Citrus Spa Treatments in Time for Summer

orange-spa-treatment[Image: Courtesy of Royal Palms Resort & Spa]Spas are turning to nature’s citrus crops to infuse zest into their summer services.

Knowing that repeat clientele—of which half are local—love to follow the newest spa trends, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in California incorporates cupping into its Summer Citrus Detox (60 min./$180). Invigorating, pure orange-lemongrass oil containing coconut, jojoba and plant extracts enhances the cupping’s detoxifying and circulation-stimulating effects, and is employed in every step of the protocol. “Using silicone cups helps break up cellulite, which is another benefit for swimsuit weather,” says director of spa Deirdre Bradford, who adds that the service also promotes elasticity of the skin. After their treatment, clients are served citrus-steeped water by the hotel’s poolside herb gardens for an even stronger sense of place. According to Bradford, this seasonal offering hits two marketing goals: “It provides our frequent visitors with something new for summer and, because we tie it into the herb garden, something hyper-local,” she explains.

On the menu since 2001, the Citrus Sea Salt Scrub (50 min./$95) is a perennial favorite at Santa Fe Day Spa in Birmingham, Alabama. However, summer is peak time for the protocol as it includes removal of old skin cells, leaving skin silky-smooth and ready to be bared. Following an initial consultation, a scrub that folds in a custom blend of lemon, orange and lime essential oils with Dead Sea salts is massaged onto the client’s entire body. Next, a shower rinse removes the salts but leaves the oils on the skin “because it feels so divine, and also to help restore vitamin C and beta-carotene levels,” explains esthetics director Mary Sodano. Finally, a water-based moisturizer rehydrates skin. Retail is a crucial component too: staff is trained to educate clients about at-home care, enabling them to reap the service’s benefits long after they leave the spa.

The Italian villa-inspired Alvadora Spa at Phoenix’s Royal Palms Resort & Spa offers its Citrus Ritual (80 min./$220) year-round. The signature treatment, which is popular with couples, takes place in the spa’s private, stonewalled Acqua Dolce suite, which houses a pair of massage tables, a soaking tub big enough for two (with windows that open out to the patio), an outdoor watsu pool, raindrop and waterfall showers, and garden patio with fireplace. The service starts with a full-body exfoliation using a neroli-scented sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy shower. Next, the client enjoys a waterfall shower while the therapist prepares the room for the following phase: a 20-minute soak. A final raindrop shower and subsequent orange-blossom massage complete the protocol. “This ritual is really invigorating—plus, it promotes skin cell renewal, so it’s perfect for bathing-suit weather and for being outside,” says spa director Sara Huddleson.

–by Kristine Hansen

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