There are few experiences more satisfying than spending a day at the spa, except modelling stilettos on a runway made of bubble wrap. Pop in for a polish with this Groupon.
$45 for a Spa Mani-Pedi ($95 Value)
The spa manicure treats hands with a soak, nail shaping, cuticle care, and a hand and arm massage, and nails are finished with polish or buffed. During the spa pedicure, clients relax in a massaging chair while soaking their feet. Technicians then shape the nails, trim cuticles, remove any callouses, and exfoliate the feet and legs before applying polish or buffing nails.
Merle Norman Cosmetics and Day Spa
In the late 1920s, the Great Depression was rendering most Americans professionally and financially paralyzed. But in a small California kitchen, Merle Nethercutt Norman was putting a plan in motion to formulate her own skincare products and share them with family and friends. She truly believed in her formulas, knowing that by getting them on as many faces as possible, she would develop a following of customers. She was right—within a few years she and her nephew were opening their first studio in Santa Monica, and they eventually unveiled a series of independently operated stores that enabled women to take ownership during a time of gender-based limitations such as men-only restrooms.
Today, in approximately 2,000 stores across three countries, the three basic principles of Merle's original vision still apply. Each studio is independently owned and fosters an in-depth knowledge of the company's own line of makeup and skincare products. Just as Merle shared her creations with close friends and sallow mannequins more than 80 years ago, today's aestheticians embody the business's "try before you buy" philosophy. A menu of complimentary studio services—from foundation checks to express facials—allows patrons to sample the lauded brand before committing to the purchase of products or full spa treatments.
