FASHION Magazine

When temperatures start to fall, we often don’t notice our skin is in need of extra moisture until it’s severely depleted. Add the stress of impending holiday-dom and the bummer of shorter daylight hours, and some pampering is warranted. So why not prep for winter and start your skin off on a hydrated path by booking nourishing skin treatments now? Australia’s Intraceuticals, a celeb-loved line of deeply nourishing products, is now available at Toronto’s Gee Beauty.

Fans of Skoah (shown above, from $25), the popular Vancouver-based skin-care company and spa, will be pleased to know that it has opened a second Calgary location (116 10th St. NW, Calgary, 403-264-0203, skoah.com). Facials are this spa’s stock-in-trade; its Quickie Facial is the ultimate pick-me-up. Get your glow on with this skin-care workout, which includes a deep cleanse, exfoliation, skin analysis and hydrating massage. Priced at only $35, it’ll be hard not to indulge every month.

The TIFF countdown is officially in full swing! With less than a week remaining until the city’s red carpets roll out, we’ve selected our top five essential luxury treatments for pre-TIFF beauty prep: not just for the stars but for those who are lucky to share their airspace.

Face: The Organic Oxygen Infusion Facial at the Windsor Arms Hotel
The vitamins, minerals, and amino acids used in The Organic Oxygen Infusion Facial at the Windsor Arms Hotel were cultivated in the Alps (we’re guessing the fancy Swiss, French, or Italian ones) to be certified organic and chemical free. Back in Toronto, the pasteurized nutrients are blended with an icy blast of medical-grade oxygen and massaged into your skin using a special O2 Oxygen Machine. The gratification of plumped up fine lines and glowing skin is instant and should last about a week.
($195, 416-934-6031 to book)

From the West Coast to the Atlantic Ocean, Beauty Director Adriana Ermter scours the nation for must-try rejuvenating, relaxing and beautifying spas.

Riverside Spa, Calgary

110 Point McKay Crescent NW, 403-270-7500, riversidespa.ca

I’ve got too much on the go and I’m feeling the stress. A more informal spa experience is what I’m after. As I make my way to the change rooms, pick a locker and slip on a robe, I am grateful to not have someone hovering over me—it would only add to the pressure. And right now, sitting in a pre-reclined chair in the spa’s informal environment, while sipping a glass of lemonade and listening to the twangy sounds of an Asian-inspired CD are all I need. At least that’s what I think until I’m face down on a table in Nadine’s treatment room for an hour long Chocolate Bliss Mud Wrap ($140).

Tons of sun (and SPF, yes, but still) this summer plus an exhausting-but-fun trip to London Fashion Week means my skin has been none too pleased with me lately. To the rescue: the Green Tea Matcha Facial ($80) at the Spa at Suki’s (3157 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-738-2127, sukis.com), the unexpectedly-quiet sanctuary underneath the bustling South Granville hair salon.

From the West Coast to the Atlantic Ocean, Beauty Director Adriana Ermter scours the nation for must-try rejuvenating, relaxing and beautifying spas.

Concepts Day Spa, Toronto

60 Bloor Street West in the Holt Renfrew Centre, 416-922-2823, conceptstoronto.com

I’ve been here 100 times before. It’s not fancy, the spa is underground, there’s nothing special about the décor and you have to pour your own complimentary herbal tea. Sometimes, you can even hear the rumble of the subway. But it’s my comfort zone. And my ritual goes like this:

Skip to the good parts of a facial with a Dermalogica MicroZone Treatment at Toronto’s Buff Nail Lounge ($30, 117 Front St. E., 416-913-8880), delivered by the skillful Lourdes (ex-Gee Beauty). She can focus on sloughing off winter flakiness, extracting clogged pores or delivering intense hydration–and it makes getting a regular facial a lot more […]

The post The daily steal: Custom mini-facial, $30 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Skoah (skoah.com) is a Vancouver-based spa and skin-care product line that believes everyone needs time to relax. They also believe that no one is more deserving of some downtime than the parents of terminally ill children.