Eco-friendly spa practices around the D.C. area.
With just as much attention being paid to what goes on your body as what goes into it these days, spas are taking out the toxins and replacing them with all-natural ingredients that sound (and some are) good enough to eat. Come out smelling delicious and feeling pampered, primped and primed for summer with these sustainable spa treatments.
Shobha: Hair Removal
The supportive, no-nonsense, it’s-just-us-girls atmosphere at Shobha is cultivated by deep roots in the Indian beauty culture, which has been doing natural skin care for centuries, and a team that really cares about hair removal. They tell it like it is, while using all-natural treatments like sugaring, which uses a mixture of sugar, lemon juice, water and glycerin to leave everything from the bikini line to underarms baby-smooth, while being much gentler on the skin than waxing. While hair removal is never a walk in the park, their signature Shobha Method makes personal care practically painless.
1730 M St. NW, Washington, DC | 202-912-8455
Nusta Spa: Body Treatments
As the first LEED-certified spa in the world, of course everything from physical building to the nail polish is completely sustainable. To bask in full eco-relaxation, luxuriate in one of Nusta’s intensely restorative body therapies. The spa’s cornerstone Nusta Whole Body Treatment offers well-being from head to toe, starting with a custom aromatherapy massage oil blend and a personalized sugar scrub created using Nusta’s Intentional Aromatherapy app. This is followed by a gentle body scrub, a moisturizing amber and lemon-infused shea butter wrap, a hydrating facial mask, facial massage, a rich jasmine essential oil scalp treatment, and a slow, intentional full body massage. Sadly, all good things must come to an end—in this case with a gentle revival with a refreshing cucumber mist. Bliss.
1129 20th St. NW, Washington, DC | 202-530-5700
The Emerald Door Natural Day Spa: Luxe Mani-Pedis
Even the website is wind powered at this sustainable-from-the-ground-up salon. While the organic facials will leave your skin glowing and your mind calm, we especially like the toxin-free mani-pedis. The Eco-Chic Milk and Honey package uses warm milk for skin softening and natural exfoliation, while the honey brings intense antioxidants to rejuvenate and soften. But for the ultimate relaxation, check out the Japanese Jelly Pedicure, slipping tired tootsies into a soft, translucent, fluffy jelly that will melt the stress and anxiety away while removing toxins and stimulating blood circulation to relax muscles. This mixture of natural plant oils helps exfoliate as well as hydrate dry skin. Topped off with a soothing hot stone foot massage to improve circulation, patrons depart feeling like they are walking on air.
8311 Grubb Road, Silver Spring, MD | 301-587-5800
Spa on the Hill: Facials
At cozy, charming Spa on the Hill, a holistic approach means estheticians quiz patrons on everything from stress level to diet, and then take into account the season before devising a custom skincare plan. Treatments use a combination of locally handcrafted, all-natural products to bring back that youthful glow, no matter how your day has been. Try the Fire and Ice, a warming and cooling anti-aging facial that leaves skin glowing, detoxified and firm through an infusion of oxygen, plant-derived stem cells, peptides and a high concentration of enzymatic botanicals.
1007 E St. SE, Washington, DC | 202-543-5950
Varuna Salonspa: Natural Tanning
This full-service beauty mecca offers a range of services, from plant-based hair coloring to luxe facials. More unique is the selection of all-natural spray tan services, which can yield a healthy glow just for a day or longer, as desired, and in preferred shades ranging from golden to deep rich chocolate. Varuna uses the SunFX line, which is 100 percent natural and contains no alcohols, oils, perfumes, preservatives or parabans.
1 Park Place, Suite 11, Annapolis, MD | 410-268-2828