A day of pampering at the spa can rejuvenate and invigorate. Treatments vary from spa to spa, and can include facials, hair and skin care, manicures, pedicures and makeup application. Spa treatments are as individual as the client and not solely for women; many treatments can benefit men as well. Start the spa process by first deciding what you want to get out of the experience.

Facials

Facials are usually done by a licensed esthetician, also known as a skin care specialist. Facials can be customized to each client, as skin types differ from oily to normal to dry. They can target acne and blemishes. When targeting acne, the specialist focuses on extracting and cleaning. “Micro facials are beneficial for dry skin because they focus on lifting the dead skin cells,” said Becky Loughan, licensed esthetician of Adirondack Plastic Surgery Center. For anti-aging, Loughan might recommend a mini chemical peel or masking. There are advantages to visiting a plastic surgery center for facials once every couple of months. A doctor is on staff, said Loughan, so if a lesion or mark is noticed, they can watch it for growth and have the doctor examine it. This helps to detect and remove skin cancer early on, she stated.

 

No special preparation is needed when receiving a facial. Cleansing is included in the process so makeup worn to the spa will be washed off by the skin care specialist. It is recommended that you tell the specialist if you have any allergies. Loughan has her clients fill out a medical history prior to any treatment. Some skincare products contain botanicals. If you’re allergic to a type of fruit, for example, a fruit mask would not be advised.

Microdermabrasion is another option. This process removes the outermost layer of skin, reducing fine lines, brown spots or sun damage, dull aged skin, and acne scarring. Laser re-surfacing is a similar process that also removes the outermost layer of skin to even skin tone and reduce fine lines. Laser facials stimulate the production of collagen and elastin by using light therapy, which increases blood flow to produce a more youthful look.

“Chemical peels start off with a double cleanse, first with an oil based product,” said Lidia Mooney, licensed esthetician and owner of Ultimate Skin Solutions. “Oil attracts oil,” she said. The second cleanse is based on the person’s skin type. Mooney then does a skin analysis and discusses the client’s concerns. Mooney does not recommend chemical peels if the client is on antibiotics, or has a condition such as rosacea because your skin is very sensitive. Chemical peels stay on for five to eight minutes before the skin is double cleansed again to remove the chemical. The entire procedure takes about 45 minutes, said Mooney.

Medical grade chemical peels such as the TriChloroacetic Acid Peel, or “The Blue Peel,” said Loughan, smoothes skin, reduces fine lines and age spots, and evens out pigmented areas. The face is cleaned and an acid is applied. The acid may vary depending on the desired treatment. Glycolic peels are another type of acid peel. The acid dissolves the dead skin layers promoting collagen building and diminishing acne and fine lines, said Bergenn. After having a medical grade chemical peel or laser resurfacing, Loughan recommends three to five days of down time to recover. “You probably wouldn’t go to work,” she said.

A basic facial involves cleaning, exfoliation and moisturizer. Additions include the acid peels previously described, light or laser treatment, blackhead extraction and facial massaging. A European facial is where the face, neck, shoulders, and arms are also massaged.

Skin is sensitive to sun exposure, especially after a facial. “Don’t leave without sunscreen on,” said Loughan. She advised that sunscreen is crucial and the easiest way to maintain healthy skin. Breakouts after a facial are not common, but can occur. Those with sensitive skin may experience this because the skin stimulation brings everything to the surface, said Loughan.

Hair Care

Hair care, such as a trim, cut, color, or style are available at spas, or beauty salons-barber shops for the gentlemen who aren’t comfortable going to a beauty salon. Many salons offer professional up do’s for special occasions. A trial-run may be done prior to the event. Spas also offer hair treatments. Scalp or deep conditioning can be a very relaxing experience. The client lies down and conditioner is massaged into the hair and scalp. A heated cap is then kept on for 10 minutes followed by a five minute cool down before the conditioner is rinsed out.

Hair Removal

Spas may offer laser hair removal. Skin should not be exposed to sun prior to laser treatment. Loughan explained that using a tanning bed, or having a sunburn and then having laser hair removal will put the skin at risk for hyper-pigmenting, or discoloration. To have laser hair removal, the hair must be visible, but not too long. A consultation is usually done prior to the procedure. Laser hair treatments should be done four to five weeks apart to target each hair phase, and it may take five or more treatments to fully remove hair.

Waxing is a more common form of hair removal and most hair salons also offer waxing. Edy Bergenn, owner, operator, and master stylist at Edy’s of Course, recommends having at least an eighth of an inch of hair prior to waxing. She also advises using a luffa sponge in the shower before the service. This will remove dead skin that can trap the hair.

Waxing involves placing a wax, that is usually heated, on the desired area. Cloth strips are then placed over the wax and ripped off, taking the hair with them. Clients may also have their eye brows shaped, their upper lip, arms, back or chest waxed. Legs can be waxed from the knee down, which is considered a half leg procedure and is usually less expensive, or the entire leg can be waxed. Bikini waxing is also a popular service. The client is given a pair of disposable underwear for cleanliness during bikini and full leg waxing procedures. A bikini wax involves removing the hair around the bikini line, with a Brazilian wax, “Everything goes,” said Bergenn. After a wax, an aloe lotion is applied to soothe the raw area. It is not generally advised to put makeup on the recently waxed area, and the area should not be immediately exposed to sunlight.

Other hair removal techniques include threading, where thread is rolled, twisted, and pulled over the hair, removing it from the follicle. Unlike  tweezing, threading removes several hairs at once.

Hands and Feet

Hands are exposed to harsh elements, such as extreme temperatures, and even chemicals throughout the day. A manicure can be a soothing touch in a spa experience. Hands and forearms are exfoliated and massaged. A paraffin treatment is done by dipping the clients hand in wax to help moisturize the skin. The wax comes off easily, much like candle wax. Manicures take about 35 to 45 minutes and focus on nail and cuticle health as well. Hands are moisturized, and depending on the treatment, nails may also be done. A French manicure is when the tips of the nails are painted white while the rest of the nail is nature color. Nail salons also offer different colors, designs, fake nails, and tips.

To put a spring back in your step, a pedicure may be the perfect spa treatment. “Your feet are the foundation for your whole body, if you don’t take care of them they won’t take care of you,” said Bergenn. She stressed the importance of cleanliness when spas offer pedicures because residual water may lead to the spread of serious bacterial infections. To avoid this, spas like Bergenn’s use disposable liners. “I’d rather us it and throw it out,” she said. Pedicures begin with soaking and massage, followed by callus and cuticle removal. Toe nails are filed, and polished. Pedicures usually take one hour to completion.

Skin Treatments

Body wraps are a skin treatment designed to reduce the appearance of cellulite. The client’s body weight measurements are taken prior to the treatment. The skin is then scrubbed with an exfoliating wash, then a niacin-based cream that targets the fat tissue. The client is then wrapped in clear cellophane and put into a heated blanket. The wrap lasts for an hour, and the client is measured to see the amount of weight lost. The cream should be left on, as it will continue to work for the next twelve hours. The niacin cream penetrates the epidermis and fat layer, and the waste is excreted naturally, according to Bergenn. The treatment should be done in a series of three treatments, each five to seven days apart, she said. “The more skin you expose the better,” advised Bergenn. The breasts are not wrapped, as women do not generally want them to shrink. One wrap can result in an eight to 17 inch weight loss, she said. Another skin treatment offered by spas is body brushing. The body is brushed, ridding the outer layer of dead skin cells allowing the epidermis to breathe. The client is then massaged with moisturizing nutrient oil to help circulate the blood. This treatment lasts approximately one-and-a-half hours.

Makeup Applications

Skin care specialists may also carry makeup lines, and offer professional makeup applications. Applications can be done for special occasions such as proms or weddings, and usually include a practice run-through prior to the event. Having a professional makeup application can also be a learning opportunity, as many specialists will teach the client how to apply the makeup properly themselves.

Cleanse

A body treatment, such as a back treatment is available through an esthetician. Mooney does a “back facial,” which consists of cleansing, exfoliation, massage, and hydration through moisturizer. Mooney especially advises this treatment in the winter when the skin suffers most from dehydration.

An ion cleanse may be offered through a spa or massage therapist. “We start off using warm or hot tap water, depending on what the person prefers,” said Dan Sullivan, licensed massage therapist and owner of Adirondack Massage Cruise. Next salt is put into the water to help with the volts and amps, he said. “The unit charges different particles, and then that just draws out the different toxins from the body, kind of like osmosis,” he said. The warmth of the water opens your pores, and any toxins are released into the water. The foot bath generally takes 20 minutes. He recommends eating prior to an ion cleanse.

Another cleansing process, ear candling, is when a beeswax candle is inserted into the ear. The other end is lit, which draws out the ear wax. This treatment would benefit someone with clogged ears, said Mary Duffy, LMT of Quiet Reflections Therapeutic Massage. “It’s a very holistic way of doing it,” she said. Some earwax is needed in your ears, so she advises having this procedure only once or twice a year.

Spa on a Budget

For at-home skin care, Loughan suggests products appropriate for your skin type. A gentle cleanser and hydrating mask can heal dry skin. She suggests using a foaming gel wash, and clay clarifying mask for oily or acne-prone skin. A hydrating mask should not be used for oily skin, as it may clog pores and worsen the problem. Exfoliating washes with grainy or stone-like minerals in them should not be used because they can cause micro tears on your skin. Loughan recommends exfoliating with a wash that has micro beads instead, and alpha hydroxy acid. “Exfoliate chemically instead of scrubbing,” she advised. Mooney advises choosing a pH balanced product, “It won’t strip your skin of the natural oils.” “Witch hazel can be used as a natural astringent or toner,” she said. “Astringent tightens the skin a little bit.”

 

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