Spring forward
Brighten up your skin this season with the hardest-working botanicals in the beauty business.
While the rest of Las Vegas is still catching up, at wynn and encore, the gardens and atriums overflow with blossoming flowers, farm-fresh delicacies make their way from chefs’ kitchens to diners’ tables, and guests flock to poolside cabanas in anticipation of summer. the season’s spirit of renewal also extends to the spas at wynn and encore, where post-winter rejuvenation comes in the form of powerful treatments anchored by natural, botanical, and herbal ingredients that work overtime to heal and transform. at the spa at wynn, therapists reinterpret the age-old use of coconuts in treatments like the tropical Journey, a full-body massage that incorporates steamed compresses filled with real coconut pulp. “coconut is very nourishing for the body and ultrahydrating for the skin,” says spa director amy rockwell. “it’s luxurious, healthy, and nourishes the skin— a necessity anytime of year when you’re in Las Vegas, but especially appropriate for spring and summer.” warm-weather preparation takes on new meaning at the spa at encore, where spa director erika Valles has implemented two natureinspired treatments to be performed before and after exposure to the sun. designed to help guests achieve a pool party–perfect glow, the
Golden Veil body Wrap kicks into high gear with a scrub that blends papaya (a natural exfoliator) and orange peel, whose high level of vitamin C firms and protects the skin. that’s followed by a body wrap infused with golden algae, which blocks harsh rays and leaves skin with a luminous sheen. “Not necessarily shimmer,” Valles says, “but a nice golden glow.” the Golden Veil’s counterpart, the exotic Mediterranean body Wrap, targets lightly sunburned skin, beginning with a gentle scrub infused with moisturizing olive and argan oils, then progressing to a wrap that harnesses the cooling properties of fresh aloe and mint. Says Valles of the experience, “It really quenches the skin.” botanical and herbal elements play a key role in a variety of treatments at both spas. Wynn’s signature Red Carpet treatment, which revives skin with exfoliation, a mask, and a thorough application of moisturizing body cream, uses products made by Red Flower, a company that sources its ingredients from the arctic Circle. the treatment integrates the line’s exfoliating blend of nutrient-rich white peat from Finland, plus an omega-rich berry oil packed with antioxidants from six berries, all believed to boost cellular regeneration when used on the skin. “We’ve positioned the treatment on the menu so that a guest can have it with a massage or a facial,” says Rockwell. “Our Organic Facial uses the product line Éminence, known for its fruit enzyme and acid infusions.” Less harsh than chemical exfoliants, ingredients such as pumpkin enzymes and sugar cane are extremely effective in removing dead skin cells and brightening complexions. Likewise, the asian-inspired Good Luck
“Botanical and natural ingredients are more active and bring full-power healing.”— amy rockwell
Ritual, offered by both spas, incorporates a trio of products from another natural and organic skincare line, Naturopathica: lemongrass and ginger essential oils for the body, a toning scrub made from verbena and lemon, and sweetsmelling lime blossom oil for the scalp. “botanical and natural ingredients are more active, potent, and stimulating,” Rockwell notes, “and they really bring full-power healing.” even the lavender mist that therapists spritz on guests throughout the ritual has psychosomatic effects—lavender both detoxifies the skin and calms the central nervous system—explaining its popularity at encore, where the ingredient is a cornerstone of treatments like the bodhi Massage and Visualization process, designed to balance guests’ seven chakras through massage, guided energy work, and light therapy. “there’s a real consciousness for organic, natural products,” Rockwell says. “Probably because, in my experience at least, more-natural products have better results and better aromas, everything about them is easier to use, and the physical benefits are evident right away.”