Experiences. Not Things.

Everyone is so busy running around during the holiday season—shopping, traveling, cooking, etc. Sometimes the best gift you can give is the gift of self-care! An indulgent day, or even an hour, can be just the thing your favorite person needs to unwind.

Shiatsu Shampoo at Salon Ishi

The shiatsu shampoo and head massage at Salon Ishi to the rescue. This is the quintessential serenity now gift and can be particularly wonderful during the holiday season when we are not only physically running around but have lots on our mind. A Japanese treatment is applied to open pores and gently cleanse and nourish the scalp. The massage activates acupressure points stimulating blood flow and relaxation. Prepare to be magically transported to a very happy place.

Salon Ishi, 70 East 55th Street, Manhattan. Call: 212.888.ISHI

Gift Certificate to Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté

Want to give someone a wonderful treatment experience but not certain what s/he would like? Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté is one of New York City’s preeminent spas. Yasmine has been written up in Vogue, New York Magazine, Allure and New Beauty – just to name a few – and offers a wide variety of world-class treatments including massage, cellulite and body treatments and semi permanent makeup sessions. Yasmine’s Remodeling Facial is the spa’s signature treatment. Be prepared to look 10 years younger by the end of your session! We love the 60 minute Seaweed Wrap Treatment.

Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté, 60 East 30th Street, Manhattan. Call: 212.588.1881

Colonic at Exhale Healing Arts

At first blush this might seem like an odd gift, but for a wellness-minded friend, a colonic is a wonderful  - albeit unique – gift, especially around the holidays when many of us are prone to overindulging! Gina Mikan is as good as it gets. She uses the Woods Gravity Method, essentially an internal bath (possibly the best euphemism ever) that helps cleanse the colon of gas, mucus and accumulated fecal matter. There is no discomfort (really!) and only slight internal pressure, just a gentle flow of water in and out of the colon, expertly controlled by the therapist. During the procedure Gina explains the process step-by-step so your friend (or you!) will feel as at ease as possible, given the circumstances. The colonic appointment is one hour.

*For a limited time, Exhale Healing Arts founder, Gina Mikan, is offering Travel Beauty readers a special introductory offer of $90 for a first colonic appointment. Just mention Travel Beauty!*

Exhale Healing Arts, Brooklyn: 71 Eighth Avenue (corner of Union Street) & Manhattan: 124 East 40th Street (corner of Lexington Avenue), Suite 703. Call: 787.406.8061. Email: ExhaleHealingArts@gmail.com

Hair & Scalp Treatment at The Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic

Treat him or her to a one-of-a-kind custom hair treatment. A one hour session which includes the application of hair and scalp cream and of course, Philip Kingsley’s world famous Elasticizer which was created expressly for Audrey Hepburn. Also includes infrared, radiant heat and/or ultraviolet light therapy, depending on your unique hair and scalp concerns and a heavenly scalp and neck massage. Whether you have hair loss, texture and/or scalp issues or just want to give your hair a boost of health and radiance, this gift is aces.

Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic, 16 East 52nd Street, Manhattan. Call: 212.753.9600

Microcurrent Treatment for Face and/or Body at SB Skin

Shamara Bondaroff, founder of SB Skin, has been featured in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Yahoo Beauty and more for her transformative face and body treatments. Know someone who is soon to be jetting off to the Caribbean? A gift card for a microcurrent body treatment (or five) with SB Skin is the perfect pre-vacay gift. What does microcurrent actually do? The low level electricity applied stimulates the muscles, causing them to contract — just like when you do crunches or squats — thus helping to tone and slim the area being treated (the stomach and bum are two of the most-requested areas). The treatment encourages lymphatic drainage, which makes skin look taut and smooth, and also majorly improves cellulite. One treatment will have a subtle, noticeable result, but the best way to really fulfill your derriere dreams is to get a series of at least five sessions. Bonus: Your friend (or you!) can also enjoy a body treatment and a facial AT THE SAME TIME.

SB Skin, 289 7th Avenue, #4 (2nd floor), Manhattan. Call: 917.273.7374. Email: info@sbskin-nyc.com

Aesthetic Treatment with Dara Liotta MD

If you know someone who’s been considering a little cosmetic “tweaking”, but has been nervous about finding a quality doc, a gift certificate to Dr. Liotta’s practice is just the thing! Dr. Liotta is masterful at what she does. She is board certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well as Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Liotta spent five years training in Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery, before going on to complete fellowship training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She is intimately acquainted with, and comfortable manipulating, the delicate and complex anatomy of the face and neck from its most superficial to its deepest layers. As a Board Certified ENT surgeon as well as a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon, she believes her job is not complete until everything looks good, functions well, and feels healthy.

Dr. Liotta does it all: from Botox, fillers and laser treatments to rhinoplasty, facelifts and necklifts (and more).

City Aesthetics, 154 E. 85th Street, Manhattan. Call: 212.288.2222. Email: facialplasticsnyc@gmail.com

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram and Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie