Beauty & Spas in Victoria

Needleless acupuncture sounds like a contradiction, but Shelly Wade does it everyday—with lasers. Of course, she's well versed in traditional acupuncture as well. Licensed through the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia, Shelly found her way to acupuncture after a car accident interrupted her competitive dancing career. Impressed by its impact on her recovery, she began studying acupuncture along with other natural therapies, such as biofeedback and reflexology, to pay forward the benefits these therapies afforded her.

Today, as owner of Island Integrative Health Clinic, Shelly does just that by combining those multiple approaches to healing. She also specializes in anti-aging treatments such as facial-rejuvenation acupuncture, giving clients an alternative to Botox and never smiling again by applying a low-level current that combats wrinkles and other signs of aging. Further services her centre offers range from massage therapy to BloodScan, a live-blood analysis that aims to identify pre-symptomatic indicators of degenerative disease. No matter the treatment, she approaches each case with a gentle, welcoming approach, believing that acupuncturists must help their patients feel comfortable so that they remain open to the healing process.

In the late 1920s, the Great Depression was rendering most Americans professionally and financially paralyzed. But in a small California kitchen, Merle Nethercutt Norman was putting a plan in motion to formulate her own skincare products and share them with family and friends. She truly believed in her formulas, knowing that by getting them on as many faces as possible, she would develop a following of customers. She was right—within a few years she and her nephew were opening their first studio in Santa Monica, and they eventually unveiled a series of independently operated stores that enabled women to take ownership during a time of gender-based limitations such as men-only restrooms.

Today, in approximately 2,000 stores across three countries, the three basic principles of Merle's original vision still apply. Each studio is independently owned and fosters an in-depth knowledge of the company's own line of makeup and skincare products. Just as Merle shared her creations with close friends and sallow mannequins more than 80 years ago, today's aestheticians embody the business's "try before you buy" philosophy. A menu of complimentary studio services—from foundation checks to express facials—allows patrons to sample the lauded brand before committing to the purchase of products or full spa treatments.

Equipped with Bumble and bumble and OPI products, the skilled staff at Vixen Hair Studio transform dishevelled mop-tops into stylish new manes, ragged nails into polished ovals, and furry brows into sleek arches. Upon arrival, a beauty expert consults with clients to plan the hair services and skincare treatments they require based on their desired look or need to find work as a clown's body-double. The in-house aestheticians flaunt their years of training in soothing mani-pedis, eye-opening lash tints and extensions, airbrush tanning, and makeup applications. They also remove unwanted hair with traditional waxing and through the ancient art of threading, a centuries-old technique that uses loops of cotton thread to remove hair more gently and efficiently than with other methods. Click here to see all the services and products offered at Vixen. Groupon customers can receive special offers and discounts during their visit.

The hairstylists and aestheticians at Outshine Salon & Spa boast a collective penchant for combining advanced technologies with traditional beauty know-how. They incorporate Dermalogica products into all their facial treatments, and pamper their clientele with hairstyling sessions and advanced med-spa services—all amid the cool minimalism of their modern, brightly lit facility.

Within the calming interior, hairstyling stations stand decked in fresh flowers, and serene treatment rooms emanate old-Hollywood glamour with portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Elmer Fudd. In addition to its membership-rewards system, which grants deep discounts to regulars, the big-hearted beauty shop donates special spa evenings to local charities and shows appreciation to military members with special discounts.

Elegance Medi Spa's cosmetic procedures entwine Eastern modalities with noninvasive Western technology. Using this mix, the staff of certified technicians can help patients vanquish flab with an FDA-approved LipoLaser, banish unwanted hair with laser hair-removal services using the LightSheer XC diode laser, and fade discolouration with teeth whitening. No matter what aesthetic treatment patients choose, they first undergo a comprehensive consultation to discuss their concerns, goals, and favourite celebrity baby names.

At Age Less Medi-Spas, certified technicians draw from an armoury of diode lasers, Diathermie RF, and Nd:YAG systems in themed private treatment rooms featuring down-lined beds. Led by Director of Clinical Esthetics and Integrative Medicine Marilia Silva-Brand, skin therapists examine visages. Patrons emerge from their sessions looking excitedly into mirrors to inspect slowly dissipating bald patches after laser hair restoration, newly developed bald patches after laser hair removal, or waistlines shrinking from body-sculpting laser treatments. The spa provides ample free parking for cars, and sunsets on demand for horses to ride off into.