July 14, 2006

Retail Roundup

Secret Oasis Day Spa: A relaxing haven in Evergreen Valley

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

The Secret Oasis Day Spa is aptly named. It’s a quiet haven of relaxation and pampering located in the heart of Evergreen.

When you walk into the Secret Oasis Day Spa, Danielle Farran, second from the left, introduces her staff as her sisters. Actually, they seem to work together like family, but only Jocelyn Smayra, far right, who is a massage therapist, is Farran’s sister. On the left, is massage therapist Florinda Berglund and receptionist Patty Carbajal is center right.

By contrast, the spa’s owner and esthetician is a bubbly, exciting woman named Danielle Farran. She opened the spa to provide women and men with a place to go not just for comfort and relaxation, but to also ensure those who enter the Oasis receive the benefits they need to keep themselves and their skin happy and healthy.

“If you feel good about yourself, you look good,” she said. “I look good because I feel good, and I pass that on to my clients.”

She also knows exactly what she’s doing. Farran began learning about skin care before she and her parents moved to the United States from Lebanon about 15 years ago.

She has a degree in cosmetology from the College of San Mateo and received her certification as a clinical esthetician from the American Institute of Estheticians. She isn’t about to stop her education though; she has and continues to attend a lot of seminars about skin esthetics. “It’s like teachers and doctors,” she said, “you have to keep practicing and keep learning. It’s a fast growing field.”

Also a certified massage therapist, Farran feels that education is important. She and her two staff massage therapists trained under a chiropractor in Cupertino. They provide whatever the client wants from pampering, to Swedish and deep tissue massages, to hot stone and foot reflexology.

In addition, the spa provides steam canopy therapy with aromatic or herbal steam. This is a relaxing steam bath in a large tent-like structure that treats the whole body as the client relaxes on a table. It can work on both your head and body, or just the body alone, to stimulate the immune system and detoxify and improve circulation.

Her main concern, however, is her clients’ skin. She initially worked in spas in Palo Alto and San Mateo, and was in charge of skin care for the Emporium at Valley Fair. She opened her own day spa in Fremont and stayed there for two years, but when she bought a home in Evergreen she decided to move her business there, too.

“I’ve been in Evergreen for nine years,” she said. “The area needs someone like me. Why should Evergreen residents have to drive to Los Gatos or Palo Alto for skin care and relaxation needs? We need to be here. I love being in Evergreen.”

Her clients really enjoy the spa, including two who sent e-mails describing why they like Secret Oasis. “They are experts in skincare, the waxing is great, and the people in the front office always have smiles. Service beyond expectation,” said Delfina Bracamontes of San Jose.

Laura Villarreal agreed, adding that she, “loves the atmosphere, it is always a treat being pampered by such a caring professional. I would never leave my skincare in any others hands,” she said.

The spa originally was called Secret Oasis Skin Care, but when it moved to the Golden Hills Professional Center, Farran renamed it a day spa.

Farran’s goal is to allow Evergreen residents a place where “they can relax their body and mind together,” she said.

And, while a customer may ask for a certain treatment, Farran treats each client with a “custom treatment. Skin is never the same. Everyone is different and every treatment is custom. I blend treatments to target the skin needs for each person that comes in,” she said.

For example, Oasis’ most popular facial is its Oxygen facial, which offers mineral and seaweed masks. “I change the vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of each particular skin,” she added.

Farran also advocates three things that are a must for good skin: a good cleanser, moisturizer, and a good sun block. ”I’d rather have you on a good sun block than anything else because you are protecting yourself from sun damage and expanding the health of your skin.”

Cleansing is also very important for healthy skin, she said. Besides removing dead cells it stimulates circulation and rejuvenates the skin.

She also likes to have teenagers come in because it means they are learning to care for themselves early on. “It’s important to educate teens on how to use products and get them on a good regime,” she said. “If you start teens out with good habits you get to the point where there’s no needs for harsh medications, like Acutane, or antibiotics that can have ugly side affects. You reach the goal slowly, but it gets rid of the need for medications that often have harmful side affects.”

Treatments are wide and varied. Besides a large variety of facials and the massages, the spa offers waxing services for the body, eye brow and lash tints, ear candling and ear piercing. Ear candling is a service that cleans out the ears using oxygen—nothing touches the ear canal but air.

The spa also features microdermabrasion and glycolic/salicylic peels. It offers acne and body treatments, including back facials, herbal wraps and salt and glow rubs as well as an eye revitalizing treatment.

Like most day spas, Secret Oasis also offers six-facial/massage packages that provide a break on prices. For example, the Pampering Oasis package includes an Oasis Signature facial, an eye treatment and canopy steam for $200. Also available are an Oxygen Glow package featuring an Oxygen Facial and Salt and Glow Body for $180; a detoxifying package that includes an oxygen facial and a one-hour Swedish massage for $140; a Mermaid package that offers a Sea Salt Polish and a Mud Bath for $125; a Healing package consisting of a Hydro Facial and a one-hour Swedish massage for $125; and a Mini package with a Mini facial and a half-hour Swedish massage for $90.

Guests also can create their own packages by combining any facial, body treatment or massage and receive 10 percent off. The spa has a room with two wide massage tables so that couples can enjoy a massage and other treatments together.

Her loyal client base is a testament to Farran’s expertise and care. While most come from this area, she also has clients who have followed her from Hayward and those who fly in from San Diego, Las Vegas, and even Boston.
While the spa does offer some specials, her prices are firm. “My staff and I spend a lot of money on our training. We are good at what we do, proud of what we do and we are worth it.

Given that, she does offer 20 percent off for first time clients or $15 off any one-hour massage therapy treatment. This offer is valid for first time clients who mention this article. Gift certificates are also available.

The Secret Oasis Day Spa is located at 2690 South White Road, Suite 40 and can be reached at (408) 238-3216 or by e-mail at secretoasis@sbcglobal.net. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Web site at www.secretoasisdayspa.com.