Summer is winding down, and as the temperatures start to dip, calendars inevitably start to pick back up. These final summer days are the perfect time to carve out time for a quick moment of self-care before diving headfirst into fall. Here are some places to indulge with express treatments that are under an hour.
Aware House
A newcomer to Northern Virginia, Aware House is setting out to be a one-stop shop for wellness. It offers a little bit of everything, from innovative treatments like Braintap, which uses sound and light to achieve a deep sleep-like meditative state, and PEMF mats, which use magnetic currents to promote healing throughout the body, to trend red light therapies, introductions to cold plunging, and saunas. To celebrate its opening, Aware House is offering the first session discount for just $25 and has memberships that range from $110 to $200 per month and class packages starting at $165. 2201 N. Pershing Dr., Ste. H, Arlington
Lilikoi Day Spa
You could certainly spend all day at Balian Springs in Alexandria. The wellness center offers day passes from $135 to $165 where you can enjoy its saunas, plunge pools, steam rooms, and holistic health classes. But if you don’t have all day, book a treatment at Balian Springs’ Lilikoi Day Spa. While the spa offers traditional hour-plus long treatments, it also has an express menu for those short on time (and aren’t we all?). Try the 25-minute collagen and LED express facial that uses light therapy and hydrogel technology to refresh your skin for $85 or the 25-minute foot massage that uses Narayahn oil and then an ice-cold wrap to provide muscle relief for $75. 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria
Glowbar
This new addition to Georgetown will have you breathing easier just by stepping in the door. Housed in a rowhouse storefront space, vintage brick walls and picture windows transport you from the hustle of city life to a brief dream-like state. Glowbar’s 30-minute customized facials are designed to be squeezed into busy days. You can join Glowbar for $60 and get a monthly facial or try it out for $75. No-frills treatment areas are cordoned off by curtains, but the aestheticians here treat your skin like gold. You’ll be surprised how much your skin can glow from just a half hour of treatment. 1533 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Pure Sweat Studios
This recently opened Georgetown studio allows you to jump on the cold plunging trend, as well as take in the benefits of infrared saunas. You can also try out the signature “float therapies” that essentially involve soaking in a giant magnesium-rich Epsom salt bath (a luxury version for anyone who has ever benefited from soaking their feet in Epsom salts at home). Yes, it’s a bit different than other things out there but that’s what makes it so appealing. You can sign up for a package of sauna sessions or just a quick 40-minte float therapy slot. It’s a little bit like an armchair trip Scandinavia to try the best of holistic wellness. The studio has introductory packages where you can get three sauna visits in a month for $119 or three floats for $179. 3345 Prospect St. NW, Washington, DC
Silver Mirror Facial Bar
You can get a quick facial at one of Silver Mirror Facial Bar’s locations in DC’s Penn Quarter, Navy Yard, and Dupont Circle. Choose between a 30-minute and a 50-minute session in pre-packages treatments. The 30-minute lymphatic facial for $119 gives you some instant sculpting (no face yoga required) thanks to the skillful use of massage and gua sha. If you have a little more time, try the 50-minute seasonal hydrating facial for $159. It helps promote a smooth transition from the humid summer to the dry autumn. Silver Mirror offers memberships, if you are looking to get facials on a regular basis. Multiple locations
Feature image Silver Mirror Facial Bar
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