SPA BITS

(Volume 2010.5)

The latest news and review bits from my desk…..

MISCELLANY ~
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here’s just a sampling of the many brands actively supporting research for the cure with donations from sales of their products or services:

Decleor ~ Purchase the Aromessence Aromatherapy Set during the month of October and ten-percent of proceeds will be donated to Cancer & Careers, a support organization for working women who have cancer; visit http://www.decleordirect.com/

Jane Iredale ~ Between September 2010 through September 2011, $2.00 from the sale of each Phoenix Sugar&Butter Lip Exfoliator and Plumper will be donated to “Living Beyond Breast Cancer”, a national support and education organization. “Phoenix” is the special pink color formulated for this worthwhile cause and symbolizes the Phoenix rising for all those who are living with the disease; visit http://janeiredale.com/

OKA b. ~ During the month of October, for every one pair of shoes sold online, OKA b. will donate one pair of their most popular sandal, “The Madison Slide” to breast cancer patients. Their goal is to donate 50,000 pairs of shoes. To make a purchase, go to http://shoesthatloveyou.com/ and enter the code CountMeIn.

Lynn Sage Foundation’s “In Good Taste” Campaign ~ In its third year, the popular Chicago-area based foundation will again have its “In Good Taste” breast cancer research initiative. More than 100 area salons, spas and restaurants are participating in this year’s month long campaign where patrons can make donations to the cause through the participating partners. One of the first to help launch the fundraising was Marianne Strokirk Salons; specially priced services were offered to clients and left the salon with a new look, a stuffed goody bag and a smile knowing that their patronage helped this important cause; visit http://www.lynnsagefoundation.org/ and http://www.mariannestrokirk.com/

Massage Envy “Massage for the Cure” ~ Since 2005, this national franchise has been a leading partner with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign for cancer research. Since its inception, Massage Envy has raise more than $1.4 million for the cause. This year’s one-day event was September 14th; visit http://www.massageenvy.com/

The Peninsula Spa by ESPA (New York) ~ Special “Think Pink” treatment includes a sixty-minute massage and ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud specially; priced at $195.0-0, where $5.00 will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides against Breast Cancer” fundraiser; visit http://www.peninsula.com/new_york/, or http://www.espaonline.com/

Rosen Hotels & Resorts ~ Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza in Orlando will be offering guests specially priced room packages now until the end of the year during their “Sleepover for the Cure”, including during their “Pinktober” BCA promotion, where three-percent of proceeds will be donated to the Central Florida Chapter of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; visit http://www.rosenhotels.com/

Check these additional e-tailers and brick and mortar stores for their give to the cause efforts:

Crater Lake Company ~ Purchase Glisten Up! Hair & Body Gloss and twenty-percent of profits go to BreastCancer.Org; visit http://www.craterlakecompany.com/

Bath By Bettijo ~ Purchase Fenomenole and one-quarter of proceeds go to the American Cancer Society (ACS); visit http://www.bathbybettijo.com/

LaNatura ~ Purchase either the Feel Well Lavender Hand Cream or the Believe by Carina and five percent of proceeds go to City of Hope; visit http://www.lanatura.com/

Skin 2 Skin ~ Purchase the Anti-Aging Kit (top sellers: Anti-Aging Face Wash, Anti-Aging Eye Gel and Aging Intervention Cream) and twenty-percent of proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation; visit http://www.skin2skincare.com/

FragranceNet.Com ~ Purchase either LaCoste Touch of Pink, Alfred Sung Pure, Lulu Guinness Pink or Aquolina Pink Sugar and fifteen-percent of proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation; visit http://www.fragrancenet.com/

Sally Beauty Supply Stores (Nationwide) ~ Purchase China Glaze Rich and Famous and eighteen-percent of sales will go towards promoting breast cancer awareness; visit http://www.sallybeauty.com/

Red Flower ~ Purchase Japanese Peony Moisturizing Body Lotion and 100% of profits will be donated to Cancer and Careers; visit http://redflower.com/

Skin Authority ~ Purchase Go! Gorgeous Pink Edition (travel sizes of top sellers: Daily Cleanser, Resurfacing Accelerator, Tri-Power Peptide Hydrator and Sunscreen) and ten-percent of proceeds will go to the Pink Ribbon Girls; visit http://www.skinauthority.com/

