about
welcome to elma!
We are a private boutique skincare studio tucked away in the heart of Ravenswood. In a world of nonstop exposure to stressors and constant stimulation we are here to help you disconnect from stress + worry while reconnecting with yourself. We believe in providing a safe, relaxing environment to promote healing + beauty from within through our highly specialized services. Every body is uniquely different so every service is customized + tailored for you.
el-ma
what does elma mean?
a word from Marta, owner of elma healing + esthetics:
“elma is a cross between my name (Marta) and my mom’s name (Ella) as well as an ode to my late father, Piotr.
I come from an immigrant family that came to Chicago from Poland in the 80s. Both of my parents came here with little to no resources or connections. My dad worked as a carpenter and my mom cleaned houses and nannied for a living. I remember my mom telling me that their first apartment in Chicago was infested with roaches and their coffee table was a laundry basket flipped upside down. That image will forever be imprinted in my brain. Eventually, my dad opened his own construction business. He named it DarMart after his two children, myself and my half brother, Darek. My mom ended up going back to school for massage therapy in her 40s, transferring her esthetics license to the States from Poland, and opened her own private practice.
I came from two incredibly resilient humans who made something out of nothing. I carry my family’s legacy and immigrant story through my life and my business. Just like my parents and my grandparents before them, I built this business from nothing other than a set of skills, determination and a creative vision. I am humbled and grateful to do what I love for a living while adding another piece of the immigrant story to the generations that follow.”
our team
meet Marta…
cat mama, brow magician, and your new esthi bestie!
Marta was introduced to the skin and wellness industry at a young through a European skin expert, her very own mother. Inspired by the opportunity to combine her love for creative expression with her interests in holistic living, she followed in her mother's footsteps and started a career as an esthetician.
Previously, Marta worked as a brow expert for a major cosmetics company, developing a specialization in eyebrow waxing and shaping. She expanded her ability to help clients achieve beautiful brows by becoming a certified microblading artist in 2017. Marta continues to take yearly continuing education courses in the ever expanding field of permanent makeup, which can be shown through her mastery of eyebrows.
At elma healing + esthetics each service is entirely customized and based on each client’s needs and skin concerns, so no two services are alike. Marta believes that true healing begins within and focuses on the power of deep relaxation of the body, mind and spirit, whether that’s through relaxing facial or a permanent makeup procedure.
Follow elma healing + esthetics on Instagram
meet Mandi…