Violet Skin Boutique

I love this place. The facials are out of this world. And the bikini wax really does hurt less than at other waxing places. I also love their face soaps and the treats they have in their waiting area (dark chocolate, tea, etc.) I hate parking there and it’s far from my house, but it’s a little oasis that I really enjoy the total experience at Violet’s.

Truly, the worst facial I’ve ever had. In my life. And I’ve been getting facials since high school. I came on a very cold day (this past January, during all those big snow storms) and the woman at the front desk didn’t even greet me, just said, «Take off your shoes and put them over there,» gesturing to a shoe tray by the front door, which was leaking cold air. Shivering, I did so, then had to walk around the lobby in my socks, freezing. Soon, the esthetician came out and didn’t greet me, didn’t ask my name, didn’t say a word, just gestured for me to come with her, into a room across from the main desk, just off the lobby. «Take off your clothes and lie down,» she said. I did so, still shivering, as the room was decidedly not warm. She was gone a long time – a weirdly long time – but eventually came back in, took a quick look at my skin, and got to work, without asking me a single question. And by «work» I mean: She hardly did anything. A few extractions (I left with some visibly clogged pores!), a quick mask, and that was pretty much it. Meanwhile, she kept leaving the room. So, she’d clean my skin, then get up and leave for awhile. Rub something on it, then leave again. In retrospect, she must have been doing two facials at once, and leaving another person in another room. There was no facial massage, no discussion of my skin concerns, no assessment of my skin, no explanation of what she was doing. Eventually, toward the end, as I lay there, still shivering, she asked me about my skincare routine. I explained it: mild retinol at night, plus oil and night cream; vitamin c serum during the day, plus oil and day cream/​sunscreen. All pretty standard stuff. And she, nastily, said, «That sounds really complicated. You should use our products. They’re simple.» The funny thing is: I actually had been using their products. Some months earlier, I friend had recommended them, so I stopped in and brought three home: The rosacea mask, the argan oil with rose, and the rosacea cream. And I found them almost completely ineffective. The argan oil isn’t pure argan oil (it has all sorts of crap, like soybean oil in it), but costs as much as, say, Jose Maran’s (excellent) pure argan oil. The rosacea cream somehow manages to be super-​greasy but not super-​hydrating. And the mask dried my skin out. (It was supposed to be moisturizing.) I was too annoyed by the whole thing to explain this to her, so I just nodded and waited for this pointless facial to be over.
I left and my skin was red and irritated. It calmed down the next day, but didn’t look any better than before the facial.
Never, ever again.

I’ve been a client at Violet Skin Boutique over seven years… since they had one in newbury st. I had a huge acne problems all over my face since I was in College. One of my friend recommended this skin boutique so I tried it… and YES!!! My skin got so much better now!!! I’ve been using all the products (Skin toner, cleanser, oatmeal mask, face cream, skin corrector etc) over years and I can tell it really works on my face… I’ve been to many different dermatologists, skin boutiques in NY and LA which lot of celebs are going but it worked temporarily. Violet Skin Boutique, literally cleared my face completely and no one knows that I suffered with acne problems before. I did spent quiet a lot of money (about $ 300 every month facials/products)but so worth it… I would highly recommend to anyone who suffered with acne problems!!!

I have never in my life experienced such rudeness from a business owner. I have been going to Violet for quite some time, she does an excellent eyebrow wax and has great products, which is why i have continued to go back, but my last interaction with her was most definitely my last. After some research the Argan oil that i love i found online for a quarter of the price on amazon and have discovered other natural based products that worked just as well. I frequented her Brookline location, and although there is parking, it is Brookline and we all know that it’s a challenge to get there at times. Upon entering the spa 4 minutes late the first words i heard were «move! move! move!», no greeting, not even a response to my cheerful hello. Maybe this is the customer service one would expect during the 1970’s in Armenia, but this is unacceptable.
Upon leaving i received a thank you email at 4:18PM…which means i had paid and was out the door within 14 minutes, so clearly, i wasn’t the cause of stalling any other appointments. For a $ 35 eyebrow wax, I’ll gladly take my business elsewhere to someone who respects their clients.

