Experience Big Sur in Encino

Encino's Skin Spa is a large, full-service day spa located in a two-story shopping center on Ventura Blvd. The facility's many amenities, including an outdoor co-ed hot tub and lounge, the "Niagara Room," which features 20 showerheads and a waterfall, and both steam and dry saunas make it a respite from daily life, worthy of a full day. We visited for the Big Sur Aromatherapy package, one of four "Road to Wellness" packages that Skin Spa has devised to tap into multiple healing modalities.

The journey began with a delicious lavender, honey and mango bubble bath, which was like stepping into a tub of whipped cream. Massage therapist Fathia offered a glass of chilled cranberry juice to sip as we soaked, and then returned half an hour later for our massage. After toweling off, we settled onto the table (taking note of the fancy crushed velvet linens - no stark white sheets here). Our Lavender Breeze treatment came next: Warm pouches of crushed lavender buds were rhythmically pressed towards the heart, and then gently stroked over the skin. Then came a Stress Therapy massage and Botanical Hair and Scalp Treatment to melt away any tension that could have possibly remained.

At this point, our trip to Big Sur was only halfway done! After drinking a cup of water, we visited the main lobby for a spa pedicure with the vivacious Li, and then experienced an aromatherapy facial with Lexi. Using a combination of products from Murad and Epicuren, Lexi steamed, cleansed, exfoliated and re-hydrated the skin with soothing strokes and a gentle hand.

The Big Sur package doesn't come cheap at $340, but it might just be worth saving the time and gas it takes to drive up north and spending a full day of pure pampering at Skin Spa instead.

Review originally published 6/19/2008.