Hannah Sowd Skin Care is now located at The Healing Arts Building, 1801 Bush Street, Suite 201.

The new location is less than 2 blocks from the former storefront, on the south side of Bush Street at the intersection of Octavia (across from Octavia Restaurant).

1801 Bush Street is the large white building with a garden courtyard in front, the entrance is located thru the courtyard. The sign on the corner says Healing Arts Building.

The new studio is on the second floor with a large window for light and air flow. The second floor is accessible by one flight of stairs or a short elevator ride.

There is a parking lot south of the building, off Octavia, which is run by the Queen Anne Hotel (located on the corner of Sutter and Octavia). You may park in the lot for $5 per hour. Please pay the hotel directly if you choose to use this option.

Please make a note of the details in your Genbook confirmation email before your next appointment. It will contain an access code for the front door of the building as well as the public restrooms which are located on the first floor of the building. Allow yourself enough time to use the restroom before your appointment begins.

If you arrive early for your appointment, you may let yourself in the building and relax in the waiting area in the second floor hallway. There are also chairs in the garden if the weather is nice (and you are wearing sunscreen!).

When my office door is closed, I am with another client; please do not knock or try the door handle. The door will be left ajar when I am ready for you. You may text me if you have questions, I generally have my phone on Do Not Disturb while at work so I won’t receive a phone call.

I look forward to seeing you in my new studio!

I’m not alone when I say the last year of my life has strayed from the norm and been downright rough at times. My entire world shifted, sometimes good and sometimes bad.

I love a good routine so constant shifting isn’t my happy place, I’ve made extra effort to include things in my day to day life that make me smile.

Here are a few of my favorite things at the moment:

Early morning walks

I’m fortunate to live in a beautiful neighborhood so out my front door in any direction and I’ll see a view that has me reaching for my camera. In the COVID-era, the less populated streets of the early morning feel safer and moving my body is always a great start to my day.

R&Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist

I could say I wash my hair once a week because it’s healthier but the fact is, it seems like a lot of work when I’m not going out. But I’m still exercising and my husband has to live with my dirty hair so I was super excited to find R&Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist. Spray it on at night and wake up feeling soft and clean.

Cult &King Balm

During an online consult with a new client she mentioned her love for Balm from Cult & King. Of course I jotted it down in my notes and jumped right on Google. With excessive hand washing and no professional nail services, my hands and feet were waiting for this product.

Standard Jumpsuit Alex Mill

Working from home, the seeing clients on video calls, walking the dog; none of it requires an “outfit” yet wearing leggings and a tee shirt makes me feel underdressed. Then I discovered the Alex Mill jumpsuit collection, they make several variations but I love the Standard. It’s functional yet surprisingly flattering. Comfortable enough to lounge around the house but pulled together enough so I can run to the store without changing. Highly recommend.

Yoga With Adriene

You probably already know and love Adriene but for the 2 of you that haven’t tried one of her YouTube classes yet, now is the time. I saw her referred to as “the Mr Rogers of yoga” and that’s pretty much spot on. You don’t need to be flexible and you don’t need a yoga background.

Milk Frother

The majority of my meals are coming from my own kitchen these days and that includes coffee drinks. A few months ago, I broke down and purchased an inexpensive gadget to froth milk, I should have done it sooner! Turns out frothy milk is the answer to early morning happiness.

I’m a proponent of a balanced lifestyle. I want to believe I can treat and hydrate my way out the negative effects of occasional alcohol consumption.

Am I fooling myself? Probably.

We know drinking alcohol dehydrates our body and makes the skin less elastic. Alcohol also increases blood vessel dilation which leads to redness, puffy eyes, and inflammation.

The older I get, the longer these after effects (and the pounding headache…) seem to hang around.

Sadly, there’s evidence to show the impact doesn’t stop there. Alcohol consumption accelerates the aging process of the skin and there’s no way around it.

“Effect of alcohol use. Regression analyses suggested a relationship between alcohol use and aging severity that was statistically significant for under-eye puffiness, mid-face volume loss, and blood vessels on the cheeks.”

Under-eye puffiness, mid-face volume loss, and blood vessels on the cheeks? Ugh. Regular alcohol consumption affects much more than just the hydration levels of our skin.

Corrective treatments for volume loss of the face and broken blood vessels require expensive, invasive procedures like dermal fillers and lasers.

It’s time to rethink my alcohol consumption!

*Updated December, 2022*

My goal is to create a safe environment for everyone at Hannah Sowd Skin Care. This post is periodically updated with the latest studio procedures and policies.

The studio is currently open at 1801 Bush Street Suite 201. I am fully vaccinated with my booster shots and all clients must be fully vaccinated to have a treatment at the studio. Please have proof of your COVID vaccination available at your first appointment.

Winter of 2022 has brought us another COVID surge and extreme flu season. Receiving a skincare treatment without a mask may put you at risk even with the precautions in place at the studio.

Please schedule your appointment online and check your confirmation email, it contains important information about building access and a link to the mandatory COVID Treatment Consent Form.

Every client must complete the COVID Treatment Consent Form before each appointment. This form is linked in your confirmation email as well as on the Services page of www.hannahsowd.com.

Please wash your hands before we begin your appointment. The restroom is located on the first floor of 1801 Bush St. to the right of the lobby and the elevator. The restroom door code is in your confirmation email.

We cannot accommodate guests in the office during your treatment. There are multiple waiting areas in the building as well as the park in front on 1801 Bush St.

Do not come to your appointment if you are feeling sick; a sore throat, loss of your sense of taste or smell, a cough, runny nose, fever, or chills.

