Cold-weather care

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Cold-weather care

Treatments in three price ranges to keep your skin pampered this winter

By Meagan Carey

Photos by Will Shilling

Baby, it's cold outside. From blistering winds to freezing rain and snow, winter can wreak havoc on your state of mind, not to mention your skin. But resist the urge to curl up on the couch, bummed out, until spring. Instead, you can battle the winter blues with a trip to a luxurious local spa, whatever your budget may be. We've got ideas in three different price ranges to help revitalize your weary winter skin.

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Corazon Spa & Club

7155 Corazon Dr., Dublin

614-873-5959

For those with champagne wishes and caviar dreams, this 14,000-square-foot, Tuscan-inspired spa and membership club should be able to satisfy those costly cravings.

The Mimosa Body Treatment ($150, 80 minutes) doesn't actually involve any bubbly, but it feels just as luxurious as popping open a bottle of the good stuff. In one of eight private treatment rooms, including a romantic couples room, the service begins by rubbing crushed grape seed over all your limbs to remove dead skin cells from the surface.

"The younger skin cells underneath will grab onto moisture better," explained veteran esthetician Christine Fernandez.

Once you're exfoliated, the Hydrating Mineral Wet Mask is applied, and you are wrapped head to toe in Mylar, an aluminum-foil-type sheet that helps trap your body's heat. While you sit and bake like a potato, new cells are at their prime for maximum moisture absorption.

Shortly thereafter, an esthetician performs a light pressure-point massage on the face and scalp. This is where things get difficult — you actually have to move a muscle to hop into the shower and rinse off. Modest spagoers can rest easy, as the estheticians discreetly excuse themselves during this portion of the service.

Finishing off the service, an enzyme-packed protein mist is applied.

"These skin-specific enzymes are catalysts for generating new, healthy skin cells," Fernandez said. "They actually teach your skin cells to behave in a younger manner."

To keep this new, younger-looking skin in shape until your next visit, the treatment includes a free gift of Napa Valley Grape Seed Body Scrub.

Mario Tricoci

3934 Townfair Way, Easton

614-428-1000

In the midst of all the shameless consumerism going on at Easton Town Center, Mario Tricoci offers yet another form of indulgence for weary shoppers. It's bleak outside anyway, so stop scouring the sales and give your skin a rest from the bitter winter winds.

"Cold weather slows everything. It restricts your blood flow, and so your skin begins producing less oil," said esthetician Monica Frear.

The result: dry, flaky skin that looks as dull as the gray winter skies outside. To rid yourself of that dullness, she recommends a Signature Facial ($95, 75 minutes) with the trendy Pumpkin Enzyme Mask ($29).

The fruit's active enzymes act like a glycolic solution, and can dissolve up to 10 layers of dead cells and reveal a more even skin tone. The potent pumpkin also helps reduce breakage of the collagen elastin, which is what keeps skin firm and makes it appear more youthful.

"If you have ever carved a pumpkin, you may notice that your hands begin to itch," Frear said. Those are the enzymes in action, so be prepared for a little "itch" while the mask works its magic. Fortunately, the treatment is all pleasantries after that, with a hand massage as an extra bonus.

New skin cells are produced about every 28 days, so Frear recommends applying the mask once a month to ensure that all the dead cells are adequately removed.

With expert makeup artists on hand at Mario Tricoci, you can also get a quick makeover before braving the outside world again.

Tranquility Day Spa

791 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side

614-459-7373

For all of you undergrads who want to enjoy a taste of the good life but live on a beer budget, Tranquility offers Spa Glam, a discounted menu of services for students ages 22 and younger, ID required.

According to co-owner Robin Burre, you can never be too young to start a healthy skin-care regimen.

"It's much easier to prevent skin problems than it is to correct them," she said, which is why she and her husband offer affordable treatments for young adults.

For a mere $50, a collegiate can indulge in the Relax Facial (45 minutes). Many students struggle with acne-related issues, so this facial is specifically non-irritating and does not include any painful extractions (aka pimple popping).

After cleansing the face, a dual-active papaya enzyme scrub is applied to remove a few layers of lifeless skin. Once the steamer is added to the equation to enhance the enzyme action, you will definitely begin to feel a tingle (spa-speak for extremely uncomfortable burning sensation).

Before long, the "tingle" dies down, and you can enjoy a gentle face, neck and shoulder massage. To finish it off, a mask customized for your skin type (problematic, oily, sensitive or dry) is put on while you are left to relax, and possibly doze off, for the remaining 10 minutes.

"As we age and are exposed to sun damage, our skin cell process slows," Burre said. "Everyone needs to keep skin protected by wearing an SPF daily."

So now all you students have no excuse for not looking underage.

January 10, 2008