Some More Holiday Treats

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Don't get sad that it's all over. Here are just a few things to look forward to:

The new Candy Cane Scrub exfoliates the skin while the peppermint present in the holiday candy opens pores, leaving skin looking great and feeling smooth.

And finally, the red and green apple facial looks like Christmas and smells delicious. Its refreshing elements will renew and hydrate skin, protecting it from the dry winter weather.

Thanksgiving Detox

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Hope you're ready to eat pounds of delicious turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, beans, pie, and whatever else you've got cooking. Eating a Thanksgiving meal and taking a nap is the best feeling. But, when you wake up on Friday, don't stress. Detoxify. Experience the comforting effects of the warm algae wrap. The algae will be naturally removing toxins from your circulatory system and replacing them with nutrients and minerals. An additional layer of essential oils augments the algae's absorption properties while supplying extra detoxifying assistance to other parts of your body. Happy Thanksgiving!

Looking Forward

Time makes for beautiful memories but not so beautiful age spots. Look forward to the future with photo rejuvenation. Photo rejuvenation is a revolutionary treatment and uses light therapy to produce healthier and younger looking skin. It's different that tanning and uses the good parts of light to correct skin texture and collagen structure. By doing so, it transforms skin into its optimal state of firm beautiful skin. Photo rejuvenation utilizes Intense Pulsed Light technology which is a non-invasive kind of cosmetic treatment and is a little bit more intense that microdermabrasion and is more effective in boosting collagen firmness. It is also very very effective in treating and alleviating signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Bird Droppings...Facial? Another Bizarre Treatment

When a bird dropping unfortunately lands on your shoulder it's supposedly good luck. But, would you pay for it to be spread on your face? I came across an article on the "Nightingale Cleansing Mask which includes a powder composed of "sanitized droppings" from the bird. The treatment claims to break down dead skin cells more gently than acid peels. But, I can't help wondering if the droppings are actually more effective or if it's a novelty to get people in the spa. I guess it is made of natural ingredients but many spas offer a variety of natural options like berries and other herbs and remedies. I think I'm going to stick to my usual exfoliator.

Today's Spa

According to the International SPA Association (ISPA), last year there were 14, 615 spas in the United States. In their research they have found a very large shift in spa trends from strictly exterior enhancement services to an increasing amount of services that treat your inside as well. Rather than focusing on Botox, spas look towards aroma therapy and other services that provide tranquility for the mind and muscles. New, natural anti-aging techniques also come in to play for the baby-boomers who want an organic alternative (like the Acai berry, wraps, and specialized massage). People today are now more concerned with health and beauty that comes from the inside - out. Here, at the @-ease spa we are happy to cater to these needs for a happier, healthier life along with spas all around the country.

Some Delectable Holiday Treatments

Be reminded of the magic of the holidays with their comforting scents and warmth. Here's a little taste of some treatments you may be able to experience this holiday season:

The Eggnog Body Wrap is a relaxing way to enjoy the sent and comfort of the holiday season. The aroma of eggnog is mixed into a mud wrap that hydrates the skin leaving it brighter and tighter. Its high amount of amino acids and proteins are essential for skin nourishment and will relieve the appearance of cellulite and improve circulation

A Shiradora treatment is reminiscent of the miracle of Hanukah and its little jar of oil. The warm oil drips onto the forehead applying essential oils to the skin while relieving stress for days to come.

Get Ready, Set, to Tackle Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is just one week away. You better begin your game plan now. Whether you're visiting family or having the family come to you, Thanksgiving can usually create some anxiety. Get the perfect turkey, the perfect recipes and take a well needed break. Before you dive head first into the holidays, take some time out for yourself with even just a simple massage. Take time to relax and you will have more energy. If you don't take time for yourself your body will eventually just burn out. Just taking a personal day for yourself and spend a day at the spa. Your muscles will relax, tension will be released, your skin will be renewed, and you'll be ready to tackle Turkey Day.

