Gentle Touch is an award-winning spa in the Windermere/Winter Garden area.

Valentine's Day Gifts, Part 1

Need helping selecting that perfect Valentine's Day present? Single or attached - everyone deserves a treat on Valentine's Day. And nothing says treat like a spa day. Ahhhhh relaxation!

  • Gentlemen, are you stressing because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you have nooooo idea what to purchase for your one true love? Easy peasy. A spa day. Everyone loves a spa day. Everyone. If I could afford it, I would put facials and massages on my Things to Do in Orlando list every single day of the week. Every. Single. Day.

    Orlando is home to more salons and spas than alligators, and some may find it intimidating to select just one from the list of 17,428 in your zip code. I’m blessed to have found a wonderful med spa just around the corner from my house, and let me tell you boys and girls, it’s an excellent choice for a massage or facial — men, it’s great for gift-giving; ladies, it’s perfect for treating yourself.

    Gentle Touch Medical Aesthetics & Wellness Spa in the Winter Garden/Windermere/Ocoee area is my go-to for anything related to spa pampering. On my latest visit I was treated to a full-body massage, followed by an oxygen facial (ammmaaaaazing). And, if you too are a Gentle Touch lover and haven't been in awhile, you definitely need to stop by and see the renovations. So nice!

    The lobby area is is spacious and open — a lovely "Hello! Thank you for coming!" space. After checking in, I headed to the serene waiting room, which smelled divine and had all the pleasant sounds and dim lighting you expect and love in a spa. Allow me to digress for a moment and elaborate on the smell. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of a spa visit. Is that weird? Because I seriously love it. I don’t know if it’s an organic smell, candles, something pumped through air vents, required perfume for the technicians — but spas are 100% required to smell phenomenal. It’s the law.

     


    Did I mention you can enjoy some delicious coffee, tea, wine, water or ... wine while being pampered?

     

    Moving on. Catalina — who is so so so sweet — came to collect me for my massage, which was fabulous. The treatment room had all the little touches, like a fluffy robe, slippers, heating pad under the blankets (it was an awkwardly chilly day in Orlando), soothing music, and more amazing smells. Divine.

    Of course I felt heavenly after the massage, but my day of pampering was far from over. I was whisked away to the facial room with Hope, which is just so wonderful. She recommended an oxygen facial — Madonna swears by them, so of course I had to get one! — and I’m so glad I took her up on her suggestion. An oxygen facial has some of the typical cleansing of a traditional facial, which is a must. What’s a facial without yummy-smelling liquids/gels/creams/etc. being slathered and painted on your face?!

    But the second half of the facial is where the magic happens. A serum is airbrushed onto your face and then shoved into the deep layers of your skin, making you look years younger in just a matter of minutes. OK, so that’s how I felt, but years might be a bit of an exaggeration. Still, Hope showed me what my face looked like with one half completed and one not, and it was a HUGE difference. Such a difference that I became an immediate believer and considered emptying my savings account to buy my own oxygen facial machine, just like Madonna. If she has one, how expensive could it be? Ladies, if you’ve ever considered Botox Cosmetic, try this first (or in conjunction), and I swear you’ll love the results! The facial plumps up your skin (in a good way!) and smoothes it out, eliminating wrinkles and fine lines. I swear!

    Gentleman, I promise you will not go wrong with a spa gift card for Valentine's Day. I mean, don’t purchase lipo or filler injections (unless your love very very specifically requested that), but a massage or facial or day of pampering is the perfect way to let the love of your life (or of this year … or month … or “shoot, why didn’t I start dating her in March and I could have avoided this”) know that she’s appreciated and cared for and deserves only the best. I promise it’ll be a hit. And if not, hey, feel free to mail that sucker to me.

     

    For more information on Valentine's Day ideas, events and things to do in Orlando, click here!

    Oh — and as the title suggests, stay tuned for Valentine's Day Gifts Parts 2 and 3! :)

Diana Mainieri's picture

Diana Mainieri

Experiencing Orlando in every way, Diana shares some of the most exciting, delicious, and entertaining things to do in Orlando through the To Do Orlando blog.