Best Places For Do-It-Yourself Spa Supplies In The South Bay

Spa treatments are always in high demand but often command a hefty price tag. For savvy South Bay consumers, the solution is to use the DIY method. By purchasing quality spa products and performing DIY treatments at home, the price of pampering oneself can be reduced by more than 50 percent and that's not including the cost of traveling to a professional spa. The following are five of the best businesses to purchase DIY spa supplies in the South Bay.

Atelier Salon & Studio
378 Santana Row, Suite 1120
San Jose, CA  95128
(408) 244-4222
www.ateliersalon.com

Located in the upscale Santana Row shopping center, Atelier is a highly acclaimed and nationally recognized salon and spa. Among its many awards are the Global Salon Business Award and inclusion the Top 200 Salons in America by Salon Today magazine. One of the original businesses to open at the popular shopping and entertainment complex, Atelier celebrated its 10th anniversary with a lively appreciation event for staff, customers and Santana Row merchants. Customers can shop for Aveda beauty products in either the salon or the adjoining spa. The staff at the luxurious spa offers waxing and skin care treatments and can also make recommendations for DIY purchases.

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Balance Skin Care
2136 The Alameda St., Suite D
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 332-2376
www.balanceyourskin.com

Balance Skin Care describes itself as San Jose's premiere skin care studio, and based upon customer reviews, definitely appears to back up its claim as one of South Bay's bests. Located off Highway 880, near the Highway 82 intersection, the small business offers high-quality facials and waxings. For customers who wish to DIY, quality skin care products are sold at the studio and through its website. An awards program can give customers up to $100 in rewards and 10 percent off purchases. Among the spa products sold online are body creams, cleansers, body scrubs and sunscreens.

Beauty Avenue
782 Blossom Hill Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 356-3362
www.beautyavenueinc.com

With two locations, Beauty Avenue sells a wide selection of beauty products for professionals and regular customers, in particular those who want to DIY. This South Bay business has the biggest and best beauty inventory in Northern California. Among the spa products carried at Beauty Avenue are facial peels, exfoliates, eye treatments and moisturizers. In the addition to spa products, styling tools, tanning products, hair coloring products, home fragrances and men's grooming products are available.

Elements Beauty Essentials
1370 El Paseo De Saratoga
San Jose, CA 95130
(408) 871-9233
www.salonbuilder.com

Located in the El Paseo Shopping Center, not far from West Valley College, Elements is a popular destination known for its exceptional services and personal care products. While haircutting and styling is the salon's primary focus, the salon carries several quality brand names for skin care, including Marini, Dermalogica and Original Sprout. One of the latest high-end brands Elements carries is Moroccan Oil, a company specializing in spa treatment products. Facials, nail services and makeovers are also available at the salon and staff can make recommendations for the DIY customer.

Skin Spirit
701 Emerson St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 324-9600
www.skinspirit.com

A consistent winner of the Best Day Spa and Best Skincare from a local publication, Skin Spirit is unquestionably one of the Bay Area's best locations for aesthetic skin and body care. Led by Dr. M. Dean Vistnes, Skin Spirit has an impressive staff of medical professionals including nurses, nurse practitioners and aesthetic specialists. Among the luxury and medical-grade products sold in the retail area are anti-aging serums, Retin A, peptide mobilizers and exfoliation products. Skin Spirit has an "Ask the Experts" section on its website to answer any questions for the DIY customer whether it's about skincare, wrinkles or moisturizers.

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Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. His work can be found on Examiner.com.