This summer, I put my complexion through the wringer of "sweat, face wipe, repeat" until the textural changes on my face had become unignorable. I showed up to an overdue facial appointment with redness dotting my T-zone and expected to be put on an entirely new regimen. Instead, I was encouraged to do the exact opposite—to stop using skin care altogether for the sake of a "skin fast."

My goal was to not only enjoy a weekly pampering session (in the name of self-care, of course) but to track any noticeable changes in my overall well-being. Here’s what I found the enjoyable, but pricey habit can do for you when you make a point to put it on your calendar on the reg.

Garden of the Gods Resort combines the national landmark’s allure with a vast array of health and wellness offerings to craft an ultimate mind-body experience. Fresh from a property-wide renovation, the luxury stay evokes relaxation from moment one, with in-room amenities including yoga mats, soaking tubs and, of course, impressive natural views. But it's the 31,000-square-foot Strata Spa that brings me here.

As I approached the bustling port of Chiquilá, the scorching sun began its descent over the Gulf of Mexico. Just a 20-minute ferry ride away sat Isla Holbox, an island I had only recently learned about. It had been described as an untouched paradise – the new Tulum before its development boom.

The only noise I’ve heard in the last half hour is the soft breaths of my fellow retreaters. We’re sitting in silence, led by our guides Cole Schlam and Heather Lindemann. It’s fitting that I find myself here, alone but strangely not lonely, on this weekend yoga retreat at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.

Fungi may just be the future of the wellness world. While mushrooms have been consumed for thousands of years, health enthusiasts continue to uncover the medicinal benefits that various mushroom varieties offer.

This holiday season, a picture-perfect mountain escape awaits in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Nestled at 8,000 feet, this unique alpine village is only a two-hour drive from Denver and offers world-class skiing, fine dining and breathtaking views.

Rancho La Puerta feels like a dream — one with opportunity to live as your best self. Sitting on 4,000 acres in the mountains of Baja California, the intimate spa and fitness resort invites travelers on week-long journeys of self-discovery with its world-renowned programming, facilities and staff.

If you’re looking for a new kind of wellness destination this year, look no further than Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. A three-hour plane ride from the Mile High City, this beachy paradise is beaming with sun-kissed shores and an inspiring atmosphere to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.

As if basking under the warm Caribbean sun wasn’t enough to lift my spirits after a long Colorado winter, I am served a plate of homemade vegetable tamales and corn tortillas made fresh from the bountiful land around me. I am being treated by the San Antonio Women’s Co-op, a group of women native to the Cayo District of western Belize. In addition to the incredible food, I am honored with stories of their ancestry and customs.

Corpus Christi may be an unexpected destination for a girlfriend getaway from the Mile High City at first glance. But this beach town offers all the luxuries of other sea-front destinations, minus the high costs.

Sitting at an elevation of 6,800 feet, Torrey is an idyllic town in south-central Utah known for its proximity to Capitol Reef National Park. Its scenery — backed by rose-colored cliffs and green meadows — and abundant access to outdoor recreation make it an ideal destination to redefine what a wellness getaway looks like this fall.

Stepping into a natural hot spring is like taking a bath hand-drawn by Mother Earth. Given that Pagosa Springs, the quaint mountain town an hour outside of Durango, is home to the world’s deepest geothermal aquifer, it’s no wonder why hundreds of thousands of people flock there each year to experience the healing mineral water themselves.

With the vast traditions and beacons of opportunity surrounding polo, most enjoy watching a classic match, and Sunday Fundays is the name of the game in Denver.

Located at the crossroads of CO-9, CO-6 and I-70, Silverthorne is a Summit County mountain town that offers more than alpine scenery — it is a place where art and culture meets adventure.

Whether you’re a novice or experienced yogi, nothing beats a summer yoga class in Vail.

Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride — it’s simple in nature but profound in impact. Spiritually speaking, it is known to purify negative energy. Ayurvedic medicine utilizes rock salt, or saindhava lavana, to boost skin health and treat respiratory conditions. In fact, it is known as a rare substance for its unique ability to balance all three doshas.

As I step into the open-air yoga space, a beautiful wooden plate reads: The new path is an ancient one, and I know I have entered a sacred opening. Surrounding me is an edible mandala garden with eco-luxury tents symmetrically weaved throughout, and beyond is a horizon rich with mountains, rivers and luscious waterfalls.

Fat Babes in the Wild is a queer-friendly space welcome to people of all sizes who want to celebrate body positivity and live without limited body beliefs.

I was sipping steaming mint tea in Amin’s home, a traditional Moroccan riad. The sun gently streamed through the sunroof, which was nearly the size of the entire ceiling. I was resting on a cushion composed of dozens of different colored fabrics. Admiring all the artwork adorning the walls, I realized something: textbooks and city tours can never fully translate the value of Moroccan hospitality.

The depot, a once majestic Italian Renaissance architectural gem, now stands as a symbol of potential, awaiting its transformation into a beacon of pride for the Western Slope.