Himalayan Glow Massage and Facial

Photo: Nicole Radja

SCENT OF A WOMAN Particularly around the holidays, the explanation that spa experiences should conjure “feelings of home” is pretty common. That’s how the masseuse at Blueberry Moon describes the purpose of the essential oils used in the spa’s new Himalayan Glow Massage and Facial. After soaking my feet in a warm, sudsy bath (a standard practice for any massage at the Lincoln Park salon/spa) and scrubbing them with salt, she moved me to the massage table and then lathered my skin with cinnamon-, vanilla- and clove-infused oils. While I didn’t picture myself at home in San Diego as she rubbed out my knots, I did find myself taking a mental vacation to a cabin in the woods, thanks to the warm aroma of the oils wafting in the air. The red light saturating the stone-covered back wall of the treatment room—a decent stand-in for a crackling fireplace—helped complete the picture. As for the facial, the scent of the oils was subtler than the massage, but the soothing effect was no less apparent. The aesthetician first cleansed and exfoliated my face with a masque, massaging my legs and feet while the masque’s ingredients—such as clove and ayurvedic herbs used as anti-irritants to protect against the winter elements—worked their magic. Then, she applied a second masque customized to my skin’s needs and kneaded away the tension in my upper body while it set. A cooling spritz of water above my face finished off the treatment, gently awakening me from my daze without ending that hypnotic spell of calm that comes with a day at the spa. $95 for 60-minute facial or massage. 2108 N Halsted St (773-529-3333, blueberrymoon.com).