The Hidden Gem

7.

Is Absolute Spa located in a spooky abandoned underground corridor below the Hotel Vancouver? Sure. But just view this retreat to the underworld as a physical manifestation of your attempt to escape from your responsibilities. Besides, the lack of natural light doesn’t impact the sunshine-y nature of the seasoned staffhere—you’re in good hands with aestheticians like Kathy, who has been chilling out Vancouverites and visitors for 20-plus years. With the Ultimate Detox Reviver ($195), you’ll be expertely bu ff ed to a near-shine and then deftly massaged with grapefruit, rosemary and juniper oils. While a scrub may be a more active treatment than a customized aromatherapy massage, there is something deeply soothing about being tenderly flopped around like a rag doll and emerging, glowing and anointed with luxurious oils and potions, on the other side—back into the sun and the real world. But before you go, linger with almond tea and cookies (that’s right, no bowl of green apples here!) in the moody back-room lounge afterward to savour the out-of-this-world moment. absolutespa.com

Finding Kiku Wellness tucked away on the fifth floor of a Brutalist medical building in Fairview feels like discovering a treat, and when you open the nondescript door to enter the reception area, the reward is immediately apparent: the view is downright jaw-dropping, with unobstructed sightlines across False Creek to the city skyline and rolling mountains beyond. (We dare you to disrobe for your treatment without closing the shades: what other chance will you have to flash Grouse?) But you’re not here to admire Vancouver’s postcardperfect good looks; you’re here to be restored and rejuvenated, led by Kiku’s commitment to omotenashi— Japanese hospitality. It shows up in the little moments of delight: ask for water, and it comes artfully arranged on a tray alongside a crispy, light-asair cookie from Tokyo. Kiku bills itself as a “Japanese Zen spa,” and the Zen

Destress Signature face and body massage ($159) is executed with a tender and focused mindfulness by practitioners who intuit things from your body that you may not even be aware of: a tension in your scalp (“Do you do a lot of thinking?”) or inflamed pressure points in the arches of your feet (“Has your digestion been ok?”). Its 90 minutes will leave you both knot-free and totally seen... and not just by those mountains. Arigatou. kikuwellness.com

The Instant Glow

OO SPA

1428 GRANVILLE ST.

MORE WAYS TO CHILL WITH... CBD

WHAT IS IT? CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. Think: marijuana’s more responsible cousin that won’t get you high. It comes in various forms (pills, dried herbs, oils, tinctures, salves, drinks, you name it) and has been praised for benefits like offsetting anxiety and depression, reducing PTSD, easing pain and helping with arthritis. Some studies are showing it can even help protect you from neurological disease.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

9.

First things first: don’t use Google Maps to find Oo Spa, the local outlet of the Tokyo-based spa chain. It’s one of the ground-floor shops of Vancouver House (and no, you don’t need to do loops of the bridge to get there—thanks Google). But you’ve found it, and you’re in the light-and-bright space to get glowing with a Luxe-Skin revitalizing facial ($235.80). A specialist will look at your skin under lights, and start a double-cleanse with the spa’s proprietary Myufull skin-care line, developed in Tokyo to deeply hydrate and work with your skin’s natural pH. But this isn’t your average cleanseand-repeat facial: it’s followed up with their high-tech wand, which quietly buzzes over your skin to promote collagen production and lymphatic circulation and to tighten the jawline—and damn if before-and-after photos don’t prove that to be the case. oojapanesespa.com

ESSENTIALS

A EYE CONTACT

These 100-percent medical-grade silicone reusable eye masks ($33) from local brand Jeumont Skincare make a major statement, both literally and environmentally: use them with your favourite moisturizer and eye cream and say F offto single-use plastic. jeumontskincare.com

The benefits are as extensive as the ways you can consume it. Beauty experts swear by CBD-infused facial oil for its anti-inflammatory properties and the glowing, clear skin it produces.

WHERE CAN I GET IT? To add CBD to your skincare routine, try Love Nectar’s CBD-infused facial serum ($60 for 30 ml, lovenectar.ca). If you’re struggling with anxiety, chronic pain or sleep issues, the full-spectrum CBD oil tincture from Honest Botanicals honestbotanicals.ca) can be put in drinks, teas or under your tongue for all the benefits. Have sore muscles? Get localized pain relief with their soothing organic CBD therapeutic balm ($38).

A HEAR ME OUT

DIY an acupressure treatment with these 24-karat-gold-plated ear seeds ($40 for a pack of 20). Guided by a miniature map, you place the stickers on your ears’ acupressure points and massage them a few times a day to treat pain and anxiety—downtown’s The Nest Clinic calls it “acupuncture to go.” thenestclinic.ca