Brentwood Retreat

Located in an affluent yet homey section of Brentwood, this beauty destination in a nook off of Barrington Avenue feels more like an intimate, breezy beach home than a typical spa. Chat, the owner, has instilled the spot with such a sense of hospitality—expect all of the friendliness of a beauty salon with none of the cattiness—that everyone who walks inside feels at home. Combined with her dedication and skill, this has made for a stream of loyal customers over the years. It’s no small wonder it’s a favorite of many low-key celebrity clients, who come here to get away and experience excellent service. The spa’s focus is quality skin care, and it fittingly offers state-of-the-art non-surgical treatments like the latest Power Peel Microdermabrasion or Myotonology Facial Toning, which acts as a facelift, as well as body treatments ranging from massage to a Bioslimming Wrap. Find real solutions here for any appearance vexation, from acne scars to cellulite. We suggest the spa’s signature Retreat Facial (a bargain at just $95), which Chat completely customizes for each and every customer. It always includes some steps: cleansing the skin twice, exfoliation, vaporization to open pores and a thorough extraction, but unlike other facials which fit your skin into a preset cookie-cutter regimen, you can tell Chat truly cares about real results. This means a detailed, knowledgeable analysis of your skin (i.e. being able to tell how much more water you need to drink, why some parts of your skin are oilier or drier than others, or deducing that your hair products are irritating your hairline, instead of just the typical “oily” or “dry” skin diagnosis), throwing in a complimentary microdermabrasion if she thinks you’re in need of it, and mixing up a custom mask based entirely on your specific skin needs. She acknowledges that pure pampering isn’t worth the price tag of a facial—you could do that much at home—and that what you’re paying for is visible improvement. But her neck, shoulder and face massages and the skilled hand and foot massages provided by her assistant, Katherine, while you wait for the facial masks to set don’t hurt either. Chat’s warm personality extends beyond mere awkward small talk and makes you feel like you’ve become friends by the end of a session. Before you leave, she’ll give you samples of products that will help your skin maximize the facial’s impact and target problem areas. Between the treatment and the service, expect a thoroughly satisfying experience, and real, lasting results where you want them the most.