I visited Pukalani Day Spa & Salon in Del Mar on a typical May gray day and was certain that I needed some warming up.

The reception area is full of skin care lines, fresh flowers and water features to stimulate my senses. I was escorted into the women's changing room and met my locker room attendant for the day. She was extremely helpful and put me to ease that anything I needed would be taken care of.

Pukalani offers a wide range of services varying from waxing to permanent make-up, cellulite reduction, massage, medical skin care, hair salon services, and nail treatments. And gentlemen, this Del Mar spa features a private section only for men incase you're weary of others recognizing you during upkeep rituals.

I entered the Hamman steam room, which was hotter than any other steam room I've been in. A hot burst of steam engulfed the room as I walked in, then turned off and settled to a comfortable temperature after a couple minutes. After a quick sweat, I was ready for my Hawaiian Ritual, a 180 minute spa treatment inspired by the island's native florals and techniques. I was guided upstairs into my private room for the next three hours. My aesthetician drew a hot bath for me and added a mixture of coconut milk and frangipani blossom fragrance. It took a few minutes to cool the water down before I could take a dip, but I eventually sunk deep into the hydrotherapy tub.

After a few minutes, my aesthetician returned and proceeded with a coconut crème full body exfoliation, frangipani body butter rub down. She then applied warmed beach stones to melt the butter into my skin and wrapped me into a soothing cocoon. While I was swathed, she gave me a Hawaiian scalp and hair treatment and cold stone facial - a nice contrast to my warmed body. My private room came equipped with a rain shower in which I rinsed off the scrub with the massive rain shower head above me and three shower heads on either side of my body.

The Hawaiian Ritual treatment concluded with a stress relieving massage. This spa day definitely thawed me out of May gray, and I definitely plan on returning the next time the sun decides to hibernate.

For more information on the San Diego Pukalani Day Spa & Salon in Flower Hill Mall in the Solana Beach neighborhood of Del Mar, read the details here.