Indulge me: a spa-athon By Catherine Berlin; photos by kc kratt Spa services are a little bit like sex. Or a certain part of sex, I mean. Someone is there to make sure that you feel like you own the world; that providing what you want and what you need is the only reason they exist. There is touching, and warmth, and a moment at the end when you either fall asleep or wish it could go on forever. And for this brief respite in life, for this little present, there can be no excuse to forebear. If you are uncomfortable with that analogy, however, think of it as sinking back into a time when Mummy and Daddy would tuck you in, tell you what you needed to hear, and make you feel like the most important person—no, the only person—on the planet. Or go because the research proves it’s good for you. The reason and the mindset really do not matter anyway. Western New York has the loveliest spa facilities and hottest treatments going, so we highly recommend that, for whatever reason, you go and enjoy. Spa at Falling Waters Spa at Falling Waters in Orchard Park. Water-based body treatments are a specialty at Falling Waters, but this time I wanted to try a hot stone massage. “This is not like deep tissue, you understand,” Ryan, my massage therapist, explained. “This is more relaxing, more to de-stress with the use of heat, pressure, and scent,” he continued, and then asked me to choose one of four Aveda oils he began passing beneath my nose. The beauty of a hot stone massage for me is that the heat really sinks in. It makes its presence known, with Ryan gliding the stones about to strategic points, in the constant motion of a figure skater, and because Ryan kept them in almost constant motion, I was mentally following their placement about my back and neck. Like an infant following a pendulum, I was soon tranquilized into not really noticing where the stones were or what scent was being used or what year it was. I had been hypnotized into a safer-than-hummingbird blood pressure and a sweet demeanor. “I could use this every day,” I thought. Ryan also massaged my feet, neck, shoulders, and head, the extra areas that carry around much of our lifestyle abuse. It lasts for an hour and fifteen minutes; plan on at least an hour and a half so you can enjoy the dark and peaceful rest area, the goblets of lemon water, and rich changing areas complete with hair care products and blow dryers. “This isn’t fair; I have to leave for a meeting,” I told the receptionist as I put on my coat and thanked Ryan at the front desk. “I’m coming back to shop.” I always try to bring a little of the spa experience home with me to help me survive until I can return, and this time I wanted body oil scents. And I didn’t even care which one. 3385 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park, 677-9700; www.spaatfallingwaters.com. Excuria Salon and Med Spa Excuria in Williamsville. “The computer says that based on the lack of melatonin damage, you have a skin age of thirty-seven years,” my esthetician Donna Costanzo told me. I did a mental calculation. That was about as many years off my chronological age as the amount of time I had spent deep peeling, exfoliating, sunscreening, and obsessing. Or put a simpler way, the calculation made sense. I started hardcore, serious skin treatments at about thirty-four, and now a computer told me I had only aged three years since then. Sadly, the age we appear to be is not just a function of skin clarity, but also one of volume, elasticity, and wrinkles. Sure, I could use forty pounds of facial fat and a nip and a tuck to complete the look, but I was still happy. Clarity has always been a big skin care issue of mine, and in Donna I had acquired a lot of trust. “Give me your ultimate facial,” I begged. “I always think I know everything about face care, but maybe in my Miss Know-it-All state of mind, I have missed out on something big.” Excuria’s Signature Facial begins with a computerized imaging and analysis of the skin, including type and sun damage, which helps Donna in her selection of products to use during the facial. Donna cleansed and warm-steamed my face, purified and aroma-ed me, all in a bright, lovely room. Then, the skilled esthetician’s fingers work the face, the stress points, and the skin, so that thirty minutes into the facial I realize that removing makeup and blackheads was not what this was about. It was in the way hands moved across fat pads and lymph nodes and whatever else lay beneath the freckles. Every woman should get one of these as a present or to reward herself after some big achievement, some big trauma, a milestone, or a flat tire. This was better than wine, I thought, something I’m not sure I have ever thought before. Then, just when I thought it was over, Donna moved on to work each arm, each hand, each calf, ankle, and foot. I lost all power to speak. I floated down the stairs and out to Main Street, where I saw a meter man ticketing my car. I had been inside for more than my two-hour limit. “Isn’t this a great afternoon,” I said to the officer, not really caring. “I’m sorry, but I’ve already written it. I can’t take it back.” “No, really, it’s okay,” I replied. “Gosh, well, I’m sorry,” he added. And for the first time in my life I went back to the office and paid a ticket on time. “What’s wrong with you,” someone asked. “I’m on holiday,” I told them. 5725 Main St., Williamsville, 839-3106; www.excuriaspa.com. (Park in back.) BeautyQuest BeautyQuest, with locations in Williamsville, Buffalo, East Aurora, and Lockport. There is a famous (and rich) skin doctor who insists that the best way to impress at a class reunion is to spend four days eating nothing but