Pay R150 for a Garra Rufa Fish Pedicure and a foot massage at Beauty Intelligence, valued at R430 (save 65%)

Life is all about new experiences.  Having a drink (even if it’s water) at Oktoberfest, swimming with dolphins or eating Jellied Eel at a stall in London are all the kind of things that everyone should do at some point. An appointment with the Dr. Fish is another. Add a Garra Rufa Fish Pedicure and foot massage to your bucket list at Beauty Intelligence for R150.

With the popularity of high-heels, patent leather and other stylish yet constrictive footwear on the market these days, it’s no wonder feet sometimes feel the need to stage a protest in the form of dry skin, cracked heels and nails you wouldn’t want to show off in flip-flops. The trained therapists at Beauty Intelligence are highly skilled in quashing this kind of rebellion. The trendy, upmarket spa in Pretoria’s Lynwood Bridge Centre sports masterfully skilled, highly trained therapists and the latest international trends in beauty care, like the use of Garra Rufa in their pedicures.

You’re probably wondering what a Garra Rufa is and why in the world you’d want to let it go near your feet. Affectionately referred to as the nibble fish, Garra Rufa are nature’s own exfoliators. Often naturally found in the outdoor pools of Turkish spas, the nibble fish literally nibbles the dead, dry or otherwise unhealthy skin, leaving the healthy skin free to breathe the fresh air, unburdened of the hundreds of dead cells weighing it down. They’re also really cute, often being smaller than your average chocolate bar.

After 20 minutes of having your feet painlessly nibbled on by a pool of little dermatologists, the newly liberated skin will be cleaned and moisturized while your nails are clipped and buffed and polished till they shine like little stars. When the more technical side of the treatment is completed, a relaxing foot-massage will ensure that you leave the spa feeling like you’re walking on non-stick candy-floss.

With your tootsies feeling pampered and rendered docile, they’ll be happy for their close-up in whatever peep-toed boots you decided to put them in.

Spa Therapy Fact: Local bottle factories often sell their faulty twisty-straws to beauty-product manufactures to be melted down and made into nail files, toe-spreaders and sometimes, even nail polish.