Forget the dramatic alpine scenery, the turquoise glacial lakes and premier outdoor recreation - travellers have a new reason to head to Banff.
Icelandair has created what they're calling the World Natural Beauty Index and, according to them, Banff is the best place to be to give your outside some inner love.
"Our skin is a living organ that is constantly reacting to its surroundings," said Bella von Nesselrode, a certified herbalist who worked with Icelandair on the index.
"The key is that a good skin-cation isn’t simply about finding the most humid or warmest destination. The ideal environment is one that reduces environmental stressors while also offering opportunities for thermal bathing, nature and recovery."
To come up with the list, the airline compared places around the world, looking at PM2.5 levels (air pollution), humidity, average temperature, wind speed, access to spas and thermal baths, and local water types and mineral composition.
Banff takes the top spot with an index score of 7.48/10, thanks to its low air pollution levels, cooler average temperatures, and mineral-rich waters.
Rounding out the top five:
- Colorado Springs, US - 7.43/10 for its abundance of spas and bathing options, an average humidity of 42% and it's carbonated bicarbonate mineral waters;
- Budapest, Hungary - 7.33/10 for its 221 spas, its mineral thermal waters and low pollution levels;
- Bormio, Italy - 6.97/10 for its gentle average wind speeds of 8 kph, cool average temperatures and those lovely calcium-sulphate hot springs, and;
- Rotorua, New Zealand - 6.8/10 for its sulphurous volcanic thermal waters, 27 spa and mild average temperatures of 12.8C.
Since this is from Icelandair, where is Reykjavik on the list?
It comes in at No. 9 with a score of 6.52/10, but the airline noted it had the lowest levels of air pollution out of the Top 10.
Is a 'skincation' really a thing?
Sort of. Advisors might consider it a subsection of the wellness travel industry and the whole "glowcation" trend, as noted by Booking.com earlier this year.
It goes beyond facials and massages. Now, it's about highly personalized, technology-driven experiences designed to not only make you feel relaxed, but look relaxed too. Skin-specific treatments like thermal waters and microbiome mapping. Ways to combat jet lag like body-movement analysis and personalized exercise routines. Sleep optimization with circadian lighting and soundscapes. Throw in some mindfulness, and you've got yourself a glow-up.
Still, it's another way to promote one of Canada's most beautiful destinations.
