The Belladonna Day Spa and Retail Therapy

Posted by Elaine Moore Sep 15, 2008

Strolling down Magazine Street in New Orleans last week, a sign for Retail Therapy at the enchanting Belladonna Day Spa caught my eye.

Considering that the 2 S’s: Spas and Shopping are my favorite forms of therapy, I stepped inside. With a distinct New Orleans flavor to its Zen-like setting, the holistic atmosphere of the Belladonna Day Spa was just what I needed after feeling wilted from the heat. Explaining the obvious, that I was a visitor to NOLA, I was invited to look around. The Day Spa’s finest feature is the lush indoor//outdoor Tranquility Garden at the back of the spa. I’ll definitely be booking a late day outdoor massage on my next trip to New Orleans.

Without an appointment, I was able to get a pedicure with only a 15-minute wait, just enough time for a shot of retail therapy. My French pedicure was money well spent. The therapist massaged my feet and legs as I sipped sparkling wine. All traces of the plantar fasciitis, a chronic condition of heel pain that flares when I’m pounding cement, instantly vanished. While my nails dried I kept admiring my feet, which suddenly looked younger and healthier.

As for the retail therapy, the spa’s owner, Kim Dudek, has created a line of skin products especially designed to cope with the high humidity of New Orleans. Dudek uses pure essential oils, natural emollients and active botanicals in her products. Since I live in a dry climate I passed on this line. Instead I fell I love with Belladonna’s unique tableware. Discovering they shipped, I snatched a brochure for my Christmas list.