I attended the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles to support some friends and needed to figure out my version of getting ready for the night. I pondered what celebrities were doing to mentally and physically prepare. We’ve heard Bradley Cooper does cold plunges and Jeffrey Wright does a mix of Pilates and Gyrotonics. As a wellness seeker, I decided I was biohacking my way to the iconic Oscars ceremony.
I checked into the Fairmont Century Plaza, which has a storied history of hosting presidents, award shows, and music legends. The spa, at 14,000 square feet, is Moroccan inspired, and with its warm gray stucco hues, high arched ceilings, and welcoming wet/dry saunas, I felt like I’d landed in Marrakech.
You can get a day pass ($100 for locals and $50 for hotel guests) to just enjoy the sauna for a quick physical and mental reset. (Sauna has been shown to help lower stress.) You can also toggle between the aromatherapy steam sauna, Himalayan pink salt sauna, dry sauna, and the experiential rain shower. That plus drinking the nutrient-rich spirulina water already had my skin glowing.
Next up, lymphatic drainage massages. We have all seen the TikToks of this type of massage—and I have done them myself—but does being kneaded with a rolling pin like pastry dough really work? Studies show lymphatic drainage can help remove fluids that build up in your lymph system and your lymph nodes, particularly in people with certain health conditions. The benefits are well-backed in science and include reduced stress, improved circulation, and less swelling.
I booked an immunity 60-minute massage ($315) to help me look and feel the best version of myself. My massage therapist swirled around my body and began to move the lymph fluid to drain. My absolute favorite thing is when you get a practitioner who adds their personal flare and wholehearted gut instinct into a service. She zeroed in on my tight psoas on my left leg and unlocked it within minutes. Afterward, I felt lighter, less puffy, and more energetic.
Next, I tried lymphatic drainage for my face by booking the aptly named Red Carpet Radiance Facial ($350). Instead of hands, jet pressure is used, which enables aesthetic practitioners to perform lymphatic massage and gentle exfoliation. I felt like I was on the runway at the airport and the engines were blasting my face. When my aesthetician showed me half my face that had been treated, I saw a lifted, tighter, more glowy version of myself. It is one of the most bizarre facials I have ever had, but it truly lived up to its name.
Biohacking my beauty routine was only complete when I decided to try the 30-minute power nap ($150). You are put on an antigravity chair featuring a NASA-inspired curve and tilt that promotes relaxation and includes the infrared HigherDose mat. Infrared heat mats and blankets can help sooth muscles and promote circulation and relaxation.
Then the practitioner put a NuCalm Disc of my left wrist, which claims to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, making you more calm and relaxed. I had been wanting to try the disc and felt it made a huge difference. I could wear it for up to 24 hours, which meant that a new accessory was coming with me to the Oscars.
I was then zipped into a pair of NormaTec air compression boots (which were supposed to enhance my previous services). It was topped off by wearing headphones that played binaural meditation sounds (which are said to be relaxing) and a blackout eye mask. I felt like I was floating.
When I got into glam with my team, they kept commenting on my skin, which was perfect even without foundation. My body and mind felt calm, grounded, and not stressed even while I was working managing my clients and coordinating the gauntlet of getting through L.A. traffic to the Dolby Theatre.
Jaspre Guest is the founder and CEO of the PR and branding agency Noise 784.
