Haute Spa: New Pumpkin Facial at SpaHalekulani

I was already having a rough day.

Sat in traffic for an hour. Computer crashed at work. Meeting pushed into my beloved lunch break — and I still hadn’t eaten.

So when I finally sat down and took a deep breath, it was on the lanai of SpaHalekulani, the award-winning spa at the luxurious Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki.

It wasn’t a bad place to end my workday.

I was here for the spa’s new seasonal facial, the very gentle Pumpkin Apple Peel Facial, which uses a natural blend of pumpkin extract and malic acid from apples.

The treatment started with the spa’s signature food pounding ritual done on the outdoor lanai. Your feet are wrapped in fragrant hot towels, then gently tapped with hand-woven coconut branches and finished with a lightly scented mist.

Next, I went into the softly lit treatment room for my facial, which started with an herbal cleanser and scrub. After that, the therapist applied the pumpkin enzyme mask, which is used to address the appearance of acne, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps in normalizing oil production, reducing pore size and protecting the skin from free radical damage — as well as smell exactly like pumpkin pie. Bonus!

But this was more than just a facial.

At every stage — from the pumpkin apple peel to the aloe moisturizer that was applied after — the therapist massaged some part of my aching body, from my tense shoulders to my over-worked hands to my tired feet. It was exactly what I needed after my stressful day at work.

The treatment ended where it started — on the outdoor lanai, this time with hot pumpkin spice tea, coconut cookies and the sound of the Pacific Ocean lapping the shore.

The Pumpkin Apple Peel Facial costs $190 and is available now through the end of November. To book one, call (808) 931-5322.

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