Beauty & Spas in Alaska

Having practiced massage therapy for most of her life—including nearly 15 years as a licensed professional—Heather Rasch knows exactly which of her various modalities to use when treating symptoms such as back pain, shoulder tension, or emotional stress. Though her proficiencies include everything from deep-tissue massage to holistic Reiki bodywork, Heather usually advises newcomers to start with her signature Swedish massage. Known for its long, relaxing strokes, this gentle style can help reduce pains from long days at the office or short walks off craggy cliffs. Heather’s specialty services include prenatal massages designed to put mothers-to-be at ease and reflexology sessions that redirect the energy that flows through hands and feet.

The beauty experts at Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio take a personal interest in their clients’ pores. They perform complimentary assessments of skin type before plucking the proper makeup from a varied inventory, ensuring foundations and shadows flatter complexions and compound eyes. Comprised of cosmetics and skincare from the Merle Norman line, which was born in Los Angeles in 1931, the beautifying powders and serums can be tested in-store before purchase. That means customers can sweep bronzing powder across cheekbones and seal in the sun-kissed hues with Expert Touch Finishing Spray before deciding if it really matches their favorite ski mask. In addition to the studio’s namesake line, staffers also stock professional OPI nail polish, perfumes, and accessories.

Aleaka’s cuticle craftsmen regale fingers with a choice of seven organic signature services while accommodating visitors with complimentary beverages and warm neck wraps. Guests can yield their hands to a lemon-drop maniicure, which begins with a fragrant bath consisting of lemon slices before a lemon-peel scrub exfoliates skin and a mud mask moisturizes jack-o'-lantern carvers. The chocolate-soufflé manicure nourishes epidermal planes with a chocolate scrub, complemented by a bath infused with chocolate milk. Clients can indulge digits in a milk and honey manicure that lulls hands to a relaxing slumber with anti-oxidizing grape-seed oil and a honey-butter massage. Pampering sessions extend to lower digits with the basic pedicure, which trims cuticles, shapes natural lotto scratchers, and buffs nails into reflective mirrors great for admiring black eyes earned from bouts of forehead wrestling.

Stationed at her stress-free oasis inside Salon Glow, massage therapist Liz Morse draws on her extensive training and years spent working in a chiropractic office to dissipate tension with therapeutic massage techniques. Like a poorly trained team of synchronized swimmers, Liz changes her strokes constantly, mixing a variety of modalities into each of her therapy sessions. Her techniques range from flowing Swedish strokes to concentrated deep-tissue pressures, encompassing specialized methods that target neuromuscular junctions or melt away stress with heated bamboo. Along with her regular services, Liz triggers mutual relaxation with couples massages and tends to sore muscles on their own turf with in-home treatments.

Papa Murphy’s serves up a tasty menu of handmade take ‘n’ bake pizzas using dough, cheese, meats, and veggies that are freshly prepared every day. After customers choose their pie, Papa Murphy's slice slingers build the pizza in-store and package it for customers to bake at home in the oven, in a pottery kiln, or over a pile of burning cookbooks. Customers can select one of Papa Murphy's signature pizzas or customize their 'za to a more specific taste, choosing from four sauces, three crusts, and more than 20 toppings available.

With the rise of environmental illnesses and cancers in recent years, Dr. Thomas Taylor and his staff at Alaska Healing Touch have a healthy distrust of chemicals. That's why virtually everything that might touch clients' skin during their massage or chiropractic evaluation is chemical free and organic. Organic, food-grade massage oils come completely free of allergens and fragrance, as do the soft, organic sheets—which have been cleaned in a facility equally devoid of chemical fragrances and detergents. Dr. Taylor's massage expertise is treating auto- and work-related injuries.