Spa Week Offers Soothing Savings April 17 to 23 Across Long Island & Nationwide

Spas and salons across Long Island and nationwide are offering steep discounts on select treatments for Spa Week—a national initiative equating into seven days of amazing savings at participating businesses, including $50 treatments—running from April 17 to 23.

In anticipation of this extraordinary beautification celebration, some of the Morey Publishing staff were assigned the very tough job of experiencing spa treatments so we could report back to readers what to expect.

Ali Magno enjoyed a rejuvenating facial at the Center for Pain Relief and Wellness in Babylon, Marisa Giannico received a soothing microdermabrasion facial at Blue Salon and Spa in Stony Brook, Danielle Esposito was treated to a luxurious hydrafacial at Buglino Plastic and Reconsructive Surgery in Woodbury, and Jaime Franchi was spoiled rotten at Fantastic Spa and Nails in Bethpage, with a facial, massage, VIP pedicure and body scrub.

Although the treatments all differed, they were all equally relaxing and enjoyable. If you’re in the market for luxurious pampering, Spa Week offers discounted treatments so you can spoil yourself.

Go ahead. You deserve it!

Ali:

The Center for Pain Relief and Wellness is nestled in the heart of beautiful Babylon village. This Long Island spa offers an array of treatments from massage therapy to body and skin care treatments. I was lucky enough to receive their one-hour deep cleansing European facial, and wow, was it amazing!

I was greeted upon arrival with the relaxing sound of birds chirping, scent of lavender, and a wonderful receptionist, Carrie Ann. I filled out a form that asked various questions about my skin, what kind of skin I have (dry; is winter over yet?!) where my problem areas were, if I had any allergies, and more. After a very brief visit to a warm and comfy waiting area, Kim, my facialist, came out to greet me. She was welcoming, friendly, and immediately made me feel comfortable and relaxed.

Once in the treatment room, Kim asked a few more questions about my skin to ensure she gave me the best treatment for my particular skin type. (We even swapped our favorite DIY treatments—she advised that I use brown sugar and olive oil to treat my dry hands!) The room was equipped with spa essentials to help me relax: dim lights, relaxing music, and a comfy heated blanket to lie under.

After a long winter, this facial was everything my skin wanted (needed), and more. This treatment consisted of various steps, including steam, exfoliation, extraction, and brightening.

The amazing exfoliator Kim used removed the top layer of skin that had braved the cold weather, leaving me with a smooth-to-touch complexion. Kim massaged a mango papaya lotion (which smelled good enough to eat) into my face to brighten my skin and break up any dirt that was in my pores. She also used pumpkin papaya face mask which, on top of smelling like a tropical oasis, helped my skin soak up much-needed moisture. In addition to all of this, I was treated to amazing shoulder, head, and hand massages.

This experience was the epitome of relaxation. After my treatment, my skin felt fresh, clean, refreshed, bright, and incredibly soft and smooth for days afterwards. It was like months of harsh winter weather and stress were erased. I can’t wait to go back to the Babylon Wellness Center and see Kim for another facial, something I’ve promised to treat myself to every time the seasons change.

Danielle:

Tucked in to the winding industrial park roads of Woodbury’s Crossways Park Drive, Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a much-welcomed oasis of spa treatments and cosmetic surgical procedures that will rejuvenate you from the inside out.

Headed by Dr. Anthony Buglino, this newly renovated location is clean and warm, with modern artwork, comfy furniture, and a pristine VIP room stocked with Keurig coffee and snacks.

The happy, welcoming receptionist greeted me and gave me a short questionnaire to fill out before getting my first Hydrafacial, MD treatment. Before long, I was whisked away by Dana Minkin, an esthetician, who gave me a tour of the spa and explained what every room was used for. Whether a patient is looking for a medical spa treatment, injections, or cosmetic surgery, Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery can accommodate them comfortably (and privately!).

Settled in to my leather reclining chair, Dana prepped my face for this one-two punch of a facial. Where other facials only do one thing or another, the hydrafacial is like the one-stop-shop of beauty treatments. This non-invasive procedure packs a scientific combination of hydradermabrasion, a chemical peel, extractions, and nourishing antioxidants into one quick session that leaves you glowing almost instantly. In just one session, your skin reaps tons of benefits, including: reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, increased elasticity and improved firmness, balanced skin tone and evenness, vibrancy, a smoother texture, a reduction of oil and congestion in the skin, minimization of enlarged pores and the diminishment of advanced signs of aging.

Once the hydrafacial began, I was in total relaxation mode, listening to the serene drumbeats on the speakers mixed with Dana’s soft step-by-step explanations of what she was doing. Not at all painful, the hydrafacial felt like an in-depth cleaning from beginning to end, like cool water massaged over my face. Finishing off with red and blue light therapy followed by a leave-on mask, I left the office, glowing.

If you’re looking to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, clean out your pores and reveal a fresher you, stop on by Buglino Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for their phenomenal hydrafacial. This is one spa treatment that you’ll be going back for, again and again!

Marisa:

When I walked into the Blue Salon & Spa in Stony Brook, I instantly knew I was going to enjoy my visit. The atmosphere was calming and the people were friendly. It was amazing how relaxed I felt before my appointment even started!

The receptionist Victoria couldn’t have been nicer, greeting me with a big smile and a warm welcome. My esthetician, Billie, who was equally as welcoming, came over to introduce herself shortly after. I couldn’t wait to get started.

Billie referred to the sheet I had filled out when I first arrived—in which I shared information, such as the different skin care products I use, and any allergies I may have—as she asked me questions to learn more about my skin.

