An Editor Gets Glowing with Infinity Sun

Last week, I attended Spatec Fall in sunny Pasadena, CA. It was a wonderful event, but my busy schedule kept me from spending too much time outdoors and soaking up the sun. Needless to say, I was disappointed to return to New York City with my pasty white skin. Luckily for me, I ran into Veronique Munro and Julie Haley from Infinity Sun, and they invited me to sample their sunless tanning system. So, prior to the final night’s party, my colleague, IECSC show director Kathy Gruttadauria, and I received spray tans. Five minutes later, we were both sporting golden, natural-looking glows. My skin was also soft and smooth and didn’t have that “just-spray-tanned” scent that normally keeps me from trying out too many of these types of services. We received countless compliments on our tans during dinner (here we are enjoying our new looks), and when I returned to New York, my friends were all envious of my California tan. (I didn’t feel the need to tell them my secrets). I’ve also been able to maintain the look with Infinity Sun’s new Glow on the Go tanning aerosol. This easy-to-use spray has extended the look of the tan on my face and neck and continues to make me look like I just spent a week at the beach. Thanks so much to Infinity Sun for making me feel like a true California girl!

Is Your Spa Operating Outside the Law
With Its In-Room Treatments?

In the September issue of American Spa, I took a look at how many spas are offering in-room treatments in an effort to maximize space, expand their spa’s influence, or offer guests yet another experience in “Room to Spa.” What I failed to mention, however, was the legal and regulatory issues that pertain to in-room spa treatments. As Conan D. Owen, president of Relax & Rejuvenate, which offers on-site spa treatments nationwide, points out, “Many states, including CA, FL, GA, MA, MD, and MI prohibit skincare or nailcare services being performed outside of a licensed facility. A poolside mani/pedi in Miami may sound inviting, but it is grounds for the nail technician and the spa to lose their license. Plenty of spas offer such services, even tout them on their websites despite being illegal. MA is one of the strictest, whereby any act that is performed by a cosmetologist can only be performed in the confines of a licensed cosmo establishment. Legally, a bride can’t get her hair and makeup done in a hotel room in MA.” So, if your spa offers in-room treatments, make sure it’s in compliance with your state’s Board of Cosmetology regulations.

Physicians Formula Issues Video Blog Makeup Challenge

Whether I am in a spa, salon, or at a department store I always find myself drawn to cosmetics counters to ogle the products and watch the experts who are applying them. If you also love makeup but also consider yourself an application guru, Physicians Formula has a contest just for you! From now until Sept. 30^, Physicians Formula will be holding its makeup challenge. Just enter your video blog with your best makeup creation using a minimum of three Physicians Formula products on www.mypfbeauty.com, where you will find all of registration and uploading instructions. The grand prize includes $5,000, a trip for two to Los Angeles, and a private makeup lesson with celebrity makeup artist Joanna Schlip. Also, two prizes will be awarded each week, including Ray Ban sunglasses, Milly Earrings, and more. You can enter as many videos as you like highlighting your expert application techniques.  Be sure to invite family, friends and colleagues to go to the website and vote. And good luck!

Guests Will “Fall” For Seasonal Specials at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn

Because one of my closest friends lives in San Diego, I usually make it out there a few times a year to visit. Now I have two reasons to go out there this autumn, thanks to special fall packages being offered at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Going on through November 30th, spa-goers can indulge in the Sangria Sensation ($150, 80 minutes), which includes a Cranberry-Orange Scrub, Apple Wine Mud Mask, Vanilla-Orange Massage, and a glass of homemade sangria. Or for those who would prefer to eat, the Spa & Lunch Package (starting at $140) includes a 50-minute Signature Facial or Massage, a Cranberry Back Scrub, a spa lunch, and use of the spa pool and fitness center. What better idea for a mini-getaway from NYC than seeing a good friend and experiencing these amazing treatments? I’m looking into plane tickets today!

