This is the time of year for cranberries to shine. They have a spot on our tables as relishes and on our Christmas trees as homemade decorations. However, there’s another great place for this seasonal, beautiful red berry — on our faces! Believe it or not, cranberries make wonderful facial masks and body treatments. Because they are rich in antioxidants, they can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, reduce redness and prevent signs of skin damage.
When it comes to harnessing the beauty benefits of the cranberry, spas are all over it. There are many spas that offer cranberry treatments of all sorts, and we’ll take a look at some of them. You even have the option of putting your own leftover cranberries to use at home.
Sugar Plum Cranberry
Enjoy a Sugar Plum Cranberry treatment at Watercourse Way Bathhouse Spa in California. This treatment begins with a sugar-plum infused steam to open pores and release tension, followed by a full-body dry-brush massage. Here come the cranberries! You’ll enjoy an Eminence Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub, which will really soften and rejuvenate your skin. This is followed by a Sugar Plum Soufflé massage, and topped off with an Eminence Sugar Plum Facial, which helps firm and tone the skin. This treatment 90-minute usually costs $150, but in December it’s being offered for $127.50. Why not take advantage?
Cranberry Spa Pedicure
Serenity Nails & Day Spa, located in Texas, offers a Cranberry Spa Pedicure. You’ll begin your 60-minute treatment by soaking in a foot bath scented with cranberry extract, which moisturizes and replenishes dry skin. This is followed by a gentle cranberry scrub and cranberry foot mask. After that, your feet will be treated to cranberry butter cream and a hot stone massage, a truly relaxing experience. Your treatment will be capped off with a warm paraffin treatment, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
Cranberry Pumpkin Body Wrap and Cranberry Sugar Scrub
There are two can’t miss treatments offered by the Boars Head Spa in Charlottesville, VA. The first is the Cranberry Pumpkin Body Wrap, which starts off with a dry brushing and a warm, full-body Cranberry Pomegranate Scrub. Then you’ll be slathered with a Pumpkin Cream Body Wrap, which will revitalize and hydrate your skin. The final touch is a massage with Backcountry Caramel Body Milk lotion.
You can also enjoy the Cranberry Sugar Scrub, which is designed to purify and refresh the skin. After a dry brushing, you’ll enjoy a Cranberry Pomegranate exfoliation, which will help your body absorb moisture, rejuvenate skin and release toxins, as well as reduce puffiness. After your scrub, you’ll by hydrated with Honeysuckle Blood Orange Body Cream.
Cranberry Enzyme Facial and Cranberry Holiday Delight Package
The Skin Spa Institute in California offers several cranberry-based treatments, including the Cranberry Enzyme Facial. This treatment incorporates a gentle, cranberry exfoliation, which uses the berry’s enzymes and antioxidants to rejuvenate the skin. This is followed by a hydrating moisture mask and calming serum, to clarify and soothe the skin.
Another great option at the Skin Spa is the Holiday Cranberry Delight Package, which includes several of the spa’s cranberry treatments in one. You’ll enjoy the facial mentioned above, in addition to a cranberry body scrub with Swedish massage and a cranberry manicure and pedicure. This 3 ½ hour treatment usually runs for $345, but it’s being offered at a holiday price of $235. That should make you jolly!
Cranberry-Pomegranate Swedish Massage
Relax with a Cranberry-Pomegranate Swedish Massage at The Spa Turf Valley in Maryland. This relaxing massage features cranberry-pomegranate aromatherapy massage oil, which helps reduce stress and calm you down. In addition, your feet will be treated to a cranberry-pomegranate sugar scrub to slough away any dead skin and leave you feeling refreshed. This special is being offered through Dec. 9, so be sure to take advantage while you can.
50 Minute Pumpkin and Cranberry Facial
The Ocean Place Resort & Spa in New Jersey offers the invigorating Pumpkin and Cranberry Facial. It begins with a gentle pumpkin enzyme peel to resurface the skin, remove dead skin cells and open the pores. Then, a fruit-acid cranberry mask is applied to exfoliate and hydrate your skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation. You’ll also be treated to a moisturizing hand treatment. This spa also offers other cranberry-themed treatment, such as Berry Bliss Hydra Quench Wrap.
At-Home Treatment
If you’d rather relax at home and try a cranberry facial on yourself, you can easily make a mask that fits the bill. Here’s one created by the Lodge at Four Seasons Spa in Ozark, Mo., that can be used twice a month and leaves you with soft, glowing skin.
In a blender, mix 1 cup of fresh cranberries, 1 cup of seedless red or green grapes, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin at medium speed for about 20 seconds. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to thicken. Remove from refrigerator and let stand for 10 minutes. Spread mask on clean, dry skin, being sure to avoid the eye area. Relax for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Whether you prefer spa or at-home cranberry treatments, be sure to take advantage of the astringent and refreshing properties of this seasonal berry. Use them to perk up your skin and not just your holiday recipes! With their help, you can feel refreshed enough to tackle all those holiday to-dos and look great while doing it.