Archive for December, 2010
Tweezerman Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Tweezerman commemorated its 30th Anniversary with an intimate luncheon at West Hollywood’s swank Sunset Tower Hotel on November 18. Attendees enjoyed champagne and a three-course meal as Tweezerman president and CEO Dr. Cornelia Wittke highlighted the successful changes and growth of the company over the last 30 years. To conclude the celebration, the Tweezerman team presented product highlights that focused on key existing and staple items in the Tweezerman Professional line as well as the new Tweezerman Professional products for 2011. “We are firmly entrenched in and embraced by the industry, and this milestone underlines it,” says Wittke. “We couldn’t be more excited about our birthday. The brand began with a pair of tweezers and has expanded into a full range of beauty tools for brows, lashes, manicure, and pedicure. We have exciting growth plans for the future and will keep ‘wowing’ beauty professionals with top quality tools and exciting innovations.”
Rêpechage Kicks Off Facebook Contest
Rêpechage has just announced a product giveaway that is sure to give spa-goers’ skin something for which to be thankful. From now until Jan. 11, 2011, one lucky winner will receive a basket filled with over $500 worth of Rêpechage products. Simply visit the Rêpechage Facebook page at www.facebook.com/repechageskincare to review the contest information. Rêpechage would like you to spread the word to all of your followers too by sharing the following link http://on.fb.me/dGQck4 on your Twitter or re-tweeting at www.twitter.com/repechage and share the post right on the Rêpechage Facebook wall. What a great way to start the New Year. Good luck!
‘Tis the Season for Shellac
Ever since I received my first Shellac manicure in May, I’ve become a devotee. I adore having a lasting manicure that never chips, smears, or smudges. As such, I faithfully get them done about every three weeks. My colleagues have watched my Shellac fascination grow over the past few months and have wondered about my incessant conversations about it. When CND invited my team to try it out, everyone jumped at the chance. So, this week, we celebrated the season with a Shellac party, and all of the ladies on the team—Heather Mikesell, executive editor; Nanci McArdle, managing editor; Kara Baranski, art director; Nicole Altavilla, associate editor; and Lisa Bruckenstein, sales and marketing coordinator and American Spa blogger—and myself were treated to manicures (check out the results here). I was certainly not surprised when all five of them quickly converted from traditional manicure aficionados to Shellac fanatics. We’re all already perusing the color and layering lists to pick out the perfect shades for our next manicures. Looking to treat yourself to a little holiday fun? Click here to find a Shellac spa or salon near you, and join the ranks of Shellac fanatics.
Canyon Ranch Debuts New Fitness App
With the new year fast approaching, now is the time to make those healthy resolutions. For those who want to get fit (and who doesn’t want that?), Canyon Ranch is launching the new Canyon Ranch Everyday Fitness application for iPad. It provides workout tips and easy-to-follow exercise demonstration videos to help inspire users to get up and get fit. The app is the first in a series of three from the popular destination spa. In early 2011, the spa will debut Healthy Eats, which will feature more than 50 Canyon Ranch signature healthy gourmet recipes as well as cooking tips and 360 Wellbeing, a collection of health-related videos and tips from the spa’s various experts. “The Canyon Ranch mission is to inspire people to make a commitment to healthy living, and we are thrilled to be able to share our healthful philosophy and expert knowledge with a wider audience,” says chief marketing officer Michael Doneff. “These apps encourage individuals to set attainable goals and incorporate movement and overall wellness into their everyday lives.” The Everyday Fitness app is now available to download from the Healthcare and Fitness category of the Apple iTunes store for $3.99.
The Spa at Andaz Wall Street Rings
in 2011 With 31 Days of Spa-ing
As you might imagine, as an editor at American Spa, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to visit spas quite often, and it really is such a pleasure to be able to have a mini-escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Now guests at The Spa at Andaz Wall Street in New York City can enjoy a daily spa break this January, thanks to the Spa Non-Stop package. For $699, spa-goers will have unlimited access to a selection of the most popular 30-minutes treatments each day from January 1-31st and can choose one treatment per day. Services include a scalp massage, a back and shoulders massage, a legs and feet massage, a hands and arm massage, and an oxygen facial. It’s the perfect way to distress after the holidays.
5 Tips for Beating Holiday Stress
Though we are in the business of helping our clients relax, it’s my experience that those of us behind the scenes in the spa industry have pretty stressful lives. Add the holidays to the mix, and you’ve got a group of people in need of some serious chilling out. To help you out, Dr. Gary Kaplan, founder of The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine (McLean, VA), has provided a list of helpful tips for beating your seasonal stress.
- Do less. While it is the season when people tend to want to go overboard doing for others, you should back away from that impulse. Say “yes” too often, and you may get overwhelmed. Simply tell some people “no,” and share the load by delegating where possible.
- Live simply. While you may be bombarded by ads to Buy! Buy! Buy!, you can choose not to participate and add that stress to your holiday season. Skip the shopping, opt for a few homemade gifts, and spend quality time with those you love. And your credit cards will thank you come January!
- Slow down. Maintaining your normal routine as much as possible during the holidays can help to ease stress. We are creatures of habit, and when our routine is off we feel the sting. Find a good book, and read in bed.
- Find outlets. Everyone needs healthy outlets or ways of discharging pent-up emotional and physical tension. Consider calling a friend to vent, journaling about your feelings, taking an exercise class, or enjoying a long bubble bath.
- Take care. It is especially important during stressful times to take good care of your body. During this holiday season, make wise nutritional choices; get plenty of exercise; and do things that will help restore your energy, such as meditating, or getting a massage. Loving touch heals the body and the mind.
“It is important to do all of these things throughout the year, but especially during the more stressful holiday period,” says Kaplan. “By taking care of yourself and taking steps to decrease your stress level, you can also help fend off illness.”
Dermalogica Hosts Career & Connections Event
Dermalogica hosted Step Up Women’s Network’s (SUWN) second annual Careers & Connections event, which attracted nearly 100 attendees. SUWN is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to connecting and advancing women and girls. Along with discussions surrounding the themes of entrepreneurism and mentoring, SUWN board members and volunteers shared inspiring success stories. In addition, raffle drawings took place at the event and each teen and adult were presented with a special gift bag to take home.
Qua Baths & Spa Offers Clients Joy,
Peace, And Harmony for the Holidays
As a native Jersey Girl, I have spent my fair share of time in Atlantic City over the years. And, although I am not much of a gambler, I still love lying on the beach, taking a stroll on the boardwalk, and enjoying the rapidly growing spa scene. This holiday season, Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Atlantic City is giving gamblers added incentive to check out the spa themselves with the limited-time Joy, Peace, and Harmony treatments. From now until January 31st, spa-goers can choose from the following options:
• Joy Intensif Facial ($180, $75): Ideal for dry skin, this facial is designed to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin with a frangipani sugar scrub. It also includes a paraffin treatment for the hands.
• Peace Back and Foot Ritual ($180, 75 minutes): This treatments helps clients who have spent too much time on the go this holiday season. It includes a ginger, rosemary, and lemongrass foot exfoliation and reflex massage for the feet, as well as a back exfoliation and Swedish massage.
• Harmony Back and Scalp Ritual ($180, 75 minutes): Created to release tension, this service begins with a nourishing milk blend drizzled on the forehead to saturate the hair and scalp prior to the scalp massage. Then clients are treated to an arnica and shea butter back exfoliation followed by a marine hot oil stone massage for the neck, shoulders, and back.
With enticing options such as these, I’m betting spa-goers are going to feel like they hit the jackpot without even having to enter a casino.
UC Irvine Extension Webinar to
Focus on 2011’s Top Spa Trends
In the ever-growing spa world, it is vital for professionals to have their finger on the pulse of the industry. With that in mind, UC Irvine Extension’s Spa & Hospitality Management program will present the eighth-annual “Top 10 Spa Trends To Watch” webinar. The free one-hour online event is being presented by Susie Ellis, an advisory board member of the program and president of SpaFinder. In the webinar, Ellis will discuss what is ahead in the spa industry for 2011 and will address topics including:
- The spa trends to watch for in 2011
- How spas are fairing in tough economic times
- The benefits of continuing education in the spa industry
The webinar takes place on Wednesday, Jan.12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (PST). For registration information, visit http://unex.uci.edu/services/events/.
A New RockResort Debuts In Miami
and Hits all the Right Notes
As the thermostat dips to precarious temperatures in New York City, I find myself longing to return to the new Tempo Miami, A RockResort. The weekend before last, I spent a couple of days in the stylish and hip hotel located in downtown Miami. It was the perfect home base from which to explore all that Miami has to offer. That particular weekend, there was plenty to see and do with Art Basel, the popular contemporary art exhibition, taking place. In addition, Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza could be found right across the street. Add in some former American Spa colleagues who just happened to be in town with a Camaro convertible and it had all the makings of an ideal getaway. Of course, the real treat for this spa editor was indulging in an 80-minute Swedish massage at the 8,000-square-foot RockResorts Spa. It was just what my body craved after pounding the pavement on a much-needed run. Next time, however, I’m opting for one of the spa’s signature treatments, all of which tie into the hotel’s name and are designed to reflect both the pace and tone of various musical movements. I was especially intrigued by the Sonata (4 hours 30 minutes), which involves a 50-minute Swedish Massage, a 50-minute Lime and Ginger Salt Scrub, and a specially designed Fennel Body Mask. As I prepare to bundle up before heading out and facing the brutal cold, I’m reminded that there is a warmer retreat tempting me with its siren’s song.
