{review} A Spa Day with Elizabeth Arden

 The Red Door provided this service for free in exchange for a review. My opinions have not been  influenced by this generous gift.

I was recently given the opportunity to visit The Red Door spa at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT to try out their 50 Minute Signature Massage. The official description for the massage is: This guest favorite incorporates essences of shea butter cream, facial acupressure and foot reflexology for head to toe balance and relaxation.

The Red Door offers everything from facials, massage and body treatments to nail care, hair design, make up artistry and more. I will definitely look forward to trying some of their other services in the future. The moment you walk in the spa the relaxation begins. 

I was a little nervous since I've only ever received massages from my Aunt in her home office (and once while on vacation in Santorini.) I was immediately put at ease upon entering The Red Door.  I arrived 30 minutes early, as the website suggests, to start relaxing before my massage.

You get a robe and sandals to start feeling fully pampered. Soft music also plays in all the rooms and there is complimentary water (and apples!) in the relaxation room. Little touches like this are always helpful when you need to unwind.

I have chronic back pain thanks to gymnastics so I get massages from my aunt once a month. I made sure to let my massage therapist Kat know about my back pain before we started so she knew to spend a little more time there. Kat explained the process of the massage before we began letting me know that she would be spraying an olive oil body spray before applying lotion for my massage. She also said that at different points in the massage heated towels would be applied, which was a great touch on my back, feet and neck.

She made sure to check up on me at different points during the massage to ask if the pressure was okay and if I was feeling any pain.  The massage started on my back, then we moved to arms, legs and feet all while laying on my stomach.  We ended that portion with a foot reflexology massage. After that I flipped over for some more arm and leg work followed by a short facial massage.  One of my favorite parts of the massage was the aromatherapy Kat put near the head cradle so while I breathed I had some lavender and other scents to help me relax even more.

You can book your own appointment via their website or if you want to gift someone one of their many services, head to their gift page where you can purchase a gift card (in a dollar amount,) a gift certificate (for a specific service) or a Red Door membership. Be sure to check out their current promotions as well!

A few more photos from the day.

Founded by day spa pioneer Elizabeth Arden, The Red Door offers award-winning signature services, enhanced specialty treatments and beauty and wellness recommendations, including everything from facials, massage and body treatments to nail care, hair design, make up artistry and more. Importantly, The Red Door provides guests with a unique and unforgettable experience, delivering the highest level of technical expertise and impeccable guest service. With the belief that beauty and wellness work in harmony to make lives better, The Red Door continues to expand, innovate and serve as a leader within the day spa industry.