Face Haus offers no-frills facials for those on the go

Single-service beauty bars with fast, affordable treatments continue to grow in number and in specialty, with offerings including hair blowouts, braid bars, makeup applications and lash extensions.

Facials are a focus too. Skin Laundry, a local company that offers 10-minute “Signature Laser Facials” for a base price of $65 each (the price per treatment decreases if you buy a package of three or more sessions), opened its third location last October in Newport Beach. Dermalogica in Santa Monica has been around for a decade, offering 20-minute “Microzone” treatments ($35) to target specific skin issues, such as acne outbreaks, tired eyes, dry lips, dull skin, redness and irritation as well as a full-service, 60-minute facial for $100.

Now a new entry in this sector of the beauty business, Face Haus, is filling a niche for clients who want a full-service facial quickly and at a lower price. The salon opened in Studio City in late December, offering multi-step, 30-minute facials from just $40 for adults (or $20 for kids under age 10).

Although the vibe is relaxing in the space — decorated in a neutral palette with sleek, Scandinavian furnishings, fun neon signs and a glittery wall mural by local street artist Becca Midwood — forget frills like plush robes, hand massages and relaxing music. At Face Haus, licensed aestheticians get straight to the point of cleaning the skin, with no undressing required, working on clients in eight chairs with optional privacy screens. The nongirly atmosphere seems to appeal to men, who already make up 25% to 30% of the clientele.

“When you strip away all the stuff that’s really the fluff of getting a facial, it’s incredibly cost-effective,” says Jenn Worley, one of three Face Haus founders. “That’s why we were able to make it so affordable.”

Worley, once vice president of creative affairs for Radar Pictures, partnered with Karey Burke, co-owner of television production company Dark Toy Entertainment, and Dawn Olmstead, executive vice president of development for Universal Cable Productions, to found the company. The three were inspired to create the business a year ago, after Olmstead treated their teenage daughters to facials on her daughter’s birthday and the tab totaled $500.

“When the girls wanted to go back, we said, ‘We do too, but we’re not going to spend [that much,’“ says Burke. “They asked why the facials were so expensive, and we said, ‘I don’t know. That’s a beautiful question.’“

Client Jill Weiss of Sherman Oaks is one who finds the Face Haus model appealing.

“It’s half an hour, in and out, and it was relaxing,” she said recently. “And the price is great. Honestly, I’ve done facials at my dermatologist’s office and at Burke Williams — it’s at least $100 at either place — and I can’t tell the difference. I don’t like the whole spa thing; I just want to get my skin refreshed.”

The Face Haus menu includes facials designed for teen girls, teen boys, kids, men, mature skin, congested skin and uneven skin pigmentation as well as an oxygen facial, a peel and a facial featuring only organic products. Add-ons (an additional $10 each) include extra extractions, special serums and targeted treatments for eyes, lips or pimples. The space is also available after hours for private “Haus parties” ($300 plus $40 per person) that can be customized to include a deejay, gift bags and catering.

One unusual asset for Face Haus is its association with Dr. Harold Lancer, a Beverly Hills dermatologist who counts Burke and Worley as clients (along with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Michelle Williams, Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry and other A-list stars). Lancer has signed on as consulting dermatologist for Face Haus. In this role, he oversees development of services and training and serves as a medical backup.

“Many companies have staff who are unlicensed or not even trained as aestheticians,” says Lancer. “Of course, some are licensed, but there is often no medical backup, should there be a problem, such as a lesion or mole that looks questionable.”

Next month, Lancer will begin selling some of his eponymous products at Face Haus and debut a signature microdermabrasion treatment for the brand ($60). By next summer, he plans to launch an affordable skin care line developed exclusively for Face Haus — a simplified two-step version of his three-step “Lancer Method” of exfoliating, cleansing and nourishing that accelerates the skin’s ability to repair and renew itself, resulting in a radiance known as “the Lancer glow.”

(Lancer’s back-to-basics approach to skin care is highlighted in his new book, “Younger,” ($27), which hit shelves on Feb. 4. The book is filled with practical tips for every budget, such as using olive or grape seed oil to remove makeup and refrigerating skin care products to double their shelf life. It includes juice recipes, workout routines, relaxation exercises and resource lists.)

Face Haus’ owners and other investors plan to develop three to six more locations, from Orange County to New York City, and the second Face Haus is scheduled to open, in the 8300 block of West Third Street, near Joan’s on Third in Los Angeles, in June.

Face Haus
Where: 12332 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and by appointment.
How much: From $40 for a 30-minute service; buy four, get one free package or monthly membership from $80 with free add-ons and product discounts. Private Haus Parties with a minimum of eight people are $300 plus $40 per person.
Information: (855) 550-4287 and www.thefacehaus.com.

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