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From the outside of its Halsted Street storefront, Spacio Day Spa for Men and Women is rather unassuming. But the inside is quite the opposite. Spacio is an ultimate spa experience for all the senses. Modern and attractive on the surface with its design, yet within the confines of this upscale escape, complete with a European water therapy facility, Spacio treats beauty as much more than skin deep.
Within the entrance is Spacio's chic retail shop, stocked with towering white shelves and cabinets immaculately lined with products from the spa's signature skin care line along with selections from Kiehl's, Decleor, Skinceuticals, Bumble & bumble and Billy Jealousy. On the opposite side is a posh sitting area with chocolate brown leather chairs that richly complement the spa's aqua blue and deep brown décor. Smooth jazz piano music sets a soft, relaxing tone. Past the long, sleek reception desk, Spacio's inclusive salon provides haircut, color and styling services and spa manicures and pedicures. The gateway to Spacio's perfected blend of body-soothing treatments, holistic-inspired skin care and specialty beauty enhancements lies just beyond the other side of the reception area.
I was shown to a women's lounge and changing room, stylishly furnished with high-end countertops, hardwood lockers, rain showers and dressing areas stocked with amenities for freshening and styling following treatments. I was given a key to my assigned locker, which had a quilted robe and a pair of "Zendals" (spa sandals) waiting for me. After changing, I was directed to the private, lounge-like waiting area where fresh flowers, a large pitcher of lemon water and a bowl of nut mix sat on a table beside the sofas.
Within a few minutes a massage therapist entered the space and introduced himself. He led me back a long hallway lined with several elegant treatment rooms, each stating their purpose with a plaque next to the door - "surrender me," "comfort me," "relax me," "renew me," "balance me" - the list goes on, any of which could describe the way the Smoothing Salt Scrub and Aroma-Rain Massage ahead would leave me.
This distinctive hybrid of hydrotherapy treatments was as close as I've come to touching utopia. On top of a covered, oversized spa medical tub imported from Australia, which also serves as the 77-jet hydrotherapy bath, I lay, covered with towels as the therapist performed an intense series of multi-sensory steps.
Before we began, he explained exactly how the treatment would go, from the application of scrubs and oils to the rinsing and the completely discreet method of replacing privacy towels, all while massaging me under a five-head rain shower. It's a pretty talented display of multi-tasking, and a substantial demonstration of Spacio's superb sense of "spahhh."
First, the Smoothing Salt Scrub, a coarse mix of Dead Sea salts (known for their complex of minerals' unique ability to soften and renew skin), blended with lavender and mint essential oils from the French pharmaceutical-grade line Decleor. The brand's other citrus, pettigrain and neroli oils are used in other forms of hydrotherapy for various ailments. The sea salt and oil mix was generously brushed on my skin, from neck to toes, and then he gently scrubbed and buffed away the dead skin on the surface, resulting in a full-body exfoliation. The elixir's grape seed and apricot extracts rehydrated and moisturized my skin on contact, like instant silk.
He offered me a choice of aromatherapy balms to incorporate into the massage that are based in the same essential oils but blended with shea butter and beeswax for intense moisture. With thoughtful consideration, the therapist explained the several balm selections like "Detox," "Tonic," "Relax" and "Flow" that encourage energy flow, lymphatic drainage and a sense of calm and balance. He suggested I pick one based on what scent appealed to me most, just by instinct. Intuitively I chose "Relax," a balancing blend of lavender and eucalyptus. He lightly scented a small towel with the balm, and covered the face cradle with it, a subtle touch that made a noticeable difference as I lay face down on the table breathing in the therapeutic aromas, feeling like I just found a pocket of the purest air on the planet.
Now it was time to bring on the rain. Based on the treasured tradition of hydrotherapy, which began once upon a time in a small French village with the advent of the Vichey shower, the Aroma-Rain Massage uses five showerheads that deliver streams of alternating temperature and pressure. Touted for its restorative abilities for the body and the mind, Spacio puts a modern spin on the classic Vichey shower with a "turbo charge" of jet streams that warm and relax the muscles, preparing them for intense therapeutic massage. Between the water and the therapist's healing massage, this experience was like receiving two different massages at one time. A double dose of bliss.
Completely euphoric yet relaxed and calm, I relaxed on the table and soaked up the remaining essences of my treatment. The therapist invited me to take my time before leaving the room, and was just outside the door with cold water in hand when I did. He showed me back to the spa lounge area, where I was soon met by a stylist who would be showing me Spacio's Temporary Eyelash Enhancement.
"Weekend Lashes," the synthetic, special occasion extensions, which are available in short, medium and long lengths, are applied in sections easily and efficiently, yielding a starlet-like set of lush lashes that can last up to a week. The Spacio stylist expertly applied medium length lashes along my lash line using a delicate, hypo-allergenic adhesive, mindful to attach shorter lashes at the inner corners of my eyes for a more natural look. Once she had finished applying this instant dash of glamour, she provided me with detailed instructions on how to care for the lashes and keep them long-lasting - like keeping them dry for the next 24 hours, using oil-free makeup remover and not using waterproof mascara or any products around the eyes with an oil base. And should I want to remove the lashes, a cotton swab dabbed in baby oil gently helps the lashes fall off easily.
"From Rio to a little healthy glow." Spacio's Personal Airbrush Tanning session was the next beauty demo. Inside a private studio-like room, I watched the airbrush technician demonstrate this UV-free tanning technique on a model, and very much like a painter, she expertly outlined the shapes of muscles with thin lines of bronze color two to three shades darker than natural. Strategically lining and shading with an artist's precision, she sprayed on the illusion of a sculpted, more muscular look. The wavy lines played an amazing trick on my eyes as the model's muscles literally began to pop. Not only one of the safest ways to get a natural-looking bronze glow, for even the fairest of skin tones, this airbrush tanning method is also a precise body contouring tool that helps define many different areas of the body. From "six-pack" abs and cut biceps and pecs on men to enhancing cleavage and "tightening" the thighs and buttocks on women, the enhancements are endless.
From the subtle to the dramatic, this one's a beauty secret to be reckoned with. After the sculpting, a custom shade is created based on individual skin tone to evenly fill in the rest of the body with a golden tan. The 10% DHA bronzing solution is derived from sugar cane, which means its translucent consistency doesn't streak or fade in patches, and it oxidizes (like a cut apple) over the next several hours, gradually darkening. But it's advised to wait at least eight hours following the session before bathing, showering and exercising. With the suggested at- home maintenance of moisturizing and exfoliating, the color can last up to a week.
A convenient Lincoln Park location that's open seven days a week, Spacio isn't just a unique day spa, it's a luxurious destination for improving health and enhancing personal appearance - serving the needs of both men and women with first-class services and professionalism while indulging their senses.
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