When you hear the word SPA what do you envision? A place filled with pleasant aromas, relaxing music, a massage perhaps. The word itself is derived from the name the town in Belgium, Spa, known since the early 14th century as the site for it’s healing hot springs, and it’s mineral water is stilled bottled there today. Many people around the world believed that bathing in a particular spring, well, or river resulted in physical and spiritual purification. Forms of ritual purification existed among the native Americans, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. So today the spa has become a place of natural health “healing” or relaxation.
It’s not just the places that make a spa a spa, but rather the people and most notably, the products used that make us feel rejuvenated after a visit. The following is a review of a few of the best spa products I have used in an order that you would expect if visiting a spa yourself or to help recreate a spa like experience in you own home.
AROMA : Setting the tone or mode for relaxation or rejuvenation is to create a blend of pleasant aromas, essential oils help to do that without all the synthetic fragrances. My favorite for this comes from Hill House Naturals in their natural living collection. Transport yourself to an exclusive spa in the desert Southwest, surrounded by pure air and natural textures. This natural fragrance blends essential oils of orange and rosemary to awaken the senses while patchouli and ylang ylang nurture and replenish the soul. This blend of oils is not overly sweet nor does it have a strong “earthy” smell, but rather just the right blend to prepare your senses for what’s to come.
Hill House products can be found at www.hillhousestore.com
MASSAGE LOTIONS: While the aroma enhances our senses next we take a look at massage lotions. Personally, when I get a professional massage, I hate the feeling of just being “slimed” with vegetable oil ready for a deep fryer. One of the best I’ve found especially for deep tissue massage is Soothing Touch Desert Bliss Lotion. This non-greasy, silky lotion features jojoba oil and aloe vera to hydrate the skin while the desert bliss fragrance refreshes the senses. This lotion has a functional formula that delivers minimum glide and maximum friction. Ideally suited for deep tissue, stimulating and neuromuscular techniques, giving complete control without drag or tackiness to limit workability. This special formula includes hawaiian kukui nut oil, high in linoleic acid to assist skin penetration and aloe vera, known to heal and soothe the skin. And best of all it is water dispersible so you don’t feel like you need shower off with a degreaser!
Where to find: Sephora or online at www.soothingtouch.com
BATH: Typically after a massage one would actually shower, however there are those that take a bath, and when I can’t get a massage the next best thing is to take a bath and for this I highly recommend Dr Singha’s Mustard Bath. Yes, mustard bath! In traditional medicine, Mustard is renowned for its stimulating, cleansing and rejuvenating qualities. The warmth of Mustard gently opens pores and assists in the elimination of impurities. Typically I’ll get a professional massage every 6 to 8 weeks, I can take a relaxing bath anytime I want, so every time I see my massage therapist I always purchase a container of Dr Singha’s Mustard Bath. Blended with Certified Organic Mustard Seed Powder, Essential Oils of Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Wintergreen & Thyme you are sure to feel invigorated after this hot bath.
Where to find: Bath and Body Works or online at www.drsingha.com
EXFOLIATOR: There are tons of exfoliators on the market today, many of which only remove dead skin cells, but do little for preparing the skin for rejuvenation and unlocking one’s own natural beauty. That’s why my favorite is Anakiri Pure Exfoliating Cleanser. It works on two levels not just removing dead skin cells. The unique combination of essential oils, crushed almonds, jojoba beads, plant phospholipids and herbal extracts reaches deep into the tissue to draw out impurities and exfoliate dead surface cells. This cleanser can also be used as a treatment mask and left on the skin for ten minutes for added extraordinary benefits.
Where to find: Sephora or online at www.anakiri.com
MASQUE: I should probably preface this by saying that the only masques most men will ever wear is a halloween mask, however, being an active guy I have discovered that masques are very good for deep pore cleansing and removing excess oils which I couldn’t otherwise remove with just soap and water. That’s why the Skin Refining Masque from Dermalogica rates as my favorite masque for both men and women. The oil-absorbing clays and purifying plant extracts that deeply cleanse the skin and help reduce oily-skin breakouts is what most active people, myself included, need to really clean their skin. Not only does it help with skin cleansing but also helps refine the texture of the skin for a healthier appearance. There are no artificial fragrances or colors so no worries of the getting “teary eyed” while using this masque.
