Serene Skin and Body Review

this is the only place i go for massages and facials - karen and kaye are my favorites

My sister was visiting from Wyoming and her husband treated 5 of us to spa services. We had everything from haircut to mld to facials and massage/refexology. All of the clinicians are top notch. I had an absolutely amazing massage by Vanessa. Serene provided snacks and champagne during our 4 hours there. It was heavenly! Thank you.

Wonderfully relaxing facial. I really enjoyed the special treatment provided by the skin specialist. My face was glowing, soft and hydrated. I highly recommend Serene Skin & Body as a place to feel like a princess!

My sister and I get massages at Serene Spa every year and have enjoyed it every time. The spa is neat, serene and our massage therapists Karen and Becky are wonderful.

My husband sends me to Serene every year for my birthday. Every year I'm treated to the works and I never leave disappointed. The staff is great and the ambiance is beautiful. Doesn't hurt that they also sell my skin products!

We used Serene Skin and Body as a venue for our girls day bachelorette weekend. It was very clean, lovely people and top notch, responsive owner. They were also very accomodating to our group of girls and glasses of champagne. In addition to this, they also allowed us to bring in our own food and even set it up for us! All in all, I would highly recommend Serene Skin and Body. The people are professional and very friendly and the place itself is very clean and well run.

I have gone in for a facial, a few eyebrow waxes, and eyelash tints. All of my experiences have been amazing! Jodi did a great job shaping my eyebrows and I would definitely recommend her services. The facial was relaxing and she showed me some products for my skin without pushing me to buy them. I have always had great experiences here!

I went to Serene Skin& Body and got a facial. The staff is so attentive and very welcoming. It was such a wonderful way to relax and take a break. I highly recommend going and checking it out. It is now my new favorite spa and I definitely plan on going back soon.

Such a relaxing environment! They have comfy seats, spa water and lots of items/products to look at. Of the three times I have been in, it is always quiet, smells nice and staff are professional. I had my lashes done by Olivia and she is just lovely! Very sweet and gentle with my lashes.

I went for an armpit wax and it was the worst, most expensive waxing I had had. My hairs were long, but nothing a professional waxer couldnt deal with. The job wasn't complete. very dissatisfied.

Beautiful relaxing spa, very nice service, awesome massage from Melody, reasonable prices. What more can I say.

I went to Serene to get my hair and makeup done for my wedding, as well as an airbrush tan. When requesting information months before the wedding, Allison was very quick to respond to emails and helped to find a package that worked with my budget.

The day before the wedding, I went to get my airbrush tan, completed by Hayley. I had never done it before, so she was very patient making sure it turned out great.

The morning of the wedding, I went to the salon for hair and makeup. Tracy spent 3 hours with me, making sure I was comfortable with everything she did. She even changed my lipstick color after I changed my mind on the color. Even on a windy day, my hair held up and makeup didn't need touching up at all, even after a few tears.

I got countless compliments and was so happy that I found Serene!

My husband treated me to a full package spa experience at Serene for my birthday in August. The most wonderful birthday present I have ever received - fabulous massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. Being pampered on any given day is a good thing but 3 plus hours of this enjoyable experience on your birthday makes for a very special birthday. We travel the country visiting Santa Cruz Harbor annually and will now include Serene as a must do on our itinerary. If you haven't ever tried the Serene experience, you're missing the Best. Thank you James and Serene for a fabulous Birthday experience!!

Jacqualine

The first and best spa experience that I've ever had! I never pictured myself even going to a spa until I'm older when I attend my first bacholorette party, but I discovered this place through one of GroupOn's deals. What caught my attention was that GroupOn mentioned a "chocolate facial", and that title was enough to entice me to read more about the deals this spa has to offer. Since I'm a college student, I don't really have that much to spend so I bought their cheapest offer, which was a Zero Calorie Chocolate Pedicure for $35 (original $75). I figured it'd be a fun activity to do with my girls instead of typically grabbing a bite to eat.

