Spa Review: We tried a Holistic Skin Treatment at The Spa at Primally Pure
Growing up around her family’s organic livestock farm in Southern California, Bethany McDaniel made the switch to all-natural personal care products after learning about the importance of caring for the body naturally, and eventually founded Primally Pure in 2015. The non-toxic skincare line consists of pure, simple ingredients that nurture skin while helping it look its best, and in February 2019, the brand launched The Spa at Primally Pure at the company’s “spaffice” headquarters in Murrieta, California.
The Spa at Primally Pure: A Sanctuary for Holistic Skin Treatments
As a big fan of the brand, I was extremely excited for the opportunity to visit Primally Pure’s headquarters and spend a day at their spa, which offers treatments on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s located in a beautiful town with wide roads, trees, and plenty of space—a nice change of pace from hectic Los Angeles life!
Here’s what you’ll love about The Spa at Primally Pure:
It’s located at the brand’s “spaffice” headquarters—a chic and stylish space where guests can receive treatments and shop the entire skincare line.
Primally Pure products are formulated using certified 100% natural organic ingredients that are sourced with care.
The Spa at Primally Pure offers Holistic Skin Treatments that are customized according to each customer’s specific skincare concerns, incorporating advanced massage techniques and stress-relieving rituals.
Prior to services, guests receive an in-depth skincare consultation and skin analysis, and are served a cup of organic herbal tea that is custom formulated by a master herbalist and intentionally paired with each specific treatment to promote desired skin results from the inside out.
Guests also enjoy a soothing foot soak to help them relax the mind and body before their treatment.
All of the skincare services are performed by the incredibly skilled holistic esthetician Courtney Joy O’Connor.
During the treatment, custom masks are blended by the esthetician with the same raw ingredients (natural clays, herbs, and oils) that are used to handcraft Primally Pure products.
At the end of the experience, guests are served a delicious Skin Superfood Bliss Ball made with organic ingredients to nourish skin needs based on the treatment they received.
For every spa appointment, Primally Pure donates 10% of proceeds to provide holistic beauty and well-being treatments to those who are unable to access or afford these types of experiences.
The minute you walk through the door at Primally Pure, you’ll be awestruck by how beautiful it is—I certainly was. The entire space was designed by McDaniel’s sister-in-law, Lynsey Greive, and it looks like it belongs on the pages of a home design magazine. I could totally live here, I decided…
Downstairs there is a conference room, as well as the brand’s warehouse and manufacturing facility, where all of the products are made fresh, then packaged and shipped out to customers around the world. It was fun getting a behind-the-scenes look at the various skincare products as they were being bottled and the entire place smelled amazing. Talk about a dream job!
I headed upstairs where The Spa at Primally Pure is located, and was greeted by the friendly Spa Coordinator Rylie Granados. The beautifully designed spa area is open and light, and features a check-in desk, retail area, two private treatment rooms, and a bathroom.
After leading me to a seat, Granados returned with a comfy pair of slippers and an iPad, on which I filled out a Skincare Pure-Scription about my skin and its needs to help guide the in-depth consultation.
I was offered my choice between three different blends of organic herbal tea, which have been formulated by a local master herbalist to support each specific Holistic Skin Treatment and the results that one wants to achieve. The tea options include:
Clarifying: Peppermint, Nettle, Dandelion Leaf, Licorice Root, Ginger, Milk Thistle, Cascara Sagrada
Plumping: Lemongrass, Hibiscus, Orange Peel, Roses
Soothing: Oatstraw, Skullcap, Kava Kava Root, Gingko Lead, Wood Betony, Rhodiola, Clove
Next, I enjoyed a relaxing foot bath with Primally Pure’s Sea Soak, which helps detox and refresh the feet with a blend of epsom salts, seaweed, green clay, and organic essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, and spearmint. It was a great way to unwind, soothe my sore feet, and it helped to clear my mind of distractions as well.
The spa’s holistic esthetician, Courtney Joy O’Connor, came out to greet me and sat down to discuss the Skincare Pure-Scription I had filled out. After going over my skin concerns and needs, she led me to one of the treatment rooms, where I changed into a comfortable spa wrap and slipped under the covers, ready for my facial to begin!
The Spa at Primally Pure offers four different Holistic Skin Treatments—Refresh, Clarify, Soothe, and Plump—which can be customized and combined according to each guest’s needs. I received a combination of the Clarify and Plump treatments, which help to brighten, strengthen, and rejuvenate the skin. Aside from the Refresh, which is 45 minutes long, the other facials are offered in both 75 and 105-minute sessions.
For optimal results, a weekly series of four treatments followed by monthly maintenance facials is recommended, but your esthetician will create a personalized Skin Therapy Series to help you reach your desired skin results.
My facial began with aromatherapy and deep, diaphragmatic breathing to relax the body and mind. O’Connor double-cleansed my face with warm steam, using Primally Pure Cleansing Oil and Baby Bar made with goat milk. After removing everything with a warm, aromatic towel, she applied Everything Spray with an organic cotton round, then misted my skin with Complexion Mist to replenish and balance. After a brief skin analysis, she custom-blended a treatment mask from natural clays, raw herbs, and oils (which are displayed on the wall shelf in pretty glass bottles) to best support my skin’s needs.
“We work with so many supportive natural ingredients and handcrafted skincare products in our headquarters and love the concept of creating custom masks to support the unique and diverse skin needs of our guests in The Spa,” says O’Connor. “Plus, the skin is ever-evolving, so having the freedom to use different herbs, clays, and oils for each facial helps to truly target specific skin concerns and support each personal skin journey.”
To make the mask, she blended a base of natural clay (like Fuller’s Earth, Pink, Green or Red Rhassoul) and added in a natural exfoliant to gently help support cell turnover (like White Willow Bark, goat milk, or raw honey). Then, based on which skin concerns that are being supported, she’ll blend together a few different herbs (such as echinacea, turmeric, aloe vera, hibiscus, spirulina, etc.) To mix it all together, O’Connor adds in one of the Complexion Mists (Geranium, Lavender, Neroli) along with skin-loving oils to create the perfect consistency and added hydration.
While the mask was working its magic with the warm steam, O’Connor performed the most relaxing and incredible Gua Sha massage on my neck and shoulders with smooth gemstone tools. Doing this helped to open pathways for lymphatic drainage, flow of circulations, and to relieve tightness and muscle tension. It felt absolutely heavenly and I almost fell asleep—I did not want it to end!
When it was time to remove the facial mask, O’Connor used a warm, aromatic towel, followed by another application of the Everything Spray and Complexion Mist once again to support skin healing and hydration. From there, she applied a targeted skin-specific serum and moved into a full Gua Sha sequence, focusing on areas of tension and congestion to create a clear flow of detoxification and vital nutrients.
Discover the Benefits of Gua Sha for Skin
“Starting on the left side of the face, I can see the skin visibly transform beneath my tool!” O’Connor points out. “After finishing the full Gua Sha routine, the skin is glowing with hydration and clarity.”
O’Connor applied a light layer of Primally Pure Beauty Cream and Lip Balm for the last layer of hydration and protection. To help infuse the nutrient-dense ingredients even deeper into the skin, she used the Ridged Facial Roller, starting on my décolleté, moving up the neck and finishing on my face.
The Best Facial Rollers and Gua Sha Tools for Beautiful Skin
To conclude my treatment, she led me through a few deep awakening breaths and aromatherapy to help me re-enter the world feeling rested and rejuvenated. After I changed back into my clothes and met O’Connor back in the main spa area, she brought me a fresh glass of water and an organic superfood Bliss Ball.
Similar to the herbal tea selection, the Bliss Balls are designed to help support skin health from within. The same base of walnuts, dates, collagen peptides, and raw local honey from McDaniels’ family farm) is blended and then includes ingredients that contain specific skin and health benefits. There are three types of Bliss Balls:
Clarifying: Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger
Plumping: Raw Cacao, Hibiscus, Goji Berries
Soothing: Lavender, Ashwagandha, Hemp Seeds
The Bliss Ball was delicious and I loved the soft, creamy texture. O’Connor also wrote out a list of product recommendations to help me maintain the results until my next facial, and I made sure to leave with several of my favorite products, including Blue Tansy Beauty Cream and Geranium Complexion Mist.
After my 105 minutes of Primally Pure bliss, I felt incredibly nourished and hydrated from the inside out. From the unique, intimate experience I enjoyed in the beautiful sanctuary-like space to the amazing results that I could see in my skin immediately afterwards—I’m already looking forward to my next holistic facial with O’Connor at The Spa Primally Pure!
Cost: Clarify + Plump Facial (75 minutes $142; 105 minutes $192)
Insider Tips:
The Spa at Primally Pure offers free parking directly in front of Suite A and additional parking is available behind the building.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to complete an in-depth skincare consultation while relaxing with a soothing foot soak and cup of organic herbal tea.
If you’re a local customer and would like to pick up product Mon.-Thur., orders must be placed online 24 hours prior to pickup and “local pickup” item must be added to cart to enable this option.
The Spa is a cash-free facility and only accepts credit card payments for treatments and products.
Hours:
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Friday)
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Saturday, treatments + retail)
Address: 41120 Elm St. Suite A., Murrieta, CA 92562
Email: thespa@primallypure.com
For more information and to book an appointment, click here. Check out their blog Pure Life for all things non-toxic beauty and holistic wellness. Follow the brand on Instagram: @primallypure
[Images by Kamala Kirk]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk