Massage and facial professionals share the best holiday treatments

If you’re planning a relaxing vacation, a visit to a spa is probably high on your list. You’re not alone — Statistics found that the spa industry is expected to grow globally from $95 billion in 2021 to more than $185 billion in 2030.

With so many offerings, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed about what treatments to invest in while you’re away. We asked skincare experts what their go-to services are when they’re on a well-deserved vacation, and their advice on what to look for when booking a spa service on the go.

Skincare is popular and booming on all social media networks, with new treatments always on the horizon. A holiday is the best time to prioritise your skincare with a facial, right? Maybe not.

Olivia Pipalaa Hydrafacial and SkinCeuticals master esthetician, says you should be careful. “The last thing you want to do when you’re traveling is try something new with your skin [because] you don’t know how your skin [will] respond,” she told HuffPost. Additionally, she says location matters. “If you’re traveling to a tropical place where the sun and sand [are] “Especially while on vacation, be extra careful with exfoliating treatments, as your skin can be damaged by exposure to the sun and salt water.”

When booking a service, the spa often pairs you with your beautician. But Angela Caglia a famous beautician and founder of Angela Caglia Skincare, suggests consulting the most experienced beautician.

“Many hotels hire new estheticians and pay them by the hour, so it’s important to ask for the most in-demand or experienced esthetician when booking. This is more important than the facial itself, as the esthetician can guide them to the facial that’s best for them,” Caglia says.

Shani Dardena famous beautician and founder of Shani Darden Skin Care, says products matter, so don’t be afraid to ask questions about what will be used during your service for it starts. “If you are someone who is actively breaking out, you don’t want to use comedogenic products like oils on your skin that can only aggravate your current condition,” Darden said.

For all of our skincare experts, a massage is the universal go-to. “When I’m on vacation, I like to splurge on body treatments like massages, body scrubs, or even mud baths,” Pipala told us. Why? She says the skin on our bodies is more resilient than the skin on our faces, so she’s more willing to try new things for the body. She adds that for sensitive skin types, traveling can wreak havoc on the skin due to the environmental changes, stress from flying, and jet lag.

Lymphatic drainage is Pipala’s top choice, as she claims it can be excellent for relieve stress and improve blood flow, which reduces swelling.

“I usually choose a [deep tissue] massage,” shared Doctor Jennifer Levinea double board certified plastic surgeon who chooses to prepare her beauty treatment while on vacation.

For Darden, deep tissue massages are also her choice.[Deep tissue massages] help relax [my] back, arm and neck muscles that can become painful [and] tired of giving facials all day.”

And there is one more added benefit: the Mayo Clinic discovered that a one-hour massage lowers cortisol and helps the body release serotonin, the good feeling hormone.

Spa days can get expensive. After booking a weeklong trip, a massage or facial may not be possible. However, if you’re on a budget but still want to experience the spa, Levine has a suggestion. “Often, spas will offer a day pass to enjoy some of their other services, such as steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, etc.,” she told us. “The environment is an experience in itself. With that day pass, you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and participate in activities that you normally wouldn’t have time for or wouldn’t make time for without some sort of cosmetic service.”