Epsom Salts for Beauty

You may think of epsom salts as an old-timey remedy. You can add some magnesium sulfate to a hot bath to soothe aches and pains, but epsom salts have beauty benefits, too. Here are some to try:

• Oily, flat hair? Dissolve 1/2 cup of salt into 3 cups of lukewarm water and use the solution as a pre-shampoo rinse.


• Exfoliate rough skin by rubbing a few handfuls of salt into your pre-moistened skin.


• Give your face a deep cleanse by adding 1/2-teaspoon of epsom salt with your normal face cleansing cream.

Avocado Face Mask for Dry Skin

Even in the peak of summer, dry skin is a problem for many of us. If you have dry skin on your face, you may be washing your face too often or with harsh products. You should also be careful not to wash your face with hot water, as it is too drying, and you should use a soap specially formulated for dry skin. For a quick relief of dry skin on the face and neck, mash a ripe avocado and apply to your skin for 15 minutes, then rinse. Avocadoes are rich in emollients and will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

The Oxygen Facial is a Breath of Fresh Air

There's a reason why so many celebrities include the Oxygen Facial in their beauty arsenals--this next-generation treatment offers superior rejuvenation of the skin. Repairing skin at the cellular level, the Oxygen Facial delivers oxygen below the surface of the skin to brighten, plumpen, and soften skin, as well as remove impurities.

After skin has been thoroughly cleaned and exfoliated, pressurized oxygen cleanses pores, stimulates cell regeneration, and increases circulation. In addition to reducing the appearance of wrinkles and any dark spots, this wonderfully therapeutic treatment infuses the skin with vitamins and minerals, leaving a youthful glow.

Green Tea for Beauty

Have you heard of supermodels and actresses sipping green tea kombucha for beauty? Green tea is packed with anti-oxidants that help protect the body from free radicals. You don't have to rush out and buy expensive beauty products with green tea to capture its powerful benefits. Try this simple formula:

• Soothing spritzer: Simply steep 100g of green tea in a liter of mineral water for at least one hour. Strain the liquid into a sterilized spray bottle and use as a refreshing face mist, or soak a cotton pad and wipe under the eyes to reduce puffiness. This spray will also have antiseptic properties and can be used to treat minor scratches, blemishes, and sunburns.

Give Yourself a Hand (Massage)

Most likely you are reading this while staring at a computer screen where you often type and use your hands to click a mouse. All of the repetitive motions carried out by our hands means that they hold a lot of tension. Relax in just a matter of minutes by doing some self-massage techniques on those fingers and palms:

• Apply hand cream, balm, or oil to your hands.
• Stroke the back of your hand, pressing firmly towards the wrist and gently gliding back.
• Squeeze and pull the length of each finger, and make circular motions over each joint with your thumb.
• Stroke in between the tendons on the back of your hand, pressing down to the wrist.
• Place your palm face up on a pillow or cushion. With your other arm, press your elbow into your palm and make circular motions.
• Remember, all of the muscles that control the hands are in the arms, so massage your forearms as well using gentle strokes and circular motions.

The Safe Way to Spray-Tan: Bronze Biologic

Perhaps you have considered getting a spray tan to capture a summer glow without harmful sun exposure, but you are worried that it will look and feel artificial. Here at @Ease Spa, we only use Bronze Biologic botanical tanning solutions to give you a natural-looking tan. Bronze Biologic only uses pure ingredients and does not use toxic chemicals, dyes, alcohol, additives, perfumes, or artifical colors. Extensively tested to be safe for all skin types, Bronze Biologic delivers a natural-looking tan that darkens within 6 to 12 hours of your initial session. Never yellow or orange, the tan is a warm bronze glow. With regular moisturizing, your spray tan will last at least 7 to 10 days, making it perfect for a special occasion or any time of the year that calls for an evenly-distributed tan.

Join Us on Facebook & Twitter and Save!

We hope you are enjoying your summer! We're excited to announce that we have joined the world of social networking.

Become a fan on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and receive an exclusive $25 discount on any 55-minute treatment!

• Get instant access to special spa offers and news.
• Connect with us, give us feedback, and share your spa experience.

We look forward to seeing you online and in our spa, and as always, stay beautiful and @ ease!

Harness the Healing Power of Infrared Light

Hot summer weather might not have you thinking about saunas, but imagine if you could harness the healing power of sunlight without exposing yourself to harsh ultraviolet rays? Well, with an infrared sauna, you can! Here at At-Ease Spa, our infrared sauna heats your body from the inside out. All life forms on the planet require infrared light, and without it people become ill, depressed, and Vitamin D-deficient. Just relax inside the sauna while the heat increases circulation, relieves minor aches and pains, boosts your immune system and metabolism, and detoxifies the body. Even Oprah and Dr. Oz are fans of this rejuvenating, calorie-burning treatment.

Host a Spa Party!

Planning a birthday, shower, anniversary, or other celebration? Avoid corny games and cheesy entertainment and have a spa party instead, giving your guests an experience to remember. Who wouldn't want to attend a gathering where you leave exfoliated, soothed, and pampered? Perfect for pre-wedding parties, birthdays, and teens, At Ease Spa offers treatment packages that will relax your group without stressing your wallet. Think of it as a fun way to bond and celebrate!

Head to Your Local Spa for a Staycation!

Has the recession cut your vacation budget from yacht to naught? Head on over to your neighborhood spa for a getaway experience at a fraction of the cost. Instead of spending money on airfare, hotels, and meals, ease into a mud bath, a relaxing massage, or a hot sauna, and let your stress melt away as if you were miles away from home. Here at At-Ease Spa, we are running a Tropical Summer Special through the end of August. Treat yourself to a 2 1/2 hour treatment including a 1 hour coconut oil massage, a 1 hour facial, and a 1/2 hour coconut body scrub. Take a personal day, start and end your day with pampering, and get the most out of your staycation so that you return to your routine renewed.

Get Sweet Skin With Pure Honey

All-natural honey has been used for beauty purposes since the days when Cleopatra took her milk and honey baths. A humectant, honey's hydrating and antioxidant properties softens skins and leaves it looking supple. Honey also has antimicrobial properties, making it ideal for the treatment of minor acne. Here are some DIY beauty treatments using honey--just be sure to use pure honey:

• Face scrub: Mix fine-ground almonds with a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of lemon juice for a daily face exfoliant. Rinse thoroughly.
• Bath soak: Simply add 1/4-cup honey to a warm bath to soften skin.
• Blemish fixer: Mix a little cinnamon with honey and dab onto pimples and blackheads before bedtime. In the morning, rinse thoroughly.
• Hair conditioner: Mix 1/2 cup of honey with two tablespoons of olive oil and apply to hair. Cover with a shower cap or damp towel and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
• Moisturizing mask: Mix 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of milk into a paste. Smooth onto face and let sit for 10 minutes; rinse.

Carpe Diem: Become a Morning Person!

You know morning people when you see them--up at the crack of dawn, they seem to have already accomplished so much by the time you open your tired, puffy eyes. We're not all born with an inclination to be early risers, but there are a few things we can do to better take advantage of those precious hours. By taking the time to start your day off right, you will feel less stressed, more energized, and ready for whatever your day has in store. Here are some tips:

• Sleep better. Naturally, you can't be a morning person if you don't get enough sleep. Seven to nine hours should do the trick.
• Stop snoozing. Try to get your body's internal clock to coincide with your alarm clock--not fight it. Those extra five or 10 minutes of sleep might actually make you feel groggier, instead of more awake.
• Let the sunshine in. Open those curtains, get outside for a walk, or if it's wintertime, expose yourself to the brightest light possible--this will signal to your brain that sleepytime is over.
• Try to be consistent. If you are prone to sleeping late on weekends, Monday mornings will be that much tougher. Get your biological clock in a regular rhythm and in time, you might just find yourself whistling with the rest of the early birds.

Don't Sweat It: Organic Deodorant

How's this for a sticky dilemma--ingredients found in most commercial deodorants, such as parabens, triclosan, and aluminim chlorohydrate, have been linked to cancer. Do you really need to put your health at risk in order to keep your sweat and odor at bay?

For an alternative, try organic deodorant. Now, if any of you have tried brands such as Tom's of Maine natural deodorant, you know that some of the organic formulas out there aren't as effective as mainstream deodorants. However, there are a few new brands on the market that are a hit with organic enthusiasts. Try Nature's Gate Organics Fruit Blend Deodorant ($5.50), a stick that uses baking soda and organic fruit, floral, and herbal extracts to banish odors and keep you fresh. Another is Erbaviva Organic Deodorant ($16), a spray mist that combines grain alcohol, sage, lemon peel, and patchouli and tea tree oils..

Face Yoga: A Free & Natural Alternative to Botox

Botox fever has swept the nation--according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 5 million individuals got Botox injections to smooth their wrinkles in 2008. Have you thought about using Botox to change the appearance of sagging or wrinkled skin? Botox is a powerful poison that temporarily paralyzes nerves and muscles. Cosmetically, it's used in small doses to prevent muscles from contracting and producing wrinkles that occur when people make facial expressions. The injections usually smooth a line for about six or 12 months.

An alternative to Botox that is cheaper and far less dangerous than injecting substances under your skin is face yoga, or the stretching of facial muscles. Most people don't realize that aging leads to muscle deterioration, and as the muscles in your face become weak, the surrounding skin starts to sag. By taking time to do face-specific exercises, such as those developed by New York yoga teacher Annelise Hagen, you can target problem areas, lift and tighten skin, improve circulation in your face, and relieve tension. For some examples of face yoga poses, read this article. The poses may look silly, but the point is to relax and enjoy the full spectrum of your expressions--something Botox certainly can't deliver.

Olive Oil for Beauty

It's great on salads and for cooking your dinner, but did you know that pure olive oil is a useful beauty ingredient as well? It's rich in squalene, a natural organic compound and emollient that penetrates the skin, and won't leave a greasy film on it. Here's where to apply:

• Cuticles and nails: Soak nails in a cup of olive oil to repair ragged cuticles and dry nails.
• Feet: Rub olive oil onto your feet and cover with socks before going to bed to rejuvenate dry skin.
• Lips: Chapped lips? Dab on a little olive oil for a quick fix.
• Hair: Olive oil is a cure-all for a dry scalp and hair. For a deep conditioning treatment, massage oil into scalp and hair, cover with a hot towel or a bathing cap, and let sit for 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse. You can also dab oilve oil on dry ends to tame frizz.
• Bath: Add a few drops of olive oil to a warm bath to soothe your skin.
• Makeup remover: Use a little olive oil on a Q-Tip and it will work just as well as any makeup remover found in the store.

Pamper Your Feet in Between Pedicures

For women, nothing signals the summer season more than the need for a pedicure. No matter your body type, most women find baring their toes in sexy summer sandals or beachy flip-flops an enjoyable ritual. Distance alone makes our feet easy to neglect--unless you bend down to tie your shoes each day, you're probably not looking at them too closely--but others are. The feet, like the hands, have no oil glands and the skin can become dry and cracked. Keep your tootsies in tip-top shape in between pedicures by giving your feet some at-home TLC:

• When was the last time you gave yourself a foot bath? All you need is a tub of warm water, a spoonful of salt, and a dash of essential oil, such as rose or lavender, and your feet are instantly pampered. Dry feet completely with a towel.
• Gently rub off dead skin with a pumice stone.
• Give yourself a foot massage. Rub massage oil into the soles of your feet in circular motions for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This will help stimulate blood circulation to your feet.
• One night a week, apply a generous amount of lotion or petroleum jelly to feet, cover with socks, and wear them to bed. You will wake up with the softest feet!

Tropical Summer Special

Indulge in the lush pleasures of the islands without packing your bags! Head to @ease Spa for our Tropical Summer Special, offered now through the end of August. Treat yourself to a 2 1/2 hour treatment including a 1 hour coconut oil massage, a 1 hour facial, and a 1/2 hour coconut body scrub. Coconut rejuvenates your skin's natural glow, leaving it soft and radiant, and the aroma will send you into the kind of deep relaxation found in pure paradise.

July Massage Special

The @ease Spa is offering a special deal for the month of July that is too good to miss--any half-hour massage is just $35 through July 31. Summer is all about relaxation, but between family trips and visiting relatives and friends, it can sometimes be more of a headache. If you haven't found time to unwind, treat yourself to this special offer and let our masseuses melt away your aches and pains.

In addition, if you are a first-time customer, or you want to recommend us to a first-time customer, check out our "Steals & Deals" offered exclusively through SpaWeek.com!