LIZZY WARNER
Gargoyle assistant editor
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007

JUST RECENTLY I was able to experience one of the most relaxing afternoons I've had in a long time.

After basketball practice I changed from my gross sweaty workout clothes into flip-flops, jeans, and a jacket and made my way to Hada Cosmetic Medicine Center, located on 1 E. Main St. in Champaign, next to the Jim Gould and Kofusion restaurants.

I didn't really know what I was in for. I was hungry and tired from practice.

Walking into the well-lit and warmly decorated lobby, I took a seat on the comfy couch. There weren't really any other people there so it didn't seem crowded. There were tables of makeup and hallways with closed doors.

The three pretty women who worked there greeted me, telling me about what pretty skin I had and how I needed to take care of it at a young age: I should wear hats and sunglasses and have generally minimal exposure to the sun.

Eventually I was led into a backroom. It was small, and the only light was coming from the scented candles beautifully arranged on the small tables. It was perfectly warm, and the lady who had led me in asked that I take off my clothes and slip on a towel-like robe.

She left the room and I put on the robe and scuddled under the covers of the table/bed provided. It was heated and warmed my back in just the right places, especially where my muscles were the most tense. You know, those places you can never really properly reach on your back? And on top of that I was under possibly the fuzziest, most comfortable blanket ever and there were peaceful ocean sounds playing in a corner.

HADA COSMETIC MEDICINE CENTER

• Location: Suite 103, 1 E. Main St., Champaign
• Regular hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday
• Extended holiday hours: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday thru Thursday until Dec. 20
• About Hada: In a spa-like setting using nonsurgical treatments, a staff of physicians, nurses, and aestheticians specializes in helping clients maintain healthy, radiant skin
• Is it for you? Males and females are both welcome, and — as Lizzy found out — teens are not too young to benefit
• For more info: Click here
• Phone: (217) 693-4400

The lady left me alone in the room for a bit. It was so relaxing and the smells of the candles were extremely soothing. I felt as though I wanted to fall asleep before she even came back into the room!

A couple of minutes later she did come back, though, and sat directly behind my head. She started off by rubbing this electric soft brush on my face that apparently, in some way, minimizes pores. I closed my eyes but managed to stay awake.

After the brush she used an assortment of different lotions and moisturizers to cleanse my face and make my skin look more hydrated. She noted where I should focus on moisturizing more, and as she rubbed everything into my face she used her thumbs and the palms of her hand to give the closest thing to a face massage that I can think of.

She finished off with giving me a face mask and a head-and-shoulder massage. She worked her way from the top of my head to massaging my temples and eventually down to my shoulders and upper back. I wasn’t thinking or paying attention at all, and shockingly enough I actually was pretty relaxed considering I hadn’t eaten or even begun my homework.

The lady told me to get dressed and meet her in the lobby near all the makeup tables — although I was in such a state of bliss that I didn’t exactly hear what she said. I heard her say something then leave, and I decided to just stay in the warm cozy table/bed. Eventually she had to come back into the room to see what was taking me so long and embarrassingly enough I hadn’t even begun to get dressed.

I hurried as fast as I could and met her out in the lobby. She showed me some of their makeup products and lined my eyes in a pretty, shimmering blue. She also applied light foundation and did the rest of my eye makeup. Although I told her I wasn’t interested in buying anything at that moment, she still went in the back and got me an entire bagful of sample products, including the makeup and moisturizers she’d showed me.

Before leaving, I talked with her and the other ladies about everything from skin to school to visiting foreign countries. It was well worth my time and really helped me to relax and de-stress.

It seems to me that all Uni students could use a little less stress in their lives, and this place was relatively inexpensive (about $75) for the amount of relief it provided. The staff members were also extremely friendly, even though I was younger than most of their clients.

Even better: For the holiday season Hada is extending its hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday until Dec. 20. Its normal hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday.

I think we should recognize that there are actually alternatives to relaxing aside from eating a really nice pint of ice cream or taking a nap in the middle of class — and we could all use a little less stress in our lives!

[Note: This article was updated on Dec. 12 to include the price of Lizzy's session (about $75). This was in response to Michelle Gao's comment below.]