Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Spa

The Bottom Line

Overall my visit to the Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Resort was refreshing. My facial and waxing were enjoyable and done very professionally, but they weren’t extraordinary for the price. On the other hand, my body treatment was out of this world and the highlight of my visit hands down.

Pros:

• Extremely friendly staff
• Technicians make sure you're always comfortable
• Menu with over 100 treatments
• Clean and organized areas and rooms

Cons:

• Didn't have me fill out skincare questionnaire
• Technician didn't wear gloves while waxing
• Facial wasn't very relaxing
• No music in waiting room

The Resort itself is so beautiful and I was extremely relaxed, I couldn't wait to get my services so I arrived very early at the Spa to check in. I was surprised they didn't have me fill out any paperwork asking about my skin type or to see if I was taking any medication or using glycolic acid or strong exfoliators on my skin especially since I was scheduled to get waxing. (See why that's important for waxing precautions.)

I went into the women's locker room and there was a friendly Spa attendant to show me a locker and get my size slippers. But she didn't tell me where anything else was like the changing rooms or bathrooms even though she asked me if this was my first visit.

Once I changed into my comfortable robe and slippers, I went out to the women's Spa waiting room. Refreshing beverages like lemon and cucumber water, and a selection of teas were available. I was also happy to see there were healthy snacks that a Spa should be offering, like whole apples and raw pumpkin seeds, instead of sugary or processed food and coffee. The only thing missing was music playing, a necessity in my opinion.

At the time of my first appointment the technician who was going to perform my facial and waxing called my name right on schedule. We went into the elevator to the above floor and she made me feel at ease and welcomed. I noticed the room was spacious and kept clean and organized, and yes, there was music playing.

The Wax

She asked how I liked my brows shaped and started out with waxing my eyebrows and lip ($25 each). She used a hard wax which doesn't need a strip. That wasn't the problem, it was that she didn't cleanse my skin before waxing or wear any gloves while waxing. (Cleansing is important to rid the skin of oil and makeup and prevent break outs from waxing. Wearing gloves helps protect the client since the skin is more vulnerable to infection right after waxing and also for the technician because removing the hair can create 'lifting' or spotting of blood.) On the plus side, she got done quickly and we could move on to the Personalized Facial (50 min./$120).

She looked at my skin under the light to check out my skin type, asked me a couple questions and got started. To me a facial should be calming, but everyone is different in their tastes. Her movements for cleansing and massaging were too stimulating for me and I couldn't really relax. She did always ensure I was comfortable though, especially through the extractions. Some aestheticians really hurt you when they do extractions, but hers weren't painful.

Although she talked about the Dermalogica facial line, she wasn't pushy to sell me everything and gave me some great skincare advice. Apparently when exfoliating my nose and forehead, I'm scrubbing too hard which can produce more oil.

My next treatment was the Red Flower Hamman Body Flower Ritual (80 min./$180) where I was taken, again, into a very clean and organized room with music. This service made up of five steps is almost an hour and a half, but I still wanted more when it was done.

First you're exfoliated with a coffee scrub, slathered with Rhassoul clay and wrapped up in heat for a bit, then you go shower off with a mint body wash, and get spritzed with a Neroli spray to be finally finshed off with a tangerine and fig body butter. It is as good as it sounds. I've had my share of body treatments because they are one of my favorite services, and this was amazing.

Not only was it extremely relaxing. (I think I dozed off while being wrapped up), she couldn't have been more attentive and made sure I was always comfortable. She checked with me about the pressure when applying the scrub, the bed's temperature and lighting of the room and made sure I was always modestly covered. She was the epitome of a seasoned professional and even offered me water after my shower, before the service had even ended!

When the treatment drew to completion I was J-e-l-l-o, and my skin felt amazing. She also gave me the left over product she had from the treatment.

Finished

My eyebrows were a little thin my taste, but they still looked very nice and both were even. My face didn't seem to have that glow like it normally does when I get a facial, but my body was soft and moisturized.

Learn More: Nemacolin Woodlands Spa Profile

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.