Unfortunately, Tracy is the only one in charge of the pedicure department, so my group of three wasn't able to go together. But Tracy did say that she can do parties of 2 simultaneously. Nevertheless, I went alone to check it out, but I was still very satisfied with my experience here at Serene Skin & Body. Tracy is very friendly and outgoing, and she explained everything to me from what ingredients she was using in her products to what other cool treatments the spa offers.

First, I dipped my feet into this flowery and chocolate-y warm bath that smelled really good. While I sat there with my feet dipped in this lukewarm water bath, Tracy placed this warm neck pillow around my neck, which felt really good as it relaxed the tension and muscles behind my neck. On top of that, I received a chocolate scrub, which felt rough against my legs but in a good way, since it was exfoliating the dead skin that normally accumulates on the surface on people's skin. Tracy also massaged my legs and feet, to which I laughed a couple of times since I'm ticklish...my bad. Also, she rubbed coconut oil all over my legs to make them feel glossy and smooth to the touch. Furthermore, she exfoliated my feet as well, making them feel and look softer as ever. Not only did she clip my nails, but she filed all of them as well! I got to choose the color and nail art of my pedicure, and I chose a deep red that looked beautiful with the tiny fragments of 14 carat gold and silver rhinestones that I chose to go on my toenails.

I also got to drink a chocolate martini and eat delicious pieces of chocolate while all of this was going on! Life couldn't get better than this. You should definitely check out Serene Skin & Body, you won't be disappointed! After this experience, I can't imagine not going to a spa every now and then :)

Serene is on my short list of Day Spas I Love. I trust them with my skin and my daughter's (she's 14). We are both very fair and it seems like we are sensitive to everything.

The products they use at Serene have never bothered my skin or my eyes which is amazing to me. The estheticians are professional, friendly and knowledgeable. I had one problem with a blemish very near my eye and it was carefully removed and thankfully healed within a day - what a relief, it had been troubling me for weeks.

The environment is relaxing, the staff very friendly and I love the online appointments. Join their email list and get the occasional special offer which never fails to draw me back in. Thank you Serene!

I had the organic facial and my skin has never felt better! Probably the best facial I have ever had! They were very knowlegeable and the products they used were superior. In the organic world good, effective skin care products are so hard to come by. I was very impressed with the line they used and how researched it was. I would definitely recommend Serene to everyone!

I have been very pleased with the service and friendly attitude when I have been to Serene Skin and Body while visiting my family in Santa Cruz over the past few years. They have been helpful with additional needs I have had after the appointment time.

I would recommend them to others without a doubt.

Linda Laughlin

I was really disappointed; to pay $90 for a facial because I wanted to have blackheads removed and get home and discover they're all still there was frustrating. I also paid to have my chin waxed, and had to still pluck my chin that day and every day thereafter.

This is my favorite place to get or give a gift certificate from. I go there for facials often getting different people who are ALL great and very professional. In March 2 friends and I (1 male, 1 female) went for facials. It was lovely for us all. It's always very quiet and relaxing and my face and skin are in wonderful condition afterwards. I highly recommend it.

After visiting this spa on vacation, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated!

I go to Serene to get my waxing done and I love it! I am always greeted warmly by the reception desk and have a great experience. Ashley makes the waxing process quick and easy and I feel very comfortable and relaxed at the spa. I would highly recommend Serene Skin & Body!

The best thing about Serene Skin & Body is the soothing, well appointed environment. From the moment I walked in the door I felt that I was going to be pampered. I went for a facial only. It was well done in an unrushed manner. The only negative comment that I have is that I felt a bit pressured to buy products, but this is probably fairly common at skin and body care salons. I definitely would recommend this lovely oasis.

there is wonderful massage provided to help a lot from being stressful by this office which is very cozy and very warm feeling in the environment. love it!!

I came here until my office moved and now it is a bit too far for me. I really liked coming here for their waxing services. The girls working there were all very nice and efficient. It is important to be comfortable and now I am having a hard time finding a new place.

