Friday Find: Sway Aveda Spa
This morning Asha and I recorded an Edit Your Life Show episode on self-care and one of the points I raised was that while there are plenty of self-care options you can enjoy free or on the cheap, I believe that it’s worth investing in certain things -- particularly when professionals clearly can do a better job! For me, facials definitely fall in that bucket. Read on for my thoughts on Sway Aveda Spa, and also for info on how to get a complimentary Sway manicure!
I visited Sway last week thanks to a kind invitation from the spa's owner, and the experience was delightful -- and not just because I got a parking spot right in front (there's tons of metered parking all around the spa, by the way). Sway’s Kenmore Square storefront is unassuming, but inside awaits a pretty, well-appointed, full-service spa.
Given that I'm a fan of Aveda products (in fact, that morning I used Aveda's rosemary mint shampoo and conditioner at home), I was already primed for a happy sensory experience and everything did, indeed, smell fantastic. A woman named Sweta did my waxing and facial and she was wonderful -- extremely thoughtful and respectful. Sweta checked in regularly to make sure I was comfortable and ask before proceeding with various phases of the treatment.
We started with a lip and brow wax and I will say that in my 20 or so years of getting waxed, Sweta provided the most thorough and thoughtful waxing services I have ever received. Typically I just hop in the chair and say “Follow the natural lines and do your thing!” but Sweta asked that I look in the mirror so she could explain my eyebrow asymmetry (news to me!) and how she was going to handle it.
We then followed with the AVEDA Signature elemental nature facial, Sway's classic offering. In addition to the traditional exfoliation, extraction, and hydration, Sweta incorporated wonderful head and neck massage techniques that were so relaxing I fell asleep. Also, I loved that she made the most of the time; for example, during the pore-opening steaming process (a time when I’ve had other facial providers leave the room), Sweta asked if she could provide a foot massage. Um, YES.
In addition to the wonderful on-site services, Sway is happily tech savvy. It’s easy to book appointments online and you receive a helpful reminder email before your appointment. And speaking of booking appointments online, how awesome is this? Now through April 2016, Sway is offering you awesome readers a complimentary Sway manicure when you book an Aveda pedicure! So hop on over and book! And while you’re at it, check out their Spa Day offerings. How awesome would it be to go in for a treatment with a girlfriend?
Finally, as a testament to how fantastic I felt about my skin after the treatment, here's a selfie I shot when I got back home -- no makeup, no filter! On a typical day I definitely don't feel inspired to snap a bare faced selfie, but on that day, I did! Thanks so much Sweta and Sway Aveda Spa! Definitely give them a try, perhaps starting with a complimentary Sway manicure!
Image credits: 1 + 3 via Christine Koh; 2 via Sway Spa