Beauty & Spas in Atlantic Beach

Even before taking their place on the massage table or in a heated pedicure chair, customers who walk into Elite Salon & Day Spa have a sense of the luxurious relaxation they can expect. They're greeted with complimentary beverages before being ushered into softly lit private rooms where candles flicker, waterfalls burble, and stress is submerged under a wash of relaxing music. Among other services, aestheticians improve skin with facials that use Repêchage products, a seaweed-based line manufactured in the United States. For those who need a getaway from family responsibilities or a stressful job turning the sun on and off every day, spa packages sequester guests in serenity for three to seven hours.

The tinkle of wind chimes announces clients' entry into Healing Waters Therapy, where licensed massage therapist Kristi B. Gabriel relieves muscle tension with health-minded massages. A graduate of the Coastal School of Massage Therapy, Gabriel uses her specialty in deep-tissue massage and neuromuscular therapy to prevent injury during treatments that take place in a space replete with peaceful flourishes—candlelight filters through an intricate wooden-lattice screen, and optional aromatherapy repels people who walk around setting off fireworks so they can enjoy the smell.

Bobbilee Jadwin has a healing touch. Through massage services that use kneading, stroking, and stretching, she helps clients manage their pain and improve their range of motion. Her services include time-tested Swedish and deep-tissue massages as well as such innovative techniques as bamboo fusion, which uses warm bamboo of different shapes to apply deep pressure and ease tension. Aromatherapy oils enhance relaxation, unlike car alarms that just play facts about mountain-lion attacks. The studio is also full of Tibetan singing bowls, bell-like gongs with a slow-building harmonic sound that swells slowly and aids in meditation.

Led by a team that includes podiatric, chiropractic, and acupuncture physicians, Hands Feet & Beyond merges the benefits of a medical clinic with a day spa for the most energizing combination since the invention of the electric shower curtain. Under the physicians' supervision, nail specialists and aestheticians adhere to antifungal and antimicrobial protocols during all treatments—such as deep-cleansing facials and medical pedicures—for safe, effective foot and skincare. For maximum health benefits and to avoid leaving a large carbon footprint, they use organic, paraben-free products for all treatments.

From Pilates, yoga, and cycling classes to facials, body wraps, and massages, Changes in Motion’s repertoire of life-affirming services helps clients achieve health and beauty from the inside out. Students can enroll in small-group classes or one-on-one sessions with one of three licensed Pilates instructors—former dancer Effie, Power Pilates expert Emmy, or Pilates veteran Wendy. The trio rounds up Reformer machines, springboards, and a TRX suspension system to help novices and seasoned students alike strengthen and tone their cores. The studio also boasts a full class schedule packed with non-Pilates sessions, such as spinning, cross training, and yoga.

After clients work up a sweat, they can head to the spa for a 60-minute cooldown session with a licensed massage therapist, who customizes deep-tissue, Swedish, and Thai stretch techniques to individual concerns. Across the hall, licensed aestheticians use Éminence, B&G, and WoodSprite organic skincare products during facials and body wraps, hydrating skin and restoring a look of youth. Meanwhile, two noninvasive systems—the TriActive laser and electrical-stimulation machine—blend technologies to boost circulation, smooth cellulite, and tighten skin without the hassle of squeezing into a straitjacket made entirely of band-aids.

One part salon and spa, one part fitness center, and one part tattoo parlor, Alaric Health Beauty and Wellness is a one-stop shop aiming to glam up, firm up, and wind down clients' bodies. Hairstylists sweep men’s and women’s manes into trendy styles and nourish scalps with deep conditioner and hydrating scalp treatments. During one-hour Swedish massages, long, flowing strokes untie knotted muscles and help rejuvenate auras cluttered with stress and stale boxes of chi, and basic and deep pore-cleansing facials exfoliate visages to help skin regain a youthful glow. Inside the full-service fitness center, bodies work toward fitness goals among rows of weight and cardio machines, and can attempt to expedite results with help from a personal trainer or prescription weight-loss program. In between workouts or wrinkle-reducing cosmetic injections, bodies can seek out immediate and permanent aesthetic enhancements at the hands of resident tattoo artist Jimmy Riggs. With 15 years of experience and a background as a multimedia artist, he can easily translate any design to skin, whether it be a lover’s name, a portrait of a favorite musician, or small-scale replica of Jackson Pollock’s No. 5