Apr 19, 2022
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Professional Skin Care
Your face usually gets the most skin-care attention, but your body needs care too. The skin from your neck to your toes can show aging and dullness just like your face. What’s the best way to refresh it? A trip to the spa. Professional body treatments should be part of your regular routine and are just as important as what you do at home. Here’s a guide to spa body services: the most common treatments, how to prepare, and what to expect afterward.
Why You Need Professional Body Care
Just as you combine at-home care with salon facials for your face, your body benefits from both home and professional treatments. A trained esthetician can help soften lines, reduce the look of cellulite, remove toxins, and reveal fresher, glowing skin. As our Product Support Representatives note, estheticians can “customize a treatment to address your skin concerns and also use professional strength products for your body, just as they do for a facial.” With tailored treatments and stronger products, professional services are a key part of body care.
How To Prepare Yourself
Start prepping for your spa day 48 hours before your appointment: stop exfoliating. That means no loofahs or scrubs before your visit. Professional treatments often include exfoliation, and you don’t want to overdo it.
Within 24 hours of your appointment, avoid hair removal like shaving. Hair removal can exfoliate and leave skin sensitive, which isn’t ideal for intense body treatments. Skip the razor so your skin is calm and ready.
On the day of your visit, follow a few simple tips to stay comfortable and get the most from your treatment. Avoid heavy meals right before your appointment — spa time is for relaxing, and lying on the table feeling bloated can ruin that. Wear loose, comfortable clothes and bring a change of clothes. Since you’ll remove jewelry and your watch, consider leaving valuables at home. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early so you can fill out any forms and settle in. Have any medical information ready and tell your esthetician about injuries or sore areas to avoid. For full-body treatments, be prepared to undress to your underwear or completely, with modesty draping used during the service; many spas also offer disposable underwear.
Common Treatments
Most spas offer a variety of body treatments. Here are the most common types and what they include:
– Dry Brushing
An old technique using a dry-bristled brush in slow circular motions to remove dead skin, boost circulation, and help lymphatic drainage.
– Body Scrub or Polish
An exfoliating massage using an abrasive scrub, often made of sugar or salt mixed with oils. It removes flaky skin and improves blood and lymph circulation while adding hydration.
– Hydrotherapy
Water-based treatments that relieve discomfort and promote well-being. A common option is the Vichy shower — several vertical shower heads rinse you while you lie on a shallow, drain-equipped table. The therapist may also use a wand for a more focused water massage. It’s relaxing and great for rinsing off scrubs or wraps.
– Massage
Performed by massage therapists, this involves rubbing and kneading the body and is one of the most popular spa services.
– Body Mask & Wrap
Like a facial mask but for the body: a thick product is applied after exfoliation and the body is wrapped in sheets or Mylar. The wrap raises temperature to increase circulation and open pores so the product absorbs better. Wraps can hydrate, reduce the look of cellulite, or help soothe sunburned skin.
What To Do Afterwards
Your skin may feel a bit tender after a body treatment. Be gentle and avoid exfoliating for several days. Moisturize from head to toe — for example, our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Body Lotion delivers immediate hydration with a Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex, and panthenol helps protect the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss.
Skip bathing or showering until the day after your spa visit so your skin can keep absorbing the treatment’s benefits. Drink plenty of water afterward to help flush out toxins.
Ready to treat your body to essential skin care? Find professional services at your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner. What’s your favorite body care service? Tell us in the comments below or on social media.