Spa Treatments: A Healthy Indulgence

For years, I have heard friends and co-workers espouse the benefits of various beauty rituals that, as far as I know, my mother and grandmother never indulged in and they certainly never taught me to indulge in.

Beauty treatments ranging from facials to pedicures were the stuff of the idle rich, not something this working class girl (woman now) could afford. But a few years ago, my husband changed that. He got me a spa gift certificate for our anniversary one year. The gift certificate included a hair coloring, style and cut with my favorite beautician and then the insistence that I enjoy at least one of the spa's other services.

He thought I would opt for the manicure or massage. To be honest, I considered it, but ever the practical girl, I chose instead to save the gift certificate for mostly hair-related services, getting almost a full year of cuts, trims and color out of his gift.

But since he insisted, I decided I would take advantage of one other spa service: the facial. I knew people who swore by them, getting a facial at least once a month and going on and on about how good it was for their skin and how wonderful it felt.

I had read all the magazine tricks for an at-home facial and had stuck my towel-clad head over more bowls of steaming water than I cared to remember. Generally, I have very good skin - a factor a dermatologist once attribute to the fact that I do not smoke, drink excessively or tan. He also said it was probably good genes too.

And, I try to take care of my skin with at home spa treatments, but my husband wanted me to splurge on the actual at-the-spa spa treatment. So, I did and the facial was wonderful. I cannot begin to describe the comfortable, relaxing joy of a spa facial.

First, no one told me it included a scalp and neck massage. Oh my gosh, who knew that would be included? Then, there was the actual steaming open of the pores, the Vitamin C treatment and so much more. My skin was glowing and beautiful when it was done. I refused to wear makeup for a week.

But, the joy of the facial faded over time and I contented myself with the at home treatments. Though they were not quite as good as at the spa, they were much more affordable.