Where to find: ULTA, Sephora or online at http://www.dermalogica.com
MOISTURIZER: Of course after a deep cleaning masque we need a great moisturizer. SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture is the one to go with, although it is a bit pricey, usually $55 for 60 ml, it is by far the best on the market. You wear your skin everyday so why not take the best care of it? This lightweight pore-minimizing moisturizer for normal or oily skin hydrates, nourishes, and helps reduce the appearance of pore size with an exclusive combination of natural extracts. High levels of pure vitamin E heal and protect while Brazilian sea algae deliver proteins, amino acids, and essential minerals to the skin. Daily Moisture contains burnet, cinnamon and ginger to help reduce pore size without leaving the skin feeling greasy. SkinCeuticals is so good that many plastic surgeons and skin specialists retail it in their practices.
Where to find: http://www.skinceuticals.com
FIRMING LOTION: Again, you wear your skin every day so why not take the best care of it? For a firming lotion I highly recommend SkinCeuticals Advanced Firming Lotion. This also comes in a bit on the high side, 200 ml runs around $138, but it’s great for all skin types. Most men and women don’t use a firming lotion after exfoliation, but they should and this is the one to use. The antioxidant and moisturizing properties counter moisture loss and elasticity while supporting the skin’s regeneration process to restore healthy, buoyant, luminous skin.
SkinCeuticals Advanced Firming Lotion combines soy isoflavones, pure vitamin E, three nutrient-rich algae, and botanical extracts to firm, hydrate, and protect the entire body.
Where to find: http://www.skinceuticals.com
FOOT LOTION: Most people don’t take proper care of their feet. As a hairstylist standing on my feet 8-10 hours a day for 6 days, I want to make sure my feet “don’t fail me now” so using a foot creme is exactly what is needed. I recommend Gilden Tree Nourishing foot Cream, a serious, but gentle foot cream that almost magically heals dry skin on feet, repairing cracked heels and softening skin. Made with a Certified Organic Aloe Vera base, instead of water like so many other foot creams, so it’s thick, rich and very creamy, but soaks in quickly. The Jojoba oil is soaks deeply into the skin and moisturizes while the Shea butter help to seal the natural emollients in the skin.Excellent for dry skin and cracked heals and it’s gluten free.
Where to find: http://www.gildentree.com
There has been a “green movement” going on for some time now and therefore I add two categories for hair care, one for essential oils and one for botanical extracts, the two are not the same. Essential oils are the volatile extract of a plant and are obtained through expression (pressing) or steam distillation of the plant. Botanical extracts are usually extracted from the plant with an alcohol solution, or CO2 extraction where CO2 is vaporized into the plant material leaving only the extracted material behind.
HAIR CARE / Essential Oil : Keune Haircosmetics So Pure “Refreshing. Keune is the first major haircare company to actually use essential oils as the working ingredient in it’s So Pure line. There are no artificial fragrances or colors and no animal related ingredients found. The “Refreshing” line is made for all hair types and created for those that desire healthy, shiny looking hair. It re-energizes hair by using peppermint and rosewood essential oils and helps create volume as well. It balances the hair and scalp and consists of the shampoo, conditioner, and treatment. There are other products within the SO PURE line of Keune, each for a specific hair type from fine, thinning hair, to dry hair and color treated as well. Keune hair care is only sold in professional beauty salons worldwide.
To learn more visit: http://www.sopurenaturalbalance.com/
HAIR CARE / Botanical: Phyto for all hair types. Phytoprogenium shampoo helps to purify the scalp and beautify the hair. It is formulated with Olive leaf extract to provide protection against environmental stresses such as blow dyers as well as mallow extract which hydrates and almond and oat milk to soften the hair. Because of the patented Progenium, harmful bacteria is reduced so hair thrives naturally. Like any hair care company, Phyto provides solutions based on the individual need, from having color treated hair, to ultra dry hair needing moisture. You can visit Phyto’s website to see which product would be best for your needs.
Where to find: Sephora or http://www.phyto-usa.com/allhairtypes.asp
