BEST ON-THE-RISE MED SPA
THE ACACIA HOUSE MED SPA
In Solana Beach, wellness and aesthetic care take place in a serene sanctuary setting at The Acacia House Med Spa. Opened in 2025 by founder Leanna Lyon, RN, The Acacia House has quickly emerged as a haven that tailors its treatments to each patient’s goals and desires. While services are approached with individualized care, Acacia’s extensive menu makes it an ideal one-stop shop for injectables, facials, weight loss and even IV therapy. theacaciahousemedspa.com
BEST NEW WELLNESS CLINIC
SELAH CENTER
Launched in fall 2025, Selah Center is San Diego’s first integrative wellness sanctuary, blending over 20 cutting-edge therapies—from hyperbaric oxygen and EBOO to Microcurrent Neurofeedback and lymphatic compression—with personalized, root-cause healing protocols. Founded by Sinclair Kennally and Michael Spandel, the center offers a transformative approach that moves beyond symptom management, combining science-backed technology with holistic care to restore vitality and balance. Every detail of Selah— from its calming architecture to ambient frequency tuning—works in harmony to soothe the nervous system and create a space where recovery, performance and inner peace thrive. selah.center
BEST PLASTIC SURGEON (RANCHO SANTA FE)
DR. STEVE LAVERSON, FEEL BEAUTIFUL PLASTIC SURGERY
With more than three decades in practice, Dr. Steve Laverson stands out for pairing surgical precision with an artist’s eye, a distinction shaped by dual board certifications in surgery and plastic surgery. His decade-long training across elite institutions, combined with formative experience at one of the world’s busiest trauma centers, forge the technical command and clinical judgment that defines his revered reputation. Beyond aesthetics, Dr. Laverson’s impact is equally humanitarian, reflected in millions of dollars in donated reconstructive care to underserved patients throughout San Diego. feelbeautiful.com
BEST STEM CELL SKINCARE BRAND
CLEARSTEM
Launched in 2017 by San Diegans Danielle Gronich and Kayleigh Christina, CLEARSTEM is a 100% clean collection of stem cell skincare products that are free of pore-clogging and hormone-disrupting ingredients. After overcoming years of severe acne, Gronich became a licensed clinical esthetician and founded The San Diego Acne Clinic, where her results-driven approach earned her a devoted following—including integrative health practitioner Christina. United by a shared passion for skin and wellness, they created CLEARSTEM to deliver both internal and external solutions for clearer, healthier skin. clearstem.com
BEST NEW MEDSPA
MAHTAB AESTHETICS
Founded in 2019, Mahtab Aesthetics was created by Mena Mesdaq, PA, under the medical guidance of Dr. Robert Kearney as an intimate, minimalist space devoted to simplicity and natural-looking results. In 2024, the practice was renamed in honor of Mesdaq’s grandmother, Mahtab, whose tranquil rituals, gentle wisdom and pioneering spirit as one of the first female business owners in Kabul continue to shape the spa’s philosophy. Today, the medspa—which opened a new practice in Rancho Santa Fe in 2025—reflects Mahtab’s enduring influence, celebrating beauty as both an inner and outer experience while honoring the women who inspire it. mahtabaesthetics.com
BEST BLOWOUT
DRYBAR DEL MAR AT ONE PASEO
Tame your tresses at founder Alli Webb’s enduring hairstyling empire, where blowouts and dry styling are the only offerings on the menu. The sleek space invites beauty lovers to pull up a chair at the bar, sip a beverage and relax as an expert stylist transforms your locks using Drybar’s signature line of sleek products and styling tools. onepaseo.com/shopping/drybar
BEST LIP INJECTIONS
HOLDEN TIMELESS BEAUTY
Holden Timeless Beauty will plump your pout to perfection—and that’s not lip service. Led by founder, CEO and medical director Dr. Amanda Holden, Holden Timeless Beauty is all about achieving natural results through highly customized lip and facial filler treatments. Visit its Mission Valley, San Marcos, Carlsbad or Fallbrook locations to subtly enhance the volume and definition of your lips. holdentimelessbeauty.com
BEST NEW NATURAL SKINCARE BRAND
FITRIA BEAUTY
Launched in late 2025, Fitria Beauty differentiates itself through an unwavering focus on formulation purity and ingredient clarity. Founded by Tawnya Canogullari, the San Diego brand crafts concentrated, water-free formulations in small batches, where every ingredient is intentionally selected for performance. Its debut offerings, the Revive face and body scrub and Rejuvenation serum, exemplify this philosophy, delivering gentle yet results-driven care without unnecessary additives, preservatives or synthetic fillers. fitriabeauty.com
BEST FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON
DR. RICHARD V. BALIKIAN, BALIKIAN PLASTIC SURGERY
With offices in Murrieta and Del Mar, Dr. Richard V. Balikian is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon recognized for his refined approach to facial rejuvenation and decades of focused expertise in face and neck procedures. As the creator of the Artiste Lift, a trademarked preservation deep place facelift, Dr. Balikian elevates and repositions underlying structural layers to restore youthful definition with exceptional subtlety. By emphasizing anatomical integrity and natural expression, the technique produces results that appear balanced and conservative. drbalikian.com
BEST COSMETIC DENTISTRY
DENTIQUE
In a spa-style setting, Dr. Nikou Rahbar restores smiles through customized treatment plans that utilize the industry’s most advanced technology—from CAD/CAM dentistry to dental lasers. With a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Rahbar went on to earn her doctorate of dental surgery from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading dental institutions. dentiquesandiego.com
