Recently in Spa Category

Taking care of the environment isn't just driving hybrids or putting trash in different colored bins. Going to organic spas that avoid chemicals can also contribute to saving our earth! In honor of our planet, why not make an appointment at one of these organic spas and treat yourself and the earth!

New York City Priti Organic Spa- A mom/tot friendly spa that will offer your little princesses a nail polish while you get pampered! Go for the exfoliating mani/pedi with organic geranium oil and fresh flowers! 35 East First St. 212-254-3628 www.pritiorganicspa.com

Washington DC Nusta Spa- The only spa in the country to be accepted into the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environment Design pilot program. Try the hydrotherapy tub and soak in a blend of seaweed and calcium powders with essential oils and minerals. 1129 20th St. Northwest, 202-530-5700. www.nustaspa.com

Dallas- Spa Habitat- A spa that uses wind power as its energy source. Slip on an organic cotton robe and receive an eco buff and organic massage. You can keep the robe, too! 3699 McKinney Ave. #304 214-522-9989 www.spahabitat.com

One of the things I will never give up is the luxury of a day at the spa. Its stress reducing benefits are priceless and who doesn't love to be pampered? I've been going to spas since I was a young girl I(in Asia, it's normal to hang out at the spa daily with your aunties and grandmother!) and no matter where I travel to-- I always find out the spa options in the local area! I'm heading to Miami next month and am excited to try out the new Eau Spa at the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach.

Palm Beach, legendary playground of the rich and famous, will soon offer an exclusive new gathering place for indulgence with the March 2009 opening of Eau Spa. The $30-million retreat offers a distinct setting for adults to engage in a magical spa experience with its variety of sensational beauty treatments and surprising touches throughout. Eau Spa's debut completes the recent transformations of more than $100 million of the AAA Five Diamond, Mobil Five-Star Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beachresort. (Jump for more details!)

Eau Spa is open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., with treatments beginning at $40.00. For more information and reservations, please call (561) 540-4960. Check the website here for availability!

Left: Encore Spa Lobby; Right: Hallway that take you to the treatment rooms

On my recent trip to Las Vegas I had check out Encore to see Steve Wynn's latest creation. Encore's grand opening was Dec. 22, 2008. My husband had to work during the day so it was the perfect opportunity to get away for some much needed relaxation at their Spa (it was our alone time away from the kids). I made an appointment for a 25 minute Ayurvedic Body Restoration ($85), sounded like just what I needed and I didn't want to spend all my money there since the whole purpose was just to check out the spa and use the facilities. As soon as I stepped into the lobby I was floored by the grandeur. The spa had all the niceties - lounge area with comfy seating, fresh fruit, assorted beverages, fully stocked vanity, soft robes, etc. But it wasn't until I made it to the treatment rooms that I was stopped dead in my tracks from the amazing visual and opulence. And then there was my treatment, the Ayurvedic Body Restoration which begins with a dry body brush followed by a body polish of special Indian ingredients that was appropriate for my dosha (my intrinsic needs, which my therapist decided for me). I then showered off the polish in the steam shower in the room. At this point, I regretted my decision to book the short 25 minute treatment. Luckily, when I voiced this I was able to add in further treatments to my heart's content. Well, the contentment kind of ended when I got the bill for $235 ($85 plus another $150 for an additional 50 min massage) but this is the preeminent spa in the west and I certainly did enjoy myself. I was so impressed, I went to the Wynn Spa the next day which was nice but if given a choice, definitely go to Encore!! See a listing of treatments on the Encore website, prices are not listed but it is around $85 for 25 min and $150 for 50 min treatments and $250 for 75 min rituals that include multiple treatments. Spa is only available to guests of Wynn and Encore. Call 702.770.4SPA (4772) for reservations.

If you are looking for an excuse to pamper yourself, what could be better than $50 services at high end spas?  This could not have come at a better time for everyone, go to the Spa Week website and see participating Day Spas in your state. 

As for Texas spas, there is no other than Cooper Spa for me.  Call my girl Katrina for an Ultimate Facial or my massage guru Tracey for a deep tissue.  You'll be properly pampered and relaxed, I promise!  Cooper Spa 214-383-1010.

