Skin health doesn’t need to be complicated!
By DeAnne Mauri
Skin Care Therapist & Assistant Director
The Spa of Essex
Ask most women what the most important skin care ingredients are and they will usually answer with vitamin C, retinol’s, peptides, antioxidants and sunscreen. Clients who receive facial treatments on a regular basis are very knowledgeable about what their skin needs to stay youthful and hydrated – no matter the season. If the skin is too dry or needs exfoliation or the actual molecules of the ingredients are too large to do anything other than sit on the skin, then the potential of the ingredients are not received. It is important to remember that the ingredient benefits are only received from using the right delivery system.
Enter the HydraFacial®. Hydration is the foundation of healthy, radiant skin. Irritation of the skin has been proven to increase signs of aging. A basic facial works on the epidermal layer of the skin. Peels may go deeper, but they may also bring trauma to the skin causing redness and peeling. The beauty of the HydraFacial is its technology.
Vortex-Fusion® pushes ingredients deeper down into the dermis, where all the action takes place. And ready for this – no redness or peeling after the treatment. The HydraFacial is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that delivers instant results with no discomfort or downtime in only 30 minutes.
The HydraFacial incorporates lactic acid, glucosamine, glycolic, salicylic, honey, peptides, vitamin C and antioxidants to deep clean, firm, tighten, nourish and hydrate the skin. Extractions are effective and painless with the HydraFacial – meaning your pores will be the cleanest they have ever been. Clients are raving about how their skin has “never looked better.” As an Esthetician, it is so exciting to be able to achieve these results in a 30-minute treatment. Get rid of winter skin and get ready for a spring glow with The Spa of Essex’s HydraFacial.
Call (860) 767-7796 to reserve your appointment!
Feb27
Steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels and massages make for the perfect spa treatment. WATCH DeAnne & Jessica give Nicole and Scot facials on Better Connecticut.
{ Video is no longer available }
By: Kaitlyn Naples
Posted: Feb 01, 2016 2:17 PM EST
Jan29
It doesn’t matter if you are single or with a significant this Valentine’s Day, your first love is yourself and there is nothing wrong with a little self-care.
Clothes
Fragrances
Massages
muh-MOH-sas!
Fine leather goods.THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR!
#TreatYoSelf
Fan or not, Tom (Aziz Ansari) and Donna (Retta) from Parks and Recreation got the right idea about taking a day to “Treat Yo Self”! Some of us don’t have the luxury to take a full day off from our routine to escape to the spa but finding a few minutes to take a moment for you can’t be too hard. Right?
5 ways to “Treat Yo Self”:
1. Sip {or bathe in} some bubbly
Champagne helps your heart, smooths your skin, and more! According to health.com, Champagne’s carbon dioxide may help tighten your skin, and its polyphenols combat redness. Cheers to that!
“Bubble” Bath
Combine 1 cup powdered milk and 1/2 cup Epsom salts in a bowl; add 1 or more cups of any sparkling wine (no need to splurge on the pricey stuff) and 1 tablespoon honey warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then pour into running bath water. When the tub is full, add in rose petals—they’re a natural emollient that hydrates and tones. To double the indulgence, sip a glass while you soak.
2. Hug it out
Warm embraces are a way to be kind to yourself. Researchers have found that frequent hugs from a partner can lower stress and lead to greater happiness. Snuggling up with a pet has been shown to reduce blood pressure by up to 10 percent in as little as 15 minutes. Puppy love also prompts the release of serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, hormones that trigger relaxation.
3. Set the scene
Sure the candles and soft music fuel the calming mood of a spa, but the spa is ultimately the place you find serenity because you are encouraged to leave your worries at the door. Bring the spa to any space; office, home or in the car, with aromatherapy.
Inhaling essential oils can help attain a pleasurable emotional balance. A balanced emotional state in turn can have a therapeutic effect on physical problems.
4. Tend to your Back
Massage may seem like an unaffordable luxury, but research suggests it’s a necessity! “Treat Yo Self” Day is certainly an excuse to splurge on a Spa Massage Experience. A massage therapist can focus on your body’s specific needs. What’s great about the Spa of Essex’s menu of treatments is that there are Monthly Special’s to choose from as well as fully customized options if you want to go all out on YOUR day!
