Spa Treatments That Are Great for Your Skin

Most of us have been there — you're surveying an endless (and pricey) menu at a spa and you have no idea which treatments are actually effective and worth the investment of your hard-earned cash. To get to the bottom of the smartest spa indulgences, mom.me consulted with Karen Asquith, the national director of education for G.M. Collin Skin Care in Montreal, who says, "When you are paying to have a treatment done, you want them to use things that you can't get yourself. You want to know that they are using professional-level, higher-concentration active ingredients."

Asquith has been the lead aesthetician every year since 2005 at the pre-Oscars suite performing selected G.M. Collin skincare treatments on celebrities. If it's good enough for the red carpet, we figure it's good enough for the rest of us.

Illustrations by Alex Coward

"For firming up the skin, we have a facial process called hydrolifting, and it is available at many spas," says Asquith. "It's great for people with a lot of wrinkles and sagging skin." This clinical treatment cleanses, hydrates, revitalizes and firms the skin. It's an ideal pre-wedding facial, as it plumps up the skin and makes it look radiant.

Illustrations by Alex Coward

"Our spa also has a collagen treatment that is very hydrating, and helps improves signs of aging," says Asquith. "As we get older, the cellular renewal process slows down. In our facial, we drape a collagen sheet over the face that has been prepped to allow the collagen to make its way into the skin. It provides intense hydration, firms the skin and reduces the appearance of aging." So, if your face needs a dose of age-defying moisture, look for a spa treatment that includes collagen.

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Illustrations by Alex Coward

Olay’s Ultra Moisture Body Wash moisturizes while it cleanses. It’s perfect for busy moms on the go and perfect for gorgeous summer skin. The water-activated lather gives the body wash time to work on even the driest skins — for all-day moisture for soft, healthy-looking skin!

If your body is a bit more jiggly than you'd like, a body treatment aimed at tightening the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite is a must. Asquith says, "There are some key ingredients that you should look out for. These include caffeine, sodium salicylate and soybean extract. Also, glaucine works really well at promoting the evacuation of fat and sugar from the body and is an anti-inflammatory. It works really well for cellulite as a firming product."

Illustrations by Alex Coward

To really battle deeper wrinkles and expression lines, Asquith explains, you should look for "facials that include peptides. Some great ones to look for are Matrixyl, Myoxinol, Argireline — the first three are brand-name products — and retinol. They really fight the signs of aging, as peptides are the building blocks of collagen in the skin."

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To fight bacteria in the skin, as well as to hydrate and detoxify skin, oxygen is one of the most powerful weapons. Asquith says, "We have an oxygenating treatment, great for older skin and for people with acne, helping to clear skin congestion. It also adds overall brightness of the skin." Ingredients such as salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids and oxygenating serums are all things to look for in spa facials if you have acne or need a serious radiance boost.

Illustrations by Alex Coward

If you spend a lot of time in the sun or live in an urban environment (or both), it's essential that you use antioxidants in your skincare routine. In a spa, you can get potent doses of vitamin C that aren't available in most over-the-counter products. "Treatments that include vitamin C are great at combating free radicals," says Asquith. "They can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and brighten the skin."

Illustrations by Alex Coward

"I'm very big on exfoliating for skin health," says Asquith. "I find that a professional, full-body exfoliation followed by a hydrating application of moisturizer can help detoxify your skin — which is your body's biggest organ — to help hydrate it and to protect that barrier between you and the world."

Illustrations by Alex Coward