Islanders thrive through winter by cozying up with books and taking sunny vacations, but some of the season’s ravages require calling in a bit of help. Skin-drying chill and distracting stress deserve the attention of experts, and many of Mercer Island’s local businesses present time-honored solutions to help you take better care of yourself.
The new year also presents the perfect opportunity to commit to being a little kinder and gentler with oneself. Whether you hope to relax and de-stress, achieve better health and well-being, or put your best face forward in a new situation, these Mercer Island spas, studios, and salons offer dozens of ways to prioritize self-care this year.
Esthetic Society
Caitlin and Breck Grimm opened Esthetic Society, a boutique spa, on Mercer Island in 2017. Caitlin, a licensed esthetician, is currently the spa’s solo provider providing skincare and full-body waxing services, while Breck manages the business side of things. They have built up a very busy practice that is usually booked out 8 to 9 weeks in advance. “I’m an acne specialist,” Caitlin says. “So that’s actually one of my bigger draws is that I treat a lot of teenagers on the island.” Due to high demand, they have plans to hire another esthetician this spring. Their spa features a bright and modern space overlooking the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery in downtown Mercer Island.
Christine Face & Body Studio
It’s important to cultivate healthy skincare habits year-round but especially during winter, when colder air can have a drying effect, says Christine Poythress, owner and operator of Christine Face & Body Studio. The boutique skincare studio, founded in 2008, offers everything from lash tinting and bikini waxes to mineral makeup and skin treatments. It prides itself on cutting-edge beauty treatments, like HydraFacial treatments, which exfoliate and cleanse – similar to microdermabrasion. To sort through the options, book a free 15-minute consultation on the studio’s website, and in the meantime, Poythress recommends facing the new year by wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated, and incorporating plant oils into your skincare routine.
The DEN at Au Courant Salon
While anyone can rinse, cut, and color their cares away at Au Courant Salon, “the DEN” – Au Courant’s modern barbershop – also offers special services for the guys. The DEN Classic Service includes shampoo and conditioning, a hot towel wrap, scalp massage, haircut, and style. The Relax Package is similar, and includes the hot towel wrap and scalp massage, with just a neck trim. Or put your feet up for the Den Men’s Shave, which also includes a hot towel wrap.
Five Element Acupuncture
After 17 years of practicing in Seattle, Five Element Acupuncture owner and licensed acupuncturist Annie Allender Robbins moved her practice to her property on Mercer Island in 2020 and now enjoys being more integrated with the local community and her home. She has been in private practice for Classical Five Element Acupuncture for 20 years, with her “love and awe of medicine growing with no end in sight.” In addition to her full acupuncture practice, she’s a mentor to new practitioners and leads retreats and workshops integrating her passions, which include yoga, Chinese medicine, the natural world, mindfulness, meditation, breath work and soul and life coaching.
Lisa Porad Acupuncture
According to owner and licensed acupuncturist Lisa Porad, acupuncture is not just about needles – her approach to treatment is holistic, in consideration of the physical, mental, and emotional elements of health. Practicing for 22+ years, she customizes her treatment to the needs of each individual using the wisdom of Five Element acupuncture and Chinese medicine, with the goal of guiding her patients to wellness through acupuncture, education, and self-discovery.
Sophia’s European Salon
Locals love the cozy space, European products, and massaging bodysuit offered during their bespoke services at this sweet shop. Owner and esthetician Sophia Everett consults with clients to design a program based on their individual needs, from helping teens battle acne to applying permanent makeup. Custom facials include alpha lifting, oxygen, and vitamin treatments, microdermabrasion, and self-heating and cooling masks.
Sirin Massage
The shared space of two independent island massage practitioners with specialties in injury rehabilitation and pain relief, Sirin highlights the cooperative spirit of Mercer Island. Both Erin Hardy and Joy Dunning offer deep tissue and sports massages, with Dunning also doing cupping. Recommended for those with active lifestyles as well as those who suffer from injury or chronic pain, SIRIN’s services focus on relieving discomfort, preventing future injury, and restoring mind-body balance.
Yogabliss
Helping islanders “find their bliss” since 2003, Yogabliss recently moved to its new home to the Mercer Island Community & Event Center. The yoga and meditation studio offers a full slate of in-person and virtual classes and workshops, including meditation classes and sound bath sessions. Mindfulness Meditation provides a 20-minute introduction to meditating with a post-class discussion, while Moving into Meditation incorporates yoga postures and time for sharing. The sound bath sessions utilize sound and vibration to induce relaxation, leaving participants feeling mentally and physically calmer and sleeping better. Yogabliss also offers retreats as “an invitation to step away from your daily routine – to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and remember what matters,” which take place as mini-retreats locally and seasonal getaway retreats, often long weekends of yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation in beautiful, natural settings in the Pacific Northwest.
