As someone who suffers from slight germ-phobia (yes, I'm that person who won't touch the subway poles and uses paper towel to open the doors in public bathrooms) I'm always thrilled when I encounter an environment that seems designed for people like me. Example: the <a href="http://www.dovespa.ca/" target="_blank">Dove Spa</a>. Wait—you didn't know Dove was suddenly in the spa business? Well, yes. They're <a href="http://www.dovespa.co.uk/" target="_blank">kind of a big deal in the U.K. already</a> (although I've not visited them there), and last year, they opened their first Canadian location in Oakville, Ont. This spring marked the launch of an uptown Toronto outpost, which I was lucky enough to visit the other week. And let me tell you—it was a clean freak's dream come true. All white tile and fluffy towels and smart-looking estheticians in vaguely medical-style uniforms. Bliss.

May I present to you Exhibit A:

<a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/dove_pedicurestation.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2343" title="dove_pedicurestation" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/dove_pedicurestation.gif" alt="dove_pedicurestation" width="550" height="234" /></a>

See what I mean?

I had a mani-pedi (they carry OPI and Spa Ritual polishes), which was excellent, but they also offer an astounding array of other services. (Their menu includes not just the standard hair removal/facial/massage fare but also teeth whitening, reiki, ear coning and um, COLONICS.) You can also purchase products from Dove's professional skincare line (which isn't available in stores), as well as a bunch of cult favourites that I can't remember the names of right now, but which were (trust me) quite impressive. (If you squint at this photo, perhaps you can guess some of them.)

<a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/dove_retail.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2342" title="dove_retail" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/dove_retail.gif" alt="dove_retail" width="550" height="234" /></a>

Prices are in line with other spa treatments (a classic pedicure, for example, is $50), and they seem to be running LOTS of specials lately. Visit <a href="http://www.dovespa.ca/index.html" target="_blank">dovespa.ca</a> for more details.