Eyelash Replenishment

A few days ago I posted on eyelash extensions. I also want to tell you about eyelash replenishment. Eyelash extensions can stay intact for over a month. However, touch-ups will keep your luscious lashes looking just as fantastic as the day they were applied. Routinely replenish your lashes and experience hassle-free, natural-looking eyelash extensions. @Ease Spa offers both eyelash extensions and replenishment to maintain that long lash look for months to come.

Bizarre Treatments: Yay or nay?

A few months ago I had posted an item on a bizarre spa treatment that utilizes hundreds of tiny fish to remove dead skin during a pedicure. I wasn't sure what to think of it but as I have been reading more on outlandish spa treatments like these it has become apparent to me that they are not a very good idea. No one is really sure of the effects of treatments like these. When receiving a pedicure or other treatment, sterilization is SO important. When you throw hundreds of fish into the situation it makes for quite a volatile environment. Bacteria is more likely to grow and get into the blood stream when you're dealing with live animals. In an article on forbes.com I came across reactions to spa gimmicks like this and the snake massage, Leslie Baumann, M.D., director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute at the University of Miami and Bonnie Bonadeo, director of program development and education at the Professional Beauty Association, stated:

"Normal pedicures alone can be harmful if the sink and tools are not sanitized," Baumann says. "The fish are just another element of hygiene to worry about."

Aside from the possible harmful side affects, many of these treatments are no more effective than their mainstream counterparts.

"You don’t need a gimmick to meet your beauty needs," Bonadeo says. "You can use a loofah or pumice stone to remove calluses just as easily as having fish chomping at your skin."

Keep Warm!

We have a little bit of a break this weekend from the extreme cold. But the weatherman tells me that next week the highs are only going to be in the low 40s. So, enjoy this weekend but start planning ways to warm up. I can think of one extremely relaxing and enticing way to get really really warm. A sauna! Not only is it HOT but an infrared sauna offers so many benefits to the body. The UV-free infrared light is necessary for all living things. Without it, life forms become ill, depressed, and Vitamin D deficient. In the sauna, the light utilizes healthy electromagnetic wave lengths that are produced naturally. The heat reaches the cells in your body directly. Thus, increasing circulation, the relief of minor aches and pains, boosts the immune system and cardiovascular systems. Get this! it even burns calories and and fat while detoxifying the body. When you sweat it out you're also losing calories as well as releasing toxins present in your body. The sauna will warm you to the core and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go back out into the cold.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Earlier this morning I heard the faint ringing of the Salvation Army donation bells. When I saw the man standing there with his bell and red tin bucket I realized how close the holidays had become. When did it get to be mid- November? I have to get on task and start shopping. It's going to be especially difficult for everyone this year shopping for bargains to save money. I always want to find the perfect thoughtful gift for everyone. Shopping is stressful. It's like a sport or a marathon. The finish line is beautiful but the stress and muscle aches that come from the physical shopping are painful. Take a break from all the running around in the wrong shoes for a Deep Tissue & Sport massage. It will reach deep into those aching muscles and release tension. It will keep your legs and feet going so you can still run all over Manhattan looking for that perfect gift.

A Softer Approach

Need a face refresher but looking for a quicker solution without the chemicals? A Glycolic peel facial (also known as the lunchtime peel) is light and fruit-based. It is a great alternative to heavier and harsher chemical peels. This solution will exfoliate your skin, neutralizing lines, hyper pigmentation and scars. Next, one of our @Ease professionals will apply a potent glycolic peel and add a soothing mask. When the mask is removed, they will next administer a gentle balm which soothes, smooths, heals, and refreshes. On top of all this you will even receive a soft massage. Get the comfortable, gentle treatment of a glycolic facial for a soothing afternoon (or lunchtime).

