SPA WATCH

In pursuit of that girlish glow

By Robin Rauzi, Times Staff Writer
12:00 AM PDT, September 04, 2005

MOST visitors to the spa at the Arizona Biltmore won't choose the green fingernail polish. But some might.

When the spa updated its offerings earlier this year, it consolidated some teen-tempting treatments on a menu called "It's All About Me, From Head to Toe."

A warning to pimples: Beware of the deep-cleansing facial.

"Their skin is changing, so we tailor the treatment," said Mary Low, spa services manager at the resort. "This is the time when they really start taking care of their skin."

Nearly all teen customers are girls accompanying their mothers. So some of the relaxation happens on an interpersonal, rather than muscular, level. "Mothers start to see their daughters as adults at some point," Low said. "And it's fun to bring them into a more-adult world through these experiences. It helps bridge that gap."

— Robin Rauzi

The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix; (602) 381-7632, arizonabiltmore.com. Teen treatments $45-$125.