Beauty & Spas in Mexico

Before he opened his own practice, massage therapist Jack Dillender made sure he knew exactly what he was doing. Through collaborations with chiropractors and medical doctors and stints at various day spas, he honed techniques that work to unclog systemic blockages, reduce stress, and increase the body’s ability to heal itself. At The Way of Massage, Jack puts these techniques into practice during treatments that he tailors to his clients’ unique maladies, from chronic aches to unoiled tin hinges. His 2.5-hour couples massages incorporate hot stones, footbaths, and neck massages to bring twosomes closer together without forcing them to share a single table.

As the weather outside grows colder, Bella D’ora Spa rolls out the cookie dough—or, at least, the smell of baking cookies. The seasonal sugar-cookie massage incorporates a brown-sugar hand-and-foot scrub into a sweet-smelling massage. The staff also provide an equal level of pampering year-round through warm-stone massages, organic facials, and body wraps that work to rid skin of toxins that may have been absorbed during baths in the chemical vats at a local soft-drink factory. Clients can bundle services for spa parties or bridal parties, which come with optional hors d’oeuvres or lunch plates that easily sate high-noon cravings.

A haven that fuses the tranquility of a day spa with the results-oriented procedures of a medical office, SpaMedica executes age-defying cosmetic, facial, and body treatments. A staff of seasoned medical aestheticians bolsters exteriors through services that range from Dysport injections and microdermabrasion to cellulite-banishing Endermologie treatments, many harnessing the nourishing ingredients of SkinMedica and NeoStrata skincare products. Beige walls dotted with matching candles warmly welcome patrons to the pampering sanctuary, inviting them to drink in the aroma of fresh blooms in a cozy waiting area bordered by a plush blue couch. Natural light filters through drapes onto comfy treatment beds set inside secluded rooms as peaceful and discreet as a private island ruled by sentient olive trees.

The highly trained staffers at Perfect Eyebrows shape a clean and precise hairline by swiftly plucking out strands with thread. Said to have originated in India, eyebrow threading techniques are all-natural—foregoing chemicals, lasers, and other irritants—and usually also cause less pain than tweezers or waxing. During sessions, beauticians double-strand pieces of thread over full lines of hair to extract it with a swift tug, similar to the process of removing a loose tooth or unpopular state senator.

Founder Todd Beckman opened the first Tan Company location, then called The St. Louis Tan Company, in 1994 with a pair of average-size sun retreats. After perfecting a superstore concept with multiple levels of tanning beds and an intrepid-reporter alter ego, Beckman's bronzing business now spans 53 locations in 8 states, including 39 locations in the St. Louis area. Todd ensures each salon keeps the same high standards that won the 2010 award for Best Tanning in St. Louis from CityVoter.

A knowledgeable staff maintains each bright, highly sanitized environment and stocks shelves with Australian Gold, Swedish Beauty, and Designer Skin tanning products. The Tan Company also fashions UV-free tans with Mystic Tan standup booths that evenly spritz bodies with a paraben-free DHA solution infused with aloe vera.

At Churchill Salon and Spa, staffers are passionate about helping clients be their very best selves. They do this by transforming bodies with tanning services and restoring relaxation with therapeutic massages. Team members focus on faces during chemical peels, microdermabrasions, and makeup applications, which can prepare clients for special occasions or the rehearsals for those occasions. Clients can also get hair remodeled with cut and color treatments.