Urban Renewal Skin & Body

On several occasions I have gone to Libby when I had just plain wore myself out. She is an intuitive body worker and her facials make me feel fresh, revitalized and several years younger! Her products are the best and she is an expert at helping you get the most out of them. I had a bad experience with an anti-​aging treatment once, and her Lympahtic Drainage work remarkably alleviated my unsightly symptoms. I feel fortunate that she is part of my self care network!

Libby is a very skilled body worker. I enjoyed my massage and really benefited from the lymphatic drainage work — feeling extremely relaxed and healthy afterwards.

Thank you so much to Libby. My skin has never looked or felt better. I struggle with adult acne and sensitive skin. A tricky combo if there even was one, because the usual topical acne treatments dry the heck outta my skin and make it super irritated! She performed comfortable extractions and got the junk out of my skin, and recommended a skin-​care regimen that I can easily adhere to. She also treated my body to an awesome massage – her touch is firm and confident without having too much pressure on my ouchy spots.
Besides her mad skills, Libby is a joy to spend time with. She takes a holistic approach without being too woo-​woo. There isn’t annoying whale cry music on in the background, sage burning, or chiming meditation bowls. Just charming, funny, informed Libby making calls on my condition (s) that make sense without being too much on the scientific over my head end of the pendulum.
PLUS (!) like 157 people (ok, practically) complimented me on my glowing skin this week.

Best massage of my LIFE. Great atmosphere, great after care recommendations, and Libby has a very calm, inviting energy that complements the experience. I’ll definitely be going back!

I’m so glad I stumbled upon Urban Renewal while searching for a local massage. I was actually trying to arrange 6 massages, one for everyone in my office, within the same week. And since it’s part of an annual work benefit, I also needed to pre-​pay for everyone. Libby was a pleasure to work with. She was extremely quick to respond to me as well as very helpful with fitting everyone into her schedule with all of our weird schedules.
The massage was wonderful too! Everyone in the office tends to be a little stressed out (hence the massage perk), and Libby’s work had everyone feeling better! We also loved that she gave additional tips on how to relax/​ease tension at home. That just goes to show that she really does care about other people taking care of their own bodies.
I also love the Urban Renewal studio! It’s a nice little spot that feels very comforting when you enter. I’ve been to other studios that feel really crammed and/​or trying too hard to be «relaxing»… But this spot really does feel nice and inviting.

There is a massage that feels nice, and then there’s a massage from Libby. I initially went to Urban Renewal because I have chronic neck and shoulder pain (too much time spent on laptops!) and needed some relief. Libby went beyond what most of my previous masseuses had done by targeting the sources of the pain and working deeply into those areas. She also gave me some great ideas and exercises to do at home. I’ll continue to see her for tune-​ups as often as I can. Thanks, Libby!

Libby is so awesome! I need a very heavy hand when I get a massage and Libby is 100% up to the task. She can tell when I have a sore spot or something is off, even if I forget to tell her, she finds it (if she’s in the «area»). My only regret is that I can’t afford to go to her more often!

I went for a deep tissue massage. Libby is fantastic. I felt amazing afterwards, as if she took my body apart and put it back together the right way. Libby is very knowledgable and after the massage she gave me stretching recommendations to help prevent some of the muscle issues I was having.

Every time I go to Libby I feel fantastic for days afterwards. She is so talented and her energy is so easy to be comfortable and relax around without being flaky.
I was about to give up on the idea of massages altogether (I had had about 5). Libby has brought me back around to massages and how wonderful they can be. Other masseuses I would tell them «go easy» or a little harder” and they would acknowledge it but nothing would change. With Libby you can ACTUALLY sense when she adjusts her touch and she listens to your requests.
She always reminds me gently of aftercare for your body once you’ve had a message and that makes so much difference. It’s important to trust the person you’re letting work on your body in that way and with Libby you definitely can.
If you give yourself one gift this year, let it be a massage from Libby.

Libby is the real deal. I went for my second massage with her this morning, and it was even better than the first. Her space in in the Gadsby building, and like most of the spaces in there it is very quaint with exposed beams and big windows. It’s very cozy.
Libby is STRONG. That girl can bust a body up. I told her today that I was having severe neck/​shoulder issues and she spent 90 minutes grinding on just my head, neck and shoulders. At some moments I drifted off to sleep, and at other times I almost started crying because she was going so deep. When I got off the table I felt like a new person.
Honestly, she is one of the best massage therapists that I have ever visited. I will definitely be returning. She also gives facials and uses Phytomer products. I am excited to check those out, too.

Libby knows what she’s doing. I felt great afterwards and thought the massage was well worth the price. Libby’s cute too, but don’t push your luck, she’ll let you know her husband’s a Portland cop. Haha thanks Libby.

My husband got me a 1.5 hour gift certificate for my birthday because my back is really sore. I was so excited to use it! The experience was wonderful. Libby is very personable and pleasant and the atmosphere is mellow and comfy — just right. Libby gave me a full body massage with deep tissue massage on my back where it needed it most. I already booked another appt. for next month because I think this treatment will help de-​kink me! It felt very therapeutic AND relaxing.

