REVIEW: Bellagio Nails & Spa

970 Monument Way, 2nd Floor  |  Pacific Palisades, CA 90272  |  (310) 454-8841

We are more conscientious about the food we consume these days than probably ever before. We buy from our local growers at Farmer’s Markets whenever possible, receive weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) deliveries and shell out extra money for organic products despite the rising cost of groceries. Isn’t it time the concern for what we put in our bodies carries over into what we put on our bodies? The good people at Bellagio Nails & Spa believe it is. Their new “Organic Manicure and Pedicure” nail treatments are a testament to health and wellness.

If you Google “chemicals in nail salons” the first link to appear is Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) list of health hazards in nail salons. While it refers to those actually working in the salon who are at a greater risk for exposure, it goes on to provide an extensive list of chemicals found in common products such as polishes and removers.

OSHA has a recommendation to ensure safety for workers – which is effectively better for consumers and workers alike when all is said and done – “Choose Safer Products and Read about the Products Being Used.”

The “Toxic Trio” (toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate), as they are commonly known, is frequently found in nail lacquers, including basecoats and topcoats. Bellagio is currently offering Zoya and Morgan Taylor nail polishes for their organic nail treatments. Both are professional high-fashion brands that pride themselves on natural ingredients.

Taking into account our wellbeing, Bellagio Nails & Spa hasn’t stopped at organic nail treatments. Their approach to hygiene – no nasty nail funguses lurking here – has been addressed from the steam sterilization of tools in a fancy “Autoclave” machine to plastic bags coating water basins in spa chairs.

In their new location they have even found a solution to combat the toxic smells and dust often circulating in the air. An exhaust system has been installed to push out the bad air and filter in fresh air. As OSHA states on their website, “Ventilation is the best way to lower the level of chemicals in a salon!” Additionally, in my experience, the doors are always open, which adds to the ambiance and relaxation of the salon. An ocean breeze moves through the salon like the Mistral in the South of France.

As I took my seat in the luxurious state-of-the-art spa chair, I felt immediately relaxed and cared for. Since I didn’t have to fight for parking – Bellagio offers free parking downstairs – it was easy to unwind. I handed my lacquer selections to nail technicians Cathy and Michelle and with that the pampering began.

Out with the old and in with the new – Karma Naturals polish remover erased the last mani/pedi. Butyl acetate and acetone are key ingredients in most nail polish removers. Bellagio has replaced the need for those chemicals, which are known to leave your nails dry and brittle, with moisturizing and nourishing soybean, Tea Tree and lavender essential oils. Ordinarily, this is an unpleasant smelling step in the process, but it was definitely not the case this time around.

Next a “Wild Orchid” organic sugar scrub was massaged onto my arms, hands, legs and feet in circular motions to remove dead skin. A nail buff and file were removed from a sealed cellophane bag. This is provided to every client, no matter the treatment they have selected. As my nails and cuticles were configured into perfect shapes (I know rounded nails are all the rage, however I still prefer square with rounded corners), my arms and legs were covered with warm towels to allow the moisture from the scrub do its magic. I felt myself sink into a meditative state. The scrub and dead skin, were then removed with warm damp towels.

As though my arms and hands weren’t already soft enough, a curiously squishy sensation took the pursuit of supple skin to the next level. I’ve experienced paraffin treatments in other spas, but they cannot compare. This was more than a quick dip in a tub filled with wax. My hands were carefully enveloped in soft, warm organic paraffin-filled bags and left to “marinate” until the wax cooled. Paraffin wax has a low melting point, ensuring safe immersion of the skin for extended periods of time. Wax is the ideal moisturizer because it forms a light waterproof coating, which helps retain natural oils and protects from the elements. In this very dry corner of the world it is exactly what we need. The bags and wax were carefully slipped off my hands with a satisfying suction sensation.

The final step before my nails were painted involved a prolonged massage with a lavender organic moisturizer. As you can imagine I was feeling pretty pampered by this point. My hands and feet looked and felt great even before the application of bright pink and “natural” pink lacquer.

I would say my nails never looked better if Bellagio wasn’t already part of my ongoing beauty maintenance program. What I can say is the Organic Nail service took that regimen to the next level. I felt better knowing Cathy and Michelle weren’t breathing in toxins, while, luxury aside, a natural approach to beauty had been achieved. For the next three months, Bellagio invites you to experience a natural approach to beauty at a discounted rate. The Organic Manicure and Pedicure can be enjoyed for $52.