Spring is here and it’s time to put away your sweaters, wash your windows and sweep the patio. While it’s important to freshen up and reorganize in and around the house, remember also to take care of yourself. Chase away the effects of a long winter by focusing on looking and feeling your best.

Massages
Start with a therapeutic massage, which has a wide range of benefits, from relieving stress and tension to increasing blood and lymphatic circulation. It also helps with managing pain and reducing the chance of injury. A massage can be as short as 10 minutes for the neck and shoulders to 90 minutes for the full body.

Make sure you see a licensed massage therapist (LMT) – LMTs are licensed by the State of Ohio Medical Board and have more than 750 hours of training and testing.

When you make an appointment, describe your aches and pains so that you are paired with the best massage therapist for your needs. Scott Urban, regional developer for the national chain Massage Envy, says to be specific about your needs, such as whether you prefer a male or female LMT and whether you are interested in primarily relaxation or relief from a medical condition.

“Twenty-one percent of our guests have never had a massage and we want to make them feel as comfortable as possible,” Urban says. “We customize the massage for each individual.”

Remember, when getting a massage, you are the one being pampered, so ask for more or less pressure, or more focus on your neck, back or other problem areas. Therapists can adjust the table temperature, volume of the music, and softness of the lights.

Your modesty is protected at all times. Undress to your comfort level. An LMT will never be in the room while you dress or undress, and will only uncover the part of your body that is being worked on. Also, a growing number of health insurance plans are recognizing the benefits of massage therapy, so check with your provider to see what they cover.

Biggest Mistake: Being nervous about getting a massage or thinking it isn’t worth the money.

Biggest Tip: Speak up! You control your massage treatment, so ask for what you need to improve your overall wellness.

Facials
It’s the perfect time to try a hydrating facial designed to cleanse, purify and heal your skin after months of cold weather. Visit a licensed esthetician who can give you a proper skin consult and assess your needs. They also can determine which toner, cleanser, exfoliate, masque, and lotions will best feed nutrients into your skin. The result will be soft, smooth, younger-looking skin.

Allie Sutliff, licensed esthetician at the Charles Penzone Grand Salon, in Gahanna, compares our skin to a grape: “If you take the moisture out of a grape, it turns to a raisin. We want to nourish that raisin to look like a grape again.” Other benefits of a facial include evening out skin tone, minimizing pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and improving the surface or texture of the skin.

Sutliff recommends the Papaya Facial, which is aggressive yet gentle enough for sensitive skin. It includes a deep papaya cleansing to penetrate the skin and remove impurities. Next, an exfoliating papaya masque eliminates dead skin cells. A relaxing neck, shoulder and face massage is followed by a cooling geloide masque. The Grand Salon also offers a Pumpkin Peel facial with different percentages of glycolic that help leave skin feeling flawless.

Some spas use raspberry enzymes, pineapple extract, honey, green tea, champagne oil, grapes and more to help replenish your skin. There are facials for teens that offer blemish relief and facials specifically designed for men to alleviate shaving bumps and skin irritation. An esthetician can customize your facial and help to solve your skin problems.

It’s also important to drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins in your body. Stick to a healthy diet and take a multivitamin. Use topical Vitamin C to help repair skin cells. Wear a moisturizer with SPF and limit your sun exposure, which is responsible for 90 percent of your aging appearance. Finally, good follow-up equals good results. Be diligent about your skin care at home and get a thorough, purifying facial every six weeks.

Biggest Mistake: Using the wrong cleanser. Consult to find a glycolic cleanser that suits your oily or dry skin.

Biggest Tip: Use a moisturizer with SPF to protect against the UVA rays that are harmful, even on a cloudy Ohio day.

Manicures and Pedicures
It’s time to break out the sleeveless tops and sandals, and that means paying more attention to your fingers and toes. Manicures and pedicures are hydrating and usually include an exfoliation, a paraffin wax dip and a hand/arm or foot/leg massage. At the Nicci Debro Spa, in Columbus, they add enticing fragrances to their lotions, water and exfoliate. “Guests have their choice of aromas, including lavender, sage or green tea mint, to enhance their spa experience,” Debro says.

And believe it or not, there are “in” styles for nails. A short-ish nail, cut straight across the top with rounded edges, is a very popular look now. On the West Coast, natural or nude colors are fashionable, while on the East Coast, jewel tones and edgy, dark colors are trendy. The newest OPI India collection is very hot, with deep colors and fun names such as, “I’m India Mood for Love,” and “Yoga-ta Get this Blue.”

Like your car, your body needs a good tune up every now and then. Make a conscious effort to take care of your body, rid yourself of tension and look your best.

Colleen D’Angelo is a contributing writer for CityScene.