My very first massage came from Libby, and it was nothing short of divine. The stresses from work, weather changes, and everything else just melted away as I received a full-​body relaxation massage, for 60 minutes for about $ 80. Ahh, I’m relaxing just thinking about it.
She was clearly very knowledgeable, found my trouble spots right away and flowed seamlessly from one massage area to the next. She knew I worked at a desk before I even told her, just my feeling my neck. My feet are obscenely ticklish, but her motions were so deliberate it wasn’t an issue in the least. Also, having your hands massaged is probably the greatest thing ever.
As much of a massage noob as I am, I don’t really know how to properly describe the experience to you Unilocalers. I can tell you she’s in a great building, in a beautiful space, she has a great way about her, and that I scheduled my next massage appointment right away after such a wonderful experience.

I may not be an expert on massages, as this was my first, but I am big on people, and vibes. Libby was fantastic. Everything about my experience with her was positive. From the awesome building her space is in, to her reassuring, friendly & helpful demeanor. My only regret is not seeing her 2 years ago when I first moved here. Something tells me I have found a gem with Libby, and I’m not sure I ever want to go to anyone else
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Since it was my first massage, she took her time offering me several options which I didn’t expect, like deep tissue & cupping (especially once she felt my tense neck & back!), which I may have had reservations about, but really trusted her thoughts on. I am glad I did!
She was honest with me and was able to tell right away that while a full body relaxation massage may feel nice, if I was on a mission to get in there and fix my kinks and problems, she would have to get deeper. And that she did. It was amaziiinnng. I had to giggle at myself at one point when I realized I was not in contol of my muscles, as she has MELTED ME, and I was DROOLING with my head in the massage table :)
The cupping was amazing, and she added it to my massage at no extra charge! She really took her time explaining what it would do for me, and I loved it. The bruises took my fiancé by surprise, but once I explained it to him like Libby did to me, he was so intruigued, and now wants to schedule a time to try it out. It is now 3 days later, and thanks to my session and taking her great advice on how to manage my sore spots, I can honestly say I walk taller and feel in charge of my body for the first time in a long time and needless to say I can’t wait to schedule another appointment.
Libby has found her niche, she really is doing something special here. My body and I can not thank her enough.
Oh, and it was such a nice touch that she sent me a thank you card, hand written in the mail following our time together. If all goes well in the world I will be drooling on her lovely floor again same time next month!

I surely thought I had already written a glowing review for Libby, but I guess not… so I will make my 300^th review (!) all about her.
I have been seeing her for deep-​tissue massages for several months now, and couldn’t be happier with her work. Well, I could be happier if I could get appts on the weekend on shorter notice, but hey, that’s what happens when you’re seeing someone this good.
I have some chronic sore spots and joint issues, and she always gets to the root of the pain and doesn’t stop working on that area until it’s fully loosened. I’m usually sore the next day, but that’s the sign of a good deep-​tissue massage.
Libby is also just a very calm, grounded person who is pleasant to be around. I wish I could fit her into my schedule more often!

Short version: Libby is a dream!
Longer version: Libby is a fabulous massage therapist and aesthetician. Nobody can work the kinks out of my neck the way she can (and I carry ALL my tension there). Her space is cozy and quiet and calm. Every time I get a facial or my brows done, she does a fabulous job. She cares, she remembers my quirks (even when I haven’t been in months), and is just a delight to talk to.

Libby really took care of my wife. She had a bad experience a few months back at one of those chain massage parlors (note to the chains: high pressure sales techiques, and cheap labor lose you more business than they get you), so after reading some reviews here and talking to Libby, I decided to get my wife a gift certificate and surprise her for her birthday.
I’m glad I did, because she said that she had never gotten a better masage in her life. For weeks, she kept telling me how great she felt. I get the hint, sweetheart. Another massage is just around the corner.

Truly awesome massage and great experience.
Libby is passionate and educated about what she does which comes through when you talk to her and if you have questions about what’s best for you.
She got really deep to work out knots and tension in my neck. I told her it kinda felt like a squeegee – in a good way ;)
She has a very relaxing and quiet space tucked away in a top corner of the Gadsby building. Not at all intimidating, just completely comfortable.
Libby also is super sweet when it comes to customer service. She responded quickly to email and I was able to book an appointment that way which works out nicely while working at the computer. And she even followed up after the appointment which was a nice touch.

Libby and I have worked together in a couple different capacities, and I love every one!
She helped me recover after my car accident with her amazing deep tissue work. She makes my face glow like a babies bottom and carries simply the best facial products ever. We have also done cross promotions together for working on problem skin inside and out.
Libby is not only a true professional, but a very very wise practitioner of skin and muscle work. I would highly recommend her for any of your massage and facial needs!

Libby has breathed life into my body a couple times when I could barely walk. She has been wonderful after I thrash my body playing football or running in Hood-​to-​coast type events. She will get right in there and give a great deep tissue massage to release all of those toxins to help your body recover. I have referred her to a couple people and they have told me nothing but good things.
I have put it off, but I hear the facials are to die for, so eventually I will make it in for one of those as well… and I am sure that I will have another review to post.
Thanks Libby!