The Spa at Trump Chicago
Sparkles with September Specials

With the summer quickly coming to an end, The Spa at Trump at the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago is offering guests luxurious spa treatments to ring in the fall. Throughout the month of September, visitors will enjoy 20 percent off 90-minute Signature Gemstone treatments, which are regularly priced at $300. Spa-goers can indulge in the richness of precious gemstone massages and experience the healing calm and revitalization that it inspires. After all, who wouldn’t want to be drenched in gemstones? The offerings include:

• Purifying Emeralds Massage The oils for this massage are infused with emeralds stimulating healing benefits.

• Balancing Diamonds Massage Guests can experience the ultimate indulgence with the healing properties of precious diamonds and botanical elements.

• Revitalizing Rubies Massage oils for this treatment are mixed with the essence of rubies to revitalize the body.

• Calming Sapphires Massage Infused with sapphires, the oils are created to bring about tranquility of the mind and body.

Spa Week Introduces First-Ever Spa Music Video

Have a few minutes to spare? Click here to check out the music video, “I Get Naked at the Spa: The Musical,” presented by Spa Week. The video, which was written and performed by rock comedian Brian Smith, was created to answer frequently asked spa etiquette questions in a humorous way. The release of the video coincides with Spa Week, which is currently taking place on the West Coast and Chicago until September 19th and on the East Coast, Midwest, and Toronto Oct. 11-17.

A New Book Celebrates the Beauty of Curly Girls

Lorraine Massey and Kara Baranski

Although I typically have straight hair, there is a part of me that has always coveted curls. Earlier this week, I attended an event at Devachan, a salon specializing in curly hair. The event was celebrating the launch of owner Lorraine Massey’s new book, Curly Girl: The Handbook (Workman Publishing, February 2011). American Spa’s art director, Kara Baranski, has gorgeous curls galore, so I figured the event would be right up her alley, and, indeed, it was. Shortly after our arrival, Kara was whisked away for a curl makeover. She even got to meet Massey, her curl idol. Even I got swept up in the excitement when one of the stylists there revealed curls I never knew I had. They say blondes have more fun, but I think curly girls may have them beat. Look for more on the book in an upcoming issue.

Anantara Golden Triangle Offers Jungle Yoga

Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa (Chiang Rai, Thailand) recently launched the Jungle Yoga, Elephant & Spa Experience. Designed for yoga enthusiasts of all levels, this wellness journey consists of a tranquil elephant trek, an energizing yoga class, and a deeply relaxing spa experience. The experience begins with a leisurely trek on an elephant through the resort’s bamboo forest and landscaped grounds to the al fresco yoga sala. An hour long yoga class takes place there, in which asana postures and breathing techniques encourage the body’s vital flow of energy and circulation to improve, as well as offering flexibility, strengthening and realignment benefits. After the yoga session, guests are invited to refresh with a healthy lime beverage to aid the natural cleansing process, before riding back through rolling countryside. Guests are then treated to a complimentary 15-minute tension relief massage at Anantara Spa, accompanied by a 20 percent discount on all treatments booked throughout their stay.

Blissed Out at Banyan Tree Sanya

I was fortunate to visit the Banyan Tree, Sanya (China), as they had kindly agreed to host a one-day spa management conference for Wynne Business. This beautiful property is comprised of a huge and dramatic pavilion/lobby with open-air restaurants and bars on several levels and winding walkways leading to the 49 villas. After a day of teaching, I was looking forward to enjoying a spa service at one of the largest spas in the region.

