Local spas offer a personal kind of holiday indulgence

by Stacia Friedman
Posted 11/25/21

You’ve been good this year, right? So, take a little time out from your holiday to-do list and take advantage of the offerings of Chestnut Hill’s luxury spas. Think of it as a …

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Local spas offer a personal kind of holiday indulgence

Posted

You’ve been good this year, right? So, take a little time out from your holiday to-do list and take advantage of the offerings of Chestnut Hill’s luxury spas. Think of it as a stress-buster before the onslaught of relatives, entertaining and cookie trays. 

Cure de Repos

This is the little spa that grew and grew, from its original location on Germantown Avenue near Hartwell Lane to its current multi-floor complex next to Quelque Chose. The larger space translates into more skincare services, massage therapies and exclusive product lines, including Biologique Recherche,  Environ, Circell, and Sodashi. 

“Our newest skin care brand is called Swiss Line by DermaLab, specializing in Anti-Aging products that will keep skin looking and feeling hydrating, firm, and youthful,” said owner Chrissy Dress.

In addition to a tempting menu of facials, Cure de Repos offers a one-hour Swiss Hydra-Oxygen facial to rehydrate and replenish dry, thirsty skin. “It lifts away dull skin debris to uncover plump new cells, while softening surface lines. Following this treatment, the skin looks refreshed, renewed and hydrated, with a bright glowing complexion,” said Dress.

If this pandemic year has created a road map of lines on your face, go for the seventy-five minute Swiss Collagen Infusion facial that helps fill-in lines and wrinkles with a highly concentrated combo of marine collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Cure de Repos’ also offers a variety of massages, from thirty minutes up to two hours. Choose from hot stone massage, therapy massage, foot reflexology, pregnancy massage and Reiki. The spa also offers a full line of acupuncture and cupping services.

A Pre-Holiday Party on Friday Dec. 3 features Botox and filler specials with Champagne and lite bites. Stop by Saturday, Dec. 11th  for Sip and Sniff, an event featuring Champagne, small bites and an introduction to the Italian perfume brand Atalaia. Plus special product offers. Vaccination cards and reservations are required for both events.

All December, there will be a donation box outside the store to collect new and old pet toys, food and care items. Donations will be made to Blue Pearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital in Conshohocken at the end of the month.

Diamond Spa

Nestled between Threadwell and the Spice Rack, Diamond Spa offers an extensive array of services, including facials, massages, manicures and pedicures for men and women. 

Crushed for time but need to relieve shoulder and upper back pain? Try their quickie, fully clothed, Chair Massage for ten minutes up to an hour. Or indulge in a one hour, fully clothed Japanese shiatsu massage. Have stiff joints, migraines, sciatica or herniated discs?  Try Perle therapy massage which uses stainless steel balls that penetrate affected areas and promote healing. 

Their facial menu includes a 75-minute Ulti-Vitamin Power facial which uses a cocktail of vitamins, botanical extracts and exfoliating agents to improve the skin’s elasticity, tone and texture.  The Gentleman’s facial is an hour of pampering that results in healthier, more radiant skin. 

If you want to show Mom how much you appreciate her?  Give her the Diamond Spa “Experience,” three hours that includes a Swedish massage, a facial, manicure and pedicure. 

Spa Elysium

This spa at 55 Bethlehem Pike goes one step further, offering hair styling in addition to a full menu of facials, massage, manis, pedis and – wait for it – tanning. 

Start with a Coffee Sugar Scrub which uses Kenyan coffee beans, vitamins and essential oils to firm, soften and exfoliate your skin. Or try a seaweed wrap to sooth your mind while nourishing your body. 

If, after a year of living in your sweats, letting your hair go grey and not wearing makeup, you are ready to put on a fresh face, Spa Elysium recommends a complete makeover, including hair styling, makeup application and manicure.

Just for Him

Duke Barber Company at the corner of Willow Grove and Germantown offers gentlemen an Executive Shave, a classic straight razor shave with tea tree oil, hot towel prep, hot lather, and healing mask treatment. Think Edward G Robinson’s close shave scene in Key Largo.

Vegan Skincare and Cosmetics

If you or someone on your gift list is committed to a vegan lifestyle, consider vegan skincare products and cosmetics available at Weavers Way Wellness in Chestnut Hill and Weavers Way Across the Way in Mt Airy. 

Their Mineral Fusion cosmetics are hypo-allergenic, free of artificial colors, fragrances and parabans, with no animal testing. More importantly, they contain delicious ingredients, such as their Three-in-One Color Stick for cheeks and lips which contains pomegranate, white tea and licorice. Mineral Fusion Lipstick in 15 shades contains avocado, cranberry, white tea, cocoa butter and pomegranate. All the more reason to lick your lips.

The shop also carries Andalou Skincare products based on Fruit Stem Cell Science, containing tumeric, kombucha and probiotics. Toss a Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask in someone’s Christmas stocking.

If all of this self-indulgence makes you feel guilty, take the edge off by inviting your spouse or best friend to share the experience with you for a more relaxed, stress-free holiday.