The Day Spa Experience

In the past, going to a day spa meant you probably received a manicure and a pedicure and maybe received a massage while you were there. Today, most day spas provide far more advanced selections than the day spa your mother and father used to go visit. Technological enhancements have made day spas a one-stop destination for treating numerous body parts, offering a wide range of exciting and satisfying treatments. Whether you have tired skin, acne scars or brittle nails, there is something for everyone at a day spa. Throughout the world, numerous day spas have made a name for themselves by offering healthy, all-natural procedures that aim to revitalize, rejuvenate and refresh the body, face and skin.

As people scramble to take hold of the reins of a youthful appearance, the day spa offers numerous selections to achieve health and beauty goals. It is also a great alternative for those who do not wish to go under the knife and surrender to cosmetic surgery. Below you will find some of the common and not-so-common treatments that a day spa may offer. Facials When it comes to relaxing the muscles in a tense face or smoothing rough, tired or sun-damaged skin, a facial is a great way to go.

Today, seaweed treatments are popular in day spas. These place a nourishing and hydrating mask to the face. This organic treatment uses ingredients from nature to cleanse and massage the skin. There are also facials that focus on only the revitalizing qualities of a mask. Sometimes ingredients, such as honey, cucumber and almond are included. More intense facials may include a process that uses numerous layers to achieve results.

These kinds of facials may use seaweed treatments, hydrating creams and facial massages, as well as various minerals. The results of a facial range from renewed layers of skin, increased elasticity, a smoother skin texture, reduced pores and even skin tone. Usually, a really good facial takes anywhere from 1 to 1 ½ hours. Massages When the body is in need of one-on-one personal relief, day spa massages are great for providing relaxing results.

Some day spas will charge by the minute, using a portable massage chair. Then, there are the full-body massages, which relieve the most stress and tension. An employee, who uses a combination of long strokes and muscle kneading, performs these types of massages. This is called a therapeutic massage.

You may also opt for an aromatherapy massage, which incorporates many different essential oils that work wonders on the mind and spirit. Sometimes, you will encounter body part-specific massages at a day spa. For example, scalp and head massages aim to rejuvenate these areas.

Not only do tight muscles loosen up, relief from headaches and sinus problems are also experienced. Depending on the day spa, reflexology might be offered, which manipulates the pressure points of the feet to achieve decreased stress and increase relaxation. Hand and Nail Treatments You can get your nails done at any salon, but what about the deeper procedures that treat your hands, fingers, cuticles and nails like royalty? Day spas go beyond the usual trim and polish of nails. While artificial nail services are commonplace at the spa, you will benefit from a wide-range of selections that some nail salons do not offer. Many day spas offer acrylic, fiberglass, sculptured, linen or silk options.

Basic nail treatments usually involve the trimming of the nails and cuticles, followed by a relaxing hand massage. To complete the procedure, buffing and/or polish application follows. Want softened hands and feet? Try a warm, paraffin wax treatment, which also relieves tension in the muscles. As for the feet and toes, spa pedicures are some of the best, especially when the day spa features hydrotherapy whirlpool foot spa treatments. Sometimes exfoliating scrubs are given.

Tanning Want the look of sun kissed skin every day of the week? Year-round tanning may be offered at the day spa of your choice, providing the latest in sunless tanning options. Sometimes an exfoliation of the skin is offered before applying a self-tanner. How deep you wish your tan to be determines the number of sessions you may need. Body Treatments The entire body deserves attention when visiting a day spa. Their answer to providing well-rounded visits is to feature numerous treatments for the body.

Herbal wraps provide a great way to hydrate the skin, as well as provide detoxification. For those looking for a natural way to lose a few inches, an herbal wrap is a nice, natural choice, showcasing one of the most effective approaches toward reducing cellulite. Sometimes an herbal wrap is accompanied by a massage. To reenergize the body, you may choose a sea salt scrub.

Seaweed body masques add much-needed moisture to the skin. The possibilities are endless when it comes to day spa body treatments. Hair Removal While body waxing is often associated with a day spa visit, the advancement in hair removal techniques has brought laser treatments to the forefront. Along with electrolysis, this is the closest thing you will come to for achieving a near-permanent hair removal treatment.

Laser treatments are also much faster than other methods. Face and bikini areas can be completed in less than ten minutes. Microdermbrasion When choosing an exfoliating treatment for the skin, microdermabrasion uses a flow of microcrystals to penetrate the skin and remove dead skin cells.

Flaking skin will also be eradicated. A rejuvenation of skin is achieved through the stimulation of skin cells and collagen to provide a more youthful appearance. Instead of plastic surgery, consider this approach as it is non-invasive and does not use any harmful tools to infiltrate the things blemishing your skin.

Customers who wish to achieve a smoother texture with a feeling and look of renewal, microdermabrasion is quite satisfying. This treatment also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, as well as eases some pigmentation concerns. People suffering from acne and chicken pox scars will also benefit from this sort of treatment. This is also a good way to treat stretch marks and is also used to even out skin tone. Additional examples of skin damage can be treated with microdermbrasion as well.

Barry A. S. Lycka is one of North America's foremost authorities on cosmetic and laser surgery of the skin. You can find out more at http://www.barrylyckamd.com and http://www.restoringyouthonline.com. He is founder of The Ethical Cosmetic Surgery Association http:?/www.ecsaonline.com.