Brown lawns dotted with unexpected bursts of green. Cars on the road with their windows wide open. People stroll downtown sans coats. The awkward sounds of wildlife mating in the brush. All of that along with the last vestiges of dull, dry, scary winter skin means spring is here. And on Long Island it also means Spa Week (April 15 to 21).
It’s the perfect time to visit a spa, especially if you don’t normally go for that turn-of-season facial you know you need. Invest in the health of your face by letting a pro teach you how to pamper it.
Cheryl Reid came up with the idea for Spa Week to coax busy urbanites into spas for what amounts to a mini vacation for the body, mind and soul and she kept it simple. Participating spas offer treatments, many worth hundreds of dollars, for only $50 during this special week.
The morning after Cheryl held the media kick-off party, she was overwhelmed with calls from spas wanting in. Fast forward nine years and Spa Week has evolved into a twice-yearly event that spans the continent with thousands of participating spas. On Long Island those include Marosé Spa in Smithtown, Incentives Organic Spa & Salon in Babylon, nuBest Salon and Spa in Manhasset and The Spa at Red Hots in Roslyn.
Facials are a popular service offered during Spa Week. They enhance the impact of daily skincare and address skin issues like uneven tone, adult acne, rosacea or simply age. A professional facial best serves your skin on a monthly basis—it takes that long for new cells to move up from the dermis to the surface. But you may need more frequent visits if you have a particular problem like oily, acne-prone skin.
In the spirit of Spa Week (and anti-aging), I made an appointment at Marosé Spa and Wellness for their customized signature facial. This tropical-themed spa uses Losanika products, a lush organic line made from Colombian medicinal plants combined with German biotechnology. The milk and honey cleanser soothed my face, but I really fell under esthetician Maggie Martin’s spell during her long, heavenly facial massage with an aloe and vitamin E serum. All of this was pretty by the book, but Maggie knew I was concerned with loss of firmness so she added an ultrasound treatment. She applied a honey and vitamin C mask and used the wand in slow even strokes, moving upward from my chin to my ear. “The sound waves penetrate deep into the dermis,” she explained. “This stimulates the flow of blood and the production of collagen to help firm the skin.” Ultrasound enhances hydration, cleanses, kills bacteria and delivers the mask’s nourishing antioxidant ingredients deep into the skin.
A glance in the mirror afterwards revealed a glowing face and a brush of my hand against my skin told me no tacky residue was left behind.
For more information about Spa Week and a list of participating spas, visit spaweek.com.