Choices: Massage or Facial?

Redlands Daily Facts Health Section
Staff Writer

Q: I have never been to a Spa. Should I start with a facial or a massage? I want to give a friend a Spa Gift Card for Valentine’s Day. What service should I buy the Gift Card for?

Mimi: For your very first visit to a Spa, I recommend a facial. Although you will be totally modest with either service, when you receive a facial, you have a facial gown on under the sheet. With a massage you are either naked or have on your underwear under the sheet.

With a Custom Spa Facial your skin will be analyzed, and you will receive a customized skin care plan that explains how to care for your skin at home. Your face will be cleansed, treated, masqued, and gloriously massaged. Your hands and feet will be pampered. Plus your neck and shoulders will receive an awesome massage to relieve stress and tension.

After you are accustomed to the atmosphere of the Spa, you will want to return and receive a massage. You will feel at home on your second visit. Each time that you receive a treatment after that, you will relax more and more and thus receive more and more benefit from your services.

A Gift Card can be purchased for a particular service, like a facial, massage, or for Day at the Spa. Or it can be purchased for a dollar amount. I recommend buying it by the dollar amount and then letting the recipient select what she/he would like to receive. Many Day Spas now offer Gift Certificates on line. You select what you want, pay with a credit card, and print out the Gift Certificate from your own computer. You can "shop from your seat instead of your feet." What else are you doing on your lunchtime? Also, remember this for last minute gifts. Oh, shopping at midnight under the full moon!

Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations, (909) 793-9080.