Spa Week Trend Watch for Fall 2010

Spa Week announced the top 12 spa treatment trends for the fall:
1. Fighting Allergies: Sinus massages, breathe-easy facials, and other treatments featuring eucalyptus, humidifiers, and lymphatic drainage techniques.
2. Bikini Glamor: Post-Brazilian waxing rituals, such as vajazzling (don't ask), vattooing, and airbrush painting.
3. Sleeping & Dreaming: Services designed to promote a good night’s sleep, such as stress solution facials, private yoga sessions, and meditation.
4. Lash Extensions: Techniques that promote eyelash thickness, length, volume, and color.
5. Instant Inch Loss: Colon hydrotherapy, Ionothermie, and other treatments that give immediate weigh-loss results.
6. Reiki and Energy Work: The demand for holistic healing and energy work that deliver health benefits ranging from spiritual growth to injury recovery.
7. Acupuncture: For both the face and the body, this technique is recommended for the treatment of more than 40 conditions ranging from anxiety to pain by the World Health Organization.
8. Botox-on-the-go: Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
9. Hot and Cold Stone Massages: Instead of using only hot stones for a massage, the application of cold stones adds multi-dimensional stimulation.
10. Champissage: AKA Indian Head Massage is now being interpreted as a custom ritual at many spas.
11. Everything Seaweed: Treatments incorporating seaweed and seawater to detoxify the body, eliminate excess fluids, and increase blood circulation.
12. Simply Oxygen: Spa-goers will be looking for more treatments, such as oxygen facials, that incorporate this life-sustaining molecule.

SPA SWEEPSTAKES -DECLÉOR SPA GETAWAY

DECLÉOR’s “Discover Aromatherapy” Spa Getaway
Enter by September 15th
Grand Prize: One winner and guest will receive 3 nights lodging (double occupancy) at Sofitel Los Angeles, round trip coach airfare from winner’s home city, ground transportation from Los Angeles International Airport to Sofitel Hotel, two spa services at LeSpa LA at Sofitel, 2 spa lunches, 1 dinner for two at Simon LA at Sofitel. Approximate Retail Value $3000.

SpaFinder and New Beauty Magazine

SpaFinder is celebrating their 25th Anniversary in 2011 and wanted to do something grand. Merging their efforts with New Beauty Magazine seemed to be exactly what they were looking for.

This dynamic duo will debut in the Fall/Winter edition, at which point, each issue of New Beauty Magazine will have a SpaFinder section, and each year we can all look forward to New Beauty SpaFinder's Guide to Global Spa, Wellness and Beauty Directory. Kudos to you both, and kudos to your audience, for we are all in for an even better reader's experience.

Spa Week is back . . . Book Now and Save

Is the economy getting you down? Are you cutting back on non-essential services in your personal life? It's unfortunate that during a time of major financial cutbacks, when stress is at an all time high, services that help reduce stress and restore health go straight out the window.

Well, hold onto your heart monitors everyone, we have great news for you. Spa Week is just around the corner. During September 13 - 19th (West Coast) and October 11th - October 17 (East Coast), participating spas around the US and Canada will be offering a selection of full length signature services for a deep discounted flat rate of $50. Considering that most spa treatments run between $100 - $200, it's almost financially irresponsible to ignore. So go ahead, book yourself a relaxing, stress-busting massage, or facial, and save big time. In our opinion, Spa week is seven glorious days dedicated to guilt free, affordable luxury. And that, friends, is music to our ears.

Go to Spa Week, click on the region of your choice, select a spa and book your treatment. A word of warning - don't wait too long, appointment books fill up quickly.

Elemis Skin Care Debuts on QVC Tomorrow

Elemis is celebrating 20 successful years in the skin care industry by debuting on QVC tomorrow at 10:00 am EDT. A selective range of Elemis skin care products will also be available on QVC.com. As with any new launch there will be special price promotions. One of those promotions is a limited edition size jar of their award winning Pro Collagen Marine Cream, a whopping 3.38 oz at $168.18 . . . a substantial savings from the regular price of $248.

