FASHION Magazine

After walking 34,148 steps and climbing 61 flights of stairs in hilly Old Town Central, I am primed for my Oriental Essence Massage at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central. (The world’s longest covered outdoor escalator is in this neighbourhood, but I only rode it once.) Before the treatment, I take a dip in the […]

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I once enjoyed a memorable facial at a lovely spa in Toronto. The facialist applied a well-perfumed procession of cleansers, oils, serums, gommages and masks—all of which, I was told, in tones as soft and comforting as a fluffy white robe, would prove both calming and vitalizing. The hour-long treatment was delightful in the way […]

The post When Is a Facial Not Just A Facial? When It Gets High Tech. We Try 3. appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

While we hardly require a reason to spend an afternoon relaxing at the spa, Toronto’s Beautylicious makes it easier than ever to justify. The annual spa event is in its fifth year right now, so drop whatever you’re doing and book an appointment (or two… or three…). Think of it as a prix fixe for […]

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Chic beauty boutique Etiket (1832 Sherbrooke St. W., 514-687-3886, etiket.ca) is stocked with deluxe, doctor-approved skin care, including dreamy products by RevaléSkin (helpful for rosacea), Environ from South Africa (skin-resurfacing with vitamin A), Tata Harper (eco-friendly and luxurious) and more unique beauty and home lines—many of which are exclusively available here.

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The holistic Gold Leaf Luxurious Treatment facial ($270) at Montreal’s Dr. Hauschka Spa (1444 Sherbrooke St. W., 514-286-1444, spadrhauschka.com) is a blissful two-hour escape. The 24-karat nutrients in the treatment’s Gold Cosmetica leaves (sourced from Germany) are now available for home use. Prices are determined according to market value; currently, a package of 12 is $75.

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.

He’ll have you at hello—or more specifically, at his handshake. With a firm but gentle grasp and smooth skin, soft from kneading oil into muscles all day long, you can just tell that these hands, belonging to Nael Dababneh, a massage therapist at The Hazelton hotel, are going to work magic.

Deep in the lower level below one of Toronto’s swishiest hotels, the Spa at the Hazelton is a study in neutral marble and frosted glass, with a mosaic-tiled lap pool and a eucalyptus steam room. Such a luxurious setting promises a fantastic body scrub and mud wrap (which certainly is delivered) but not necessarily a strong, therapeutic massage. But Dababneh’s baby face and sweet manner belie his masterful technique.

The holidays should be a time for hot toddies, chocolate truffles, and lots of cheer—but I’ll be the first to admit that all that mall madness gets to me sometimes (hands off, lady—I saw that dress first!). The solution, now more than ever? The spa.

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.

Ignore the not-so-pretty packaging on this lotion: Not only is the Moor Spa Tension Balm ($40; moorspa.com) one of the best tension headache remedies I’ve ever tried (trust me: I’ve even tested good ol’ Bengay, and my other favourite is J.R. Watkins Deep Muscle Cooling Gel), but it’s made by a Richmond, B.C.–based company to boot.

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: