DIY Spa Treatments
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DIY Spa Treatments
January 25th, 2012
With the new year in full swing, it’s time to dig into your closet, dust off the old and make some room for the new. And while you’re at it, why not introduce a new color to your wardrobe? One of our new favorites is Pantone’s 2012 color of the year: Tangerine Tango.
The color -- a bright reddish, orange shade -- is the perfect shot of bold to liven up your look. As a nail polish, we’d pair it with a fun cocktail ring or some cute peep toe heels. Or, let the hue play the lead as the perfect resort wear dress: a travel-friendly maxi. Roll it up, throw it in your carry-on and off you go.
Here’s some inspiration to get your tango on:
Solid Organic Maxi Dress by Gypsy 05, $99, gypsy05.com
Essie Nail Polish in Clambake, $8, essie.com
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November 29th, 2011
Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means the holiday season has officially arrived! Put up your decorations, finish your shopping, but remember, during this notoriously stressful season you should still take some time out to take care of yourself. Check out these yuletide-inspired treatments:
Pamper your toes at the Remède Spa at the St. Regis San Francisco with a Peppermint Pedi (60 minutes, $90), a spin on the traditional pedicure that includes a glycolic peel and massage with holiday-scented essential oils.
The peppermint goodness continues at California’s Spa at Hotel Healdsburg, where the Lavender Peppermint Restorative Massage (50 minutes, $125) includes a rubdown with lavender butter from the nearby Matanzas Creek Estate Lavender Garden and a detoxifying and balancing warm compress of Himalayan salt, lavender and peppermint strategically placed on your body’s meridian lines.
The Santa Claus Treat (80 minutes, $366) at The Spa by Six Senses at the Hotel Arts Barcelona in Spain includes a chai tea honey scrub, warm green clay cocoon wrap (with cinnamon and orange oils) and a relaxing massage.
Post holiday season, book three of the Mandarin Oriental, New York’s customized facials (everything from vitamin infusions to collagen building) as part of The Holiday Recovery Facial Series — and save 10% off the total price.
If you can’t make it to any of these spas, you can still get in on the holiday beauty goodness at home! Erika Katz, beauty expert and author of Bonding Over Beauty, shared with us one of her favorite at-home holiday body scrub recipes, made with brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Click here for the recipe!
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October 24th, 2011
Around the office we try to stay healthy, but it can be hard with the constant offerings of birthday cakes and homemade cookies. So what’s a person to do when the urge to snack strikes?
Luckily, a few of us discovered kale chips. One by one we started bringing in large Ziploc bags of the crispy, baked concoctions. Our recipe is simple: kale drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with garlic salt and left to bake in the oven until crispy. It’s a snap … and good for you. But eventually, we grew tired of our kale snacks. (Not to mention, while they’re baking they don’t make your kitchen smell so great.)
Our love for kale was re-ignited last week when we discovered Brad’s Raw Chips – crispy, Gluten-free snacks made with dehydrated veggies and seeds.
The kale itself (already naturally filled with a ton of vitamins and nutrients) is mixed with ground cashews, sunflower seeds, Himalayan sea salt and lemon juice. And instead of using oil, they use yeast, which gives the mixture a cheesy taste – yum. Fun flavors include Vampire Killer (with garlic and scallions), Nasty Hot (with jalapeno and vegan cheese) and Sweet Potato Chips (with sweet potatoes, carrots, sprouted buckwheat groats, flax seeds, maple syrup and nutmeg).
And while they won’t magically make your sweet tooth disappear, they definitely will be a happy place to go to come snack-time.
Brad’s Raw Foods are American-made and available in Whole Foods, Wegmans Markets and select health food stores.
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October 7th, 2011
With temperatures starting to drop, there’s nothing like cozying up with a warm cup of tea. And research shows that some teas are not only good for stress, but they contain powerful good-for-you antioxidants, too. When it comes time to relax, here are some of our favorites.
Made with 100% organic ingredients, soothing flavors include Berry Black, Aged Earl Grey, Jasmine Green, Moroccan Mint and White Rose. For something truly beautiful, their Flowering Teas are hand sewn by artists in China.
Made with tea leaves from a garden in Northern Bangladesh’s Tetulia region, this organic brand is known for its black, green and white teas, but the herbal infusions like Ginger, Lemongrass and Peppermint are also noted favorites.
In addition to a lengthy list of options, the brand’s Skin-Smart line uses antioxidants to help prevent the signs of aging. The collection includes Cucumber Mint, Honey Yuzu, Cherry Marzipan, Swiss Apple and Lychee Coconut.
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September 30th, 2011
Last weekend I attended the W Fort Lauderdale's W Wellness Happening – an event that featured everything from a sneak preview of the resort's new Ted Gibson salon, ea apparel (a sexy line of yogawear that works as cocktail-wear, too), pilates, barre and yoga classes and a presentation by my favorite beauty expert, Rona Berg. Here we are at Yolo (You Only Live Once) Restaurant. (Rona's the one with the fabulous lipstick.) Isn't she lovely?
Another bonus: The W is dog-friendly (always a plus in my book), so rescue dog Jax came along and worked her magic as the Spa mascot for the weekend. Here she is checking out the digs.
Just a little over a three-hour drive, it always amazes me how refreshing it is to be at the beach. Which is why I was super stoked to see that the hotel was not only just across the street from the beach (perfect for a morning run), but the rooms here have prime views of the sandy strand ... all day long.
Another bonus, the Bliss Spa, is the centerpiece of the pampering circuit here. Being a "Bliss Virgin," I opted for the Triple Oxygen Mask Facial, their signature treatment. After the 75-minute facial (which also included a wonderful effervescent mask of oxygen bubbles), I was instructed by the esthetician to go to the waiting room and relax with some sweets from the brownie bar. Wow.
You can't walk out of the spa without going through the manicure/pedicure room. And it's a good thing: the Double Chocolate pedicure makes the entire place smell like a chocolate. Not a bad way to leave an impression!
Want to get your Bliss on? Click here for a salon near you. And don't forget to treat yourself to a brownie. Every gal knows that calories don't count at the spa!
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September 15th, 2011
When it comes to facial peels and high-tech laser skin treatments, there is no question: I’m all for it. What other treatments can you get that can actually repair the sun damage done to your skin from summer vacations and long days at the beach?
I recently heard about erbium lasers, a type of laser skin resurfacing procedure that can zap away sun damage in one swoop – and all during your lunch hour. So on Tuesday during my lunch break, I skipped my walk to the grocery store and headed to FreshMed Spa, my favorite day spa, for a “mini” erbium treatment. The treatment took about 20 minutes and while it hurt a teeny bit (your face is “zapped” with a warm laser to remove damaged skin cells), I was told the down time would be minimum. I went back to work (and even attended a meeting) with nothing more than a red face. The next day the down-time was similar to that of a chemical peel — my skin felt tight like I had a sunburn. But by the third day I was starting to see the worst of it – I was starting to peel. (Something my co-workers took delight in as I tried not to smile or laugh.) Now it's day four and the last of the peel is starting to come off (gross, I know). But after today it's home stretch time. (I've taken pictures of the progress so if you want to see it send me an email - there is no WAY I'm sharing this on-line!)
Honestly, through it all, I can’t wait to see how it’s going to look tomorrow. Sun spots? Already starting to disappear. Skin-tone, evening out and revealing glowing skin underneath. Finally, after many years of smoothing on the tanning oil, I've learned my lesson. This is one former sungoddess that is going to invest in hats ... and sunscreen.
Have sun damage you’d like to repair? Check out your local spa for deals and packages near you. If you’re in the Orlando, Florida, area like me, check out Fresh Med Spa (my go-to spa), which is offering some great September specials (including sun spot removal and erbium treatments). Want to see what other treatments they offer? Check out today's Groupon and click here!
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Tags: day spas
August 29th, 2011
When it comes to beauty products, there are a ton to choose from. But I have to admit, when I tried Babor I was already a bit biased — our Editor in Chief, Susan, is a HUGE fan of their lipstick (and we all know how picky she is, so when she likes something it’s a pretty big deal). Not much of a lipstick gal myself, my favorite product has proven to be the Biogen Cellular Ultimate Repair Cream. Applied before bed, it goes on light and the next morning I wake up feeling refreshed. Needless to say, I’m down to the bottom of the jar and am saving every last ounce!
Want to win a $500 skin care kit from Babor? Like them on Facebook before August 31st and that kit might just be yours. Good luck!!!
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Tags: contest
July 11th, 2011
Miami is the place for beautiful people, fresh seafood (at Joe’s Stone Crab, course), gorgeous beaches, sexy resorts and … dogs? One of the things that I love about Miami is the amount of places you can take your pet, including the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, where I recently stayed. Not only is the hotel itself home to the amazing Five-Star Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Mediterranean-Asian inspired Azul restaurant, and a private pool and beach overlooking the bay, but the Mandarin Oriental brand gives new meaning to the word “pet-friendly.”
Their MO Pets program includes special menus, pet turndown service, play dates, grooming and pet walking services (on the surrounding 1.3 mile trail). But the “regular “ pet amenities were what got me. Upon arrival with Jax, my little rescue, she was greeted like a full-bred show dog.
Included with check-in: a golden Mandarin Oriental collar tag, a comfy pet bed, food and water bowls and treats ... including these personalized ones.
What’s even more fun, the hotel offers in-room pet dining with menu items like grilled organic chicken breast and gourmet desserts. (See Jax's loot of goodies below.)
And while Miami is filled with gorgeous resorts, it’s nice knowing that a few cater to our four-legged friends too. When it came time to check-out, I swear Jax was prancing around with a little more bounce in her step.
Looking for more pet-friendly getaways? Check out associate/digital editor Amy Cassell's recent blog on Dog-Friendly Spa Getaways.
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June 15th, 2011
Dads like to indulge, too. And here at Spa, we haven’t forgotten about those wonderful fathers in our lives, and the fact that Father’s Day is only a few short days away. Looking for a spa-themed gift idea for dad?
Check around at your local resort and day spas (use our Find a Spa tool for help!) to see if any are offering special Father’s Day packages and deals … you’d be surprised at how many probably are! Here’s a couple we just found out about to get you started:
-The Emerson Resort & Spa in New York’s Hudson Valley is offering a Father’s Day Special package that includes a renewal soak, deep tissue massage and express gentlemen’s facial. ($218, available June 1-30, 2011)
-Buy a package of three massages for dad at Ergonique CosMed Boutique & Spa in Newport Beach, California, and the fourth one is free. ($375)
Looking for something more DIY? Try this new foot soak recipe from Mindy Terry. Made with grapefruit and rosemary, it smells fresh (not too girly), is easy to make and will be much appreciated by the man who’s always on his feet.
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June 1st, 2011
There’s something soothing about summers in the South. What’s there not to like about Lowcountry boils, kayaking on the river and sipping sweet tea while the sun sets?
Which is why we fell in love with The Inn at Palmetto Bluff , in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Set on 20,000 acres alongside the May River, guests hide away in one of 50 cottages and suites set up like a quaint southern neighborhood.
But it’s not all about a down-home setting here. This place doesn’t skimp when it comes to up-scale amenities. Guests have their pick of ways to play including a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, spa, movement studio, River House Restaurant (with a menu of local fixins), boating, kayaking and hiking trails.
Want to celebrate summer, Southern-style? This July 15-17, the Inn is hosting their “Lotus on the River” Wellness Weekend so you can soak up the warm weather and soothe your soul. Packages start at $449 per night and include:
-King-bed cottage accommodations
-20% discount on spa treatments
-Yoga sessions and wellness discussions
-Full Moon Kayak expedition
-Full use of the property’s canoes, kayaks and fishing equipment
-Access to bocce ball, lawn bowling and tennis facilities
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