I am pleasantly surprised with my visit to Violet. I wasn’t sold on this place based on the mixed reviews, but I just so happened to be walking by, was bored and needed to kill an hour.
Very happy I took the chance.
It’s a boutique spa in Brookline. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. It’s not the kind of spa with a ton of amenities but the décor is nice & the ambiance is very pleasant.
I booked an hour prenatal massage with Tal. She had such an amazing energy, she was so nice & gave me a fantastic massage. I will definitely see her again.
The only negative remarks I can make are the slippers they provide are incredibly uncomfortable and the massage table could use some padding. It is a heated table, which is nice but definitely needs a little more cushion.

You walk in and it’s like you enter a tranquil oasis from bustling Coolidge Corner. The ambience is a bit New-​Age-​y as you’re directed to take off your shoes and put on athletic slip-​on sandals instead. Receptionist was kind and the owner (I assume) checked in while I waited, called me «love» and lightly brushed her hand against my cheek as she said I wouldn’t wait much longer. I can’t say everyone gets that type of treatment but it certainly left an impression.
Saw Milena through a Groupon for a BW. The room was small, but clean with high ceilings and bright lights (noticeable since that’s what I’m staring at for a while). They use hard wax instead of the soft wax/​muslin combo (which was a first for me) and I actually didn’t mind it much. The initial «flicking» didn’t bother me nor was it super painful. I was less irritated and had virtually no pain thereafter! And it didn’t take much longer as some articles suggest. I actually don’t mind if the process is longer b/​c it feels thorough and not rushed. Milena checked in, very little small talk, and did a good job.
Even though I typically walk away from these services shaking my head and wondering why women do this to themselves, I left Violet Skin Boutique pretty darn satisfied!

I have been to Violet twice now for a Brazilian wax. The first time was because I had a GroupOn and wanted to try someplace new since my old wax place was about an hours commute away which was becoming a real hassle. The second time I went they were having a sale where Brazilian’s were $ 55 instead of $ 65. While the deals were great to have, I would easily pay $ 65 for a wax here. Most people think that’s crazy expensive, and I don’t disagree, but the place is clean, staff is nice, and the wax process is easy and efficient. They use hard wax here which I had never had before and boy does it make a BIG difference as far as pain, I’m not so good with pain so this was a welcome experience, yet another reason to pay a little more. Also, the estheticians I had both times were great with tips to keep away those nasty ingrown hairs and really took the time to interact and give a little more of a personal experience. While a little bit on the pricey side for myself personally, it’s worth it!

Checked out the Coolidge Corner location last night after work for a much needed facial. The 60 minute facial took exactly 60 minutes. The esthetician was extremely detai oriented and took her time with everything, I even got my neck and should massaged which was awesome. The products used were just accurate for my skin, which is sensitive with some blemishes and roseacea. Got the mask with the 20% off discount for first time clients. I can only speak from my experience and it was perfect and I’m a hard pleaser. They didn’t even push hard with the products, which I appreciated very much. Will probably go again.

I got a facial there and the one concern that I expressed was that I had very oily skin. I came out of the facial SO GREASY that I actually had to head straight home and re-​wash my face.
Also, I was using a gift card. Mass law states that if you use up 90% of a gift card, you are entitled to cash out the rest. They refused to honor this policy, even though it is again the law. Needless to say, I will NEVER RETURN and I will be filing a complaint with the Dept of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Double dipped in their waxing. Saw it with my own eyes and commented, but was told not to worry about it. tsk tsk tsk

Just had an awful experence at Violet but it seems like there are many others with simliar experiences. This is a shame…
Two years ago I got a massage at their Newbury St. location and it was devine. Knowing this my girlfriend purchased me a gift certificate for another massage for my birthday, from value club.
Today I finally made it in for a massage. The gift card is valued for a 90 minute massage but they only had 60 minute massages available for today. Okay, fine by me. I get there and am asked to remove my shoes to put on some really hard slippers, that every other person who has walked through the door has worn (even bowling alleys spray some sanitizer into their shoes). But okay… still eagerly looking forward to my massage. After sitting in the waiting room for 20 minutes, I was finally met by my massage therapist and I explained to her what areas needed more attention. We went into the room and I received a massage for about 45 – 50 minutes. Afterwards, my therapist rushed off to her next client, stopping me in the hallway to tell me that I’m too muscular and that I should try yoga instead (actually I do yoga but seeing as how I am also a smei-​professional football player, strength training is also a part of my regimen… so ummm… thanks?). I then proceed to the receptionist to pay for my mediocre service. The receptionist asks me if I told anyone that I was paying with value club gift cards. Since there was no stipulation on the certificates, on their website, or even at the desk I hadn’t. She proceeded to tell me that I couldn’t use it for my massage but that I could use it for a facial or manicure. I don’t get facials and I already have a great manicurist (nor do I need $ 165 worth of gift certificates for manicures). I asked her to speak with her surpervisor because I had no other need for the certificates. She typed with her supervisor for a few more minutes only to tell me that there is nothing that she can do and that I needed to pay $ 105 for my service (thank god i brought my credit cards with me).
I still tipped my massage therapist on the full value (it’s not her fault that the managers could care less about customer satisfaction). So I have $ 165 of useless certificates because I will never visit Violet again…
Don’t waste your money!!! I get massages monthly and have tried various places in and around Boston, the massage ranked among the mediocre AND customer service was the absolute worst.

Unilocal filtered my last review of Violet’s Brookline location. I think it is interesting that so many 5-​star reviews of her salon have been filtered by Unilocal.I love Unilocal for helping me find great people but I do think it is suspicious that with so many 5-​star reviews (seen only after removing the filter), Violet only gets a 3.5 star rating… I’ve been going to Violet since I moved here in 2008, and have tried other salons here but was appalled at how little they knew and did for the money and will only go to Violet at this point. I’m starting to think some of the lower ratings (most are from a couple of years ago anyway) are more suspicious than the higher ones!

I tried to schedule a wax with Violet because of the rave review on Daily Candy and was told she did not have any open appointments for a while so I could see someone else — whom the receptionist assured me was very good because waxing was all she did at the salon. I went to my appointment and a lady came out that introduced herself as someone completely new — neither Violet nor the other person the receptionist had promised me. She was running behind by about 15 minutes so she came out to let me know and apologize. When I finally went in, the wax was sooooo hot I thought I was going to have 3^rd degree burns. I tried to keep it in for a while, but my legs kept twitching and I couldn’t help but squirm around. I have had waxes on numerous occasions so I know this temperature was not normal! I finally asked her why the wax was so hot and she seemed to turn the crock pot of wax down but also seemed surprised that I was saying that. The wax never got any cooler. On top of that she was very very slow which just made the entire process way too long and too painful. If it wasn’t for the severe heat and pain, I probably would have been more upset about the double dipping of the stick in the wax.

THE BEST PRODUCTS EVER!!! I’ve been going to Violet since she opened. First time I was SOLD! The estheticians are SO knowledgeable, honest, and in tune. The products for facials are a DELICIOUS experience. Not because they are tasty but because you literally feel like saying mmmmmmmmm! When I use any of their masks to purchase I get compliments the next day. They brew everything in house, everything is organic and the products for moisture, hair, skin, you name it, they are superb! Why did I give them 4 stars out of 5? Because the actual Spa is nothing to drop your jaw over. It’s simple, it’s humble… it’s annoying that I have to take off my shoes… but aside from that, ugh SO WORTH IT!!! Hit them up. Get the herbal signature facial. Just that alone you will be happy. :)

Since it is Spa Week, I decided to take advantage of the promotions to get a much-​needed facial. I arrived for my appointment right on time and was asked to change into slippers. I loved that they offered an assortment of sweets, tea, and lemon-​infused water in the waiting area. I also took a few minutes to peruse the all-​natural, handmade beauty potions that they offer for sale. The overall environment is super feminine and it really feels charming and cozy.
My esthetician, Netta, escorted me to the treatment room, which was lit by candlelight. How romantical… Although Netta did leave the room several times without explanaton and at one point, she left a cleanser on my face, which stung a bit due to the fact that the steaming device was making the distilled water go into my eyes. I did like the fact that she seemed very knowledgeable about skincare and gave me some tips on improving hydration. She also suggested that I might have a food (gluten or dairy) allergy due to a concentrated breakout on my forehead. Definitely not something that had occurred to me previously.
Overall, the treatment itself felt pretty thorough (and at the discounted price of $ 50, a good deal), but my skin was fairly red and blotchy immediately after the extractions were done. It took nearly a whole day for my skin to recover. Not pretty. Definitely not a good idea to get this type of facial the day of or day before a big event or date night.
As a bonus, Violet’s skincare products were all 20% off as a part of the Spa Week promotion, so I bought a facial cream that smells like a fruit smoothie. All of the beauty potions smell delightful, but they are a little pricey. Take advantage of the sales when you can!

Note to skin care technicians as a whole — insulting your client’s skin is not a great idea. You *all* do this and it’s, well, insulting. Telling me I have «scars leftover from what must have been very bad teenage skin» is not only rude, it’s perfectly untrue. (My teen skin was fine, I have no scars). Selling your line of skin care is normal, but maybe wait until you’ve applied even the first layer before pitching it and telling me how great you are. Not a bad facial, but bedside manner is part of it and there was none on display.
Pros: easy parking, nice atmosphere, nice girl checking in at the front.
Cons: should cover clients with blankets, not towels, spa-​wraps should be warm terry cloth, not plastic.

This place is awesome for facials! I had my first facial ever here and it was fabulous, but I thought all facials would be just that fabulous. Not so. I’m writing this review after going to a few other places for facials, and they are honestly really good. They talk to you about your skin and what products you should and shouldn’t use. The place was just gorgeous too. Everything was bright, clean, and spacious. I’m definitely going back.

I have been to Violet Back Bay for multiple facials, as I believe it is what they do best. Since the Brookline location was doing a promotion, I decided to check it out. Compared to the Newbury location, Brookline is much bigger, newer, and brighter. The bed was comfortable. My flex seed facial definitely calmed and rejuvenated my skin. Aside from the facial, my knots were untied after the shoulder and hand massage that comes with the facial. I highly recommend coming to Violet for a facial.

This review is for the 60 min swedish massage for $ 95.
I know that Violet is a skin boutique and they do not specialize in massages– however, I feel that if a service if part of the menu, they should at least match their service to the price offered.
Like all spas, I went in about 15 minutes earlier than my appointment which was at 4PM. As my appointment time reached, no one called me in– it was 10 minutes afterwards that my masseur introduced herself to me. As I finally got changed and settled into the room, I started 15 minutes over my appointment time.
Before the massage, I informed my masseur that I like my pressure strong; I felt that during the massage she was pressing on some of my sensitive spots too firmly and asked her to do it softer. I wasn’t able to feel the difference and told her to readjust her pressure twice. The massage was decent after that, nothing too spectacular. After the massage, I didn’t feel relieved like I have had with other massages/​masseurs.
I have to give compliments to the oil, the scent was soothing and not too overpowering. She used just enough oil throughout the massage– not too much that I had to take another shower afterwards enough to last me through the rest of the day without irritation.
The reason why I give my experience at Violet a 2 star is that I booked my massage for 60 min at 4 PM. My massage ended 15 minutes too early.
If you’re willing to take a chance, then book this place. I booked this place because it was a convenient location from me, but for future massages, I would rather go farther and receive a massage worth my money.

Violet has opened another branch in Coolidge Corner. Everything is the same as the Newbury Street branch — same soothing lavender décor, same product line, same opening hours (Tue — Sun) same slavic women providing the services.
Mariola was my facialist and she was brilliant. I found her skin care advice to be more effective for me in the long term than my previous Violet esthetician, as were the products she prescribed. She was also very friendly and easygoing.
You will get essentially the same experience at both branches, but I would definitely recommend Mariola if you have problem skin. She knows what she’s talking about.