I came here for a $29 brazillian wax coupon offered in the UCSC booklet. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. Even though I was in pain, Ashley was very calm and quick. The facility is very inviting despite its surrounding area. Will definitely come here again for my follow-up treatment.

I thought my massage was just ok. The pressure was too light and i didn't feel like the massage therapist Aimee really got in to my muscles. Also it was suppose to be 60 minutes and it was only 50 mins. She was very nice though.

The massage room was nicely decorated and the place was quiet which I appreciated.

a Beautiful Spa with very friendly sweet staff and I had the Most amazing Massage from Vanessa...cannot wait to book another one.

People were nice and understanding, got things done fast

Serene Skin & Body is super awesome and Ashley is an amazing esthetician! She's always professional and her methods are precise! I highly recommend Serene Skin and body for any of your skin and body needs!!

Santa Cruz has lots of day spas but Serene Skin Care has been my favorite for many years. Allison and Raylee make sure I feel welcome and Hayley's array of facials keep me coming back every month.

Wonderful staff and lots of great services. This is my new "home" away from home. Definitely must go.

I needed a spray tan for a New Year's Eve party. Went online the night before and had the perfect tan by 11am on New Year's Eve day...thank you!

My husband got me a gift certificate for Serene as a Christmas gift. I had never had a Swedish massage before and I must say it was AWESOME! I just loved the atmosphere there at Serene, it was very relaxing. The receptionist and the masseuse were extremely friendly and very helpful. I also love the online appointment scheduling feature that they offer. I can't wait to go back!!

I have been here several times. I was first introduced to Serene spa at a charity event for kid's cancer. They are amazing!! I have had the Hydrafacial series and my skin has seen fantastic results!!! Serene Skin & Body is a beautiful facility.

I went for the all day spa package. I must say that the facial I got here is by far the best I've had and the same goes for the manicure and pedicure. The massage was good but nothing amazing.

Great place! Received an aromatherapy massage as a gift and it was amazing! the staff was friendly and the place felt very relaxing. I had my appointment with Vanessa and would definitely recommend her! I will be booking with them again.

For my friend's bachelorette weekend, we decided it would be nice to spend one morning at a spa, with all the girls getting pampered. I searched online and started emailing different spas to see who could accommodate our large number. I immediately got an email back from Allison, the owner or Serene Skin and Body, who was extremely helpful and flexible. She made sure everyone's treatment was timed perfectly and she had extra staff come in so we could all get treatments done at the same time (so no one was left waiting by themselves in the waiting room). Everyone loved their experience (there were a number of treatments chosen and all seemed happy with their choice). On top of all that, the price was extremely reasonable. Will definitely go back if I ever find myself in the Santa Cruz area.
*A note: the outside of the building is a bit deceiving. The spa is part of a strip-mall looking area, but inside is very well put together and nicely done. Don't let photos of the outside be a deterrent!

My friends and I visited Santa Cruz from Southern California. As part of our trip, we spent the afternoon at this delightful spa. We were greeted warmly with delicious treats and then were pampered by Jodi and Melody. The facial by Jodi was the absolute best I've ever had. Normally, I break out a few days after having a facial but this is the first time I haven't! My skin was so soft and smooth which lasted for several weeks. Jodi also waxed and tinted my eyebrows. They looked phenomenal and very natural. Jodi was very knowledgeable about skin care products and provided great counsel on keeping my skin beautiful and glowing! The massage by Melody was also wonderful! I had always wanted to try hot stone massage and I was not disappointed. My friends and I left feeling relaxed and beautiful and only wish we lived closer so that we could visit this spa more often! Thank you ladies at Serene Skin and Body for being amazing professionals and for treating us "tourists" as friends!

