Joanna Vargas at her salon in Los Angeles Photo: Kat Slootsky
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA (LA ELEMENTS) 7/3/2023 – “As I created my skincare line, I wanted my products to be luxurious in experience and for clients to feel like they were getting a piece of my services with every use,” says celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas. “Results of course were my goal with every formula. All the products in my line do a variety of things and are made for everyone-they truly are the foundation for healthy skin.”
It’s the eponymous skincare line sourced from organic, cruelty-free ingredients, as well as facials that tone and add definition, that have won Vargas a stellar clientele that includes actresses Keri Russel, Mindy Kaling and director Sofia Coppola just to name a few. Her luxury skincare salons in Los Angeles and New York offer innovative yet non-invasive beauty treatments for the face and body.
On June 27, the newest Joanna Vargas salon opened in West Hollywood on Kings Road. Guests of this invitation only event gathered at the 5,000 square foot standalone salon and were treated to refreshments, music from a DJ who hit all the right notes and art by fashion photographer Yelena Yemchuk. Guests mingled, enjoyed the festive atmosphere of the evening and left with gifts that included the Joanna Vargas Twilight Night Cream and Twilight Night Serum as well as a gift certificate for beauty services.
The Joanna Vargas Twilight Night Cream and Serum. Photo: LA ELEMENTS
This salon, which replaces the one at the Sunset Tower Hotel, will offer enhanced updates on beauty treatment favorites: The Triple Crown Facial is now the Triple Crown Royale. This power facial boasts technology that will allow for electrifying sheet masks, contouring with an electric gua sha and hand sculpting the face with electric gloves.
Other facials offered will include the Supernova Facial and the Magic Glow Dermaplaning Facial. Patented RevitaLight LED Beds, Relaxation Pods and an array of luxurious massages will also be available. For a full list of services please visit the Joanna Vargas site.
The Joanna Vargas Salon Los Angeles is located at 1107 N Kings Rd. West Hollywood CA 90069.
Joanna Vargas, Founder of Joanna Vargas Salons and Skin Care and Author of “Glow From Within,” shares her thoughts on her beauty philosophy, what first sparked her interest in skincare and why you won’t find injectables at her salons.
Please tell us a little about what first sparked your interest in skincare and how you got your start in the beauty industry.
For myself, growing up, self-care was always something I saw my grandma do and share with me. For me being in touch with that is as important as the physical act of just taking care of myself. My grandma was very influential in pointing my attention towards the beauty industry in general. She was beauty obsessed, glamorous, she and my aunts. She let me do her makeup and hair all the time. All of my gifts from her was bubble bath, cream and beautiful perfume. Her advice was to appreciate the skin you’re in, which is also part of my philosophy.
What is your philosophy in general towards skincare and beauty?
I am known for vetting the latest technologies and putting together a customized protocol for each individual client. It’s that quality that made my salon successful and makes me excited about my work every single day. The reason I use non-invasive treatments in my salon is that I truly believe it’s the right path to real beauty. Every woman I know will tell you that real beauty comes from how we feel about ourselves, not from what people tell us. My focus has been and will always remain on restoring confidence! I preach to people every day that there is no magic solution- anyone can achieve the skin they want by doing the steps every day. Anyone can have great skin.
It’s also always been a goal of mine as a facialist or skincare professional that you have to take care of your whole body, not just the skin on your face. That’s why I focus on providing treatments that will really give a glow from head-to-toe.
What can you tell about someone simply by looking at their skin?
Our skin is usually a reflection of what’s going on inside of our body and our overall health. A long time ago I studied face mapping which can help show where issues are stemming from on the inside.
Cheeks: it’s usually your digestive system
Nose: digestion and liver – obviously pore size here would determine if you have blackheads or not as well
Forehead: small intestine
Chin: hormones
Under eye: kidneys. Hydration plays a big part here and how much coffee you drink in a day
Upper lip: stomach and colon.
What is your daily skincare routine like?
I wake up around 5 or 530am naturally. I love being up before my family so I can have some much-needed quiet time. I usually read, catch up on some overnight emails and drink a cappuccino with almond milk. Once my daughter leaves for school, I do a peloton class, shower and do my morning skincare routine. Dry brushing the body pre-shower is essential for moving the lymphatic system, exfoliating and increasing collagen production all over the body. Post shower, I wash my face with my vitamin c face wash for brightening, apply my Eden Serum for hydrating and soothing, apply my Eden Moisturizer for soothing hydrating a repairing the skin and sunscreen. I don’t wear makeup everyday, but I don’t leave the house without sunscreen. Once I’m done with my skincare routine, I take the next hour to write. I’m working on a new book and my home office is where I feel the most productive. By the time I get to work, I’ve been up for hours and feel so accomplished!
Many skin spas offer injectables. Yours does not. Can you speak to the long-term effects of using fillers such as Botox?
I never judge a woman for seeking injectables. I tend to attract women who are seeking alternatives to that. I don’t think they are for everyone and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about them to try a results oriented facial first. You might be surprised at how much you get out of it. I would strongly encourage younger women to seek out regular LED light therapy to prevent wrinkles. It thickens the skin and prevents damage from occurring in the first place. I do light regularly on older women and I have seen lines disappear, so if you start young you are really preventing the damage from popping up early. Elasticity and youthful skin is all dependent on antioxidants and exfoliation. Proper cell turnover stimulated by the right exfoliant is key, as is using products with lots of antioxidants like Acai berry (found in my Vitamin C Face Wash) and argan oil (found in my Rejuvenating Serum).
I know that your products are vegan and cruelty free. With that in mind what are a few of the natural yet powerful ingredients in your anti-aging products?
My favorite ingredient is galactoarabinan, derived from the larch tree, which causes more cell turnover than a glycolic but it’s also anti-inflammatory, so it doesn’t cause irritation, even in sensitive skin. Four of my skincare formulas contain it and it’s my secret weapon for dull skin. Exfoliation is the secret to glowing skin!
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is the most forward-thinking ingredient in skincare, and I love that modern medicine is now playing a role in the way we think about skincare. EGF is a type of peptide or protein chain that was developed specifically to speed up wound healing at the cellular level. It’s perfect post laser because laser creates wounds on the skin’s surface in order to stimulate collagen production. The combination of wound healing and collagen stimulation is a transformative process for the skin. My EGF is a vegetable source so it’s clean, healthy and beneficial to any skin type. It’s in my NEW Twilight Night Serum and Night Cream in addition to my Twilight Face Mask.
Because we are a Los Angeles based outlet, we have to ask you, what do you love the most about the City of Angels?
There are so many things to live about LA- the farm to table food, the focus on a healthy lifestyle, but honestly I love the people the most. I guess the good weather keeps everyone in the best mood!
This new salon is special to me because it used to be a theater. I love the fact that the building was made for creative people. There is something so perfect about that. Really the location is the culmination of my 15 years of coming to LA to see clients. I’m incredibly proud of what we have accomplished, and my staff are truly amazing. LA is in for the best treat!
One of the relaxing treatment rooms at the Joanna Vargas Spa Los Angeles.
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Cover photo of Joanna Vargas by Kat Slootsky
All other photos courtesy of Joanna Vargas unless otherwise credited.
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