Directory.(spas)(Directory)

Bare and Bronzed

Get ready for summer, in the best spas from SoHo to San Francisco.

you will increase blood flow, aid the nervous system, and let your pores breathe." We'd heard those dubious claims before, so we weren't about to hold our breath for such a transformation. But we soon learned that Suzanne wasn't full of hot air and empty promises. The minute she drenched our body with lemon, lime, and orange essential oils, we were putty in her hands. A refreshing Vichy shower rinsed us off, and we were polished with a lightweight moisturizer. Indeed, we felt calmer, and our skin had a noticeable sheen that we had never seen before. The skin may be the largest organ, but when this feel-good treatment came to an end, our only regret was that we didn't have more of it. California Citrus Polish, $90.

LOS ANGELES Spa 415 415 N. Crescent Dr. 310-276-8018 When we booked the Lymphatic Drainage Body treatment, we knew it was official: We're gluttons for punishment. The owner touted it as an alternative to liposuction, saying it would eliminate toxins and tighten flab. The treatment came in two parts: something they called "Vacuomobilization," to suction the surface of the thighs and smooth out the skin, and "Pressotherapy," to tone. While the Vacuomobilization just plain sucked (imagine being pinched repeatedly by big rubber suction cups), the Pressotherapy was surprisingly invigorating: Warm boots tightened around our legs (like a blood-pressure cuff on the arm), and we immediately felt our circulation buzzing. We didn't lose inches (that takes up to five ...