Need a little pampering after a hectic first half of 2023? Book a unique self-care experience at one of the Valley’s luxury spas. You deserve it.
Tierra Luna Spa & Sol Garden at Arizona Biltmore
If you’re considering a staycation, but would like a more mindful, immersive experience than margaritas by the pool (no shade on that whatsoever, but sometimes you want something a little more nourishing), the Tierra Luna Spa Solstice Retreat at Arizona Biltmore’s Tierra Luna Spa and Sol Garden is the perfect fit. From September 22-24, the vaunted historical resort will host this holistic self-care sojourn, whose itinerary rivals the programming you’d find at the finest high-end health resorts in the country – Miraval, Canyon Ranch, et al.
Guests will start their days with intention, from sunrise walks and morning meditations to yoga and aquatic fitness at the resort’s beautifully tiled Catalina Pool. They can take part in reiki and sound bath rituals with reiki master Danielle Nicole and meditation guide and professional counselor Sam Harper. (During a media preview, I participated in a cacao ceremony with Nicole and Harper, who brewed the best-tasting cacao I’ve ever had. Coupled with the ritual of the reiki and the sound bath, it was a transcendent experience.) Other activities include outdoor painting, history tours of the legendary resort’s recent restoration and – perhaps most important these days – some downtime to rest. Retreat attendees can also choose between a 50-minute Sonoran Healing Massage or Tierra Grounding Facial. Access to the desert-chic spa and to the resort’s luxury lounge The Citrus Club is also included. You’ll want to purchase some expression of the spa’s intoxicating signature rose-palo santo scent – candle, incense, bath products – to take home with you.
Finally, healthful and delicious meals are included in the retreat. I sampled the sweet potato hash bowl with cotija and chimichurri for breakfast, along with fresh juices and health shots. For lunch, the Mediterranean bowl (green goddess hummus, citrus-marinated olives, heirloom carrots, Persian cucumbers, jicama, radishes and toasted pita chips) is the perfect nosh between workshops and treatments. The new mocktail menu also dazzles – my Citrus Bittersweet (blue Weber agave, grapefruit and orange bitters, jicama and lime juices, hibiscus, desert botanicals, passionflower and sea salt) tasted like Arizona in a glass.
Reserve your spot at the retreat here.
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Arizonans can now experience a bit of London luxury with the new 111SKIN facial and products at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. The tony line was originally developed by famed Greek-British plastic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides to help his patients recover after cosmetic procedures. The products were so effective that soon even non-patients began clamoring for them. After an intense period of development to ensure medical effectiveness and quality, Alexandrides created a line available to the public.
It recently made its debut at the Four Seasons, which is the exclusive Grand Canyon State purveyor of 111SKIN products and aesthetic experiences. So, when you book your Celestial Black Diamond Facial, you can relax and revel in the fact that it is only available in this spa (at least in Arizona). The multi-masking treatment utilizes The Black Diamond Collection, 111SKIN’s most concentrated products, to reduce pigmentation, minimize deep lines and tauten the skin for a youthful, glowing and “lifted” appearance. It’s like a non-surgical face lift.
The spa offers another facial that sounds all too tempting as the mercury rises: Cryotherapy Energizing Facial, in which chilled, purified air is used to reduce puffiness and detoxify the skin by increasing oxygen flow. It’s like sticking your face in your freezer, but way more glam, and you come out rejuvenated and looking young and energized.
Well & Being Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
As part of Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort’s throwback Let’s Roll Summer at the Princess experience, Well & Being Spa is going back to the ’90s. Well, it’s embracing the number, at least, with the ’90s, ’90s, ’90s special – pay only 90 percent for all 90-minute treatments throughout the summer (10 percent off). That includes massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, healing therapies, etc. Just notate “90s, 90s, 90s” in the comment section when booking online. If booking over the phone, be sure to tell the reservation desk you’re taking advantage of the ’90s, ’90s, ’90s offer.
Our suggested 90-minute therapy for this blistering summer heat? The Aloe Soothing Facial, which employs Naturopathic aloe cleansing gel and a deep replenishing mask, also imbued with the healing powers of the serrated succulent. It’s great for pool prep or for healing after a light sunburn – gentle and cooling. What more could one want from a summer spa experience?