Make Your New Year's Resolution Today

I don't mean to jump ahead but I'm just trying to get us all prepared. A few days ago I posted about the approaching holiday season. I began to think about how everyone feels after the holidays are over, after all of the excitement, running around, and shopping. Come New Year, you have completely forgotten about any resolution and feel completely lackluster and run-down. But, make your New Year's resolution right now! A New Year, a new you! Just remember how you're going to feel when January 1st rolls in. A trip to the spa for a facial and a massage will lift your spirits and start the new year off positively. Don't allow the end of the holiday season to drag you down. Take it as a chance to start over with a fresh outlook.

Eyelash Extensions: The Safe and Easy Solution

My sister was born with extremely long eye lashes. I always wondered how I could too get the same length without fake stick-on eyelashes that would fall off and embarrass me. Well now that I'm all grown up I have found the very best solution in eye lash extensions and am ready to share it with you.

Get those doe eyes you’ve always dreamed of with Eyelash Extensions. Bat them, flaunt them. Eyelash extensions can more than double the length and abundance of your lashes while appearing completely natural. It is performed by an @Ease expert trained in the proper weaving procedures to ensure the complete comfort and safety of your delicate eyes.

Don’t be embarrassed by short, invisible lashes or cake on layers of mascara anymore. An eyelash extension just once a month will make mascara and fake, stick-on lashes obsolete. Open your eyes each morning to the long, striking lashes you’ve been dreaming of with @Ease Spa’s safe and easy eyelash extensions.

Delicious

With the holidays approaching spas are beginning to think about how they can get in the holiday spirit while you take your decorations out of the attic. By using fragrances and materials that remind us of the holiday season, the spa experience is ever-so-much more comforting. Having smells of childhood wonder and excitement fill the room is bound to get you in the mood. Ingredients like chocolate and candy canes will remind you what it was like to be care-free. It's been a crazy, crisis-filled year. It's time for everybody to relax and enjoy the holiday season and all that comes with it. Family, friends, and delectable sweets. What we all need is a surefire way to de-stress. Can you say spa?

Get Out of the House and Into the Spa

An article in Times Online talks about the depression some feel during the winter months. The best way to beat this depression is exposing yourself to light. But, on a day like today when the clouds are hanging low, a trip to the spa can raise your spirits quickly. The author writes " Of course, even when you're feeling good, spa treatments can cheer you up (arduous research by, well, me demonstrates that the longer the massage, the better). But light treatment is a proven antidote to seasonal affective disorder – a type of depression that sufferers experience during winter months with symptoms such as low moods, cravings for carbohydrates, and the tendency to gain weight and sleep more." A massage can bring you out of the winter blues and get you ready to go back out there. Don't let the winter get you down, get out of the house and into the spa.

Love the One You're With

There are so many special occasions to celebrate during the lifetime of a relationship; how many anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, and other holidays. Even the every-day occasion just to show someone you care is a good excuse to go to the spa! Go with the person you love and get a massage, relax away the tension and just be together. It isn't enough anymore to have the same dinner every time at the same place and get the same flowers. Fall head-over-heals in love with a sugar scrub with the one you love. Leave together feeling renewed and ready to tackle any bumps in the road. Celebrate a milestone or the mundane at @Ease Spa.

The New Spa

Going to the spa isn't just about pampering yourself. It is no longer seen as a complete luxury. Spas today offer treatments that actually benefit the mind and body. It is not for aesthetic beauty or general relaxation. Today, people are looking for new ways to make their lives more rounded and complete. Rather than just going to work and coming home, many are looking into bettering their health, appearance, and general well- being. The spa is a new way of life and a place to go to relax, get connected with yourself again, and feel cared for. Alternative health, wellness and spirituality practices are much more frequently practiced and becoming more popular in the spa environment. Spa trends from around the world are working their way more and more into local spas. It is a way to travel the world in your mind without leaving your town. Products and scents from around the world help the body and mind feeling whole. For example, the Acai Berry, as I have mentioned in previous posts offers several health benefits that improve quality of life. So, now as times are changing, it is time for us all to think of the spa experience in a new way.