We’ve all done it on a whim: popped down the street to the local hand and foot repair line (I can’t bring myself to call it a spa) after so many months of neglecting our beauty maintenance that we can’t stand it anymore. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll do the trick,” we desperately try to convince ourselves. We hesitantly sink into the cushioned massage chair that’s looking a little worse for wear, and while the mechanical masseuse feels great on our knotted spine, we shudder at the thought of how many feet have been in this tub, wonder if it was even remotely sanitized and cringe as the aesthetician, trimming cuticles at hyperspeed, takes off a little too much and we’re suddenly wounded. The tools are all re-used, my four-year-old niece could have done a better polish application and we’re hurried out the door to make room for the next unsuspecting victim. Sure, the aesthetician scrubbed the dead skin off our heels with reckless abandon, and for a $35 mani-pedi in 30 minutes flat what could we expect, but surely we value our hygiene and our cuticles enough to stay away from such questionable quickie spas. What’s a busy, self-respecting girl to do?
Lux Spa–in the aesthetic dead zone of Yonge between Queen and Dundas–is somewhat of an anomaly in the hand-and-foot spa biz, valuing quality and hygiene above all else and offering express services without skimping on details. Lux Spa’s Yorkville location opened back in 2004 and quickly became a favourite of many professional women, who’ve been known to take extended lunch breaks to make the trek from their downtown office towers to squeeze in some well-deserved TLC. Lux Spa’s owner, Cathy Crispo, saw a void in the downtown core for this type of a spa, so in response to demand, she just recently opened a new, more central location.
Twitter was abuzz last Tuesday as a slew of media darlings gushed about being pampered–during office hours, no less–at Lux (disclosure: as is de rigeur in this biz, we all got serviced for free). Directly across from the Eaton Centre at Yonge and Shuter, in a sunny second-floor space with a scenic view of the neighbouring, um, Starbucks, said darlings scanned shelves full of shades from OPI, Essie, Zoya and CND Shellac before getting cozy with iPhone in one hand, mimosa in the other, and eyes on the treatment sheet.
The choices were limited, but lovely. The spa’s signature Choco-Lux treatment ($48 for mani and $68 for pedi) uses products full of antioxidant-rich cocoa extract to exfoliate and hydrate thirsty skin, while the Hydra-Lux treatment ($58 mani, $78 pedi) features a paraffin-based wax mixed with heavenly essential oils to relax the mind and lock moisture into skin. Finally, Herba-Lux ($68 mani, $88 pedi) uses a blend of rosemary and mint to refresh and soothe tired, achy hands and feet. If all you want is a 60-minute mani-pedi, that’ll be $81, ma’am.
Lux Spa isn’t on the acrylic edge of nail art: Crispo says only around five per cent of her clients request it, which is utterly shocking to my nail art-obsessed self. The technicians are more than happy to take requests and willing to look up designs online and watch how-to videos. Although, really, would you want your bartender watching how-to videos before pouring your Negroni? If you want the latest, freshest, off-the-runway mani, best to go elsewhere (ed note: Tips Nail Bar, like every other editor in the city). If you want fast, sweet, quality service and something to do on your lunch break, stick with Lux.
And there you have it–the reason I won’t be going for dirty quickies on Yonge Street anymore.
Lindsay MacAdam writes about beauty and beautiful things. Follow her on Twitter at @lindsaymacadam.
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