BEST WELLNESS RETREAT
GOLDEN DOOR
Since 1958, wellness junkies have flocked to the Golden Door in San Marcos to experience its signature seven-night program, where fitness, meals and spa treatments are tailored to your needs and goals. Eighty elite classes that recharge the mind and body, paired with 30 miles of private hiking trails, personal training, farm-to-table meals and daily massages make the Golden Door the ultimate wellness escape. goldendoor.com
BEST MEMBERS-ONLY WELLNESS CLUB
LIVV CARDIFF
LIVV Cardiff is redefining wellness in San Diego, offering a members-only experience that blends performance wellness, anti-aging medicine and medical aesthetics into a holistic lifestyle destination. At the heart of the brand, LIVV combines luxury care with cutting-edge science and naturopathic expertise, delivering treatments ranging from peptide therapies and vitamin drips to hormone optimization and longevity protocols. Founded by Dr. Jason Phan, LIVV Cardiff creates personalized plans that address root causes, helping clients achieve lasting balance, vitality and peak performance. livvnatural.com
BEST ANTI-AGING DOCTOR
DR. MARGO AURA EMAMI, AURAE MD
Dr. Margo Aura Emami began her medical journey at just 17 years old in an accelerated BS/MD program at Northeast Ohio Medical University, graduating with top academic distinction before completing her internship at Framingham Union Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Boston University. She then advanced to residency training within the Harvard teaching hospital system, refining her expertise in anesthesiology, perioperative medicine and pain management. Board-certified and further distinguished by advanced fellowships in antiaging, regenerative and integrative medicine, she is widely recognized in San Diego for delivering a sophisticated, longevity-focused approach to patient care at her practice, Aurae MD. auraemd.com
BEST NEW LONGEVITY TREATMENTS
MILA MOURSI SPA AT THE INN
At The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, the new StayWell Longevity menu at Mila Moursi Spa introduces a sophisticated suite of vitality-focused therapies designed to optimize long-term health. Developed by Dr. Sarah Corey, the program features advanced treatments including IV nutrient infusions, hormone-balancing protocols, peptide therapy, NAD+ drips and targeted diagnostics tailored to individual wellness goals. Together, these science-driven offerings position the property as a destination for guests seeking proactive, longevity-centered care within a refined, restorative setting. theinnatrsf.com/spa
BEST DAY SPA
MIRAVAL LIFE IN BALANCE SPA AVIARA
Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara is widely regarded as San Diego’s premier day spa, offering an immersive wellness experience that harmonizes luxury with holistic care. Its curated menu of treatments, from Ayurvedic rituals to signature sensory therapies, is thoughtfully designed to rejuvenate the body while calming the mind. Set within a serene, elegantly appointed environment in Carlsbad, the spa also provides spaces for yoga, meditation and mindfulness, creating a sanctuary where guests can fully disconnect and find Zen. parkhyattaviara.com/ miravalspa
BEST COSMETIC TREATMENTS
DR. ZOE RAFAAT, PRFCT MED SPA & WELLNESS
When it comes to aesthetic medicine, PRFCT Med Spa & Wellness founder Dr. Zoe Rafaat and her team have a menu that’s chock-full of the latest lasers, injectables, skin treatments, facials, brow and lash services and so much more. Dr. Rafaat, a former Navy anesthesiologist, channels her love of science, artistry and personal experience with skin struggles into PRFCT’s elevated service, where she helps clients feel confident, radiant and truly themselves. helloprfct.com
BEST FIVE-STAR SPA
THE SPA AT RANCHO VALENCIA
Nestled within Rancho Santa Fe’s signature Relais & Châteaux-designated property, The Spa at Rancho Valencia is a sanctuary of understated luxury, where private treatment villas and sun-drenched garden lounges set the stage for indulgence. Signature rituals like the Desert Stone massage, Hydrating Cactus facial and Aromatherapy body scrub harness native botanicals and spa-exclusive formulations, delivered by expert therapists who customize every detail. Beyond treatments, curated wellness experiences—including sunrise yoga, guided meditation and mindful movement—elevate the spa into a full-spectrum retreat that leaves guests radiantly renewed, inside and out. ranchovalencia.com
BEST FACE & NECK LIFTS
DR. SIRIUS K. YOO, SKY FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
Dr. Sirius K. Yoo, a board-certified head and neck surgeon and facial plastic specialist, is celebrated for his unparalleled expertise and precision, honed through a rare fellowship in facial plastic surgery at Stanford University. Renowned both in the OR and on the national stage, he teaches advanced techniques to fellow surgeons, shaping the future of his field. Dr. Yoo blends surgical mastery with a commitment to community and philanthropy, making him respected not only for his leadership but also for his transformative results. skyfacialplasticsurgery.com
BEST CUTTING-EDGE TREATMENTS
ALCHEMĒ HEALTH
ALCHEMĒ, San Diego’s premier destination for integrative aesthetics and longevity wellness, sets a new standard with its La Jolla location, offering science-backed treatments that push the boundaries of beauty and performance. From exosome facials and regenerative skincare to IV therapy and hormone optimization, every service is designed to deliver measurable results while supporting long-term vitality. Guided by founder Tracy Younger, the wellness destination combines advanced technology, personalized care and luxurious experiences to help clients look, feel and perform their best. alchemehealth.com
