May 2nd, 2012
Ouch! Beauty is pain, right? Certainly when it comes to waxing. We’ve gathered a few tips to help make depilation a little less of a chore, and to extend the life of a waxing so you don’t need to make the trip to the salon quite as often.
Before:
Make sure that the hair to be removed is 1/8 of an inch.
Exfoliate the area well using either the ESPA Dry Body Brush to gently exfoliate skin and improve circulation or Guinot’s Gommage Facile, a smoothing, non-abrasive body scrub. After dry brushing or exfoliating, be sure to shower to wash off the dead skin cells. To further stimulate circulation, end your shower with cool water. For best results, exfoliate the skin several days before waxing with ESPA Exfoliating Body Polish – the cooling spearmint essential oil and aloe extract will calm and sooth the skin.
During:
On your way to the salon, pop an aspirin to reduce the pain.
After:
If you forgot to take an aspirin, apply a bit of Neosporin with antibiotic to the waxed area to help with discomfort and feelings of heat.
Avoid sun exposure for 48 hours.
Don’t use deodorant, perfume, or alcohol-based products for at least 24 hours (if you’ve waxed your underarms, use Guinot’s Déo Crème Epil Confort, a deodorant cream that controls perspiration while restraining hair regrowth).
Avoid heat treatments such as hot baths, showers, sauna, and steam rooms immediately after the treatment.
Use ESPA Purifying Tea Tree gel as the natural antiseptic properties will help reduce ingrown hairs.
Moisturize the area with a cooling lotion to reduce redness and hydrate the skin. ESPA Essential Body Moisturizer is an instantly calming, cooling lotion to refresh, revitalize, and replenish lost moisture.
Maintenance:
Once the skin has calmed down, Dry Body Brush daily and exfoliate two times a week to prevent ingrown hairs and keep skin looking radiant.
Use Guinot’s Epil Confort Corps or Epil Confort Visage daily to lighten the color of the hair, minimize regrowth, and soothe skin.
Spray on a body oil such as Guinot’s Huile Satinée or ESPA’s Body Silk Spray as a finishing touch for a subtle sheen and radiant glow.
April 30th, 2012
Bikini season is near! Maybe we let things go a little in the winter – the cover of a big puffy coat is so forgiving. But with the layers flying off as the summer heats up, it’s time to take care of business, so we’ve put together a few products to help you look better in the buff.
Cellulite?
Guinot’s Double Minceur Ciblée is contouring gel cream that targets the initial process of when fat starts to store itself. The lipolytic action releases trapped fat while anti-lipogenesis slows down its storage. Delipogenase hunts fat to eliminate it right at the source.
Extra Water Weight?
ESPA’s Detoxifying Seaweed Bath will shrink you down! The new blend of orange, mandarin, petitgrain, and citronella essential oils smells heavenly and seawater acts as a humectant. Two capfuls in the bath will tighten you right up!
*This is potent stuff! Don’t use if you’re pregnant or allergic to seaweed, and be sure to drink lots of water.
Stretch Marks?
Acting as an invisible sheath supporting the skin, Guinot’s Crème Spécifique Vergetures combats the formation of stretch marks and softens their appearance.
Trouble décolleté?
Guinot’s Longue Vie Buste acts as an invisible sports bra that helps create a younger-looking bust and décolleté, and sculpts the bust, and deeply firms the skin. This youth firming serum penetrates to the elastic and supportive tissue for an anti-aging effect.
Dull Skin?
As a final touch before wowing Mr. Right (or everyone at the office), spritz on a bit of ESPA’s Body Silk Spray, a nourishing finale for soft skin and subtle radiance giving the skin a beautiful sheen and radiant glow.
April 30th, 2012
Forget the Hallmark card or the flowers and take Mom away for a real treat. We’ve put together some suggestions for a Mother’s Day she won’t soon forget.
Where: One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico
What: Get Mom a weekend of spa treatments in paradise.
