Shimmer Spa offers custom services and on-trend looks so that men and women can put their best face and body forward

By Patricia Nugent

Having just celebrated its first anniversary with a tropical beach-themed celebration, the ladies at Shimmer Spa in Strongsville are keeping the sunny vibes going with a host of summery products and services.

From citrus jelly aromatherapy pedis to sunscreen specials, spa parties and savvy services to keep your skin glowing, this posh salon is feel-good central with come-to-the-rescue services for skin, nails, massage, waxing and hair.

Putting Your Best Face Forward
Owner Melanie Rongone is a licensed skincare cosmetologist and admits she’s fairly obsessed with helping people attain beautiful skin. She’s earned a reputation for custom-blending foundations that perfectly match your skin tone, texture and undertones.

“We add elements to the mix to help care for skin, whether it would benefit from oil control or hydration,” she says. “Then we create the desired finish, from dewy to matte. It’s personal preference, but, for aging skin, I feel a dewier finish helps mask wrinkles as it diffuses light.”

Here’s how it works: You come in for a one-hour consultation with an esthetician for $65. She’ll ask you questions and compare swatches to come up with the ideal makeup for your skin. After that, refills are $42.

Melanie can also prescribe a skincare regimen to bring out your most gorgeous skin. She only uses the top natural and organic products—Image Skincare and Nardos Natural—both in her facials and for at-home care.

Membership Has its Privileges
The spa has just introduced the Body Work Membership Program.

“For $60 per month, members can choose either a customized one-hour facial or 50-minute massage,” she says. “They get discounted upgrades for advanced treatments and also receive a subscription box filled with amazing travel-sized and full-sized products each month.”

Members fill out a little survey when they join, and the product selection is curated to them.

Showing a Little Skin
Melanie says that this time of year, in the height of tank-top and tankini season, people are getting body scrubs and back facials.

“We can perform microdermabrasion on the back to get rid of acne, clear up the pores and reduce scarring and inflammation,” she adds.

Nailing It
Sherwin-Williams named Naval, a regal navy blue, the 2020 color of the year. And blues are showing up on nails, too, from barely-there baby blue to courageous cobalt and come-hither periwinkle.

“A big trend is the ‘color palette’ effect, with differing shades of the same nail color on the same hand or foot,” says Melanie. “And people are getting more adventurous with nail art. We do a lot of freehand work, 3-D treatments, foils and gems. If you find a look you love on Pinterest, we can recreate it.”

The spa runs a special on mani-pedi packages all summer long.

“We do a ton of pedicures and cater to men, too,” she says. “We often opt for unisex scents in our products, such as sandalwood apple.”

Keeping Things Sterile and Safe
“Before we reopened in mid-May, we installed plexiglass barriers at the nail stations and rearranged furniture to create a safe social distancing space,” says Melanie. “Our everyday cleaning practices have always been above and beyond Ohio’s standards. We pressure steam sterilize our instruments using an autoclave machine and sanitize the stations.”

Staff members also wear protective face masks and are strictly following government protocols.

Shimmer Spa is located at 20884 Royalton Road in Strongsville. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 440-783-1473. You can book appointments online at ShimmerNaturalSpa.com. Join the loyalty program for discounts on products and services.