Do not come to your appointment if you may have been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID.

Contact me ASAP if you are not feeling well and cannot make your appointment, every time slot is valuable. Late cancellations and no call/no show appointments will be charged accordingly.

Window ventilation, multiple air filters, and increased sanitation measures have been implemented throughout the studio to help keep everyone safe. Please let me know if you have questions.

Thank you for your support!

I touch people for a living. Literally. Connecting with humanity on a physical level has been a part of my life for 22 years.

Working in my industry can prove exhausting for some, but when you find a home here it’s because you thrive off the exchange of energy that happens in the treatment room.

I’ve grown accustomed to hearing “Isn’t your job exhausting?”. You know what exhausts me? Staring at this computer screen for the past few hours.

The last time I gave a treatment to someone other than myself, my husband, or our dog was 29 days ago. My hands feel weird.

I’ve worked thru collective tragedy before.

On September 11, I worked at a high end hotel spa in Los Angeles. Our property was filled with trapped New Yorkers waiting for news from home. Clients came to the spa for comfort and distraction, some cried in my treatment room. I learned a lot about humanity, I learned a lot about myself.

I moved to San Francisco in 2008 and started my business just as the economy collapsed. Collectively, the city was devastated but the humanity and connection I experienced in my work buoyed me along.

Huge shout out to clients that have been with me since day one!

This past month confirmed how much I rely on my work and interaction with my clients to process tragedy in the world. The random tidbits of information, the comforting exchanges; it helps me to feel more connected to humanity.

I am fortunate. My business structure allows me to receive unemployment benefits and my online store is doing well (have a look since you’re here). I connect with clients virtually to care for their skin while we are safe at home. We speak excitedly about when we can reconnect in person. My business will see the other side of this pandemic.

My tech friends encourage me to pivot, reinvent myself, offer more online services. I’ve embraced online booking from the start, social media is wonderful for engagement and education. But is that the future of skin care? Not for me. A Zoom call and and a box of products delivered to your door will get us thru this tough time but it will never replicate the way you feel when you leave my studio.

I love this industry, educating people about their skin and teaching them how to navigate marketing hype is my passion. I worry about how things will look a year from now. One thing is certain, my business and my clients are a part of who I am, we will figure out the future together.

“I work inside all day in front of a computer, do I really need to an SPF in my daily skin care routine?”

One word answer: YES.

Do you commute to and from work when the sun is shining? Do you leave your office for lunch or to grab coffee? Do you have a window in your office?

You are exposed to UVA and UVB rays even when you aren’t actively in the sun.

Here in San Francisco weather can be unpredictable. I once got a mild sunburn on the back of my neck while eating lunch in Union Square.

Additionally, when you use a physical SPF (like you know you should) you protect your skin from HEV light emitting from the technology around you.

Find a sunscreen product you like, layer it over an antioxidant serum for maximum protection, and make it part of your daily routine.

Looking your best for your wedding (or any big event) is important but how do you fit all your appointments in the week before? And in what order?

I get this question a lot from my bridal clients so I’m putting it in a blog!

Six months to a year out from your date: start your skin care routine. This gives you plenty of time to customize your plan with a professional. More aggressive treatments like chemical peels require downtime and planning.

Six months before your big day: have a trial run with your hair and makeup artist as well as other professionals. This includes nails, spray tan, waxing, lash extensions etc. Find the business where you will have these services performed AND the technician who will perform them. Leave as little to chance as possible!

Four weeks before your big day: have your last corrective facial treatment with microdermabrasion or a peel, hair cut/color, Botox and fillers.

Five-seven days before your big day: have a massage, a body wrap, body scrub, or any other body treatments.

Three-five days before your big day: schedule lash extensions, waxing, LED facial.

The day before your big day: schedule manicure and pedicure then spray tan.

A few general items to remember:

Book as early as possible! Talented technicians in all trades get busy so the earlier you plan, the better for both of you. I have brides that book 6 months of treatments up front and it works great for both of us.

Certain treatments take time to work. Botox takes two weeks to see full results. A chemical peel can take about a month to see the best results. Have consultations with professionals so you know what to expect on what timeline. This is not a time to experiment with something new!

We’ve all been there, shopping online we find a serum our esthetician sells but for a fraction of the price.

What’s the deal with these products? Why is a serum $148 at most locations but $99 on a discount site? Is it too good to be true?

Every company sets an MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) for their products, whether it’s skin care, clothing, or other items. Most companies even go so far as to monitor when their products can go on sale and how deep of a discount can be offered.

All accounts have agreed to sell products for the MSRP whether in person or online. Reputable companies want control over the pricing of their goods and will shut down accounts that don’t comply.

So how are certain sites selling the same product for less?

A large amount of these sales are expired product sold by a third party. Most retailers won’t risk losing their account just to offer an unapproved discount.

Or like I discovered recently, it could fake product.

I finished a favorite eye shadow palette only to discover it had been discontinued. A quick Google search led me to a few for sale on a discount site. Against my better judgement, I purchased it (they has great reviews!) only to discover it was a knock off. The packaging was identical; it was brand new and sealed but full of cheap eye shadow with no pigment.

Thankfully I spent less than $20 to learn that lesson.

A sales rep from a company I work with told me this story years ago. A customer returned a serum she purchased online because it just wasn’t the same as previous bottles. Their lab tested the contents of the returned bottle and it was apple cider vinegar not the $100 serum the customer thought she was purchasing.

If you can’t purchase your products directly from a professional, find a reputable website. Trying to save a few dollars on a discount site could be a disaster in the end.