When: Mother’s Day Weekend
Why Mom will love it: Mothers and daughters can unwind in the privacy of a double Spa villa at the ESPA spa complete with private garden, rain showers, outdoor Mexican daybeds, and whirlpool baths to relax in after a treatment. Special for the weekend are Mother-Daughter Soul-to-Soul moments ($640 for two) that include a Mother-Daughter yoga or salsa experience, an ESPA age-defying radiance facial or intensive facial, a spa lunch, and full use of the heat experience and relaxation area, or the Enduring Memory Mother’s Day Experience ($355) with a two-hour holistic body ritual, an in-villa 30-minute experience including a foot ritual, bath, and relaxation time, a spa lunch, and full use of the heat experience and relaxation areas. And all of this with her now favorite child.
Where: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe, New Mexico
What: Show Mom how much you care by sending her to the welcoming Inn on the Alameda for a weekend of adult-only relaxation.
When: Mothers Day Weekend
Why Mom will love it: With the Please Your Parents Package, Mom and Dad can enjoy a weekend away from the kids in Deluxe Accommodations at the Inn, including the Inn’s signature continental breakfast, afternoon wine hour, and one box of yummy bizcochitos, the official New Mexico state cookie.
Rate: Nightly rate is $220 plus tax per room per night. With a regular rate of $270 plus tax, this package has $50 nightly savings and applies to the Inn’s Deluxe Rooms only. The stay must include Mother’s Day, Sunday May 13, 2012, but there is no minimum night stay requirement. The offer is subject to hotel availability.
Where: The Peninsula Spa, New York
What: An amazing ESPA “Spa-Cation” without leaving the island
When: Perfect for the week before or after Mother’s Day
Why Mom will love it: Play hooky and take your mama out! Without hopping on planes trains, or automobiles, have a spa-cation right in the city. You and mom can indulge in a 60-minute treatment, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness center. It’s available Monday-Thursday for $285 per person.
Where: White Elephant and Brant Point Grill, Nantucket, Massachusetts
What: Breakfast in bed is a nice gesture, but we bet Mom will enjoy the “Best Brunch on the Island” even more!
When: Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Why Mom will love it: From the Benedict Burger to the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, a Sparkling Station for mimosas, and a brand new tapas station, this brunch is complete with all of Mom’s favorites.
Rate: Brant Point Grill’s Mother’s Day Brunch is $55 for adults, $25 for kids ages 6-12 and $5 for kids ages 3-5. Combine your brunch with a stay at White Elephant and enjoy special Hot Dates Cool Rates, starting at $195 per night.
Where: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Avon, Colorado
What: Located in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, this luxury chateau-style resort features many amenities, including the 30,000 square-foot Allegria Spa, with a full-service fitness center, slopeside pool and hot tubs. This world-class spa is offering the “Her Day, Her Way Mother’s Day” package, an exceptional package for moms to unwind on their special day.
When: Mothers Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012.
Why Mom will love it: Spoil Mom with an extra luxurious spa escape with the “Her Day, Her Way Mother’s Day” package that includes a 50-minute Swedish Massage; choice of one of three select treatments (25 minute Sweet Lavender Body Scrub, 30 minute Custom Facial or Express Manicure & Pedicure); champagne; take-home spa gift; and access to Aqua Sanitas, the health club, the pools and hot tubs.
Where: Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
What: Max and relax with Mom for a stress-free weekend away
When: Mothers Day Weekend
Why Mom will love it: Stress is a fact of life for mothers and daughters alike, which is why Parrot Cay has designed a Stress Management Wellness Package to target and relieve sources of tension and worry. Professional consultants will take things down a few notches with deep relaxing therapies, enlightening outdoor pursuits, and smart tips to put some of the carefree “island life” of Turks & Caicos into the home routine. Let the experienced personal fitness trainers convert pent-up stress into a productive mother-daughter workout, and follow it up with mind- and body-balancing yoga and meditation.
April 30th, 2012
The effortlessly chic fashion line, Haute Hippie, and the highly-lauded Jamaica hotspot GoldenEye Hotel announce their collaboration and the creation of a new “All Things Gold” clothing collection. Inspired by Island Outpost’s flagship property and the simply stunning north coast of Jamaica where the hotel is located, the Haute Hippie designs will launch in time for Resort 2012.
The laid-back rocker-chic designs of Haute Hippie founder Trish Wescoat Pound are in perfect harmony with the simple, iconic Jamaica-style glamour that Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Blackwell has nurtured at the recently re-opened hotel. Their shared affinity for a relaxed approach to high style has resulted in this special “All Things Gold” collection, which will feature the vintage-inspired, yet modern vibe that both brands embody.
“So much of what inspires us is drawn from the places we travel and the music we listen to. The partnership with Chris Blackwell and GoldenEye is a true meeting of the minds – a sharing of aesthetics, tastes and influences,” said Trish Wescoat Pound, founder of Haute Hippie.
The “All Things Gold” Resort 2012 collection will be available later this year at Haute Hippie stores. The collection will also be carried on-site at GoldenEye and at its sister property Strawberry Hill Hotel, Spa & Gardens, which is set high among the Blue Mountains and offers breath-taking views over the city of Kingston below.
Haute Hippie draws from a myriad of cultures, genres, people and places, and embraces the lifestyle for which they design. More than just a line of beautiful clothes, Haute Hippie is an expression of a collective conscious, a common mindset and a shared worldview. It’s no wonder Wescoat Pound was inspired by Jamaica and GoldenEye following her recent wedding at the property. The hotel and its lush surroundings are steeped in old-Hollywood history – after all, it is the former home of author Ian Fleming and the location where he penned all 14 James Bond novels – yet thoroughly infused with the vibrant spirit of this most unique island. Set along the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, GoldenEye successfully pays homage to its rich heritage while offering contemporary luxury with an authentic Jamaican feel with brand new beach- and lagoon-front Cottages and Suites, swimming pools, and dining options.
About Haute Hippie
Founded by designer Trish Wescoat Pound, Haute Hippie is the expression of a love affair with clothing. From boy shorts to ball gowns, each piece in the Haute Hippie collection is inspired and designed by people who are passionate about the clothing they create. Haute Hippie embodies the spirit of the global nomad – blending vintage, urban chic and other cultural influences from around the world. The Haute Hippie woman is as comfortable exploring the jungles of Peru as she is the streets of New York; a true citizen of the world – comfortable in her own skin and free from the need to conform to trends. A believer in the democratization of fashion without compromising luxury, Trish infuses Haute Hippie with the same carefree – yet sophisticated – aesthetic that characterizes every aspect of her life. Founded in 2008, Haute Hippie is sold in over 100 stores across the United States and more than 40 countries worldwide.
About GoldenEye Hotel
GoldenEye overlooks the Caribbean Sea in the quiet village of Oracabessa Bay on Jamaica’s north coast. Built by the novelist Ian Fleming as his Jamaican retreat, GoldenEye is where Fleming wrote all 14 James Bond novels. Today, GoldenEye is an award-winning Island Outpost hotel. It is owned by Chris Blackwell, the Jamaica-raised founder of Island Records. Though built in 1949, GoldenEye reopened in 2010, following a two-year renovation. The hotel now encompasses Fleming’s original villa, three villas built by Blackwell, plus nine new Beach Cottages, two new Lagoon Cottages and six new Lagoon Suites. GoldenEye is sited on 52 stunning acres and is home to secret coves, breathtaking private beaches, tropical forests and a singular lagoon. Two new restaurants—The Gazebo and Bizot Bar—serve quintessential Jamaica-style cooking and signature cocktails mixed with Blackwell Fine Jamaica Rum. The FieldSpa is the home base for the fitness and activities program. Treatments are given by the water, in-your-own-room, or at a cottage named Royal Palm, at the lagoon-edge where open-to-the air treatment rooms are a sanctuary for massage, salt scrubs, skin brightening facials, herbal wraps, and energy work. A pioneer in a variety of green initiatives, GoldenEye supports the Oracabessa Foundation, which educates and encourages sustainable development within the community.
April 30th, 2012
Balance your mind, body, and spirit at the island’s first Nantucket Yoga Festival, July 26 – 28. The weekend celebration is chock full of wellbeing classes, lectures, seminars and yoga (of course)!
Workshops and classes will be held at Bartlett’s Farm, Nantucket’s oldest and largest family farm. The Festival is offering an amazing array of classes with experiences including:
- Silence in Symmetry: Learn hidden techniques of movement and breathing that will create the dynamic stillness that ancient yogis claimed was our original nature.
- Yoga for Athletes: Understand various styles of yoga asana and pranayama for sport-specific performance and longevity.
- The Secret to Radiant Health, Ayurveda: Learn the difference between Ayurvdea and modern medicine and how they complement each other.
- Reclaim Your Life Force: Combine an all-levels vinyasa flow class and various pranayama exercises to awaken the inner body and clear the mind.
For a complete schedule of activities, click here.
In between channeling your chakras, unwind at Nantucket Island Resorts for the weekend, which includes the new Inn at the White Elephant Village opening mid-June. Round out your weekend of wellness with a rejuvenating treatment at Wauwinet’s Spa by the Sea or the White Elephant Spa.
Day and full weekend passes are available starting at $125 per day. For more information, tickets, and a full schedule, visit www.nantucketyogafestival.com/.
To book overnight accommodations, visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com. Rates start at $450 per night.
April 24th, 2012
Park Hyatt
- Rain or shine, this is one event that no one wants to miss. On April 26, 2012, as part of the 2012 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, Park Hyatt Seoul will be offering a Korean ethnic earthenware Onggi class followed by a reception and full course dinner with exclusive, locally-produced caviar and sturgeon complemented by an excellent wine selection.
Anantara
- Make downtime fun in Thailand with Anantara activities: chef-led Thai cooking class and market tours at Anantara Lawana on Koh Samui, 120 minutes of bliss with the Pearl of Andaman signature treatment at Anatara Phuket Villas’s Anantara Spa, a Floral Foot Ritual, Traditional Chinese Herbal Back Massage, and Pearl Facial.
Crystal Cruises
- Take advantage of a rainy day at sea to try an onboard enrichment program at Crystal’s Creative Learning Institute. Take a crash course in a foreign language with Berlitz, taste wine with the Society of Wine Educators, or create a work of art with Crystal’s Masterpeice Art Program, the most comprehensive art program at sea.
La Réserve Ramatuelle
- April marks the re-opening of La Réserve Ramatuelle. Dedicated to health, the hotel has indoor and outdoor fitness options that include an indoor pool and a fitness center with Technogym equiptment – guests can stay fit rain or shine! In April, La Réserve is offering the third night free for any reservation of two nights!
Geejam Hotel
- While it might be raining outside, at Geejam it’s always jammin’ no matter the weather. The hotel has its own recording studio where guests can learn the recording process and record a track on the mic.
Orient-Express
- Rain is a fact of life in Scotland; lucky for us, the Scots have had centuries to figure out how to make the best of it. Orient-Express’ The Royal Scotsman’s new season is sure to entertain during April showers with elegant Scottish dinners, breathtaking views, and the quiet comforts of private Edwardian-style carriages.
One&Only Ocean Club
Park Hyatt Tokyo
- Stay high and dry on the 41st floor while indulging in some sweet temptations. Every weekday afternoon, the Peak Lounge offers a tea plate and sweets buffet showcasing quintessential Japanese confections, such as warabi mochi sprinkled generously in sweet toasted kinako and a panna cotta accented with sakura sauce and macaron.
The Wauwinet
- Borrow The Wauwinet’s complimentary Hunter Boots to explore Nantucket on a rainy afternoon. Watch the storm roll into the bay or take a short walk to the Whaling Museum and check out the 46-foot skeleton of a sperm whale that washed ashore in 1998.
Le Pavillon des Lettres
- Take advantage of the rain and catch up on your reading. There’s no better place than the intimately luxurious Le Pavillon de Lettres, Paris’ first literary hotel. Guests can curl up by the fireplace or read from one of the hotel’s many iPads, loaded with international bestsellers, in the privacy of their rooms.
