Machine-driven age-defying facials can be extremely effective, but these treatments prove the power of the human touch.
Pacific Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial
Auberge Du Soleil, Napa, California
If the fairytale-like setting at Auberge du Soleil in Napa isn’t enough to lure you to stay anchored for a while, the spa with treatments such as the new Pacific Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial might just do the trick. Using organic sea-based products designed by Northern California–based skin guru Marie Veronique (think seaweed and algae culled from the Pacific Rim and Pacific Ocean), the multi-step sculpting and firming journey packed with age-defying peptides and marine antioxidants begins with a deep cleanse followed by a detoxifying mask, exfoliation, eye serum application, gentle customized peel according to skin type and soothing mask with oats, neroli and lavender— topped off with a shoulder and foot massage. It’s nothing short of heaven, and at the very least, worth the splurge. aubergesdusoleil.com. —Jennie Nunn
Organic Detox Facial
Woodstock Inn & Resort, Woodstock, Vermont
The Woodstock Inn & Resort is just a few steps away from the heartbeat of this quaint Vermont town. The Inn may be historic, but the beautiful 10,000 square-foot LEED-certified spa is brand new. Light floods in from floor-to-ceiling windows in the Great Room—two stories high—where you wait, by the wood-burning fire, for your treatment. The Organic Detox Facial features Scientific Organics, an active natural and organic line from EmerginC, with fruit acids, goji berry, seaweed, green tea and grape stem cells, to brighten and nourish the skin. The relaxing treatment starts with a kombucha cleanse and exfoliation, face massage, revitalizing French clay mask to draw out toxins, and a replenishing serum. All the while, you feel immensely at peace, in a bright white room with natural wood floors (FSC harvested) and those huge windows that showcase the beautiful Vermont outdoors. woodstockinn.com —Rona Berg
Sacred Nature Organic Facial
Remède Spa, Bal Harbour, Florida
Remède Spa offers the most exclusive organic facial in Miami, with products from Sacred Nature, a brand from Comfort Zone—an Italian company with a strong commitment to sustainability.
Ideal for sensitive and depleted skin, the facial offers intensive nourishment. Organic buriti oil, from the fruit of the Brazilian Moriche palm, contains beta-carotene and is packed with antioxidants. Butterfly bush extract offers a notable anti-aging action. Shea butter is loaded with vitamins A and E and helps protect skin from UV radiation.
Though it might seem counterintuitive, the facial begins with a paraffin foot treatment. After your tootsies are cared for, cleansing milk gently removes dirt and makeup, and a delicate scrub smoothes the skin. A protective mask restores the skin’s vitality and the treatment concludes with a soothing massage for face, neck, décolleté and hands, leaving both you and your skin radiant. stregisbalharbour.com – Kristin Vukovic
Garden Glow Facial
Sorrel River Ranch, Moab, Utah
Exhaling is easy at the Sorrel River Ranch—mainly because the spectacular setting regularly takes your breath away. The 55-room hotel is spread out along the banks of the Colorado River in Utah’s Moab desert, with the dramatic, red-hued cliffs and lush greenery of the area’s national parks as backdrops. Nature is the focus here, whether in the offered activities (like horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, ATV-ing), cuisine (featuring ingredients from the onsite greenhouse and garden), or the rustic-chic spa, which uses an array of organic products. Launched this year, the 50-minute Garden Glow Facial Massage features Vitamin E-rich olive oil infused with dozens of pounds of detoxifying basil harvested from the chef’s garden (the rest of the crop became pesto), along with resort-grown chamomile to calm any desert-caused redness. sorrelriver.com – Sandra Ramani