The Synergy 7 Facial
I had the most amazing facial the other day, from an old friend no less! Renée Rouleau is a trusted skin-care expert who has been helping women attain healthy, glowing, beautiful skin for more than 20 years but I discovered her over 10 years ago when I was still living in LA. She had a small skin care salon in Dallas at the time and it was an oasis for me when I would visit my husband (fiance at the time). I would often visit for weeks at a time and the intense dry heat of Texas was brutal on my skin but Renée's facials made sure I glowed no matter what! We lost touch through the years and I re-discovered her while watching ABC's Good Morning Texas where she was featured as a skin care guru. I shouted to my husband, "hey! That's Renee!" I contacted her right away and discovered she has been very busy the past few years. In addition to expanding her salons (she now has two locations)-- she has also developed a complete line of skincare! (I am testing out several of her best sellers right now, will give you full review next week)

Her latest masterpiece, Synergy 7, is a state-of-the-art, luxurious facial offered exclusively at the Renée Rouleau Skin Care Salons in Plano and Dallas, Texas. In addition to her Dallas clients, Renee's proven results have earned her the confidence of celebrities such as Lisa Rinna, Eva Amurri, Cheryl Ladd, Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson, as well as cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists, who often refer their patients to Renee after cosmetic skin procedures.

"Renée Rouleau's products are fabulous!" says actress Lisa Rinna.

Check out Renee's site to find the product best suited for your skin type and receive a free beauty gift with free shipping! Or call 888.211.7560 to schedule a facial so you can experience what Allure magazine calls "The Best Facial in Dallas".

I checked out a MedSpa for the first time the other day! I went to an event at TriBeCa MedSpa and I have to say I felt a lot like one of the Real Housewives of Orange County getting the tour of the space where you can get anything from Botox to Medical Pedicures to Laser Hair removal, along with a bunch of other heavy-duty services. The spa has won countless accolades and was voted #1 MedSpa by Day Spa Magazine. They gave-out an interesting little document they put together with the Must-Have Bridal Beauty Services for various age groups that I thought some of you might be interested in:) Note, that I myself have never tried these treatments, so feel free to comment with your insights! I did get to try 2 products that I loved though --

*Oil Free Sun Block SPF 30 ($36 for 4oz) -- It's oil-free, fragrance-free, and absorbs almost instantly without a greasy residue (I literally couldn't tell where I had or had not put it on because it absorbed so quickly!).
*I just received some feedback on Rosewater moisturizer and the spa had an excellent one -- Rosewater ($55 for 4oz) -- great for a mid-day spritz in this crazy heat!!

Read on for the Beauty Countdown of suggested treatments for Brides-to-be!

"bringing beauty to you"

Left: Stephanie from MML PR- Beauty Snob Anne, -and Allison, the founder of Spa Connections, at BizBash Style Expo.
This is the ultimate in pampering, it does not get better than a spa that will come to you! Spa Connections is a company that sends anything and everything beauty right to your door. If you live in the LA area you know that "car culture" is a term that was coined in SoCal for a reason, we drive everywhere! With the gas prices continually escalating and the ever present LA traffic, it may be worth your while to order your massage and manicure to go. The massages are simply divine!--(ask for Travis!)-- Spa Connections offer services ranging from fashion consultation and fitness training to spray tanning, waxing and makeup applications. They also offer gift certificates which make amazing gifts for fellow Beauty Snobs! They also do parties... so if you are throwing a bridal shower, baby shower or birthday party make it memorable with a beauty Treatment from Spa Connections!

There are many things in life that a girl can not live without... one of which is of course going to the spa! This Mother's Day weekend, I treated myself to a trip to the Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, a Florida landmark since 1928!! I really needed to de-compress from work induced stress. What started as a hobby for Kelly and I is now a full time job-- we still love what we do but the eight plus hour workdays is more than we ever anticipated! So I felt perfectly justified to indulge at one of the most beautiful spas in the country during my week long trip in Florida. From the minute I checked in until I was driven back to my hotel room, I felt absolutely pampered. (Jump for more!)