Guide To A Pittsburgh Spa Day

By Christine Mouser

The winter months in Pittsburgh often breed cabin-fever, added stress, occasional weight gain and the dreaded dry skin. And the perfect remedy for these wintertime blues is a day trip to a local spa. Check out the following spas outlined below for a relaxing day out. What's even better is that all of these spas are less than 40 minutes away from the city, equaling less travel time and more relaxation.

Hours: Mon, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Tues-Sat, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ESSpa Kozemetika focuses on using non-evasive, holistic methods on their customers, while providing them with relaxing and effective spa treatments. The staff can create a personalized organic skincare program with you that involve regular appointments as well as a home regimen. This spa has over 100 years worth of massage therapy experience and offers several massage varieties, such as hot stone, Swedish, deep tissue, Hungarian honey and an Olympic sports massage. They also offer waxing, makeup application, herbal mud body wraps, salt scrubs and body treatments in addition to skin peels, microdermabrasion and more. If you're looking for cosmetic treatments, they've got that too—medial Botox, Restalyne and extreme eyelash extensions.

Affordable: Head, neck and shoulder massage ($55); European Maintenance Facial ($95): Hungarian facial massage with steam, therapeutic mask; ESSpirit Package ($200): spa sampler package, with European facial, 30-minute Swedish massage, manicure and pedicure

Splurge: Duet massage ($280): massage, side-by-side; Exquisite Package ($600): 2-hour facial, 90-minute stone or sports massage, Hungarian body polish, rainstorm shower, manicure and pedicure, private makeup lesson and application, gourmet Champagne lunch.

Hours: Tues-Sat, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Sewickley Spa can easily make your pampering dreams come true, whether you're looking for a big-time splurge or a reasonable dose of relaxation. Ten thousand guests make their way here every year to experience the spa's 112 spa treatments. They offer an affordable scalp, neck and shoulder massage ($45), or the splurge-worthy couples massage for a romantic day outing. February usually means vampire-pale skin, but Sewickley Spa offers an all-out bronzing session to get that summer glow you may be lacking. The salon offers its services to spa clients only, which includes shampooing, deep conditioning and styling. At just $50, the estheticians will give you a makeup lesson to showcase your assets in the best way possible.

Affordable: Spa Rejuvenating Facial ($85): professional skin analysis, opening and cleansing of pores, massage and exfoliation; polish change ($15)

Splurge: Paraffin pedicure ($85): removal of dry skin, feet are bathed in a paraffin bath, then wrapped in heated booties; Sea Salt Glo ($95): Dead Sea salts massage away impurities and imperfections leaving skin looking new.

Hours: Tues & Thurs, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Wed & Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Channel the European way and experience a blissful day at European Flair Salon and Day Spa, where their main goal is your satisfaction. Their salon is a big part of who they are, and they have plenty to bring to the table for those looking to spice up their hairstyle. They offer precision haircuts, highlights, body waves, perms and high styling, starting at $20. The Brazilian Blowout and the feather hair extensions are also fabulous extras. Aside from hair, they do all the spa basics and more. They offer manicures in paraffin wax, a 60-minute deep hydrating facial using customized hydrating serums, as well as a sea salt polish body wrap, which exfoliates dead skin cells. You can sit back and get beautified with their $35 makeover by trained professionals, or you can relax for a 90-minute hot stone massage.

Affordable: Sea of Tranquility ($128): deep cleansing facial plus a one-hour massage; Express facial ($45): enjoy a relaxing face cleansing, customized masque, toning and moisturizing that is nice and quick for busy folks

Splurge: European Bliss ($325): in five hours, you'll get a body polish, seaweed body wrap in a sauna, full aromatherapy body massage, European hydrating facial, pedicure and manicure with paraffin dip and lunch; Parafango Body Wrap ($90): detoxifies skin and loses inches and is effective in elimination of cellulite.

Hours: Mon, noon – 9 p.m.; Tues-Thurs, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Averaging about 150 clients a day, La Pomponne- Aveda Spa & Salon knows exactly what it's doing in its offering of advanced services. Their focus on skin care is apparent with its Green Science Perfecting Plant Peel, a remedy for aging skin that smoothes and retextures skin using a glycolic peel. For those needing their feet or hands refreshed, the Caribbean therapy is a great option as it soaks your extremities in a milky Caribbean bath, followed by a sugar scrub exfoliation. In addition, they also provide manicures, pedicures, hair removal, makeup lessons and hair design. Cut, color and highlights start at $30.

Affordable: Traditional Swedish Massage ($55); The Holistic Facial ($55): face cleansing, skin analysis, exfoliation, aroma massage, impurity remover and a final moisturizing

Splurge: Four-Handed Massage ($160); Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment ($125): treated with plant ingredients from the Caribbean, exfoliated via a body wrap and massaged on the scalp and face

Collier Town Square
Hours: Mon, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Tues & Wed, noon – 9 p.m.; Thurs, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Elliven Spa focuses on organic beauty by offering some of the greenest services around through its use of organic massage cream and oils and its offering of organic and vegan friendly products. Elliven offers some great massages, like the deep tissue which is a great choice for active people looking to relieve some muscle tension. They also offer some deep cleansing facials, body treatments, hair removal and makeup lessons. Elliven also specializes in spa enhancement services targeted at aging, such as the collagen eye and lip renewal treatment (uses collagen to target fine lines and wrinkle without a machine) and the manual microdermabrasion (refines pores and smoothes skin). Elliven also has a salon and offers Bumble & Bumble haircuts which all include Elliven Spa Signature shampoo, an aromatherapy hot towel treatment, a scalp massage and a blow dry.

Affordable: Body Bronzing Treatment ($35): no harmful rays are used in this treatment which includes aromatherapy and a scalp massage; Hot Stone pedicure ($75): traditional pedicure followed by a therapeutic hot stone massage done with Black Basalt River stones

Splurge: Red Rock Rejuvenation Treatment (60 min, $115): your skin is massaged with Sedona & French red clay, while you are given a hot Basalt Stone massage and a light scalp and forehead massage; Collagen Facial ($125): helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increases hydration, and boosts collagen elasticity.

Christine Mouser is currently living in the Pittsburgh area, where she is an editorial intern for Pittsburgh Magazine. She is set to graduate from Penn State University this summer, with a degree in print journalism. She has written for HappyValley.com, Town&Gown magazine and Penn State's Valley magazine.