No matter how plush the robes are or how refreshing the cucumber water is, I find it really hard to relax in a spa setting[1] . My need for perfection and efficiency only heightens my anxiety, which is why I've become really good at doing mani-pedis and body scrubs right at home. (Bikini waxing[2] ... I'd rather leave that to the pros.)


But at the end of Fashion Month, I don't have enough energy for DIY beauty treatments[3] . So I decided to give up my lunch break to get a 30-minute rose power peel[4] I've heard other beauty editors chatting about.


Skincare creator and aesthetician Cecilia Wong[5] employs a combination of Bulgarian and French rose oils, lemon and papaya extracts, LED light therapy and oxygen for a facial treatment that reduces hyperpigmentation[6] (my biggest skincare woe), soothes sun damage and plumps up the skin. She assured me that I'd get off the table with a camera-ready complexion, and that's all she really had to say for me to lie down.


Wong started the process by cleansing and then smoothing on a rose petal yogurt peel packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, C, D and E. The scent was heavenly, yet not heady as if I was stuck in a field of flowers.


Next, she did a jade roller massage using her Reviving Black Currant Serum[7] . Blended with black currant, blueberry and carrot seed oils, as well as argan oil, she explained that the black currant is actually one of the most potent sources of vitamin C. "It has 5 times more vitamin C than an orange! It brightens and is a great exfoliation to slough off dry skin," said Wong. The roller helped the serum to penetrate deeper into my pores and open up the point meridians to achieve softer skin.


The LED light therapy, which stimulates collagen production, was surprisingly painless (keeping my eyes closed to avoid the blinding light was tricky, so protective sunglasses would have helped), and I even dozed off during the process.


Wong completed the treatment with a blast of oxygen (the cool tingling sensation could be compared to one of those air in a can dusters) infused with aloe gel, hyaluronic acid and her secret rose serum. Once I was able to snap back into reality, I woke up to see that my face was much brighter and fuller. Plus, there was no redness or irritation.


BEFORE AND AFTER:


dana facial peel


The Rose Power Peel Facial, $175, is available at the Cecilia Wong Skincare Salon in New York City, ceciliawongskincare.com[8]



To test the results of the rose power peel, I gave up using my Clarisonic cleansing brush[9] and used a basic peppermint face wash for two weeks. As you can tell from the before and after photos above, my complexion is more even and I've got a natural glow going on. I'm not wearing a single drop of liquid foundation.


Rating: 5 out of 5. A short and sweet facial that produces incomparable results. Who's up for a lunch date at the spa?


If unconventional skincare treatments are more your thing:



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  • Solid Gold Facial


    Why not add a little bling to your beauty routine? Now you can -- if you live in Florida and have enough cash to dish out for the, wait for it, 24 carat gold facial. Yep! Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach offers spa patrons the opportunity to have their entire body painted in gold. The thought is karats can help stave off cellulite and prevent aging.




  • The Caviar Facial


    At Channing's Day Spa in Chicago they think putting fish eggs on your face is better than Botox. They claim that freeze-dried caviar repairs sun damage and minimizes wrinkles.




  • Snake Massage


    In Israel, a snake massage is used to relieve heavy back tension and stress... you just have to block out the fact that your masseuse is a slithering snake! But fear not, all snakes are non-venomous.




  • Consuming Pig's Feet


    It started in Japan and then New Yorkers found out about it. The idea is to eat pig's feet and since they are rich in collagen, it will help get rid of wrinkles.




  • The Bee Venom Mask


    This has been marketed as a natural and organic alternative to botox. It was released by Heaven by Deborah Mitchell and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/kate-middleton-skin_n_1760202.html" target="_blank">boasts big fans like Kate Middleton and the Duchess of Cornwall</a>.




  • Derriere Facial


    It's not just your face that deserves a little TLC... In the US, the new 'butt facial' is a treatment that is designed to tone, de-blemish, massage, and polish your neglected derriere.




  • Bull's Sperm Hair Care


    Dubbed the, 'Viagra for hair', this hair conditioning treatment is derived from the sperm of a bull. Combined with a protein-rich Katera root, this treatment promises to help repair broken hair and give it a silky smooth look...




  • Cactus Massage


    A cactus would be the last thing you think of when dreaming about a relaxing massage, but the spiky cactus leaf can be used as a massaging instrument.

    A prick-free cactus pad is used to rub down the skin and help bring out the toxins, whilst absorbing a blend of hydrating cactus meringue and cactus blossom into your skin.




  • Placenta Face Cream


    The placenta has another use other than feeding an unborn baby - as an anti-ageing beauty cream! For the cream, lamb placental extract is taken to create a potent lotion which rich in nutrients and bio-stimulants, promising to revitalise and moisturise your skin.




  • Hay Body Wrap


    In Italy, you can indulge (if you could call it that) with a wet hay body wrap. But before you conjure images of a scratchy experience, this treatment has a twist - you soak in a water bed heated to over 100F degrees while you're wrapped in the hay. The unusual treatment is said to fortify your immune system and stimulate your metabolism.