Darphin ~ For every purchase of Intral Soothing Cream, $20.00 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; visit http://www.darphin.com/

OF THINGS ESTHETIC & AROMATIC ~

Astara Skincare ~ I had such a wonderful time experiencing a wide range of these outstanding natural and organic-based skincare and body care products. Astara Skincare founder and CEO Sunny Griffin, a former super model and cover girl, corporate powerhouse, entrepreneur and philanthropist had a simple philosophy and purpose behind the development of her wellness brand of skincare products “…raw, botanical and energized…The Perfect Harmony of Science & Nature”. Her further reasoning was that “If you wouldn’t want to eat it…Why would you put it on your skin?” Astara Skincare’s philosophy further represents this purpose “…life supports life. Proper nutrition and support of your body’s own healing mechanisms are the key to a healthier, younger-looking skin.” Healthy, holistic, eco-conscious, renewing and revitalizing, aptly describe all of the products. Knowing that I was feeding my skin, while staving off the signs of aging and improving the texture and firmness with gentle, non-irritating and just plain good for the skin products using natural and organic ingredients. Following are the products I tried, and thoroughly enjoyed! For the Face: Botanical Cleansing Gelé (with organic aloe vera, oils of sweet orange, grapefruit and comfrey, algae, rosemary, basil lemongrass and calendula), Daily Refining Scrub (with organic aloe vera, diatomaceous earth, extracts of comfrey, chamomile, calendula and algae, lactic acid, oils of sweet orange, grapefruit and mandarin orange), AHA Nutrient Toning Essence (with witch hazel, lactic acid, cucumber, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, vitamin C, oils of rose and jasmine), Nourishing Vitamin Mask (with organic aloe vera leaf juice, soy phospholipids, pine, golden seal, royal jelly, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hyaluronic acid, beta glucans, wheat amino acids, vitamin C), Golden Flame Hydration Mask (with organic aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber, vitamin E, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, chamomile, comfrey and calendula), Radiance Renewal Intense Moisturizer (with ginseng, wild yam, evening primrose, gingko biloba, vitamin E), Botanical Eye Treatment (with wild yam, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, arnica, shea butter, grapeseed, vitamin E, bisabolol, hydrolyzed wheat protein). All of these products are ideally suited for an at-home skincare regimen in addition to an in-spa treatment experience. For the Body: Aromatic Seaweed Body Wash (with aloe vera, white tea extract, kelp, and organic lavender, rosemary and sweet basil essential oils), Antioxidant Body Lotion (with sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, wild yam and vitamins A-B-C-E), Citrus Lavender Sea Salt Mineral Soak (with Dead Sea salts, papain enzymes, carrot oil and glycerin), and Aroma Nutrient Face and Body Oil (with grape seed and rosehip oils, jojoba and avocado oils and lemongrass and lavender essential oils). All of these products are also ideally suited for an at-home body care routine, in addition to an in-spa treatment experience. For more information, visit http://www.astaraskincare.com/


Christopher Drummond Beauty ~ A fashion and beauty industry veteran, Christopher Drummond is also a favorite of the celebrity, fashion and beauty show circuit. The products use natural and organic ingredients that are in keeping with EU Cosmetics Directive. Affiliations include the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, PETA, and Green People. I tried the Creamy Lip Stain in Cosmopolitan. Ingredients included jojoba seed oil, aloe leaf gel, vitamin E, grapeseed extract, and pomegranate extract. Although the product went on smoothly and was creamy, its promise to be non-drying, at least on me, wasn’t; perhaps my lips are excessively dry. The color, however, was a beautiful burnished orange with a hint of pink, which complimented my skin tone very well and was perfect for the onset of Fall. For more information, visit http://www.christopherdrummond.com/

DayNa Decker ~ This über chic brand has expanded its Couture Home Ambiance Collection to include its new Bath and Body Collection. Although not familiar with the line, I tried the new Couture Body Cleansing Crème (Amoura) and Le Petit Parfum (Kyaha). The Cleansing Crème is formulated with lemon peel, sugar cane and sugar maple extracts, aloe vera, jojoba, pearl powder, Manuka honey and hyaluronic acid. All ingredients naturally exfoliate, hydrate, increase hydration, and minimize aging by rejuvenating skin texture. The sophisticated aroma included layers of bergamot, plum blossom, Hinoki wood, patchouli, orris and oriental musk; the citrus, fruit and floral properties subdue the woody denser aromatic properties. The Cleansing Crème lathered well, left no residue when rinsed, other than its beautiful scent, and left skin hydrated and smoother to the touch. The Parfum was a very dense woody scent, with bergamot, green tea, cedar, mahogany and sandalwood. The woody aspects dominate the overall scent as top notes, while the citrus and tea softened somewhat the darkness of the scent in the dry-down, or bottom notes; complex personality with a range of bold to a softly muted aroma. Both products are beautifully packaged. For more information, visit http://www.daynadecker.com/

