Spa Deals!

Living Social Deal:
Eyebrow and Eyelash Tint ($20 - 51% Savings)
Skin-Revitalizing Facial with Makeup Touchup ($42 - 51% Savings)
at Spa in the City
Offer ends today!

Spa Deals!

Groupon Deal:
For $30, you get a one-hour massage (up to a $95 value)
For $55, you get a 90-minute massage (up to a $125 value)
at Pathway to Perfection
offer ends 7/26

Spa Deals!

Living Social Deal:
$20 for Waxing Services ($40 value)
$32 for Hour Long Swedish Massage ($65 value)
$35 for Hour Long Organic Facial ($72 value)
at Salon D'Va , offer ends today!

Spa Deals!

The Villa Inn Spa Deal:
20% off spa services
offer ends today!

Eversave Deal:
$35 for Facial or up to 62% off Bikini Wax or Ion Foot Detox
Spirit Soul and Body Wellness
offer ends 7/21

Optimal Wellness Center - Massage

I received a birthday massage coupon in the mail from Optimal Wellness Center. This is a place that I have gone to for yoga, and they have all different kinds of wellness treatments, including:

AROMATHERAPY, BACH FLOWER REMEDIES, CHIROPRACTIC, COLD LASER THERAPY, CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY, DECOMPRESSION, DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE, EAR CANDLING, GRASTON THERAPY, GUIDED IMAGERY, HEALING TOUCH, HOMEOPATHY, KINESIOTAPING, LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY, MEDITATION, PILATES, REFLEXOLOGY, REIKI, SHIATSU, TRIGGER POINT MYOTHERAPY, VISCERAL MANIPULATION, YOGA

So, I don't really know what half of that stuff is, but it's a cute place and I like the idea of it. They have a yoga studio and several treatments areas and rooms, and the place is nicely painted and decorated with lots of cute little spa touches like the rocks in the bathroom sink.

My coupon was good for a one-hour massage for $39, normally a $75 value. I easily booked my massage over the phone about 2 weeks in advance. I got an email confirmation a few days before. 

When I got to the place I was greeted by three girls at the desk and my massage therapist, Dane. I filled out a medical history and release form, and was led to the massage room. The room was huge for a massage room, and even had a sauna in the corner. Like the rest of the wellness center, the room was nicely decorated, and had soothing music that was piped throughout the whole place. Dane started on my back, and also massaged my legs, arms, and shoulders. He used good pressure and a very slippery lotion that still hasn't absorbed after four hours. Overall, it was a pretty good massage, nothing super special, but thorough and consistant.

Service Quality Rating: 4 stars out of 5
"Spa Experience" Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Price: $$$ - regularly charged price ($ - price I actually paid)

Price Guide
$ = less than $1 per minute (very budget friendly!)
$$ = about $1 per minute (reasonable)
$$$ = more than $1 per minute (an occasional treat)
$$$$ = about $1.50 per minute (only if I get a gift certificate or great coupon)
$$$$$ = more than $1.50 per minute (I'll be surprised if I ever get to go to one of these)

P.S. I don't know what's up with the different fonts, but I can't figure out how to fix it. :)

Spa Deals!

Eversave Deal:
$29 for Mani/Pedi ($76 value)
Salon D'va
offer ends 7/21

Spa Deals!

Goupon Deal:
• For $35, you get a manicure and an on-the-go pedicure (a $70 value)
• For $40, you get a Brazilian-wax treatment (up to a $100 value)
• For $62, you get an age-defying HydraFacial procedure (a $125 value)
Body Works Day Spa and Hair Salon,  offer ends 7/19

Spa Deals!

Signpost Deal:
$35 for Ultimate Relaxation Massage ($70 value - 50% off)
Edens Pathway

Signpost Deal:
$30 for Signature Pedicure with Massage and Exfoliation ($50 value - 40% off)
Edens Pathway

Signpost Deal:
$85 for Spa Package ($155 value - 46% off)
BB Designs Style Studio

Spa Deals!

Groupon Deal:  
$42 for Custom Facial and Refresh & Repair Eye-Contour Treatment ($85 Value) 
Aqua Aesthetic Studio-Castle Knoll Farms
offer ends 7/16

Groupon Deal:  
$35 for One-Hour Sea-Mud Contour ($70 Value)
All About You - Pendleton
off ends today!

