Spas Chicago IL

The growth of the spa industry has been one of the hottest trends in health.
So it’s good to know that you can pamper and primp to your heart’s content
without stressing the environment—even if your spa experience never
extends beyond the walls of your own home.

January 2008

By Jessica Ridenour

    Judging by the $9 billion-plus Americans spent at spas in 2007, we’re willing to drop some hard-earned cash on getting and staying beautiful. While battalions of medical spa estheticians across the country are ready to Botox at the first sight of a laugh line or chemically peel away those pesky crow’s feet—even use high-tech photo boxes to find skin faults you can’t see in a mirror—a new back-to-nature ethos is growing within the industry. In response to an increasing demand for organic, planet-friendly products, green spas are sprouting up all over the country to nurture our most beautiful selves using the bounty of nature while still treading lightly on the earth.

What sets green spas apart from the rest of the herd is their commitment to the health of spa goers and the environment by limiting use of chemicals (in both skin-care products and such behind-the-scenes items as cleaning supplies), reducing waste, employing sustainable building
practices and conserving operational materials—all while offering long-term health and healing in lieu of a quick fix. The result is an experience more in harmony with nature, allowing the spa treatments to do what they were meant to do: heal.

Be aware, though, that the language involved with this new movement can be tricky. “Natural,” “holistic,” “eco-friendly,” “sustainable” and “green” are all unregulated claims that require some diligence in uncovering whether or not a spa lives up to what it professes. However, if a product is organic, that means it’s certified by the USDA’s National Organic Program and conforms to the requirements of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) by using no pesticides, preservatives, irradiation or fertilizers. If a spa is truly green, either the spa manager or the esthetician will be happy to answer all your eco-questions.

rA (it’s not a typo) Organic Spa in Burbank, California ( www.raorganicspa.com ) is a spa walking the green talk—constructed with readily renewable acacia wood and bamboo, decorated with non-VOC paint and cleaned without harsh chemicals. rA favors a line of skin-care formulations that are hand-crafted in Hungary and full of organic ingredients such as tomato, blueberry, paprika and wild plum, which are blended with cold-pressed oils and other goodies. “Estheticians have a lot of fun with [these items],” says spa representative Kristi Sheldon. “It’s like being an artist and having every color of paint available to you.”

 Organic spa supplies are not long-storage items. “If I give you a box of crackers and tell you that they’re two years old, you won’t want to eat it,” says Dr. Saulius Alkaitis, a ski...