BellaSugar

Float On: Bella Spends an Hour in an Isolation Tank

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:57 -0800

Claustrophobics beware: this story is not for you. Everyone else, welcome to my float-tank adventure. If you've never heard of floating, the idea is pretty simple. A windowless plastic tank is filled with 800 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in about 10 inches of water. You crawl into the tank through a hatch, then float on your back in complete silence and darkness. The theory is that after about 40 minutes, your brain shifts into theta waves, bringing you to another plane of relaxation and clarity. That sounded good to me, so I booked an hour-long appointment and got ready to float. For the scoop on how it went, keep reading.

How Old Were You When You First Went to the Spa?

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:01:11 -0700

The most recent story focusing on girls heading to the beauty parlor at younger and younger ages comes to us today from Lebanon, where requests for chocolate facials and purple manicures are becoming the norm. "It's not about spoiling our children," Maya Hilal, owner of Beirut's Spa-Tacular, told the AFP. "It's a matter of maintaining their cleanliness. It's hygiene. It's feeling good about yourself," she added. In another Lebanese salon across town, the clientele, some as young as four, get blue and pink manicures in the colorfully decorated setting, all while wearing their pink robes and glittery eye shadow. But how young is too young? While I dabbled with toy makeup and kiddy nail polish in my youth, I didn't have my first true spa experience until well into my twenties. What about you?

Fresh Makes Your Spa Dollars Go Farther

BellaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:01:18 -0700

The rough economy means that spa-goers are spending less money on their pampering routines. So if you do decide to splurge on a facial, you might as well get your money's worth. That's quite easy to do if you get the hookup at Fresh, where you can sign up for a spa treatment and receive the cost of the service in store credit. So if you spend $125 on a 60-minute facial, you can scoop up $125 in whichever products you like - which makes your dollars go farther than they might at a traditional spa. That program is in place in two New York and London stores with dedicated spa areas offering face, body, and makeup treatments.

But wait, there's more - and it's free. Fresh shops in other cities (locations here) offer the ReFresh Spa Express, which offers complimentary minitreatments; they also occasionally have special days that feature free half-hour facials. And don't miss the Fresh spa days going on at Neiman Marcus this month - this events page has details on complimentary 30-minute facials happening at stores around the country. I've signed up for a facial at the San Francisco Fresh store's next event on Aug. 27, so follow my Twitter to find out how it goes.

Have You Ever Been to a Nude Spa or Beach?

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:01:39 -0700

Here in Northern California, there are ample opportunities to let it all hang out - from nude spas and beaches to hot springs that allow you to go au naturel. But are you a scaredy cat when it comes to disrobing in public?

Recently, I had to the chance to visit a "clothing-optional" hot springs village, and although I couldn't make the trip, my friends that dared to bare said it was refreshing to be around people comfortable in their own skin - scars, hair, and bumps included. Most of you don't enjoy showering in public, but when it comes to the relaxing atmosphere of a spa and/or beach, is there comfort in numbers, or is your outlook unchanged?

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Your Frequently Asked Massage Questions... Answered!

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:00:12 -0700

There's no question that getting a massage is one of the most relaxing ways to spend an hour. But if you've never had a massage before, you probably have some questions about what to expect. Fortunately, Rianon Cepriano, Spa Therapy Supervisor of The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay can help clear things up. To find out what to wear to a massage, what kind of massage to request, and why to have a massage in the first place, read more.

Why should I have a massage?
"Stress relief, number one," Cepriano says. And along with the relaxation benefits, there are health benefits, too. "It increases circulation, skin tone, and focuses your attention," she adds.

What kind of massage should I have?
"Shiatsu and Thai are wonderful, but for the first time, go with Swedish," Cepriano says. "Swedish massage features very long, flowing strokes. It's more for relaxation."

Should I wear underpants during the massage or not?
That one's up to you. "It makes our job easier without underwear," Cepriano says. "But we can work around it."

Can I request a male or female massage therapist?
Absolutely - just make the request when you make your reservation. "We make it a point to match clients with someone they prefer," Cepriano explains.

How much pressure should I ask for?
"Tell the massage therapist that you want light to moderate pressure," Cepriano advises. "You can always ask him or her to adjust the pressure."

What should I do after the massage?
Drink water - and a lot of it. "Massages release toxins that were trapped in your muscle fibers," Cepriano says. Flushing them out requires lots of hydration.

Bella Bargain: Goldstar

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:00:25 -0800

If you love going out, but you're trimming your budget, you'll dig Goldstar. I first found out about this website about two years ago, and I've used it to score discounted tickets to theater, comedy shows, and similarly fun events. What you might not know is that Goldstar partners with spas and salons in eight U.S. cities, letting you take part in cheapish facials, massages, and body treatments. There's usually a booking fee (boo) but you'll save half on each treatment (yay). It's worth checking out if you're trying to save a few bucks - and these days, who isn't?

This Spa Treatment Buries You Alive

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:00:46 -0800

A few years ago, my then-boyfriend treated me to a spa treatment unlike any other. Osmosis, a spa in northern California, is one of the only spas in North America to offer cedar enzyme baths. Enzyme baths are used in Japan to remove toxins and promote inner peace. They are also, to most American eyes, a little peculiar.

Here's the setup: You don a yukata, drink some herbal tea, then go to a room with two giant tubs of cedar shavings and plant enzymes. After disrobing, you sit in a hollowed-out section of the tub before an attendant heaps the warm cedar-enzyme mixture over your body. At that point, with everything covered except your head, you're supposed to relax and unwind for 20 minutes.

The sensation was pleasant enough, but because I'm a worrywart, I kept worrying about cedar shavings slipping into my private crevices. And then I wondered if the cedar is recycled for multiple guests; could I have been sitting where someone else's stinky bottom was? What if someone had toenail fungus?! Instead of blissing out, I felt like a neurotic hamster being buried alive. Fun adventure, but I'm not sure I'll go back.

Would You Get a $75 Facial From Dove?

BellaSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:00:42 -0700

Dove, a longtime drugstore favorite, is now joining the upscale beauty ranks by opening the first North American Dove Spa in Canada in a few weeks. (They're already open in England). Continuing on with its "Real Beauty" campaign, the company plans to open upward of 50 locations within the next five years.

The spas will feature Dove Spa Professional products, and offer customizable services including facials ($75 to $110), a variety of body treatments ($50 to $130), mani/pedis ($30 to $65), and waxing ($15 to $85). But will it fly, especially when another spa chain offers high-end products for about half the price?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for pampering oneself. But I'm having a hard time grasping why so many companies are going upscale in these rough economic times. ($35 foundation at Target, anyone?) If you're going to shell out $30 for a manicure, why not just go to Bliss, where for $5 less you get brownies, cheese, and the fancy feeling of being at Bliss? Dove would really have to create an astounding spa for me to pay that much for a variation on a drugstore brand. Do you think this is a smart plan? Are you feeling the love for Dove?

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Would You Live at the Spa?

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:00:30 -0700

Miraval Resort has opened Miraval Living, a Manhattan apartment complex that includes steam rooms, saunas, a spa and hair salon, a yoga studio, and... life counseling. Not to be outdone, Canyon Ranch Spa also has opened Canyon Ranch Living in Miami Beach, which includes nutrition counseling, daily classes, and "experiences in intimacy and sexual function." Spafinder predicts that there will be 300 such living facilities by the end of 2008. Do you need a spa in your building?

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Oh, Baby! Spa Treatments For Infertility

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:00:36 -0700

Blame it on that ever-expanding Jolie-Pitt brood: I've been reading lots of reports about the increasing popularity of fertility spa treatments. This is not limited to big cities, where career women may be postponing having children. In Ohio, BecomingMom, a "Pregnancy Spa and Imaging Center" offers a 50-minute Preconception Massage for $69, and Peaceful Beginnings in North Carolina offers the same at $40 for 30 minutes.

Many spas list causes of infertility as stress and accumulation of toxins, none of which are causes listed on the Mayo Clinic's website. In fact, really the only cause listed that a woman struggling with infertility may be able to change on her own is consumption of too much caffeine. Traditional infertility treatments can be dangerous and expensive so spas have picked up on the need for something more gentle and less invasive, which may be a good thing. But are they peddling false hope? While alternative treatments may be worth a try, it's worth considering why so few of these spas offer infertility treatment for wannabe fathers.

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