My treatment began with the Hydrotherapy Experience circuit of water treatments, one of only two in the entire Banyan Tree chain and certainly the most elaborate water amenity area in Hainan—in fact, the resort won an award for this very feature at the Spa China Awards earlier that week. To begin, my Thai therapist, Kitty helped me into a sarong. The first step is the Rain Shower Corridor, a succession of five different showers in a tiled hallway; you step under each one in succession, and enjoy the varying pressures and sprays. This step lasts a few minutes, and you are now fully drenched. Next, Kitty escorted me into a Thai Herbal Steam chamber, a completely tiled room where she had set up a towel on a bench for me. Once she had me settled in the warm, fragrant steam, she brought me a bottle of cold water and a washcloth encrusted with ice. She also left me with a Tibetan chime and instructed me to ring it when I was ready to move to the next step. The next step was a Swiss shower and the Warm Dip Pool. After a relaxing soak in the hot bubbling water, I moved to the Spa Jet Pool, which was temperate water and also had four hydro-massage jets arcing out of the wall above the level of the water, so you could position yourself for a nice head, neck, and shoulder massage.

After these soaks, I was escorted to the Hammam room. While it was designed with a belly stone in the center, it was more of a steam room with tiled seating around the sides. When I was finished steaming, Kitty escorted me to the warm shower. After this final cleansing, I changed into a robe and slippers and sat in the relaxation area, sipping tea and gazing at the water wall. Now it was time to move onto the hands-on portion of the treatment, so Kitty escorted me outside to the treatment villas, of which there are eight ringing a small lake. Each Villa has two separate treatment suites, each containing a large treatment room with two tables, a shower, a toilet, a seating area, and another adjoining room which houses either two vichy tables or a Thai massage mat. The two sides of each Villa are connected by a kitchen/dispensary containing all of the back-of-house needs. The back wall of the villa is floor to ceiling glass, covered with sheer curtains, with the option of black-out curtains as well. There is also a large outdoor tub, set into the waters of the lake, which is reached by a few stepping stones. The treatment rooms are named for local flowers, such as chrysanthemum and osmanthus.

Kitty seated me in a comfortable chair, which was surrounded by orchids. She offered me a beverage, and then I was shown a tray of seven  different varieties of incense and I was able to choose the one that I wanted (bergamot). My treatment began with a relaxing footbath, after which Kitty escorted me onto one of the treatment tables. She performed a full body scrub, and then let me relax while she prepared a shower. After rinsing, I returned to the table for an incredibly relaxing Balinese massage. In the Thai fashion, Kitty’s size belied her strength; she performed a complete body massage, scalp massage, then massage of each of my feet, with a combination of effleurage and pressure points, actually climbing onto the table and using her body weight on occasion, and after two hours of working on me, did not appear to be the least bit tired. She was warm and gracious throughout, regularly inquiring as to my comfort and needs. After the service was completed, she again seated me in the comfy chair and brought me a bowl of chopped fruit with some yogurt to pour over it, a delicious snack which I enjoyed as she neatened up the treatment room.

Spa Director Annie Jiang and her team are very well-trained and prepared to deliver the ultimate in guest care. After my service, I was so relaxed I asked for one of the ubiquitous electric buggies to drive me back to my villa so I could melt by my personal pool. The Banyan Tree Sanya definitely provided a high-quality, polite, and friendly staff and spectacular property, and I hope to return in the future.—Written by Lisa Starr, who is in China to attend the China Spa Summit

Designer Jason Wu Partners with CND

Perhaps he is best known for dressing Michelle Obama (who can forget that gorgeous white gown she wore to the inaugural ball?), but Jason Wu has been on the fashion scene for years. A former Narciso Rodriguez intern, Wu launched his eponymous line in 2006 and quickly developed a celebrity following. Now, Wu is partnering up with CND to introduce a limited edition collection of nail colors honoring iconic women. The line will include Miss Wu, a warm gray; Brigitte, a pink shade; Sophia, a mushroom taupe; and Anna Effect, which is to be layered over any of the other colors to add texture. “Every season I play with different ways of using color in my collection, so it was a natural choice to collaborate with CND on a capsule of nail colors that reflects my aesthetics,” says Wu. The limited edition Jason Wu Collection will be available in May 2011, but we bet Michelle Obama can probably get her hands on it sooner than that!