Although I’ve had several facials before, I had never experienced microdermabrasion. Having acne-prone skin, I cannot tell you the amount of time I have spent at my dermatologist’s office over the years, and all the different medications I have tried to get my acne under control. And not only must I deal with breakouts, but I also cannot escape the scars that serve as daily reminders of past breakouts whenever I look in the mirror.

As a result, I was curious to see if this treatment would help my skin look and feel better—and I was not disappointed.

Since Billie knew that I had never had this done before, she explained that the microdermabrasion would feel kind of like a “cat’s tongue” on my face, helping get rid of dead skin cells. This can fade the look of scars and age lines, as well as even out your skin tone.

I’m not sure how long the microdermabrasion lasted, as I was way too relaxed to check the time. In fact, it was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep as I was lying there. From the comfortable bed I was in to the tranquil music in the background, I now know what being in heaven feels like!

Steam gently hit my skin as the facial began. This helped cleanse and hydrate, in order to ensure that it would be left looking brighter and feeling smoother afterwards—which it did. Next, were the extractions, which are not my favorite part of the process, but I knew they had to be done. And Billie checked in with me throughout the entire session to ensure I was comfortable and relaxed.

My appointment finished with a hand and arm massage. I had the choice of a blueberry, cranberry or coconut scrub. (I chose blueberry!) My hands are always dry, so to say I appreciated this is an understatement. The scrub felt amazing on my skin and smelled fantastic!

Before I left, Billie was extremely informative and kind as she spoke to me about things I can do to keep my skin looking great. I felt as if I was talking to an old friend rather than someone I had just met.

Blue Salon and Spa is definitely a place to visit during Spa Week. The hospitality, accommodations, and services are like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. And your skin will surely thank you for giving it a much-needed day of pampering.

Jaime:

Fantastic Spa in Bellmore is nestled in a shopping center on Jerusalem Road. Once inside, half of the space is used as a bustling nail salon, while the other is a gorgeous day spa. Together, they become a rejuvenating, relaxing place to get luxuriously pampered.

Upon my arrival, Rachel, the manager, led me from the nail salon through the frosted glass doors to the private day spa, where the gentle sounds of flowing water and soft music greet each guest. The colors are subdued grays and browns, and automatically, I felt my shoulders relax. The friendly staff knows their stuff. Fantastic Spa has been thriving in two locations for more than 10 years—and it shows.

Rachel introduced me to Sophia, who was going to give me a Swedish massage and deep-cleansing facial. As I later discovered, she’s earned a well-deserved loyal following since she started a decade ago. I began by lying face-down on the heated table, covered with a light sheet. Sophia’s skilled hands took long sweeps down my entire body before working each muscle area with concentrated pressure to relieve all of my built-up tension with a sweet-smelling organic lotion. She spent long periods focusing on the crunchiness in my shoulders and neck, before soothing my lower back with her experienced hands. From there, she massaged my legs, ankles, and even my feet before she gently asked me to turn over. With my eyes closed, I drifted off as she massaged my shoulders and neck, then my arms and hands, working each finger and the pressure points in the palm of my hand.

I may have snored. If so, Sophia was kind enough not to mention it.

My facial was a 60-minute relax-fest, as Sophia deeply and methodically cleansed my skin. With a warm towel placed over my eyes, Sophia opened my pores with hot aromatic steam. She exfoliated my skin and carefully extracted any unwelcome blackheads that have made themselves known on my face. According to Rachel, the next step, which is so crucial, is often not included by less-professional salons. Sophia carefully covered my face in a rich anti-bacterial gel, meant to soothe the sites where blackheads have been extracted and protect against infection. With all my pores open and my face feeling so fresh and clean, my skin has no protection against irritants like dirt or make-up. The antibacterial gel is an important step, letting me know I’m in the hands of real pros.

Next, Sophia covered my face with a mask customized to my skin type. As it set, I may have dozed off for a minute or more! When all was said and done, I felt refreshed, with a smooth, dewy complexion that my husband later praised the moment I walked in the door of our house.

But that’s hours later. I wasn’t done yet at Fantastic Spa.

After she worked her magic on me, Sophia introduced me to Chelsea, who served hot green tea and a snack of sliced apples and trail mix in the VIP pedicure room, a private area with only two reclining chairs and a lovely, peaceful decor in soft browns and golds with gentle music playing in the background.

Leah was on hand to treat me to the spa’s special pedicure, a deliciously chamomile-scented treatment that fills the room with a soothing aroma. This therapy helped me relax in my soft leather chair as Leah soothed my feet and legs with what seems like endless packets of different lotions. First, she soaked my aching feet in a chamomile bath, then rubbed my dry winter legs with a soothing scrub that sloughed away the dead skin cells. Next, Leah covered my legs with hot towels moistened with a chamomile mixture and filed my toenails.

Then, it was time for my favorite part of the experience. She lowered the lights, instructed me to relax, reclined my chair, and treated me to a 20-minute foot massage with an aromatic lotion. She coated my heels with a chamomile balm that made my winter feet almost unrecognizable. Finally, she painted my toes with a pretty blue polish that I can’t wait to show off once the weather finally warms up and I can put my boots away!

Because I love everything they gave me, I plan to go back to Fantastic Spa for the fourth part of its special offer for Spa Week: its white sugar honey polish, a soothing treatment that exfoliates, nourishes and rejuvenates the entire body in a relaxing experience. It’s the perfect way to wash away the dreary winter and step into spring. I can’t wait!