South San Francisco, CA Spa and Massage

Zack Philpot would be the first to tell you that he does not in fact possess any magical powers. However, as a facilitator of healing, Philpot works on a muscular, cellular, and spiritual level to help clients tap into to the healing powers of their own mind and body. The state-certified massage therapist helms Kinetic Synergy, where he aids patients with an array of alternative massage therapies and personal training. Philpot backs each session with decades of martial-arts and fitness-industry experience that lend him an increased understanding of the human body. Under his able hands, clients can receive the benefits of acupressure, a 5,000-year-old practice in which fingers press key points on the body to stimulate healing, or chi kung, which is aimed at alleviating hypertension, diabetes, and depression. Philpot also dishes out helpings of reflexology, craniosacral balancing, and vibrational healing massage—an amalgamation of multiple healing modalities and a large subwoofer.

Sol Y Luna Spa takes care of clients with carefully administered services powered by products from OPI, SpaRitual, and Éminence. During french pedicures and other luxurious nail treatments, cushioned maroon chairs raise digits above pristine tubs of soothing warm water. An array of waxing, sugaring, and threading regimens help to prune the bodily locks of both men and women, and massages in styles such as hot stone, Swedish, and aromatherapy assuage muscle aches and pains. Technicians also cleanse and hydrate skin with facial services and complementary front-row tickets to the local killer-whale show.

As music plays, white scrims separate Pure Envy Spa Bar’s pedicure stations, where stenciled portraits of Audrey Hepburn hang on sea-green walls. There, visitors plunge feet into baths of dutch cocoa, milk and honey, or water spiked with floating lime slices and mint leaves. Nailcare services are far from the only treatments available—a variety of facials soothe different skin types, and hot stones and oils facilitate massages. Waxing helps remove undesired hair more efficiently than trying to shave with a vegetable peeler. The spa boutique also sells OPI polishes, Yon-Ka Paris skincare products, and gift cards.

Inside A Cut Above Hair Salon, Laura of Lovely Looks by Laura adds finishing touches to her clients' looks with eyelash extensions, waxes, and spray tans. During eyelash-extension appointments, Laura bonds 35 to 40 extensions to individual lashes for a look that lasts up to three weeks. To keep up looks, Laura also offers touchup appointments to fill in any missing extensions after two weeks.

A licensed cosmetologist shares the magic touch of her extensive training at Herbal Organics and Beauty Wand, where she reveals storybook-worthy skin and hair. Locations offer services such as semi-permanent makeup, body-slimming and contouring treatments, enzyme peels, and waxing in several different areas. She boasts a certification from the Comité International D'Esthétique Et De Cosmétologie, an internationally recognized, hands-on program that represents the highest level of qualification an aesthetician can earn. From there, she developed specialties that include a facial massage with royal honey and lymphatic drainage. At Vidal Sassoon, she learned two methods of hair straightening and developed the dexterity to design bridal up-dos for blushing fiancées and cheeky, committed bachelors.

The Network Wellness Spa's experienced skincare specialists employ botanical extracts and natural products to refresh and exfoliate tired mugs. Aromatherapy scents such as jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang swirl through the air during muscle-melting massages, facial steams, and pre-pedicure foot soaks, and aestheticians customize three kinds of facial to clean pores more effectively than a doll-size vacuum. The spa also caters to men with a shaving treatment complete with hot-towel service.