salmon. I love salmon, but four days of the fatty, pink stuff is more apt to make me feel like I’m living at the zoo. A better bet for putting your freshest face forward is the Beauty Quest treatment I like to call the two-day facelift, and it involves a process as entertaining as it is effective. Esthetician Michelle Malcome asked me ahead of time: Are you claustrophobic? Are you allergic to anything? Are you uncomfortable with heat? With restrictions like this, I thought, it has to be good. But actually, it was complete fun, in that “I’m gonna look great” kind of way. This multi-stage process includes an exfoliation step that feels warm and tingly and smells like cinnamon. Another phase is a tightening mask, where I could feel my skin start to shrink under the mask. No talking. A thumbs-up or down on comfort level, and keep the skin as still as possible. A second tightening mask placed on top of that causes the skin to draw in even more. The end result, after all this cleansing, sloughing, and masquing, was a brighter and firmer face. My forehead looked smoother between the eyebrows, too—an unexpected break. Everyone is different, Michelle advises, which is always the case with all treatments, but if you have a little time for yourself before your next big event or important evening for two, go for it. Save the lox for your weekend bagel. 5483 Sheridan Dr., Williamsville, 633-7546, as well as Buffalo, East Aurora, and Lockport. Check the location for available services. Seasons Salon and Spa by Corto’s Seasons Spa and Salon of Hamburg. For the longest time, it seemed, every time I drove through the village of Hamburg I thought that the combination of abandoned strip malls and torn-up main streets had to be the last straw for this once cozy, Norman Rockwell-like hamlet. But last fall I found myself cutting through the town to get to Lockwoods Greenhouse and was astounded by the transformation. The excavators, orange cones, and dingy intersection lights had been replaced with lushly landscaped roundabouts. The traffic, which always seemed stalled and angry, moved like a summertime stream, easy and orderly. It looked great and it felt right, so I took a longer tour. As I approached the corner of Main and Buffalo Street I saw the familiar name of Season’s Day Spa. “Oh, you look so good,” I said to the receptionist, “and the place, too!” There was positive energy in the room, and it worked its way into me. I could have lounged there reading for hours, away from the cell phone and children, but my nail professional, Jill Black, offered another option. “Wait until you feel the new chairs,” she said, leading me to a gorgeous taupe, cream, and gold upper level that contained a bright, clean pedicure room fitted with shiatsu massage chairs. I sat in the chair and leaned my head back to start enjoying the rollers and pads, when someone yelled out, “Cate, is that you?” There sat Claudia, whom I hadn’t seen in decades. “OMG!” we both exclaimed, or some variation thereof, and there it was: proof of the spa as a social scene. Two other women were there with their daughters, introducing each girl to the art of perfect foot care. I finally let the chair take me to a quiet place, massaging the length of my back, right down through the glutes, while Jill softened, exfoliated, trimmed, clipped, and polished. I chose the same color that seemed to work with all open-toe dress shoes and barefoot bed scenes: a purple so dark it’s pretending to be black. Then Jill moved me to the manicure area full of aesthetic tables and chairs that were a welcome break from the assembly-line variety found at the malls. “I could write a thesis at one of these,” I said to Jill. “Not until your nails are dry,” she said, after dipping each hand into liquid wax, and removing five years of tired and dry from my hands. “Same color as your toes?” she asked. “It will look great.” I hesitated. Sometimes when I put near black on my fingernails I keep thinking I’m seeing houseflies in my peripheral vision, but I deferred to her. I lasted almost two weeks looking like I actually cared about my appearance, getting ten compliments on the color choice. “I’m coming back to see you,” I told Jill, “with my mom and my daughter.” I want to hear them giggle as the shiatsu takes over their backs and backsides, and Jill puts warm fuzzy covers on their feet to let the softening lotions heat up, all the while as I’m peeking about for someone to share secrets with. 20 Buffalo St., Hamburg, 648-3120, and 4065 North Buffalo St., Orchard Park, 662-9525; www.cortosalon.com. Capello Salons and Day Spa Downtown Capello co-owner Lisa Martineck (at right) and a product array (left) Photos by Catherine Berlin. What better place for Capello Salons and Day Spa’s downtown location than the glistening, massive curves of The Avant, a magnificent transformation of the former Dulski building that now looms large over the south end of Delaware Avenue. It offers downtown professionals, residents, and visitors a chance to so easily step off the sidewalk and escape into the beautiful building’s interior for a touch of their own, personal revitalization. The airy, state-of-the-art salon offers a menu of nail care, facials, massages, and hair care, all of which can be geared towards a large visiting group or a local client’s hectic schedule. Not everyone has an hour or two for body or hair treatments, co-owner Lisa Martineck explains to me. A lot of the clientele depend upon being able to come in, get gorgeous, and get back to the demands of professional life. I witnessed it, too. A new customer came in to see Martineck before a speaking engagement, asking if there was something