Nune & Nature ~ A newcomer to the natural and organic skin, body and hair care products arena. I tried the Organic Vanilla and Organic Minty Lip Balm, Botanical Shampoo in Lavender and Botanical Conditioner (Lavender & Clary Sage); for the baby in us all, I tried the Baby Bath Wash (Sweet Orange), Baby Shampoo (Unscented) and Baby Moisturizing Lotion (Gentle Lavender). Not only were these products good for the environment, all of them were extremely gentle on my body, lips and hair; during my trial review period, I had some irritations and slight injuries that weren’t the least bit affected by any of the ingredients or products. The lip balms and moisturizer were very effective, and wherever used, my skin remained smooth and hydrated for hours. The hair care products were also gentle and didn’t strip my hair of any natural oils; hair felt revitalized, and not dried or frizzy. All products tried contain and extensive list of natural and organic ingredients that are vegan friendly, and biodegradable. For more information, visit http://www.nuneandnature.com/

Obagi Medical ~ I tried the Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Gel. A cosmeceutical categorized product, this was one of the better ones I’ve tried to date. I had no reaction or sensitivity to this cooling eye treatment gel that was gentle, had a silky consistency, was quickly absorbed, non-tacky, and fragrance free. Its proprietary Restorative Elasticity Complex increases and aids collagen production, which is needed to restore the elasticity of the delicate eye area, while eliminating appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; a mineral complex that includes zinc and copper are key to the ingredient efficacy. The product left the fragile skin area of my eyes hydrated, while noticeably diminishing the appearance of very fine lines and wrinkles; I noticed results within a few days. For more information, visit http://www.obagi.com/

Odacité ~ Breast cancer survivor and company founder Valerie Grandury has committed her life in championing the cause of safe cosmetics that are not only free of fragrance, harmful preservatives and parabens, but are also non-toxic, and formulated with natural and certified organic ingredients. She’s proud to be a survivor of cancer, while living a toxic-free life through choices in work and life environment, geography, fitness and nutrition, and of course, safe and toxic-free cosmetics. I wasn’t familiar with this line at all. I also received limited quantities of product to review, about a ten-day’s worth; I normally prefer trying products a good three to four weeks before formulating any opinions. In general I found the products to be gentle and non-irritating, and although I prefer products not to have nauseating scents to them, some of these products had unusual, albeit tolerable, aromas. The condition of my skin (texture, firmness and brightness) wasn’t adversely impacted and remained static. Cleanser rinsed well, day cream and night serum moisturized well, and the mask was easy to remove; none of the products left any unpleasant residue; the only slight residue I had was with the face scrub and it took longer than I prefer to remove all of the jojoba granules; I enjoyed the toner, but ran out of it before the end of the week’s trial. Following are the products I tried: Gentle Rejuvenating Cleanser (includes aloe vera leaf juice, wheatgerm oil, linden and elder flower extracts, ginseng root extract, rosemary leaf extract), Jojoba Beads Exfoliant (includes aloe vera juice, coconut oil, jojoba wax beads, lavender, olive oil, rooibos tea extract, vitamin E, white tea extract), Immortelle Refreshing Toner (includes aloe vera leaf juice, rose and Roman chamomile flower water, oat kernel, rice, spirulina and willowbark extract), Deep Hydration Masque (includes olive oil, white tea extract, lavender extract), Beautiful Day Moisturizer (includes coconut oil, white tea extract, jojoba oil, rosemary, Neem oil), Night Time Repair Serum (includes jojoba oil, vitamin E, white tea and rooibos tea extract, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil, borage oil), Ultra Effective Eye Cream (includes evening primrose oil, organic blue green algae extract, vitamin E, rooibos tea, lavender extract), and Perfect Nutrients Body Lotion (includes lavender extract, jojoba oil, shea butter, carrot oil, coconut oil, calendula extract, white tea extract). For those who want to try this collection, Odacité offers a “Discovery Kit”. Each product is made fresh per order, comes with an expiration date, and shipped directly from the lab to the customer that day; products have a “Freshiency Date” of expiration. Customers are also assigned a “skin coach” who will walk them through any concerns they might have, and also provide detailed instructions on product use and benefit. For more information, visit http://www.odacite.com/



