November is National Healthy Skin Month.
I visited Deisy Suarez’s renowned Desuar Spa in the heart of Hollywood and learned about the importance of getting regular facials. I got a Swedish massage and a customizable facial. Both fantastic.
DESUAR is the perfect combination of founder Deisy Suarez’ name: DE-isy and SUAR-ez. A private day spa with three locations, DESUAR’s goal is to help balance mind and body to create a new state of mental and physical health. Opening the downtown Los Angeles spa in 2010, the Hollywood location followed, located on the famous Sunset Blvd. Deisy also launched DESUAR Monterey at the Spanish-style Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa.
DESUAR uses all-natural & organic essential massage oils, and you may select the combination that best suits your needs. They also offer top of the line organic & vegan face and body skincare products. Products have not been tested on animals and are environmentally sustainable for the planet. No matter what array of treatments you select, their menu of services has been thoughtfully curated to ensure that the whole person is treated to sensory delights and therapeutic, natural healing.
I sat down with Deisy to talk spa business:
What did you feel was missing in the spa industry that DESUAR provides?
I think it was out of reach, and it wasn’t inclusive because it was associated with luxury. A spa was always seen as a high-end place, and you’d think, I just can’t afford it. It was very expensive. Growing up and working in places like The Four Seasons and The Peninsula, it felt unattainable. Back then, there weren’t as many beauty spas popping up like they are now. It wasn’t an industry that was celebrated or one that empowered women. But now, it’s about inclusivity. As a Latina woman and a business owner, you represent that shift.
Could you describe one of your biggest struggles that you faced in the wellness industry?
There was a lot of stigma around that industry. When you worked at a spa, there was always this association with inappropriate things, and it was a bit challenging. It was also difficult to get people to understand that it wasn’t a lazy career, but a respectable one. For me, it was, because I took it very seriously. But back then, people would always push you to go to school and get a degree. When I mentioned that I wanted to be a cosmetologist or an aesthetician, they had no idea what that was. It was a challenge trying to educate people and explain the industry because they just didn’t know. They had no clue.
One of my biggest challenges was trying to find a landlord who would rent me a space. When I looked for locations to practice wellness or open a spa, they thought it was something inappropriate. I remember one realtor said, ‘Don’t tell them it’s a spa, just say it’s a salon.’ And I was like, ‘But it’s not a salon—I don’t do hair.’ He said, ‘Just tell them hair and nails.’ And I replied, ‘I don’t do that. It’s skincare and massages.’ I remember one landlord saying, ‘Massages? Like happy endings?’ And I said, ‘No! Like a spa!’ I faced a lot of rejection because of that—being a woman, being Latina—they probably thought I was trying to open some sort of illegal brothel. It was definitely challenging at that time.
But I think that stigma has been broken now. We are celebrated, and there’s so much inclusivity. Beauty, wellness, and makeup are huge industries. It’s a respected career and in high demand. People are learning to love themselves, embrace beauty and wellness, and care for their bodies inside and out. It’s amazing to see how far the industry has evolved.
You specialize in a myriad of treatments, micro-needling, dermal planning, etc. How did you come up with your treatments? How long did it take?
The menu has been carefully curated. And I was mentioning to you before, behind the scenes, that I have traveled everywhere, so I always took a little bit of everything. Everywhere I went, I visited so many spas, from spas in Kuala Lumpur to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Egypt, Morocco—I’ve been to so many places. I took a little bit of their culture, and I wanted to have a fusion of everything, where you can experience different treatments from around the world. So I follow that concept, but I also follow trends—things that are backed by science, things that we understand work, that are effective for the skin, for beauty and wellness, and also to make people feel their best, look their best, and get that fluffiness too. Because we want them to not only look good when they leave, but also feel good while receiving the service.
Now that the weather is getting colder, and I know many people are prone to dry skin, but specifically for darker skin tones, what with hyperpigmentation…What are darker skin tones more prone to during the colder seasons?
You can get those freeze burns that can actually lead to hyperpigmentation. As you mentioned, darker skin can be a little more sensitive, so you need to be more careful because it can be more problematic to treat. Not only because melanin gives us color, but it also acts as a defensive mechanism for the body. It’s there to protect you from any damage or burns. So when it feels that your skin is under attack, it starts producing more melanin. This leads to an increase in melanocytes, which can turn into hyperpigmentation. It can be very dangerous. That’s why we want you to keep your skin super hydrated—hydration is always key. Make sure that you don’t over-exfoliate, because over-exfoliation can make the skin more prone to hyperpigmentation. When you exfoliate too much, you’re taking away the protective barrier, damaging your acid mantle, and weakening the skin’s ability to protect you. This makes your skin more vulnerable to external invaders, whether it’s harsh weather or anything else. In the winter season, this can lead to the skin producing more melanocytes to protect you from damage. So, it’s important to keep your skin hydrated and avoid over-exfoliating. Masking is really good, and sleeping with a mask is really beneficial too.
What’s next for DESUAR?
We are opening our fourth location in Santa Cruz. We’ve partnered with the Marriott in Santa Cruz, right on the boardwalk near Riverside. If you’re familiar with Santa Cruz, it should be open sometime before the spring of next year. We’re planning to do the takeover in January, and the next takeover will be focused on expanding further with hotels and wellness spaces. We want to create places where people can spend 3-4 hours of their day receiving multiple services, rather than just a quick, in-and-out experience. A lot of people have entered this industry just to capitalize on it because they see there’s money to be made, but not many are doing it for the right reasons. I’ve been doing this with care and love, and my goal is for people to come in and have an experience—a full day where they can restore themselves. I’m focusing on this location, and I’m also working on launching new products. Those should be ready by the second week of December, and we have four new products coming.
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Book your appointment at: https://desuar.com/
