DIY Spa

Our blogger learns the true meaning of "no pain, no gain."

By Heather Summerville

I've never really been very adventurous when it comes to the "newest" or "coolest" beauty treatments. I prefer to stick with time-tested natural remedies that don't involve any sort of scary metal instruments (or empty promises). So when a friend of mine suggested that I visit a Korean spa in San Francisco as a remedy for my sore shoulders and dehydrated skin I figured I'd give it a shot.

I went to Imperial Day Spa in Japan Town for the basic scrub-and-massage treatment, which amazingly cost only $90 for 80 minutes. It was about as bare-bones as a spa can get -- and certainly not for the modest. But excess nudity aside, it was really quite relaxing. Until, that is, I was introduced to Ann, a small Korean grandmother who put me through the most vigorous scrubbing and deep-tissue massage I've ever endured.

An hour and 20 minutes later, I left the plastic-covered table feeling as I'd imagine a piece of chicken feels when it's pounded with a tenderizer. I retreated to the steam room, the only semi-private place to recover, and after 10 minutes of trying to figure out what on earth I'd done to that tiny woman to warrant such revenge, I realized something: It worked. The tightness in my back was virtually gone and my skin hadn't felt this soft since I can remember (an effect that lasted for three weeks!). So I immediately started trying to figure out how I could replicate the treatment at home--at least as a stopgap measure until I can get back to San Francisco.

I started with the eucalyptus-laced steam that enveloped the room. They kept actual leaves on a wire frame that was set on top of a bowl of hot water. The result was something you felt with every breath. I bought an oversize tea filter that can be put on the side of the tub and filled with slightly dampened, crushed-up eucalyptus, so the steam activates the vapors.

Then Ann used a combination of exfoliating gloves and a granular scrub to slough off dead skin. She worked in swift but small back-and-forth motions across my entire body, and repeated the procedure three times. I prefer products with larger grains that work against the smaller notches of the gloves.

While Ann was scrubbing away, a sliced cucumber mask was applied to my face. At home, I grated a cucumber into paper-thin slices and soaked them in rosewater overnight in the refrigerator. The application process is pretty messy, so I recommend running a warm bath and relaxing while you place a small layer of the cold mixture on your face and neck. I let it sit for at least 10 minutes, but you can leave it on for as long as you like.

The treatment was completed with the application of a heated, milk-like lotion splashed head to toe and left to air-dry. To get the same results, I bought a lightweight lotion, warmed it on the stove, and then applied it. It may sting a little at first, but once it cools this amazing sense of relaxation sweeps through your entire body.

Eventually I'll pay Ann a visit again for the real deal. But for now, my DIY version has extended the results from my original visit for over a month.

Heather Summerville is the senior editor at Lucky.