Beauty Awards 2009

Best Vibe

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

There are the "get in-get out" salons, run like a business and nothing else. And then there are those that feel like some magical cross between our favorite coffee shop, our coolest friend's loft, and our therapist's office. Case in point: I Soci Salon (8 Newbury Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, 617.867.9484). We get the feeling that we could laze in a stylist's chair and watch the world go by for hours - both within the buzzing, bustling space and through its plate-glass windows down below on Newbury. We've long loved this place, but under the new direction and fresh perspective of husband-and-wife team Drew and Melissa Gullotti, it's only getting better.

The “We’ll Take the Scolding and Be Better for It” Award

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Two eponymous locations strong, Violet Mkhitaryan is the feisty Armenian grandmother we never had. At Violet Skin Boutique (257 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.262.7546; 1362 Beacon Street, Brookline, 617.264.7546), she practices her own particular brand of tough love that, delivered by anyone else, might be perceived as a snub. But somehow, as she squeezes our blackheads and inquires about our bathroom habits during her stuff-of-legends facials, Mkhitaryan can do no wrong - perhaps because her no-nonsense advice consistently yields real results, client after client.

Best Locally Developed Product

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

We find ourselves blushing with pride every time we see Living Proof's innovative No Frizz product line heralded in the national glossies as one of the most game-changing new beauty discoveries in recent memory. The baby of MIT scientists, local hair guru Mitch DeRosa, and some business-minded execs, the brand scored an insane Sephora deal right out of the gate for its line of straightening and curl-defining hair products, has since launched a shampoo and two conditioners, and is due to debut a volume-building formula early next year. Amazing thing is, the stuff actually works.

Best Soundtrack

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Next time you're in for a trim, keep your ears open for something other than the latest gossip: a salon's soundtrack is anything but background noise. Carefully curated by owner Alex Iacobacci, the soundtrack at Avanti Salon (11 Newbury Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, 617.267.4027) stands out from the crowd. A blend of podcasts, Pandora, and Iacobacci's personal playlists, Avanti's tunes are custom-fitted to the time of day in order to set the mood. Chill mornings build into loungey house beats around noon. And when night falls, the salon's sounds draw from Iacobacci's Miami roots and the tastes of his LA- and Singapore-based friends. It's all very hotel-lobby chic - and miles away from the elevator music we've encountered in other spots.

The "So Good You Could Eat It" Award

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

It's always a plus when we can pronounce the ingredients list of our facial treatment. We're practically ready to make a snack out of the Superfood Facial ($130) at Brad Duncan Skin Care (530 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.482.1700). The treatment utilizes a series of yummy-sounding creams and cleansers like the Blueberry Fusion Antioxidant Facial Scrub and the Cucumber Juice Toner, all by the Body Deli. Across town, Nami Spa (262 Beacon Street, 6th Floor, Boston, 617.267.6264) draws from one of our favorite product lines, Juice Beauty, for its Organic Fruit Facial ($120) and Anti-Blemish Facial ($140), both fortified with vitamin-rich green apple and pomegranate.

Best Facial by a Minor (Or, It Seems That Way, At Least)

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Our first thought when we sat down with esthetician Ashley Schrater at The Loft Salon + Day Spa (207 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.536.5638) was, how is she old enough for this? But once she began smoothing on serum after scrub after cream after cleanser, knowledgably talking us through each one of her processes, our concerns simply disappeared. Schrater finds her forte in her super-customized facial treatments, which take into careful account the specific needs of each client's skin. Last time we visited, she even sent us home with a tiny jar of some magical cream she'd whipped up just for us. PS: We did some background checking, and it turns out she's 21 - so, feel free to toast to your like-new complexion post-treatment.

Best Way to Channel Your Inner Sun Goddess- Minus the Skin Cancer

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The skin cancer warnings might not have done it, but the spray tan obsession of The Beauty Mark (33 Charles Street, Boston, 617.720.1555) owner Amy Chien Bailey was enough to convince us to swear off tanning beds for good. Bailey offers both full-body ($75) and leg-only ($35) services at her Beacon Hill shop, and she's been known to throw the occasional tanning party when the mood strikes her and the season feels right. For a hands-on application, there's also Grettacole (Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.266.6166), which offers the Body Bronze in conjunction with a full-body scrub ($115) for maximum staying power.

The "Crap I Tried This At Home and Need it Fixed Quickly" Awards

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Color

When that drugstore box leads to "Pumpkin Streaks" instead of "Amber Glow," know that you can put your trust in the color experts at Sassoon Salon (399 Boylston Street, Boston, (617.536.5496). It doesn't hurt that the Boston outpost's spacious new digs are home to the brand's East Coast Regional Color Director, Richie Rivera, either.

Brows

In moments of severe brow distress, we've done well to duck into the cosmetics area at Macy's (450 Washington Street, Boston, 617.357.3000), of all places, finding solace at the Benefit Brow Bar. Staffed with brow techs who know their way around a strip of wax and a pair of tweezers, this spot is a place where appointments come easy, prices are reasonable, and results are solid. Plus, the counter's arsenal of cheekily packaged product means that an array of pencils, powders, and other cosmetic fix-its are at your disposal.

Bangs

Rainy day projects should never, ever include you, your hair, and a pair of scissors (or a ShamWow,

for that matter). But if you do happen to let your creativity run wild and need a quick fix, book an appointment immediately with Jana Rago at Salon Àcôté (132 Newbury Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, 617.262.5111). She's known to find a way to squeeze you into her crazy schedule and is a whiz at working with hair crises, including those involving bangs. As for bedazzling your favorite jean jacket and painting your bedroom neon green, we can't really help you there, creative genius.

