Miami by day

Miami, shrine to the hip and exceptionally bronzed, enhances it’s tropical allure with an array of day spas. The Mandarin Oriental, Miami; Elemis; and The Shore Club offer customized services and a bastion of restorative treatments reminiscent of the most celebrated spas in Asia and Europe.

The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, is influenced by the ancient traditions of Indian, European, Balinese, and Thai cultures. My Ayurvedic Holistic Body Treatment was customized for a “pitta” the ayurvedic term for a stressed out urban gal. After a welcome foot ritual to purify the environment, Carlos literally brushed and exfoliated my skin to remove the chaos and martini melee which would hinder my forthcoming collision with bliss. The facial, body, and scalp massage expertly integrated customized oils, hot stones, acupressure, and an intoxicating hair mud. Two hours later, detoxed, rebalanced, and well-oiled, I floated to the pool in a state of balmy Miami repose.

Hailing from London, aromatherapy doyenne Elemis has opened shop in Miami, it’s first American outpost. Asian rituals are woven into unique treatments designed to indulge the six senses. The Oxygen Japanese Silk Booster Facial, unique to Elemis, rejuvenates and regenerates the skin with layers of customized product placed atop a mask of pure Japanese silk. The Balinese Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap coats the body with mungbean, spices, and lavender before cocooning it with milk bath. The treatment continues with a well-being massage and session on a sensory dry float.

The spa at Ian Shrager’s Shore Club is a sleek haven for defrosting hipsters offering a variety of facials and massages atop South Beach’s most glamorous hotel.

For more information call The Mandarin Oriental, (305) 913-8288; Elemis, (305) 774-7171; Shore Club, (305) 695-3100.