Skin care entrepreneur goes for something new in Five Points

Listen to this article

A new upscale skin care spa with a do-it-yourself twist has opened in Columbia’s Five Points district.

The Skinhouse, located at 2000 Blossom St., held a grand opening on Friday, Aug. 25. The spa is the newest venture for owners Brooke and Paul Gellici of Columbia.

Brooke Gellici is an aesthetician with more than 10 years’ experience and specializes in custom facials. For the past six years, she has been the owner and operator of another skin care spa, The Beautique Skin Co. on the second floor of 701 Whaley St. in Columbia.

Her newest venture in Five Points offers clients the option of receiving traditional facials and other services or of taking part in an immersive, DIY experience patterned after a skin care spa Gellici saw on a trip to Paris.

“The Skinhouse offers the option of social, interactive skin care that is different than our original spa on Whaley Street,” Gellici told SC Biz News. “This option at The Skinhouse gives clients the chance to learn about skin care and how to do it yourself.”

The Skinhouse’s immersive option will pair clients with staff members called “Skintenders” — a name that Gellici is seeking to trademark — who will work with the clients to create a personalized skin care regimen. A staff member will meet with a client to discuss their skin care wants and needs and then come up with a personalized “Facial Flight,” a 10-12 step regimen of skin care, for them. The client will then receive step-by-step recommendations on how to apply the products and work through the regimen, perform the skin care themselves and then get a review from staff members on how they did, as well as further instruction on how to apply the products and perform the regimen at home.

The self-serve immersive option is suitable for clients of all ages and can work for individuals or groups.  

“This is a great chance for a group of friends to come out together and learn how to do their own skin care,” Gellici said.

Columbia City Councilwoman Aditi Bussells attended the opening and said The Skinhouse adds to the diversity of retail opportunities and experiences in Five Points.

“Businesses like the Skinhouse improve the quality of life here in Columbia by offering people more options for things to do,” Bussels said. “This new addition shows that Five Points is a neighborhood that is flourishing with a lot of things for people of all walks of life to do.”

The Skinhouse is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 803-708-3055 or email [email protected].