facial. Skin Transformation is located at 1599 Superior Avenue, Suite A3 in Costa Mesa.