  • Bird's Poo Facial


    A favourite with the Japanese Geisha ladies, this unusual facial made from sterilised nightingale bird excrement, is proving to be popular with Western beauty-seekers too. The treatment promises to brighten up the complexion and contains enzymes which act as an effective skin cleanser.




  • Beer Bath


    Although a cold beer helps ease the stress away after a hard day, but a beer bath? In West Bohemia, Czech Republic, they believe that beer has super healing powers and have spas around the country offering 'relaxing' beer baths. Apparently beer has skin boosting B vitamins and helps those with high blood pressure.

    Not to be outdone, a spa in Japan called Yunessan boasts a giant bath full of Sake, green tea, coffee and even ramen noodles...




  • Butter 'Tightening' Treatment


    In Ethiopia, a butter massage is the beauty treatment to have for women hoping to give their lady parts a 'makeover'. Massaged in butter from scalp to toe, butter is applied everywhere on the body (in and out). The women then sit above a smoke hole in a gymnastic-like pose until the butter melts completely. This bizarre treatment apparently tightens vaginal muscles post-pregnancy.




  • Vagina Brightner


    Lactacyd White Intimate Wash has hit the Thai beauty market, promising to make your privates "safely fairer within four weeks"

    Because according to them: "Sweat and excessive friction from tight clothing can darken the skin around the intimate area, causing self-consciousness, decreased confidence or inhibiting intimacy."




  • Vagina Tightener


    India's 18 Again "tightening and rejuvenating" cream was advertised through the medium of song and dance. Rishi Bhatia, chairman and managing director of Ultratech India, told Campaign India: "18 Again is a first-of-its-kind product for women in India. This product is being launched in India post clinical trials conducted amongst women of all age groups under dermatological control.




  • Urine Therapy


    When we first heard that this weird beauty treatment may well be on the rise again, we had to do a bit of research. And here's what we found out: urine therapy was historically used by the Greeks and Romans to cure all that ailed them. It was also used to, ahem, whiten their teeth. Essentially, the procedure involves drinking your own urine in the hopes you'll look and feel younger. In modern times -- and on shows like 'My Strange Addiction' -- people have been known to drink urine for various reasons. Some scientists have even speculated urine has anti-carcinogenic properties -- which could stave off cancer and wrinkles. No real evidence has been found to support those claims.




  • Microcurrent Therapy for Cellulite


    The Smooth Synergy Cosmedical Spa in NYC scrubs your skin down with a papaya and mint scrub to take off dead skin and clean pores. But the real kicker is when they strap your booty up to a microcurrent therapy machine to zap away that cellulite.




  • Breast Milk Soap


    Milk does do a body good. But the trend toward making your own soap -- to be used when you shower or simply wash your hands -- out of breast milk is, well, a bit extreme. The trend emerged as people started to worry that brand-name soaps were full of chemicals and detergents that would harm their skin (or worse, cause cancer). And since milk is supposed to nourish the epidermis, well, why not turn excess breast milk into something, ahem, usable?




  • Snake Venom Cream


    Just because Gwyneth Paltrow swears by this cream -- and its accompanying facial -- doesn't mean you should actually try applying snake venom cream to your face. Apparently, using a cream which has venom as an active ingredient helps plump up the skin (much in the same way botox does).




  • Fish Pedicures


    This popular treatment has become a spa go-to for women around the world who want softer, smoother feet. Essentially, this treatment involves dipping your feet into a tank and letting hungry little fish -- Garra rufa fish -- gently eat away at the dead skin cells that make your skin feel rough. Some places and states have banned the practice for fears it may be unsanitary.




  • Fire Cupping


    Fire cupping is a natural treatment where a practitioner ignites a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and places it inside a cup. When the cup is placed against a patient's skin, a suction action begins to happen -- which is said to increase circulation. Once "activated," the glass bulbs can be moved to key "energy" points all over the body to boost the immune system and increase blood flow (which will help give skin a natural glow, making patients look younger). A big fan of the procedure is reportedly Gwyneth Paltrow.




  • Chocolate Body Wrap


    A chocolate body wrap? Well sign us up. Sure, there's no scientific evidence to support the claims treating your body to some of the sweet stuff will soothe, smooth and detoxify your skin, but it involves sitting in chococlate for an hour. Sounds pretty tasty to us. Check out the spa devoted to all sorts of chocolatey good beauty treatments.




  • Kim Kardashian Gets 'Vampire Facial'


    On the latest episode of 'Kourtney & Kim Take Miami," Kim decides to get what is called a 'Vampire Facial.' The procedure, where doctors take blood from a patients arm and stick it back in their face, left Kim in a great deal of pain. Kim says she underwent the cosmetic surgery because she wants to look more youthful and erase wrinkles. Kristina Behr has the gory details.





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