Makeup

Liquid eyeliner? Easy peasy. False eyelashes? Piece of cake! Oh please. Don't let those do-it-yourself YouTube videos inspire a false sense of expert talent when you're getting ready for your next black-tie event. If you've already taken the smoky-eye look to a frightening new level and you don't know how to even begin to fix it, pop into Fresh (121 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.421.1212). Store manager Ulana Nosal or makeup artist Jeannie Vincent (our personal favorites) will wash your beauty sins away and give you a natural, dewy glow that says "Makeup, what makeup? I always look this fabulous." Ah, that's more like it.

Pedicure

It may cost nearly nothing to slap paint on your own toes, but leave the major cuticle surgery to the pros. The Specialty Pedicure ($90) at Melt Spa (172 Newbury Street, 617.262.1116) includes a long soak in seasonal scented oils followed by a scrub, mask, and blissful massage for your overworked arches. Sure, it's a splurge, but Melt's nail techs can repair any of the damage caused while you earnestly stabbed your poor toesies with manicure scissors. And after that otherworldly oil rub, your feet will thank you for hiring a professional.

Best Neighborhood Spot

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

There are some parts of town where a spa can easily seem superfluous. But in others, a spa can become a real hub for the neighborhood, especially when it's as stellar as Spa Christine (699 East Broadway, South Boston, 617.269.0019), which has quietly, patiently carved out its place in the heart of Southie. A one-stop shop staffed with experts in practically every beauty field - hair, skincare, lashes, waxing, massage, makeup - the space also hosts a super-cute retail area that carries everything from shampoos and lip glosses to housewares and jewelry. And their Brazilian bikini wax is one of the best in town. Also, check out the newly added bamboo massage, and get the knots rolled and beaten out of you in a pleasurable pain kind of way.

Best Lunchtime Blow-Out

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

We'll be the first to admit to suffering from a particular brand of beauty-related ADD. Regardless, some long-standing local favorites have managed to cut through the clutter and remain on our radar. One such salon? Safar (235 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.247.3933), a Boston mainstay since the seventies. Ever since we hit young-professional status, Safar has been one of our go-to spots for a no-nonsense lunchtime blowout ($30 and up) that (A) always gets us back to the office in time, (B) preps us perfectly for the evening's activities, and (C) is a far better use of our time than scarfing down PB&Js at our desks.

"The Best Things Come in Small Packages" Award

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The old adage couldn't be truer at A Matter of Face (425 Hanover Street, Boston, 617.742.5874), which owner Paula Tierney has stocked to the gills with a carefully edited selection of product (seriously, you'd have to be selective with that square footage) from the likes of Darphin, Paula Dorf, and Caudalie. One of the few independent beauty shops still left in town, Tierney makes the most of her teensy North End space, even hosting regular events that feature freebie treatments and appearances by celebrity makeup artists.

The "Just Call Us a Hand Model Already" Award

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Problem: we love the polished look of a perfect manicure, but, as notorious nail-chippers, we're not willing to shell out for the services of a fancy-schmancy spa. Solution? MiniLuxe (296 Newbury Street, Boston, 857.362.7444), a favorite to pretty much every beauty-industry insider we've asked. A definite step up from your average walk-in nail salon, MiniLuxe does an impeccable job for only slightly more cash, is serious about cleanliness (a major plus), and offers great alternatives like an organic mani. Love the beauty boutique, too. Tip: ask for Lisa Cao, who is as talented as she is adorable.

Best Spot to Get Your Weave On with a Side of Gossip

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Hair extensions are like that first weekend away with a new boyfriend: a serious commitment. We don't dole out recommendations at will, but Shellee Mendes and the team at Salon Monet (176 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.425.0009) get our vote. For that matter, we'd probably take their guy advice, too. It may not have the too-chic-for-words feel of many of its Back Bay neighbors, but we so enjoy the salon's casual, gossipy vibe - as well as the fact that service doesn't suffer because of it.

Most Likely to Succeed

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

We're pretty sure their publicist hates us by now, considering how many times we've emailed him for an update on opening day. You think the W Boston (100 Stuart Street, Boston, 617.261.8700) was highly anticipated? We're at the edge of our pedicure chairs, just waiting for the hotel's soon-to-be Bliss Spa - which, at press time, was slated to open in late January. We've long prayed to the beauty gods for our very own rendition of the sassy New York-born spa, which comes complete with its fantastic line of product and corresponding treatments like the cellulite-busting Quadruple Thighpass and the Peeling Groovy Facial.

Chains We Can Endorse

Stuff Boston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

We know that some tragic bang snip just before school picture day may have dissuaded you from ever trusting chains again (thanks a lot, Supercuts), but the personalized attention offered at Dessange (505 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.236.0101) and Dellaria Salons (623 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.262.8759; 78 Summer Street, Boston, 617.350.7868) is almost enough to have us rethinking our stance on big-box beauty. Dessange has international scope, boasting 900 salons worldwide and status as the official hairstylist for the Cannes Film Festival (ooh la la!), while Dellaria is a beloved homegrown chain with 26 New England locations and the responsibility of prettifying those primped-out Patriots Cheerleaders. But both make us look - and, just as important, feel - like we're one in a million.