Imagine it’s your day off and you are treating yourself to a much-needed spa day. You walk in the door to soothing music, the smell of a Tyler candle slowly burning, a warm smile and greeting from the receptionist checking you in for your Ultimate Facial with hydro dermabrasion and dermaplane followed by an 80-minute Hot Stone Massage. She then offers you hot tea and champagne — yes, please. All of the above. Give me my robe and let me unplug. Ahhhhhhh …
Cordova Skin & Body is new to Pensacola but most of the friendly faces inside are well known practitioners in town. Jennifer Walden recently opened this cozy, inviting gem in the heart of Pensacola. Located on Bayou Boulevard, it is easy to get to, easy to park and the services are some of the best in town.
“Our service providers are all very seasoned, experienced and trained. We are all givers by nature. Most of our staff have been in the spa industry for over a decade or more, and we have a comfortable, welcoming, not stuffy, relaxed space,” she said.
Walden is a born and raised Pensacola native. She traveled as a Delta flight attendant for over a decade and then became a licensed skin care specialist (esthetician) in 2010. She previously owned another local spa that she grew to 30 employees and sold in 2021 to focus on taking care of her family.
“While I am very proud of the first spa I opened, I realized I was spread way too thin and the constant contact of staff, vendors and running the business was taking away my peace. I am happier now to have a more intimate spa with a staff of nine,” Walden said.
She has always had a passion for skincare and is happy to have a smaller setting to be able to get back in the treatment room and spend one-on-one time helping clients look and feel their best. She enjoys teaching and has helped train estheticians from other practices in town. Walden has grown up with family members who have special needs, which has given her a deep sense of caring and empathy for others.
“We live in a time where we are connected to these devices in front of us. We wake up and grab them. Go to sleep with them beside us. Run kids nonstop to competitive sports. Miss family dinners at the table together,” she said. “Gone are the days that we go home and leave work until tomorrow. Gone are the days that our children get to be alone with their thoughts and make shapes out of clouds or wonder who will be at the dance or the party. They already know!”
This is why she thinks disconnecting is so important.
“I don’t believe a spa day, or hour of massage or a facial is indulgence. I believe it is in fact a necessity!”
Creating time to decompress and relax is more important than ever. It helps to clear the mind but also relieves stress, tension and anxiety. Feeling and looking good are very important to aid in overall well-being.
“A facial is a necessary indulgence to help promote cellular turnover, clean congested pores, teach teens how to properly care for their skin, help us age gracefully, check for skin irregularities and feel better about our appearance, which in turn makes us feel more confident,” she explained.
There’s another perk as well.
“Bonus: They also feel ahhhhmazing!”
Walden doesn’t think massages are just luxury either.
“A massage is a necessary indulgence to help with chronic pain, lymphatic drainage, stretching, muscle tension, proper alignment and so much more,” she said.
Cordova Skin & Body offers a wide range of services that you can find on their website. Memberships are available that you can share with a friend or spouse if you are not able to make your service that month. Along with your membership, you are free to come and relax in the lounge anytime you want to unwind, even if you are not having a service that day.
“People are EXHAUSTED. There is so much go go go. I’m happy to be able to provide a place where clients can feel comfortable with stopping. This is a place where people can come and turn off their phones and hopefully disconnect, meditate or relax,” Walden said.
In her spare time, you’ll find Walden laughing with her kids (ages 26, 16, and 14), boating, doing yoga, spending time with best friends and family, traveling as much as possible, dancing (and cooking) in her kitchen or playing with the best dog in the world, Otis! You may even find her indulging in some much-needed and necessary spa time.
Leslie Peck is a local makeup artist, esthetician and lash artist with almost two decades of experience. She has worked 11 seasons of NYC Fashion Week as well as several beauty shoots while living in New York City. Leslie also has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles. She specializes in bridal makeup, skincare education and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007.