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
- Let the rain be your excuse to take a break from the outdoor activities available at the Victoria-Jungfrau and indulge in the signature treatment at the hotel’s ESPA Spa, the authentic Swiss Alpine herb poultice massage. The herbal foot ritual, full-body poultice massage, and relaxing head and scalp massage are guaranteed to relax you from head to toe.
Guinot
- When rain has one homebound, get that face ready for summer. Start with a gentle exfoliation with Gommage Grain d’Eclat, follow with quick swipe of refreshing Lotion Hydra Fraîcheur toner, and finish off with 10 minutes of the smooth and gentle Hydra Sensitive Face Mask (voted Best Overall Face Mask by NewBeauty).
ESPA
- Rainy days and Mondays get you down? Make the best of an April shower and take a “Spa-Cation” at the Peninsula Spa. This includes a 60-minute ESPA massage, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness center.
Inn on the Alameda
- Let it rain, let it rain!!! While rainfall in Santa Fe is negligible, when it does rain, it pours! Take shelter in the Inn’s cozy Agoyo Room and enjoy a Turquoise Margarita or a New Mexican wine while sitting in front of the roaring fire.
Shakti
- While April showers are nourishing the earth, Shakti guests can nourish their souls by sitting in meditation with Buddhist monks in a Sikkimese monastery, meeting with a real medicine man in a remote Ladakhi village house, or creating a bespoke itinerary featuring customized adventures.
Royal Mansour Marrakech
- April showers may be cold and dull, but traditional Moroccan hammams are not! At 27,000 square feet, Royal Mansour’s two-story spa features thirteen treatment rooms, a fitness center, gymnastics area, a salon, two hammams, and an indoor swimming pool. Try out their signature Slimming Body Massage to prepare for the summer ahead!
Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens
- A little rain never spoils the party in Costa Rica! Don’t fret – the almost-daily showers usually don’t last more than a few minutes, leaving just enough time to sample a sommelier-selected assortment of 33 South American wines and Latin American tapas at Nostalgia Wine Bar at Nayara, near the Arenal Volcano in the heart of the rainforest.
April 24th, 2012
Day-to-day environmental irritants, from stress to smoking to pollution, are the main cause of many pesky cellular malfunctions that result in less-than-perfect skin. And when deprived of oxygen (thanks to those irritants), skin cells cannot breathe and this, too, is reflected on the face, making for a dull and lackluster complexion. Guinot’s new BiOXYGENE facial cream, available May 2012, will combat this problem, returning radiance to the skin by oxygenating asphyxiated skin cells. Consider it a breath of fresh air for the face.
BiOXYGENE has been designed to stimulate cellular oxygenation with its Pro-Oxygene formula that utilizes amino acids extracted from corn that have an extraordinary capacity to help stimulate the cellular respiratory system and helping improve the functions of skin cells.
BiOXYGENE combats pollution with Purisoft. Made using peptides extracted from grains of the Moringa tree, Purisoft is a system of protection against pollution that helps expel harmful environmental micro-particles.
All the while skin is moisturized with Guinot’s Hydrocyte Complex, the biological moisture source actively hydrates cells at each level of the skin, leaving faces feeling supple and refreshed. BiOXYGENE is also paraben-free and was not tested on animals.
Vitamin E helps neutralizes free radicals and protects against the harmful effects of the environment.
Plant DNA helps regenerate and repair cells.
Green Tea Extract is used for its antioxidant, anti-ageing, and regenerating properties
Shea Butter has an integral nourishing action.
TO USE: Apply the cream morning and/or night on a clean face and neck.
BiOXYGENE comes in a 1.6 oz jar priced at $75. Guinot products are carried in over 1000 spas and salons within the US. To locate a spa, visit www.GuinotUSA.com.
April 23rd, 2012
New to the shelves of ESCAPE boutiques in May 2012 at The Cove Atlantis and One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island, Bahamas, is a line of herbal elixirs by New-York based superfood mixologists, Body&Eden. Comprised of three unique herbal blends – I HAVE SPACE, I HAVE ARRIVED and I HAVE PLEASURE – the new exclusive ESCAPE elixir line promises to provide guests of The Cove or Ocean Club with the highest nutritional content to support and nourish the body while on vacation.
