Body Treatments

Posted on July 15, 2009 by brett — No Comments ↓

Body treatments are skin care treatments for the whole body that clean, balance and refresh your body’s skin to help it look its best. Treatments can target aging, dryness, dullness, acne, and even damaging effects by the environment.

Benefits of Body Treatments

Removes layer of dead skin cells, dirt and toxins from the skin, giving your skin a revitalized, healthy look while nourishing and hydrating skin
Can contour, tone and firm skin and reduce appearance of cellulite
Aids in temporary weight reduction through diuretic effect
Relaxes muscles and relieves stress
Encourages proper circulation

Although there are often instant results, it is important to have a home maintenance program to see best results. Some treatments are best if done as a series instead of as a ‘one off’ treatment.

Duration and Frequency

Most body treatments range from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. In general, your skin’s condition and comfort level dictates how often you should get the treatment.

What to Expect

Meant to care for your body’s skin, body treatments are done without clothing on a wet treatment table or massage table covered with a towel, sheet or a thin piece of plastic. If the treatment is done in North America, the aesthetician will use a “draping” technique, which ensures that the parts of the body that are not being worked on are covered.

Types of Body Treatments

Treatment	Description and Process	Types
Exfoliation / Scrub / Glow / Polish	What is exfoliation, scrubs, glows and polishes? Outer layer of dead skin cells are removed to make room for new, softer and smoother skin. Process: Exfoliation: As you lay face down, the therapist rubs a scrub mixture onto your skin. When done, you will turn over and the therapist will continue on your other side Rinse: After exfoliation, you’ll rinse off without soap in one of the following ways: Shower: In a shower stall provided in the room Vichy Shower (If you are on a wet treatment table): The therapist rinses you off using a special six-headed shower that is parallel to the table Hand Held (If you are on a wet treatment table): Using a hand-held shower, the therapist rinses you off Moisturize: A lotion or oil may be applied to keep the skin moist NOTE: Some spas may offer you a pair of disposable underwear for during the treatment May be done as an independent treatment or in combination with masks, wraps or massage Some scrubs are very abrasive. If you feel the therapist is scrubbing too hard, let her know	Salt scrubs: Increases circulation and has stronger exfoliating power than sugar scrubs Sugar: More gentle than salt, it is ideal for sensitive skin. Has anti-aging properties because it produces glycolic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) that gives skin a younger appearance naturally
Masks	What are Body Masks (masques)? A mixture of natural ingredients is applied to the body to nourish, detoxify and treat your skin. Process: Exfoliation: The body’s skin is exfoliated in one of the following ways: Scrub: Salt or Sugar Enzyme: Live microorganisms digest the dead skin cells Dry brushing: One of the healthiest options because it sustains proper lymphatic drainage, increases circulation and sloughs away dead skin cells Mask Application: A mask made of therapeutic, botanical ingredients is massaged on the body and left for 20 – 30 minutes Massage: The therapist might give you a relaxing massage on your feet, hands or head while the mask is left on Rinse: The residue from the mask is either wiped away with damp cloths or rinsed off (see ‘Rinse’ under exfoliation) Moisturize: A lotion, cream or oil is applied to seal in the benefits of the treatment and shield the skin from environmental stressors NOTE: You might be left alone during the treatment. If that bothers you, ask before you book the service	Mud and Clay Seaweed Algae Cream based Paraffin
Wraps	What is a Body Wrap? Body wraps use heat as a stimulating agent by wrapping your body in various materials after a mask is applied. Process: Exfoliation: See Exfoliation under ‘Masks’ Mask: See Mask Application under ‘Masks’ Wrap: Your body is wrapped from shoulders to ankles with an insulating material to create a moist, warm cocoon, raising your body’s heat and temperature at the skin’s surface to open the pores and stimulate circulation so that absorption of the mask’s active ingredients is most effective Massage: See Massage under ‘Masks’ Rinse: The wrap is removed and the residue from the mask is either wiped away with damp cloths or rinsed off (see Rinse under ‘Exfoliation’) Moisturize: The therapist then applies a lotion, cream or oil to seal in the benefits of the treatment and shield the skin from environmental stressors NOTE: A body wrap is not a massage. Some spas offer combined treatments with a scrub, a body wrap and a massage Not recommended if you tend to have claustrophobia You may be left alone during the treatment. If that bothers you, ask before you book the service	Wrapping materials include: Mylar: For intense warming, a flexible nonporous insulator similar to aluminum foil (think Mylar balloons) is used Sheets and Blankets: Used when lower temperatures are required Ceramic Heating Pads and Blankets: Used for mud and seaweed wraps to draw out toxins and fluids out of the body
Cellulite Treatment	What is a Cellulite Treatment? Treatments geared towards reducing appearance of cellulite on the body. The process differs depending on the treatment.	Massage Endermologie Velasmooth Ionithermie Mesotherapy

