Entering the gates of Bel Air is thrilling enough, but winding up the hills of this exclusive community is no match for the tranquility that awaits behind the ivy walls of the Bel Air Hotel. The Spa by La Prairie at the Bel Air Hotel is in a pastel pink building that is part of the secluded hotel that makes you forget you are anywhere near Los Angeles. It is a perfect spa getaway for the fall.
I checked in at the reception desk and was led to a white marble and glass filled dressing room with large personal combination lockers. A plush robe and waterproof slippers were in the locker. After changing I lounged in the coed relaxation room on a chaise with a view of an ivy-covered porch that could have been in the middle of Europe. The hot tea with honey was the best I have ever had, or maybe it was just the atmosphere.
By the time my esthetician, Nerida, came for me, I was too comfortable to move. Inside the treatment room I lay under the covers of a super soft bed while Nerida spoke to me about my skin and what I wanted to concentrate on. I selected the Skin Caviar Lifting Facial with NuFace Technology. This 90-minute treatment incorporates microcurrent technology that works to lift the skin and reduce fine lines. Use of this treatment over time helps to increase blood flow to cells and increase collagen, elastin and connective tissue.
Prior to the NuFace treatment, Nerida used facial massage and steamed my skin before gently extracting blackheads. I was further relaxed by hand and foot massages while masks were on my face. After the steam and extractions the NuFace device was used on one side of my face at a time. It is a hand held device that has rounded tips and delivers what feels like a slight electric charge to the skin as it firmly slides across the face. By the time the first side of my face was completed it felt as if it was lopsided. Soon both sides felt equally lifted and tightened. The current can be adjusted if you feel it is too strong, and a couple of of times I needed it lowered, but it was never painful.
The final mask made my skin feel so energized and young, and when I saw my face in the mirror at the end I was glad I had plans to go out that evening. It was my last night in Los Angeles, and I felt like a movie star ready for the red carpet. Where was it?
Hotel Bel Air Spa by La Prairie
701 Stone Canyon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
310-909-1681
http://www.hotelbelair.com/la-prairie-spa