Sunday Riley ~ Anti-aging is a year round proposition, and although Fall may have just arrived, the need to protect and nourish skin from the ravages of sun also remain all year and don’t just end when Summer ends; sun exposure contributes to pre-mature signs of aging. Yet another company whose products I wasn’t familiar with until trying a few of their exceptional Anti-Aging skincare products that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and collagen and elastin cellular renewal properties. All of the Anti-Aging products contain the proprietary NV-5 Ageless Complex. This exclusive all-natural complex contains five Native American botanicals ~ Blue Agave, Night Blooming Cactus, Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Prickly Pear and Biofermented Aloe plus Yeast extract. The complex detoxifies and repairs cellular damage, while fighting signs of aging due to inflammation. Products tried from the Anti-Aging line included Juno Transformative Lipid Serum, Cashmere SPF 30 and Start Over Active Eye Cream. I’m not a fan of sunscreen, but after using Cashmere SPF 30, mixed with a few drops of the exquisite Juno Transformative Lipid Serum, a dry oil, I was hooked. These products not only went on like silk, my skin texture was healthier looking and brighter; products were quickly absorbed, left no sticky residue, had a neutral, but fresh aroma, and were super sensitive. I also used the Juno as a night treatment serum; even when not using a night moisturizer over the serum, my skin was thoroughly nourished and revitalized. I was amazed at how great my skin looked the next morning. Some of the ingredients in Cashmere include cashmere protein, wheatgrass, rice grass, ginseng, and Ellagic acid from pomegranate. Some of the ingredients in Juno include vitamin E, Argan oil, Marula oil and numerous plant seed oils (Acai, black cumin, blueberry, broccoli, carrot, Chardonnay grape, pomegranate and red raspberry). This dry oil wasn’t the least bit greasy and absorbed exceptionally well, hydrating and revitalizing my face and neck areas; my skin looked nourished and definitely healthier; the fresh plant aroma was very pleasant. The Start Over Active Eye Cream was a real treat; absolutely no irritation or product migration; the fragile skin under the eye along the orbital bone and clear up to the temples appeared smoother, with fine lines and wrinkles diminished. Some of the ingredients in Start Over include vitamin C-Ester, lutein, alpha lipoic acid, licorice, algae, pomegranate and rosehip seed oils, and yeast extract. I also tried the Anti-Aging body products Disrobe Body Lotion and Liquid Diet. Both products also contain the proprietary NV-5 Ageless Complex. The Disrobe Body Lotion (with phosphate, lactic acid, yeast extract, squalene, urea, glycerin and shea butter) is ideal for dry skin or for skin that has been exposed to sun. Product’s texture was silky and had a cooling effect while being applied to my dry skin; it was quickly absorbed and left no tacky residue; my skin was left super-hydrated and revitalized. The Liquid Diet (with Kola nut, caffeine, Bladder wrack marine algae, lemon extract, and MCT, an anti-inflammatory/fluid retention reduction) is ideal for temporarily reducing fluid retention in areas like feet, ankles, hips, thighs or stomachs. I found it very effective in reducing the water retention in my ankles, a tendency during hot and humid periods; my puffy ankles were noticeably reduced in size within a few hours. This product’s texture was also silky; it was cooling, quickly absorbed, and left no tacky residue. All five of these products were effective, had a lovely fresh aroma and must-haves to consider, either for those beginning an anti-aging skincare regimen (including staving off the harsh effects of sun-exposure), or who are thinking about trying some new products. For more information, visit http://www.sundayriley.com/

That’s it for this edition…until the next one…remember to take care of yourself and those around you.

……NEXT EDITION ~ Reviews on Thalgo Skincare, Bond No. 9, Cellulations, LaLicious, SPIKE, The Maybelline Story, Gibson’s Steakhouse, Kama Indian Bistro……

By Terry Herman

Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing, she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. You can email her at terry_h60559@yahoo.com.

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(Photo credits as represented from the specific brand.)