that could be done with her thick and wind-frizzled hair. “Well, first let’s wash you,” directed Martineck, but the client hesitated. “Is it necessary? I don’t have a lot of time.” “I don’t have to shampoo, but it will look better, and don’t worry about the time,” Martineck assured. To the client’s astonishment, her hair was styled swingy-soft and sophisticated within thirty minutes. “I’m switching to her,” the client whispered to me afterwards. Martineck had given the client some styling tips, and added that product also matters. On this client, the salon used Lanzia bodifying tone near the roots for lift, and Agadir lightweight Moroccan argan oil throughout the ends. I left with a bottle of my own Moroccan miracle maker. Tip: When you have the time to relax, try a Yonka product-based body treatment. I experienced one at Capello’s East Amherst location and was impressed enough to put the Yonka company rep on my holiday card list. Enjoy. Visit capellosalons.com, 200 Delaware Ave., 852 5600; 5422 Main St, Williamsville, 634-4111; 9492 Transit Road, at 639-8019. Pur Skin “You have to try this. I’m serious,” my friend told me, with all the over-caffeination of a Housewives of production. “She runs something over your face and it pokes holes in it and you look younger.” This is what I love about the beauty business. The “she” being referred to was Kathryn Mazierski, owner of Lewiston’s Pur Skin Salon. I was completely captivated by this “holes” concept and for a year I kept the availability of this device in the back of my head. “I’m free next week,” Mazierski told me when I finally called. I headed to her spa in downtown Lewiston, walked into the old Opera House, and we sat down side by side in cozy upholstered Queen Anne’s wing chairs to talk. Mazierski is the real deal. In addition to everything else, she is a former president of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women, and founder of Pretty Personal Inc., a cosmetic and wig company focused on helping cancer patients struggling with skin and hair reactions to chemotherapy. She cares about health, she promotes organic products, and she cares about women, and her message to me was that we need to take better care of our skin. “It is the organ of introduction,” she states. I think I was following her. We spend money on clothes and money on hair, but think of skin care as a vain extravagance. It isn’t. Our face is how people first really see us as an individual, and our skin is the largest organ of our body. During my treatment at Pur, esthetician Christine Zaroian moved an electronic-based wand about my skin that helped nourishing, organic, problem-targeting products penetrate as deeply as possible into my dermis. I got it. It’s hard to go deep. The skin is designed as a barrier against infiltration. It is designed to resist help. So clearly the focal point of this facial was in the delivery system, and as pleasant as the exfoliation, steam, massage, and moisturizing was, Christine made her biggest points with me by describing this benefit. It was also extremely cool when she brushed the gelatinous mask on my face, pulled it off and I got to see a relief map of my face. Take a drive up to the Opera House, grab an organic coffee from the Orange Cat Coffee Company across the street, and start feeling better about what you are putting in and on your skin. 736 Center St., Lewiston, 754-8285; www.seyantesthetique.com. Michele For Hair This time, I skipped the day spa part of Michele and wanted to test what a professional hair color would be like. Michele sat me in a chair and looked and looked. I have been a box blonde since the dull ash of winter stopped turning to flax each summer. It cost nothing to keep me blonde on my own, but I lived in constant fear of looking like a crazy woman or worse, a trampy “bottle blonde,” as my mom would say. And choosing Michele was easy. My daughter had gone to her to cure a lowlight/highlight job so hip that she came home looking like a zebra. I found the photo of the beautiful, rich, dark blond hair that Michele had recovered on my baby’s head, and said “What about me?” I offered no opinion. I was so not in charge. You pick the color, you pick the hue, you you you, Michele. And when the color was rinsed out and I was led to a chair for the blow out, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “How come it’s not orange!?” I exclaimed across the shop, totally thrilled and amazed. “Because Michele did it,” a droll voice replied. For what it’s worth, all you DIYers, get thee to a professional. Even if you just try it once. It is a great two hours to yourself. 775 Elmwood Ave., 882-1180. You’re So Vain Salon-Spa Boutique Keeping the neck and décolleté hydrated and full is always a challenge because we simply don’t have as much collagen production going on under the surface in those areas. The silk peel that June Marie Russo offers at her West Seneca spa and salon exfoliates with a “wet abrasion” method, vacuums away the dead skin, and delivers skin-specific topicals with enough force that left me looking hydrated. Those chest wrinkles seem somehow lifted. The results were noticeable enough to convince me to slather on rich body butters in-between upcoming visits. This one works for me, and every client has a personal treatment mix. 1364 Union Rd, West Seneca, 712-0042. Green Spa, 5526 Main Street in Williamsville, offers an organic experience featuring manicures and pedicures, massage services, and more; for info, call 635-6482 or visit www.greenspawny.com. Catherine Berlin is Spree’s style editor; she regularly reports on the WNY spa scene. SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top