spa

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Last week, I found myself in an uncomfortable situation while getting eyelash extensions. It wasn't the pads and glue stuck to my face, sealing my eyes shut; it was the complimentary leg rub that almost had me squirming off the table.

For someone with extremely ticklish knees, the rubdown was more grueling than soothing. Having endured a few unpleasant beauty treatments in my time at Allure, I always try to remember beauty news editor Heather Muir's advice: "If you're uncomfortable, speak up!" But sometimes on that massage table it's a little hard to express your discomfort without feeling rude or awkward. We asked experts from Bliss and Red Door Spa how to avoid suffering in silence. To see their advice, just keep reading.

Spa treatments are designed to make you look and feel better, but it's definitely not relaxing to be left in the changing room with nothing but a robe and a bunch of unanswered questions. So, should you be giving your aesthetician the full monty? To find out how you can tell just how disrobed it's "normal" to get, just keep reading.

150: Number (in millions) of spa visits in 2010.
8,704: Average number of treatments and services performed per spa.
7.5: The average number of treatment rooms a spa has.
47: Percent of spas who have couples services.
45: Percent that have packages designed specifically for pregnant women.
85: Percentage of spas that donate products and services to their communities.

Hong Kong's newest luxury spa might not be so relaxing if you have a fear of heights. The new ESPA just opened in the city's Ritz-Carlton International Commerce Center, the third tallest building in the world. ESPA sits on the 116th and 118th floors, making it the highest spa on Earth.

Don't worry if you're only slightly acrophobic, though. The architects, HBA, gave the space rounded edges and curved walls to create the illusion of insulation and protection from the world below. And in the relaxation room, the custom-designed lounger pods are curtained to create private, safe-feeling cocoons. The treatment we're coveting most? Their 90-minute Lava Shell Treatment ($191 USD), where heated shells, warmed aromatic oils, and deep-tissue-massage strokes will (hopefully) melt away any stress you may be feeling from the hotel's dizzying height.

Can you hear that? It's the sound of your muscles relaxing, and your tension slipping away. That's right; Spa Week is almost here.

From October 10 to 16, you can get luxe, full-service spa treatments for just $50 each, and the savings are unbeatable. For instance, at Skinpeccable Dermatology and Laser Center in LA, you can get one session of laser hair removal for your bikini line (usually $109) , and at Hibiscus Therapeutic Center in Montclair, New Jersey you can get a 50 minute hot stone massage, which would normally run you $161.

There are hundreds of deals nationwide, so you can snap up spa services in your neck of the woods, or buy a stress-relieving special for a friend or relative somewhere else. Check out spaweek.com for details, and to search for spas and specials near you.

A while back, I was super stoked to find this shop near my workplace that offered $10 manicures. So far, I've been there a couple of times and shared this gem with my friends, and most of them have loved it. There are one or two people who didn't care for the lower prices, because they would rather pay more to ensure quality service, impeccable treatments, and a soothing atmosphere. I'm the kind that just likes to get the job done and can do without the extra frills. Before you take my lead, you gotta know what you're getting into. Read this quick guide to find out more on how to maximize your cheap spa experience:

• Read Reviews: Don't walk into a store blindly and do your research on sites like Yelp. If hygiene is a question, do not risk your health for a cheap manicure! For example, if you learn that they don't clean the equipment, you're better off doing your nails yourself.
• Lower Your Expectations: Don't go in expecting that your $10 will get you a $100 spa experience. Your dollar can't stretch that far. A deal is a deal and usually you get a little more than what you pay for. If you expect a five star treatment, you're going to be very disappointed. Go in with a realistic mindset.

For more tips, read after the jump.

When I put up the cash for a spa treatment, facials are by far my favorite service, but various other friends are die hards for lymphatic drainage massages, seaweed wraps, and blue light therapy. Going to the spa is a real luxury, so the service you choose says something about what you value when you get pampered.

I like to feel better about my often-bothersome skin, so it makes sense that I love facials, and my most stressed out friends are usually the ones who crave massages. When you splurge on a spa service, what kind are you most likely to choose and why?

Chocolate is pretty much synonymous with Valentine's Day. And while you can check out YumSugar for ways to ingest it, here on Team Bella we like to explore ways to slather it all over our bodies. When it comes to using this decadent ingredient in spa and body treatments, it turns out there are several great reasons why chocolate is so sweet.

Stacey Parks, spa director at Spa Claremont in Berkeley, CA, explains, "Chocolate induces a euphoric feeling on an emotional level, so it just makes you feel really good, and it nurtures your well-being as well as your body." That's not it, though. "Chocolate is antioxidant, and the darker the chocolate the better, because it does help to boost the body's natural collagen production," she adds. If you just happen to be in the Bay Area, treat yourself to a chocolate manicure or pedicure at the Claremont. Or, for something you can do at home, this quick and easy DIY cocoa soak is perfection.

Be sure to check out more Valentine's tips from Stacey:
Getting the guy in your life into the spa
Two scents (and one massage technique) your guy will love