Eviama Life Spa got into the spirit of Beer Week with the Bee Beerly Package - 85 peaceful minutes of de-stressing, with a beer-ingredient twist. For the treatment, Eviama owner Penny Ordway created an exfoliating scrub that uses malted barley.

“It’s like this plant is a miracle,” Ordway says about barley. “It’s a pharmacy within a plant.” Malted barley contains the antioxidant selenium that protects cells from damage and improves skin tone. It’s also rich in minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium and copper that Ordway says helps with the development of cell walls. And a host of B Vitamins in the grain is great for relieving stress.

In order for the body to get the most benefit from the scrub that also contains Himalayan sea salts, Jojoba oil, local raw honey and a few proprietary herbs, it’s applied to a large area of the body – the back and arms.

The service is wonderful. I experienced it first hand. I entered Eviama in a crazy, stressful state. Traffic was bad. The parking garage was backed up. I was late. I hate being late. I really needed something to de-stress me.

The Bee Beerly treatment did the trick. First, hot compresses were applied to my skin to get it to a state where it could receive the benefits of the malted barley scrub. Then, the scrub was applied rhythmically to my back and arms, exfoliating the skin while the benefits of the ingredients sank in. Finally, more warm compresses were used to remove the scrub.

The de-stressing and relaxation didn’t end there. The scrub was followed by an aromatherapy massage on the back and neck. By the end of the 85 minutes, I was relaxed and calm.

Ordway worked on the scrub for three months to come up with the right blend of ingredients. She tried incorporating hops also, but she was never able to create a scrub with hops that didn’t smell like something “that came from a barn.”

The Bee Beerly Scrub debuted during Beer Week, and it’s being added to the menu of services at the tranquil Eviama Life Spa. The service is $175 for 85 minutes. For Father’s Day, they’re offering $25 off the service if you schedule it for Dad during June. You can also come in and buy Dad a gift certificate for the service and receive the $25 discount.

When Dad is done his relaxing Bee Beerly Scrub and massage, he can head out to one of the many bars and restaurants around Eviama and grab a beer to keep the malted barley benefits flowing.

Eviama Life Spa, 109 S 13th St., 2nd Floor Courtyard; 215-545-3344

Photo by Robin Shreeves