San Pedro, CA Spa and Massage

Named one of 2009's Best Spa Brands by users of SpaFinder, Spa Chakra unleashes one of three rejuvenating and relaxing two-hour packages with the delicacy of a mother hen atop a pile of egg shells:

By enhancing each treatment with pure plant extracts, the aestheticians at Sanctuary Spa restore skin to a naturally beautiful state. When performing facials, the skincare pros use plant enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells and thereby brighten the complexion. They also incorporate herbal ingredients, particularly essential oils, into massages—droplets of nine therapeutic-grade oils tumble toward skin during the raindrop-technique massage, simulating the curative experience of lying facedown in the driveway during a rainstorm. Body treatments, including airbrush tans, incorporate paraben-free products that enhance the body's best features. The spa's nature-focused treatments match its earthy decor, with floral wallpaper complementing a palette of mossy greens and petal pinks.

Dr. Kari A. Hawkins wasn't always a chiropractor; she used to be a patient, initially filled with the same doubts and apprehensions of many first-time chiropractic patients. That's why she loves explaining her treatments ahead of time, fielding questions such as, "How can a spinal adjustment relieve headaches?" and "Why does my car disappear at night?" Once treatments begin, Dr. Hawkins aligns the vertebrae to promote optimal brain-body communication along the spine to maximize the body's ability to heal.

Glow Skincare at Platinum Salon enlists an aesthetically trained registered nurse an experienced aesthetician to wage war on epidermal imperfections under the medical direction of board-certified Dr. J.D. Rosdeutscher. Streams of pressurized air pour over complexions during the oxygen facial to help spur collagen growth and blow away clingy blemishes. Afterwards, the aestheticians trace a crystal-free diamond tip across faces to exfoliate the skin during the microdermabrasion treatment that can thwart signs of aging by targeting fine lines, pigmentation, and the foot prints left by Father Time's messenger crows.

Just walking distance from the Long Beach Convention Center lies a 2,000-square-foot oasis and two-time MyFoxLA Hot List honoree. The historic downtown building houses four separate treatment rooms where aestheticians perform a variety of facials, massages, scrubs, wraps, and manicures. Their menu of international therapies borrows seaweed mud and traditions from France, Italy, India, and the Middle East, and their medical facials are performed under the direction of a board-certified dermatologist. In addition to individual clients who arrive solo for a day of pampering, La Dolce Vita invites groups celebrating birthdays, wedding days, and spa-appreciation days.