The Good Life: Glow On

For blushing-bride skin, head to Phoenix Salon and Spa

While my upcoming wedding (120 days and counting!) hasn't exactly turned me into a shameless Bridezilla, it has made me an obsessive Alpha Hydroxy Acid Peel devotee. Since September, I've been visiting Ali Tepper, my

While my upcoming wedding (120 days and counting!) hasn't exactly turned me into a shameless Bridezilla, it has made me an obsessive Alpha Hydroxy Acid Peel devotee. Since September, I've been visiting Ali Tepper, my hero / facialist / 2006 Best of Philly winner, at Phoenix Salon and Spa once a month. This month, though, Ali took one look at my stressed-out skin and decided to up the ante with a 60-minute, $125 Vibraderm session.

The treatment sounds medieval — picture a cold, rotating disk that emits a noise similar to, oh, a dentist's drill applied to your face. And while it's not exactly fun, it is functional (and actually tickles a bit). Its goal is to “sand off the top layers of skin,” according to Ali — and it has the supposed advantage over microdermabrasion of being safer for sensitive skin and leaving your face rejuvenated, retextured and more receptive to other topical treatments. It can also lighten old acne scars and even out tone.

For a day after my treatment, my skin was read and blotchy; by day two, I woke up with smoother, fresher skin that soaked up the tons of free sample masks I got. Three days later, the peeling stopped, the rednesses was totally gone and I was officially hooked. Good thing I still have four more months (and counting!) for additional treatments, because Ali recommend a package of six of them.

Phoenix Salon & Spa, 1600 Arch Street, 267-514-8000; phoenixsalonspa.com.