Liquor License

No need to wait until 5 0’clockas alcoholic spa treatments are a treat for the skin and a thrill for the senses from morning to till night.

Jokingly known of the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems, alcohol is finding
a respectable new place in spas. Alcoholic drinks have been produced and consumed by people for thousands of years for a variety of reasons, chiefly to enhance the pleasures of life. Today, that’s exactly what alcohol does for spa treatments and the spa experience. Spas are finding a place for all varieties of booze—beer, bourbon, rum, tequila, vodka, and more—and spa-goers are lapping up the benefits. “There is a lot of intrigue around products containing ingredients that we commonly only associate with alcoholic beverages,” says Rhonda Allison, founder and CEO of Rhonda Allison Cosmeceuticals and RA for Men “Also, because we hear about the health benefits of consuming them, in moderation of course, it immediately piques interest as to how those benefits can translate to the skin.” It turns out alcoholic beverages can be incorporated throughout the menu in soaks, body treatments, nail services, and even facials to treat skin.

Brewing Bliss 

Vinotherapy, or immersion in wine and its components, has made a splash in spas for years, but boozy bathing is no longer limited to grapes. Beer and sake soaks are becoming popular and are an easy way to introduce spa and spirits to clients. “More than 100 nutrients are found in sake, including amino acids and organic substances, that activate skin cells and help to prevent skin cell aging,” says Stacey Grondahl, spa director at We Do Men—A Male Concept Spa (Scottsdale, AZ). “Sake offers a protective function for both hair and skin. It detoxifies and regenerates skin cells, making the skin tougher, like a solid skin workout.” In Japan, Hakone Kowakien Yunessun offers alcoholic soaks with wine and sake alongside natural hot springs for a reasonable day pass ($34). A large cask drips sake into the hot spring continuously, and a dip in it may help bathers remove freckles and sunspots. “The baths haven’t been proven scientifically, but there is the expectation of a positive effect, and the fun atmosphere makes the bath enjoyable for all,” says supervisor Asami Nagashima.

When the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa’s Antler Hall bar launched a new bourbon program, the property’s Allegria Spa (CO) took the opportunity to introduce two bourbon-based seasonal treatments. The Bourbon Cowboy Pedicure ($90, 55 minutes) and Bourbon Marshmallow Butter Pedicure ($90, 55 minutes) incorporate bourbon-infused products from FarmHouse Fresh that spa director Christine Cupertino describes as a “party in a jar.” “The bourbon provides a non greasy finish to the skin,” she says. The Bourbon Bubbler Kentucky Whiskey Body Scrub was Farm- House Fresh’s first liquor-infused product, and it’s been a crowd-pleaser for five years. “As a brand, we are really drawn to good food and drinks, and we love working with American distilleries,” says Shannon McLinden, founder and CEO of Farm- House Fresh. “So including liquors in our line is an extension of love. We mainly use liquor for the sensory experience in a treatment. It adds a fun sophistication to the treatment, particularly when served with corresponding drinks and themed food items.”

Facial Flow
Though most spirited spa treatments are made for the body, there are qualities that make alcohol a welcome ingredient in facials. The RA For Men Sake Peel regenerates and detoxifies skin, delivers antioxidants, and soothes irritation and is ideal for use in men’s facials. “Sake is made in a double fermentation process, similar to beer brewing, and it yields low-molecular peptides that offer a protective function to the skin,” says Allison. “It has been used for centuries to exfoliate, smooth, and detoxify the skin.” She adds that sake is also rich in phosphoserine, ferulic acid, and cysteine (an amino acid), which provide hydration, smoothing and soothing properties, detoxification, and regeneration.

Part of an irreverent, playful menu, the acne fighting Pumpkin Sake Bomb ($71, 60 minutes) and the moisturizing Tequila Shooter ($51, 60 minutes) are two popular facials designed to treat men’s skin at We Do Men—A Male Concept Spa. Before gentlemen get a booze-infused facial, they can enjoy a tequila sipper to stimulate the senses. “They love the idea of alcoholic elements actually being beneficial to their health and overall skincare,” says Grondahl. “Both tequila and sake are included in the treatments because of their medicinal properties, cell repair and stimulation, and overall hydration.” The Tequila

Lime Refresh Facial (starting at $159, 50 minutes) at Agave, The Arizona Spa relies on citrus-infused products from Éminence Organic Skin Care and local tequila. Introduced in 2015, the tequila-based treatments are among the spa’s most popular. “Guests stop and want to learn more about what we are doing with spirits, and we find that these are most often the treatments that guests will photograph and share on social media,” says Nicastro.

Tranquil Teetotalers

It’s no surprise alcoholic spa treatments are successful, and for most people, it’s a safe and fun choice. “As our treatments are topical, there are few risks for contraindications, but we do not recommend them for expectant mothers, as alcohol is transdermal,” says Nicastro. Booze has a wide appeal in and out of the spa, but it’s important to make sure it’s safe for each spa-goer to sip. “Caution must be used when incorporating alcohol-based treatments for individuals who are taking a lot of medications, who have specific skin conditions, or who have sensitivities to yeast,” says Allison.

And, youthful-looking clients will have a good reason to admit their true age before drinking up. “When incorporating alcohol, it’s always important to train your team on remembering to check identification of guests who may be underage and ensure we are keeping legal drinkers to a two-drink maximum,” says Kendra Rice, spa director at The Spa at Trump Chicago at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. “In the spa world, we have to be careful, as we offer heat therapies, such as steam and sauna, which do not mix well for people who have had too much to drink.”

Shaken or stirred, these tipple treatments are sure to leave spa-goers in good spirits. “The beauty of these treatments is that they can be enjoyed year-round,” says Mary Gunderson, spa director at The Spa at Four Seasons Vail. “Boozy treatments are always in style.”