Day spas are meant to relax and whisk away clients, but not many manage to be the authentic escape that is Spa Adriana. Over the course of 25 years in business in Huntington, New York, owners John and Adriana Vater have created a Mayan-themed spa using museum-quality replicas of artwork found in the Yucatan. In the mid-’80s, the couple often traveled to the Yucatan to visit the beach. On one of their trips, Hurricane Gilbert hit. They drove inland to escape the damage and were there for nine extra days. With their free time, they visited Mayan ruins, including one site called Uxmal. “There was no one there except for one couple measuring the side of a building and drawing. We started talking with them and found out they were archaeologists doing restoration work,” says John. Luis Echeverria and his wife, Lourdes, eventually became good friends with the Vaters, and introduced them to others in the archaeology community there. Now, more than 20 years later, the Vaters make three or four trips to the region each year. Three years ago, with friends from the area, they also started an eco-tourism business.

Closer to home, the Vaters are strongly involved in their community, with their salon and spa residing on the same street in the same town for all 25 years of business. “I used to have an advertising business, and we looked at market research that showed how thriving communities did well. In those communities, a dollar would change hands eight times before leaving and going elsewhere. In less successful communities, it would change hands two to three times,” explains John. They’ve focused on helping to maintain the wealth within their own community by doing business with friends and neighbors when they’ve expanded and remodeled, and supporting local initiatives and non-profits. The approach worked in more than one way—in addition to a bustling main street location, the salon and spa has a loyal following. “Anyone who expects to run a successful business, but doesn’t take care of their community, won’t have a successful business,” says John. “We’re very blessed at this point in our lives—that we have the time and energy to put into this type of work and give back.”

Info

Therapist: Christine Lee, spa educator for Aveda
Spa: Spa Adriana, Huntington, New York
Products: Aveda
Snapshot: This signature treatment is designed to target skin discoloration with a plant-powered brightening blend.
Contraindications: None
Duration: 60 minutes or 90 minutes (incorporating full foot reflexology treatment)
Price: $130-$195

Recommended Home Care:

Morning: Brightening Cleanser, Brightening Treatment Toner, Brightening Correcting Serum, Brightening Correcting Lotion, Aveda SPF. Evening: Brightening Cleanser, Brightening Treatment Toner, Brightening Correcting Serum, Brightening Correcting Crème.

Lighten and Brighten

The new Enbrightenment line from Aveda is a four-step daily regimen, plus twice-weekly masque, that helps diminish the appearance of dark spots and discoloration and improve skin’s clarity. It helps reduce the appearance of existing dark spots by breaking them down, prevent new dark spots and discoloration with antioxidants, and illuminates with a proprietary, plant-derived Skin Brightening Blend. The six-piece line is comprised of Enbrightenment Brightening Cleanser, Treatment Toner, Correcting Serum, Correcting Lotion, Correcting Crème and Intensive Massage Masque. For more information on the products, visit www.aveda.com.