In this economy, there is nothing better than a good deal on an excellent product. Happy Anniversary, Elemis. Here is a great big thumbs up for helping everyone look great over the next 20 years.

SPA SWEEPSTAKES - PROPEL FITNESS WATER

Pamper Yourself With a Spa Getaway
Enter by August 31st
Grand Prize: One winner will receive a luxury level resort spa package that includes accommodations, 3 meals per day and one spa treatment per day at the location of the winner's choice. The resort package will be booked through SpaFinder, courtesy of Propel Fitness Water. Approximate Retail Value $2,000

Butt Seriously, Ladies!

Six women in New Jersey chose to do some renovation work on their behinds. The procedure, called "The J-Lo," (named after Jennifer Lopez) is on the menu in a new wave of underground plastic surgery. Low on cash and high on hopes, these ladies couldn't wait to boost their butts and reshape their booty. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty. All six women are in the hospital after being injected with . . . wait for it . . . bathroom caulk. Instead of a "low cost" buttocks enhancement procedure, what they got was a fast ride to the emergency room after developing serious deep tissue infections and abscesses. All six women were victims of dangerous, black market plastic surgery.

Last month, a 22 year old woman died after receiving injections of silicone into the buttocks that migrated to her lungs and led to respiratory failure. Back alley silicone injections are finding their way throughout the United States. The silicone used in these procedures is not medical grade silicone, but industrial silicone used for bathtubs and windows! There are no butts about it . . . under no circumstances should medical treatments be performed by anyone other than Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. After all . . . your life depends on it.

Say No to Botox and Dermal Filler Home Parties

Q. I received an invitation to a botox party at my girlfriend's house. Is it safe?
A. Botox and dermal filler injectable parties are a very popular trend. And, in our professional opinion, a very dangerous one. Consider this . . . an appointment in a physician's office will provide critical information about the doctor's background and credentials. It will offer an excellent opportunity to have a good look around to make sure the medical office is well equipped and one that follows a stringent sterilization process. A consultation will determine if you are a good candidate for a particular procedure and answer any questions you may have to make an informed and responsible decision.

Going to a "pumping up the volume party" is like playing 'russian roulette' or flying blind. The risk factor dramatically increases. The question is . . . are you willing to gamble your health and appearance just for the fun of it? We hope not.

SPA SWEEPSTAKES - SPA MAGAZINE

Spa Magazine Northeast Sweepstakes
Enter by August 31st
Grand Prize: One winner and guest will receive 4 days and 3 nights, including luxury room accommodations, three meals per day and one spa treatment per person per stay at the Lodge at Woodloch. Includes taxes and gratuities, not available during holiday periods or sold out dates. Based on availability and non transferable. Approximate Retail Value $3,000

DERMALOGICA -Win Free Products For a Year!

Who would not like to win full year of free Dermalogica skin care products? No one, that's who. Dermalogica's contest details are simple. Go to their site, click on the contest page, create a brief video explaining why you can't live without Dermalogica, submit it before the end of the month (August 31st), and cross your fingers. The top 10 videos will be voted on by their corporate team, and the video that receives the most thumbs up, wins! Two runners up will receive $250 in Dermalogica products. So, . . . what are you waiting for?

Dermal Fillers - Captique

Have you heard of Captique and where can I find it?
Captique was a plant based, hyaluronic acid dermal filler used for volumizing enhancements, deep facial folds and wrinkles. It had a relatively lengthy track record in Europe and found its way to the US when it was approved by the FDA in 2004. Even with its successful history, it just never seemed to gain in popularity. Long story short, Captique never really caught on and eventually found its way to the bottom of the HA dermal filler list. As far as we can tell, the product is no longer in production and has been replaced by Prevelle Silk, a soft dermal filler used in the smile lines and lips.