Treatment

Description and Process

Types

Exfoliation / Scrub / Glow / Polish

Skin Polish

What is exfoliation, scrubs, glows and polishes? Outer layer of dead skin cells are removed to make room for new, softer and smoother skin.

Process:

Exfoliation: As you lay face down, the therapist rubs a scrub mixture onto your skin. When done, you will turn over and the therapist will continue on your other side
Rinse: After exfoliation, you’ll rinse off without soap in one of the following ways:
- Shower: In a shower stall provided in the room
- Vichy Shower (If you are on a wet treatment table): The therapist rinses you off using a special six-headed shower that is parallel to the table
- Hand Held (If you are on a wet treatment table): Using a hand-held shower, the therapist rinses you off
Moisturize: A lotion or oil may be applied to keep the skin moist

NOTE:

Some spas may offer you a pair of disposable underwear for during the treatment
May be done as an independent treatment or in combination with masks, wraps or massage
Some scrubs are very abrasive. If you feel the therapist is scrubbing too hard, let her know

Salt scrubs: Increases circulation and has stronger exfoliating power than sugar scrubs
Sugar: More gentle than salt, it is ideal for sensitive skin. Has anti-aging properties because it produces glycolic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) that gives skin a younger appearance naturally

Masks

Body Mask

What are Body Masks (masques)? A mixture of natural ingredients is applied to the body to nourish, detoxify and treat your skin.

Process:

Exfoliation: The body’s skin is exfoliated in one of the following ways:
- Scrub: Salt or Sugar
- Enzyme: Live microorganisms digest the dead skin cells
- Dry brushing: One of the healthiest options because it sustains proper lymphatic drainage, increases circulation and sloughs away dead skin cells
Mask Application: A mask made of therapeutic, botanical ingredients is massaged on the body and left for 20 – 30 minutes
Massage: The therapist might give you a relaxing massage on your feet, hands or head while the mask is left on
Rinse: The residue from the mask is either wiped away with damp cloths or rinsed off (see ‘Rinse’ under exfoliation)
Moisturize: A lotion, cream or oil is applied to seal in the benefits of the treatment and shield the skin from environmental stressors

NOTE: You might be left alone during the treatment. If that bothers you, ask before you book the service

Mud and Clay
Seaweed
Algae
Cream based
Paraffin

Wraps

Body Wrap

What is a Body Wrap? Body wraps use heat as a stimulating agent by wrapping your body in various materials after a mask is applied.

Process:

Exfoliation: See Exfoliation under ‘Masks’
Mask: See Mask Application under ‘Masks’
Wrap: Your body is wrapped from shoulders to ankles with an insulating material to create a moist, warm cocoon, raising your body’s heat and temperature at the skin’s surface to open the pores and stimulate circulation so that absorption of the mask’s active ingredients is most effective
Massage: See Massage under ‘Masks’
Rinse: The wrap is removed and the residue from the mask is either wiped away with damp cloths or rinsed off (see Rinse under ‘Exfoliation’)
Moisturize: The therapist then applies a lotion, cream or oil to seal in the benefits of the treatment and shield the skin from environmental stressors

NOTE:

A body wrap is not a massage. Some spas offer combined treatments with a scrub, a body wrap and a massage
Not recommended if you tend to have claustrophobia
You may be left alone during the treatment. If that bothers you, ask before you book the service

Wrapping materials include:

Mylar: For intense warming, a flexible nonporous insulator similar to aluminum foil (think Mylar balloons) is used
Sheets and Blankets: Used when lower temperatures are required
Ceramic Heating Pads and Blankets: Used for mud and seaweed wraps to draw out toxins and fluids out of the body

Cellulite Treatment

What is a Cellulite Treatment? Treatments geared towards reducing appearance of cellulite on the body. The process differs depending on the treatment.