Cassandra Marinez, and her husband, Jordan, purchased Life Essentials Day Spa in December 2018. (Photo by John F. Russell)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Since Cassandra Marinez bought the Life Essentials Day Spa last month, she’s been hard at work bringing her own personal touch to the spa that has been offering services in downtown Steamboat Springs for more than 15 years.

“I want it to be more personal,” Marinez said. “I guess I want it to be more than just a spa where people come in and buy a massage.”

Marinez, who worked in the hair and makeup industry in California before coming to Steamboat eight years ago, left her job as a manager at Mambo last spring to see if Life Essentials was the right fit. She purchased the business with her husband, Jordan, from Pam Peretz in December.

“I couldn’t get away from the calling of hair, makeup and beauty, “ said Marinez, who worked for years in California doing hair and makeup for film, television and music videos. “The part that really gives me satisfaction comes when you see that a customer feels better about themselves, feels better in their body, when they leave the spa.”

The spa will continue to offer massages, facials, eyelashes and brows and spa products including makeup, skincare and now a full lineup of CBD products. Marinez will be adding haircuts, blowouts and makeup to the list of spa services.

“The biggest change is that we will be focusing a little more on locals,” Marinez said. “One of my biggest goals is really trying to give back to the people who live here, not just part time, but full time. I want to do something for them.”

The new owners now offer a loyalty program where customers who purchase five services at regular price will get the sixth half off, and a locals discount is also being offered.

Marinez also bought a medical-grade infrared sauna that can accommodate four to five people, and she has also introduced an ion foot cleanse and a massage chair treatment. She said these services are especially good for those dealing with the impacts of cancer.

“It was important to me because my mom had breast cancer, and one of the benefits of the infrared sauna and the ion foot cleanse that we do here is detoxing their bodies to get all those bad toxins that come from chemo, or radiation out,” Marinez said.

The new owner also sees other benefits to a day at the spa.

“Hair, makeup and massage and making people feel better inside has a positive effect,” Marinez said. “Whether it is putting makeup on somebody that has cancer or getting a wig for somebody that doesn’t have hair, it is a way to connect with people, and for me, that is something that has been really important.”

Life Essentials Day Spa is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sundays by appointment.

“I’ve always been really big into caring for people,” Marinez said. “It’s kind of my thing, and this is my way of giving back and helping people.”

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966.