Teosyal® Product Range

Teosyal® Deep Lines is injected into the mid to deep-dermal layer and is a dense and voluminous implant used to treat deep nasal furrows, lip augmentation and the facial contours of the cheeks and jaw line. It is injected into the deeper layers of the dermis.
Teosyal® Ultra Deep is injected into the deep-dermal layer and is the Teosyal range's densest product, achieving an immediate volume-boosting effect. It is designed for creating or restoring facial volumes, resculpting facial contours, treating deep wrinkles in thick skin, erasing folds in the skin, correcting minor ptoses and restoring the face's original curves.
Teosyal® Global Action is injected into the mid-dermal layer and is suitable for mild to moderate wrinkles of the face; nasolabial lines, glabellar (frown) lines and periorbital and perioral areas.
Teosyal® Kiss is highly viscous and boasts high filling power for the lips. It is designed for reshaping lip contours, increasing lip volume, treating wrinkles around the mouth, supporting lip corners and rehydrating the lips.
Teosyal® Meso is injected into the superficial dermis and is recommended for the rehydration of the dermis (of the skin), on the face, neck, hands and décolleté.

Dermal Fillers - Teosyal®

Teosyal® is the new generation of dermal filler made by the Swiss based company, Laboratoires Teoxane. This filler is made with hyaluronic acids that are quite viscous and dense and is said to offer more contouring and sculpting benefits that will last for a period of 12 months or more. It is reported to be one of the purest injectable fillers on the market, formulated with an extremely low protein content to reduce the risk of negative reactions caused by hypersensitivity. Teosyal® has also been carefully designed to ensure the filler stays in the targeted area and does not migrate to other parts of the face.

Teosyal® is designed to increase subcutaneous tissue in the contours of a face that has lost volume due to aging. It offers an immediate volumizing effect with the ability to sculpt the upper cheeks, cheeks and chin, as well as treat deep wrinkles and folds. The injections utilize a very thin needle that follows an application of xylocaine, both of which greatly reduce the discomfort during treatment. This procedure allows clients to return to daily activities immediately.

In The News: Dermal Filler Warning

Serious warnings have been issued regarding complications and adverse reactions as a result of dermal filler injections containing synthetic forms of hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyaluronic fillers are the most popular form of injectable dermal fillers on the market, and to date the safest. These reports included Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Elevess, Revanesse, and Teosyal. The reported adverse reactions include pain, swelling, nodules, abscesses, pus/infections, skin discoloration, difficulty talking, swallowing or breathing. There was a disturbing report of gangrene and necrosis (death of tissue) of the lip after an injection of Restylane and another unsettling claim that reports a partial loss of vision after a treatment of Juvederm to the lower eyelid and cheek.

Allergan, the manufacturer of Juvederm, states that with its approval in 50 countries, and more than two million syringes distributed to doctors in North America since 2006, less than 0.27% of all treatments have resulted in adverse events. After reading all of the reports and responses from the companies in question we can offer one very solid piece of advice. Facial fillers, or any other injectables, should only be administered by doctors, or propertly trained medical specialists. Oh, yes, and one more thing . . . say no to botox and dermal filler home parties!

SPA SWEEPSTAKES - SPA FINDER - DEAL DAYS

Spa Finder's Deal Days Sweepstakes
Enter by August 15th
Grand Prize: One winner and guest will receive 4nights/5days to Miraval, Resort and Spa, Tucson Arizona. Package includes: casita-style deluxe accommodations; 3 gourmet meals daily, including snacks, smoothies, non-alcoholic beverages; a $130 resort credit per person per night of stay to apply as you choose toward Chill-OutTM spa services, private sessions with Miraval Specialists, Chef’s Dinners, Zip-line adventures, trail rides or rounds of golf; full access to Miraval's extensive resort amenities including use of the Body Mindfulness Center featuring lap pool and state-of-the-art equipment, world-class spa facilities, full-use of the swimming pool oasis which includes a tri-level pool with cascading waterfalls, acupressure stone walk and whirlpool; unlimited participation (if you choose) in a vast array of Clue-InTM self-discovery and growth activities, including all fitness and yoga classes; lectures by Miraval Specialists; the Miraval Equine Experience®; Chef cooking demonstrations; outdoor adventure and challenge programs; access to tennis facilities; an experience guide, Miraval tote bag and sustainable, reusable water canteen upon arrival. Approximate Retail Value $4,300.