Within the Village of West Clay, residents and visitors have come to expect spa services geared toward soothing experiences and beautiful results from The Village Spa. This family-owned business is the realization of owner Cathy Voege’s, 2015 vision for pampering services to be available in her neighborhood. Not long after opening, she recruited her daughter, Elizabeth Ambs, to join the family business. Since then, Elizabeth has been sharing the gift of relaxation with friends and neighbors as an esthetician.
Of her mom’s vision, Elizabeth recalls, “She simply saw the need for a luxury spa. Med spas are pretty prevalent, but true day spas with papering services and packages are harder to find. She always loved receiving those services on vacation, so she wanted to bring that to the Carmel area, and specifically the Village of West Clay.”
As summer continues, we consulted with Elizabeth to obtain guidance on year-round sun protection. Regardless of the weather forecast, applying SPF is crucial - SPF 30 is recommended. Shielding your skin from the sun's harmful rays serves as both the foremost defense against skin cancer and the primary step for anti-aging protection. The key lies in safeguarding against UVA and UVB rays. “UVB are the burning rays and most people tend to fixate on those; they are honed in on not getting a burn; however UVA rays cause silent sun damage. They destroy essential collagen, elastic fibers, and cause hyperpigmentation.”
During the summer months, the increased time outdoors means you don’t want to go more than 2 hours without reapplying a protective layer. Elizabeth shared a pro tip, “Bring a travel sized SPF in your purse [or pocket] for times you need to reapply.”
If you’re planning to spend the day outdoors, you shouldn’t leave home without a wide-brimmed hat for summer festivities like pool time, sporting events and outdoor concerts. Within the spa, Elizabeth shared, “I mainly see sun damage on clients' foreheads as it's the highest point of the face that gets the most sun.”
She also reminded us it’s important to think of eye protection to reduce squinting. “[Sunglasses] serve as a proactive step at preventing pesky crows feet!” Not only do they add some style to your wardrobe, they are also an excellent defense against harmful UV rays and can prevent cataracts.
Along with protecting your skin during the day, there are steps you can take before and after sun exposure to minimize the risks of skin damage. Her advice is, “Use a Vitamin C Serum in the morning. If your skin is more redness prone, you can even benefit from morning and evening use. I suggest the Pomegranate Acai Antioxidant Serum from Sorella Apothecary to soothe redness and provide antioxidant protection during a busy season of travel.”
When the summer months come to an end, Elizabeth invites you to try skincare treatments that address sun damage in the treatment room. “Collagen inducing services like microchanneling can be performed year-round, but some treatments are not ideal to receive in the summer due to the downtime with sun exposure. As you head indoors for the cooler months, fall and winter are when we can maximize your results with chemical peels."
In addition to offering excellent skincare advice, clients come from all around the city for a boutique spa experience. “It's a place for people to unwind and we pride ourselves on making sure the client's needs are met. It sounds so simple but it's a crucial part of what brings people back,” Elizabeth shared. The team has crafted packages and services that revolve around their clients’ preferences, combining their professional expertise with personalized touches.
Beyond the services of the spa, Elizabeth really enjoys being a trusted source of information within the Carmel community. As more people move to Carmel and visit the spa, she notes, “I really try to curate things they should do in [the City]. It's not only about performing a great service, but being of value to them in that way too.” She sees herself as a type of ambassador for residents and visitors of The Village of West Clay as she hears thousands of stories about the best of what’s happening in Carmel. For Elizabeth, it’s important for her to share her professional knowledge, but also promote other small businesses to foster a sense of community.
Elizabeth Ambs: I started my career at my mother's day spa in The Village of Westclay as a licensed esthetician in 2017. I'm passionate about helping our local business grow to reach more massage and facial clients in the bustling Carmel community. I receive wonderful feedback from our clients that they enjoy our rotation of seasonal facials.
Outside of business, I enjoy Orange Theory classes, a glass (or two) of Chardonnay, and traveling to new places.
“UVB are the burning rays and most people tend to fixate on those; they are honed in on not getting a burn; however UVA rays cause silent sun damage. They destroy essential collagen, elastic fibers, and cause hyperpigmentation.”
“Use a Vitamin C Serum in the morning. If your skin is more redness prone, you can even benefit from morning and evening use...to soothe redness and provide antioxidant protection during a busy season of travel.”