Every year it's the same thing: After spending months all swaddled up in layers of sweaters and rubber boots, we emerge from winter in dire need of a little spring cleaning. If it's not monobrows, it's jagged little toenails or an impenetrable biker beard growing between your legs. The only difference this season is now we have a little something called a recession to deal with—way to go, Wall Street!

But not to fear: a lot of local spas are hip to the fact that while we may be broke, our commitment to being beautiful is just as unbreakable as it ever was. So “yes, we can” scrub up with some of our favourite treatments for $50 or less without sacrificing quality. Here's how:

De-stress Express Facial ($50) at Vida Spa (various locations)
This personalized facial on the fly feels anything but rushed. However, it is only 30 minutes, therefore there's only time for a massage or extraction. So pick your pleasure: some nice scalp and neck kneading or a little old-fashioned blackhead busting. Either way, you'll still get a first-class treatment and leave with glowing skin.

Pluck and Blow ($50) at Lure Salon (170–840 Howe Street)
While fuller brows are in this spring, they still need a little shaping, and the experts at Lure know just how to make your face framers rise to the occasion. Think of it as the poor man's facelift. In addition to the brow cleanup, this combo—which normally costs $85—includes a supermodel blow dry with an associate or senior hair designer. Basically, you don't leave the salon until you look and feel like a total knockout.

Body Scrub ($30 for VIP members and first-timers; $50 for everybody else) at Linda's Urban Spa (1888 West 1st Avenue)
This full-body, sea-salt scrub is relaxing, rejuvenating, and cheap. Exfoliating never felt so good.

Brow and Lash Tint ($30) at Eliane Hair and Spa (4424 West 10th Avenue) One of the pitfalls of being a fair-haired gal is looking completely washed out without mascara. But more often than not, brow and lash tints can leave you looking like Groucho Marx—in other words, your cuffs don't match your collar. Here, it's different. The estheticians seem to have mastered the art of subtlety when it comes to brows and lashes. So blondes, redheads, and all the hair-dying ladies in the house, rejoice!

Leg Half & Brazilian ($47+) at Wax Hair Removal Bar (2805 West 16th Avenue)
It's muff madness—all hair must go! Yup, tis the season for a little bushwhacking and the extremely proficient “waxperts” here know how to take care of business in record time. The emphasis is on “results”, not relaxation, at this gender-neutral facility. With that in mind, if you've never had your carpet pulled by a pro, may we suggest starting off with a bikini wax before working your way up to a Brazilian. That way you can build up your tolerance for pain.

Mani Pedi ($50) at Pure Nail Bar (various locations)
In a chilled-out environment, you can enjoy the full-meal extremity deal while watching back-to-back episodes of Sex and the City. It's like sitting in your best friend's living room, only you leave with sandal-perfect feet and ring-ready fingers.