A visit to a resort’s spa is the ultimate indulgence. To make sure your visit has the most impact possible, let’s separate spa fact from fiction.
Sometimes, it’s hard to identify good advice from rumor and quality spa products from snake oil. Here, Dan Pierotti, the mastermind behind the SpaTerre chain of resort spas at Noble House destinations across the country, busts a few of spa’s most bogus claims.
“Slather On That Product – You’ll Get Better Results.”
Joan Rivers should not be your guide. Overuse of products with pore-clogging ingredients can actually be a catalyst for acne and excessive drying. Plus, these days, most products contain more reactive ingredients, so using small amounts will deliver the desired results. What you’re striving for, Pierotti says, is a balanced pH for your skin: “Look for products that contain natural moisture-bearing properties, like hyaluronic acid, aloe, shea butter, and skin-barrier protectors, such as vitamins A, C, and E.”
Try: Vitamin C Revitalizing Facial
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
“Packaging Is Not Important.”
Plastics deteriorate over time, leaching harmful ingredients into the product. Look for plastic packaging that’s lined with aluminum, or choose glass as an overall better choice, especially for long-term storage. Air can also break down essential ingredients, so avoid wide-mouth jars and look for airless pumps.
“Drying Oily Skin Clears Up Acne.”
Using drying agents, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, on oily skin actually triggers your body to produce more oil to combat the extreme drying. Instead, use drying products sparingly, and try to keep your skin lightly moisturized to maintain a balance.
Try: Cloudless Complexion Facial
Gateway Canyons Resort
“Antioxidants Reverse Wrinkles.”
Free radicals wreak havoc on your body with premature aging being just one of their effects. They’re brought on by exposure to a litany of things, like certain chemicals and cigarette smoking, and we’ve all heard antioxidants are the answer. But these free-radical fighters don’t reverse wrinkles; they just help keep more wrinkles at bay. Still, who wants more, right? The easiest place to find antioxidants is in richly colored fruits and vegetables, like blueberries, tomatoes, and spinach.
Try: Anti-Aging Facial
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
“You Should Exfoliate Every Day.”
While a deep scrub is important for keeping pores open and allowing moisturizers to penetrate, doing it every day can remove your skin’s protective oils and cause micro-tears. One to two days a week will do the trick.
Try: Transformation Facial
Kona Kai Resort & Spa
“Chocolate and Greasy Foods Cause Acne.”
Ah, that classic misnomer you heard back in high school still persists. While certain unhealthy foods and processed sugars can cause inflammation and allergic reaction on the skin’s surface, hormonal imbalances, stress, and bacteria are at the root of bad skin. Dark chocolate, rich in flavonoids, actually protects the skin by absorbing UV light and increasing blood flow.
Try: Spiced Cocoa Berry Super Hydration Facial
Hotel Terra