Spa Deals!

Groupon Deal:
• For $22, you get a haircut, style, shampoo, and scalp massage (a $45 value).
• For $25, you get an express mini facial (a $50 value).
• For $30, you get a manicure and pedicure (a $65 value).
at Brit Image Design and Spa - New Palestine
offer ends today!

Wahanda Deal:
$49 Introductory one-hour massage from Massage Envy Carmel
offer ends 7/15  (this one is less than 50% off)

Spa Deals!

I am going to start posting when I see a good spa deal, usually on groupon.com, livingsocial.com, eversave.com, dealfind.com, or others of the like. These are not necessarily places I have been to, so I can't vouch for how good they are, but they will be deals that are around 50% off. (I do recommend signing up for these sites to receive daily deals of all types that you can purchase, but look here if you don't want a ton of emails).

  Eversave Deal: $35 for Swedish Massage or $42 for Hot Stone Massage from Pathway to Perfection - offer over after 7/14

Livingsocial Deal: $96 for European Facial, Mani/Pedi, and Make-up Application Lesson from Transformations Salon and Spa - offer over after today

Spa Tip #7

Be mindful of a spa's on-time and cancelation policies. Some spas will charge you part or all of your treatment price if you are more than 15 minutes late for an appointment. Also, many spas will charge you if you cancel with less than 24 hours notice (or more depending on the spa). If your spa has a website, check there for any policies, or ask when you call for your appointment.

Radiance Skin Care - Facial

Today I used yet another deal I got from groupon.com. I got a facial at Radiance Skin Care in Nora. Dana is the owner and sole facialist at Radiance. I scheduled my appointment about a month in advance (her voice mail suggests scheduling at least a week or more in advance). When I was trying to schedule the appointment, I had a hard time getting a hold of Dana, as we played phone tag for about a week (this is why I appreciate online schedulers, but Radiance did not have one). When we finally talked on the phone, there was plenty of availability for when I wanted.

Radiance Skin Care is similar to the Alabaster Box Studio that I reviewed in June because it occupied a suite in a building where different small businesses can rent space. Radiance, however, had more than one room; there was a waiting area, and two other rooms within the suite. When I got to the slightly old looking building, I had a hard time finding the correct suite because the suite number was not on my groupon, and the actual suite was labeled with a different spa's name (I'm assuming the previous spa business that had rented the suite). I ended up having to call to make sure I was in the right place.

The waiting area was comfortable, with a few chairs, candles, and magazines. I had to wait for an extra half hour while Dana finished up with another client. Dana came out after the client left and led me to the facial room. The room was a good size, and had a massage table and also a desk in a little alcove. There was calming music playing, and a few candles, but not a lot of other decorations. Also, there were several policies and discounts posted around the room, which was distracting to the desired atmosphere. The postings would have been better in the waiting area.

After I got ready and laid down on the table, Dana came back in and asked me if I was allergic to anything or if I was on any medications. Her  service was quick and to the point. She massaged the different treatments in quite vigorously. She did extractions, which is a semi-painful process of clearing the pores by pressing out the gunk with a tool. She also massaged my neck and shoulders at the end and did a good job. The whole facial lasted only 35 minutes or so, which was much shorter than I expected. At the end, she gave me a bar of special soap that she recommended for me for free, and wrote out a recommended skin care regimen using drug store products, which I appreciated.

Extractions. Ouch!

Overall, my facial was fine, but not as relaxing as what I wanted in a spa treatment. The actual effect of a facial on my skin is not really going to be noticeable unless I were to get facials regularly, so that I don't really know. I felt like I had to jump through a few hoops to get the job done, like playing phone tag, having trouble finding the suite, and waiting a half hour. I have had facials at other places for the same price (non-discounted price) that were more relaxing, longer, and provided the same skin care service, so I would likely not go back. Price-wise, I paid $30 for my groupon, and the facial was a $75 value.


Service Quality Rating: 3 stars out of 5
"Spa Experience" Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Price: $$$$$ ($-price I actually paid)

Price Guide
$ = less than $1 per minute (very budget friendly!)
$$ = about $1 per minute (reasonable)
$$$ = more than $1 per minute (an occasional treat)
$$$$ = about $1.50 per minute (only if I get a gift certificate or great coupon)
$$$$$ = more than $1.50 per minute (I'll be surprised if I ever get to go to one of these)