“Health is of the utmost importance for our guests today,” says Errol Cohen, SVP of Retail for ESCAPE. “It is our hope that this new collaboration will fill a void for our guests seeking to nurture their bodies and mind while they are on holiday. Whether you need to relax or rejuvenate, these elixirs promise to ease the sometimes challenging transition from daily life to the pure pleasure of vacation. We recommend a daily elixir paired with plenty of Bahamian sunshine.”
Body&Eden works closely with a hands-on herbalist to create safe and balanced combinations comprised of the most vibrant nutrients to support the body’s needs when traveling. The new Body&Eden for ESCAPE line is available exclusively at ESCAPE boutiques at The Cove Atlantis and One&Only Ocean Club and is priced at $12/bottle.
BODY&EDEN for ESCAPE
These three elixirs are vibrant and varied in color, representing their high vitamin and nutrient content specifically formulated for travel.
This digestive elixir helps cleanse and clear toxins accumulated during travel, while creating space for something new. Apple cider vinegar, an ancient healing remedy known to help promote healthy digestion and weight loss, is combined with the digestive and circulatory support of ginger and cinnamon. The herbal tea base of lemon balm, nettle and elderberry round out this elixir combined with immune boosting anti-inflammatory and infection fighting properties to ensure a healthy holiday.
With ten times the antioxidants of red wine, the superfood goji berry is blended with a touch of honey and anti-inflammatory and detoxifying turmeric to promote rejuvenation and anti-aging. Grapefruit juice helps alkalinize the body while apple cider vinegar promotes healthy digestion and weight loss. The herbal tea base of hibiscus, rose hips and cardamom protect against stress and infections creating a soothing elixir that wards of sickness from the moment you arrive on holiday.
Pineapple juice is combined with blue-green algae, a chlorophyll-packed superfood, and apple cider vinegar, an ancient healing remedy to promote healthy digestion and support the immune system when traveling. Added to the herbal tea base of alfalfa, nettle and linden, this elixir helps to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, supporting a happy, healthy, feeling of pleasure.
April 23rd, 2012
In 2011, La Réserve Geneva added a fleet of five Tesla roadster’s to its list of hotel amenities. The exclusive partnership between the hotel and motor company allows guests to either rent one of the cars for a day or purchase the Tesla Break Package – including a two-night stay at the hotel and full day’s use of the car. Guests agree that touring luxurious Lake Geneva is twice as fun when done in the eco-friendly and similarly luxurious vehicle.
Recently, Tesla expanded their line to include the Model X, a new all-wheel-drive SUV that boasts the performance of a sports car. The most impressive and unique aspect of the vehicle is it’s “falcon wing” doors, which open up instead of out – almost reminiscent of angel wings. Production of the first consumer-ready Model X vehicles won’t begin until late 2013 but its initial debut was met with enthusiasm. Although La Réserve has no plans as of yet to introduce the new addition to their fleet, you can still go for a spin in one of their five roadsters.
Rates for the two-night offer begin at 1,850 (about $2,294) for a Superior Room; day rates start at 790 CHF (about $984).
April 19th, 2012
Guinot’s new Gel Douche Soleil to the rescue! This NEW shower gel, made especially for bathing after sun exposure, is here just in time for Spring and Summer 2012. Sun, salt, and chlorine dry the skin, while sunscreens leave minerals behind. This shower gel has been formulated to dissolve sunscreen residues and UV filters while neutralizing the effects of chlorine and salt water. While all things relating to a day at the beach or pool tend to cause skin dehydration, so, too, do many ordinary soaps and cleansers. This after-sun superstar has Jojoba Oil to moisturize and soften, preventing dehydration and making it gentle enough for sunburned skin.
TO USE:Lather with Gel Douche Soleil in the shower to wash away sunscreens, salt, and chlorine.
Gel Douche Soleil comes in a 300ml bottle priced at $30. Guinot products are carried in over 1,000 spas and salons within the US. To locate a spa, visit www.GuinotUSA.com.