I go to Serene Skin & Body several times a year for facials. It is so relaxing and professional. They sell Jan Marini skin care products which I love. I had never used them before until Ashley recommended them to me. My skin did a 180 using these product. Ashley does such a wonderful job listening to my concerns and offering suggestions. I feel so relaxed and pampered when she is doing my facial. I love Serene, the ambiance is so relaxing and classy. Great place, would love to go back for a massage.

I recently went in for much-needed massage and facial appointments. Both were FANTASTIC and I can't wait to go again! LOVE!

I can, without hesitation, recommend any services provided here. Everyone who works here is excellent, highly experienced, and professional. Beyond that I absolutely love the products they carry and have had great results using Jan Marini and Laurel. I also love the Breast SOS pomegranate oil, it is so luxurious and I often use it on my face as well.
Great business with great people.

Every time I finish my appointment at Serene, I feel like I have been away on vacation. It is immaculate, soothing and comfortable. It is the only day spa that my family or I make appointments at.

I went in for a massage and a lash fill.
The massage therapist was OK, except for 2 major things. First, she ended the massage early. They gave me a discount on the massage, but I'd have rather had the time spent working out my knots.
More disturbing was the fact that she went too fast in some of her strokes and triggered an injury I'd had years earlier. I had to ask her twice to back off.

My lash fill was OK... She did a great job of making my lashes look long and lush, but she used too much glue (there were small deposits of glue on the base of the lashes that caused them to stick together) and I asked for volume and she gave me regular.

Will I go back? No. Would I recommend them? Sadly, no. My shoulder still hurts sometimes (it's been a month), and my lashes had to be removed and replaced by my regular lash artist.

My wife booked me a massage for my birthday, and having not ever had one before, I didn't really know what to expect or whether it would be worth it. I had a 60-minute deep tissue massage with Sarah and it was worth every penny. The atmosphere was very relaxing, Sarah was super nice and it was very easy to rebook through their web site. My only regret is I didn't start getting massages sooner. Was very happy with the entire experience and will be a repeat customer in the future!

My friend gave my a gift certificate for Serene last year and I can honestly say it was the best facial I have ever had !

I would recommend Serene to anyone who wants to look and feel better and it will show after just one facial . I am looking forward to getting one of their top of the line facials soon !

Lora

what a great day! thank you for a killer deep tissue massage, Karen, eyelashes from Tracey, and great advise and makeup from owner. booked my next three visits received a great discount and look forward to another spa day like this one. thank you again.

Everyone at Serene is amazing, thoughtful and professional. I have been in for facials, wax and product consultations. Everyone is very knowledgeable and helpful. I leave Serene Skin and Body feeling refreshed, relaxed and feeling great.

I've always had a positive experience every time I go to Serene Skin & Body. Everyone was very polite and it's always relaxing. I'll definitely visit again!

love this place! great massage and facial, always relaxing! smells wonderful and great service too! recommend kaye for facials :)

I've been going to Serene for a little over a year now for all my waxing needs! Ashley is AWESOME!! She keeps the sessions low-key and comfortable. We get to talking and I forget about the wax! I will be trying their new spray tanning tomorrow and am sure they will take great care of me :)

I went in to Serene Skin & Body the last time I was in Santa Cruz for a full arm wax. The service was excellent and the woman assisting me was so sweet and warm. She paid great attention to detail throughout the wax, making sure I was satisfied with her service. Overall, I was pleased with my experience there and will revisit Serene the next time I am in Santa Cruz.

Some how Serene didn't get my appt for a facial and massage on the books but they were quick to get me in. Unfortunately, in stead of one appt for both as planned it had to be 2 days one for each.

The facial was decent but a little lacking. I felt like she was doing her "job" and not something she really cared about. I may be a bit spoiled from someone I've had before that no one has compared to since who was very through and took her time.

The massage was very nice but a little too hard at times. I like pressure but not jabbing or quick pushes. Also, she talked a little too much for me to enjoy fully the pleasure of the massage.

The ambiance was very welcoming and everyone extremely friendly and helpful.

I bought a gift certificate for a facial for my GF for Valentine's Day. She really likes the service there and will return.