Elle Magazine Partners With the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach to Open the World's First Elle Spa

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In the ever-expanding stable of Elle magazine's extra-curricular projects and licenses—including the brand's massive clothing label sold throughout Europe and Asia, Joe Zee's Sundance show All On The Line (and all of Elle's television projects that preceded it)—we never imagined the magazine would make waves in the luxury beauty industry. But, with the grand opening of the first-ever Elle Spa at the Eden Roc Resort on Miami Beach last week, it has. And, boy are we excited about it.

In an unprecedented collaboration between a glossy fashion magazine and a luxury resort, Elle has teamed up with the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach to open a 22,000 square foot space—designed to channel the spirit of the Mediterranean with its high-coved ceilings, lush greenery, natural stone finishing, and quiet-and-privacy-enhancing layout, a series of secluded treatment rooms and softly lit corridors.

“The Elle Spa is unique because it's an innovative combination of fashion, beauty, health and wellness represented by the world's number one fashion magazine in a luxury destination on Miami Beach," says David Siguaw, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Eden Roc.

Guests can spend hours luxuriating in the spa's facilities—without even scheduling an appointment. There are ample relaxation rooms—the largest of which overlooks one of the resort's pools and carefully manicured gardens—separate men's and women's wet spas, with hot whirlpools and cold plunge pools, steam saunas, and special hydro-experience showers.

But the real stars of the Elle Spa show are the incredible treatments. The powers that be treated us to two while we we were in town last week—the Dead Sea Detoxifier ($200) and the Elle Spa Signature Facial ($325). In our professional lives, we've experienced a whole lot of facials and detoxifying spa treatments all over the world, and, to be honest, there are less than a handful we'd gladly revisit and pay for again.

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Fact: Elle Spa's really blew us out of the water. That $325 facial is a worthwhile splurge, truth. Our skin, which has been ravaged over the course of this very-humid, very-hot, very-icky New York City spring looked shockingly different, about 100 times better afterwards—poreless, even-toned, glowing, sparkling clean. You know how you know you've had a great facial? When you feel like you might never have to wear makeup again? Yeah, that's how we looked after Elle's signature facial.

No surprise, really. Think about it, this is a spa designed by some of the top beauty editors in the world—editors who've been to every luxury spa on earth and tried all the best treatments in the world. A big part of any fashion or beauty editor's job is to figure out what's wrong with stuff—find every bump, single out every nit-picky detail—and make sure they don't mislead their readers and, in turn, compromise their publication's reputation. When you have someone who's acutely aware of other luxury spa's pitfalls designing a spa and its menu of services, you're likely going to wind up with near-perfect results. Or at least, get really really close.

The Signature Facial is a 90 minute treatment designed exclusively for the Elle Spa flagship by one of the industry's leading beauty experts, Tammy Fender (who's available for appointments by special arrangement). For much of the hour-and-a-half, you have two therapists working on you—one giving you the most relaxing reflexology foot massage ever and the other working on your face. The facial uses a series of essential oils and masks filled with good-for-you vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals as well as oxygen therapy and gentle massage techniques to hydrate, lift, and illuminate your complexion.

Our other Elle Spa indulgence was the Dead Sea Detoxifier. Usually, we're not really ones for exfoliating/mud wrap treatments—probably because we had one years ago at a spa-that-shall-not-be-named and it was so brusque and clinical that as soon as the last foil went on, we had a little bit of a claustrophobic breakdown and demanded to be unwrapped and set free immediately. It wasn't our finest moment.

Still, we chin-upped and braved the Dead Sea treatment, which started with a thorough sea salt scrub, followed with a warm Dead Sea mineral mud wrap, and ended with a nutrient-rich cream massage. It was pretty much heaven—and we loved our giant treatment room (bigger than many NYC apartments, honestly) which came complete with a giant dual-head shower stall and soaking tub. Pretty much heaven.

Some of the other brilliant treatments on offer include the Red Flower Detoxifying Hammam Ritual ($300), designed exclusively for this location by Red Flower founder Yael Alkalay, specialized facials for men ($145), anti-acne treatments, and, of course, the signature mani ($55) and pedi ($80), for which Essie designed two exclusive new colors—a signature sherbet orange and hot pink, called "Eden" and "Roc" after the resort.

PS: The spa has only been open a few days, but word travels fast. On the very first day, when we were hanging out in the relaxation room, a therapist came in looking for actress Jamie King, who had an appointment. We also spotted Joy Bryant on the beach, just steps away from the spa. So, come for a facial and leave with some celeb-sightings...
· Elle Spa [Eden Roc Miami Beach]
· Eden Roc Miami Beach [Official Site]