5. Enjoy yourself
Is your mouth watering for the new restaurant that’s been the office buzz? How about those dance lessons you keep seeing a Groupon for? Constantly talking about the idea of Board Game Night with friends? There are so many activities that the cost outweighs the benefit it can have on your overall well-being.
Seize the day! “Treat Yo Self” with whatever your body is telling you it needs – right now!
How are you going to treat yourself today? Post your ideas in the comment area below.
Dec15
A massage gift certificate tucked into a holiday card may seem unassuming, but the effects of this present will be powerful.
People turn to massage for stress relief, pain alleviation and relaxation, and massage is appropriate for just about anyone—from healthy adults to seniors and pregnant women to athletes. Massage therapy is also safe and beneficial for people living with conditions including cancer, fibromyalgia and arthritis.
This is why treating the people on your gift list to massage makes sense this holiday season. Regular massage clients will know what to look forward to, and for someone who has never had a massage, a gift certificate can make his or her first session more accessible.
Here are four reasons why massage should be at the top of your holiday gift list, along with suggestions for massage and bodywork specialties to present to friends, colleagues and family:
1. The Gift of Stress Relief
The holidays can be filled with family, friends, fun, food—and freneticism. Gift-buying, overeating and travel can leave any merrymaker feeling tired and stressed. Massage makes the best holiday gift because it calms the nervous system and provides an oasis of respite from the holiday frenzy.
Three types of massage to gift:
- Swedish massage: The most well-known type of massage, which utilizes strokes including stroking, kneading, percussion, vibration and friction.
- Ayurvedic massage: This vigorous massage uses large amounts of warm oil and is one part of the traditional Indian detoxification and rejuvenation program.
- Stone massage: Heated or cooled stones are placed on the body for energy balancing and a pampering sensation that contributes to the relaxation response.
2. The Gift of Pain Removal
From hanging Christmas lights to digging the Hanukkah candles out of the basement, the holidays’ decorating activities can create strain, sprain and pain. Massage makes the best holiday gift because it addresses pain and stiffness by increasing circulation, improving flexibility, and releasing crinkles and tight spots from muscles.
Three types of massage to gift:
- Acupressure: An Asian therapy that involves pressing points along the body’s meridians with fingers, thumbs or palms of the hand to stimulate chi and bring about balance and health.
- Sports massage: This session will feature techniques such as myofascial release, which affects connective tissue by applying pressure in the direction of fascial resistance.
- Reflexology: A system that entails pressing points on the feet, hands or ears that correspond to systems and organs throughout the body.
3. The Gift of Raised Spirits
The holidays aren’t jolly all the time; family conflict, feelings of grief and other mood-stressors can arise, even in the midst of a Kwanzaa celebration. Massage makes the best holiday gift because it can boost mood. The release of the feel-good hormone, oxytocin, is increased during massage, as is the release of serotonin and dopamine.
Three types of massage to gift:
- Craniosacral therapy: This light-touch modality uses gentle, soft-tissue techniques to release restrictions in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
- Reiki: An energetic healing system that utilizes off-the-body hand placements to transmit healing energy from the practitioner to the recipient.
- Geriatric massage: This session will feature massage techniques modified for safe application to older people, who might arrive at a session with issues related to joint pain or fragile skin.
4. The Gift of Ease
Give yourself the gift of a super-simple present purchase. Massage makes the best holiday gift because professional massage therapists offer gift certificates for sale, via in-person sales, a website or a Facebook page. Whether you purchase now or at the last minute, your gift of massage will be the easiest gift you give this holiday season—and the most appreciated.
Three types of massage to gift:
- Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy: The Ashiatsu practitioner uses body weight and foot compression, while supported by overhead wooden bars, on a client who is lying down.
- Pregnancy massage: This session will feature massage techniques modified for safe application to pregnant clients.
- Facelift massage: This session might entail lymphatic-drainage strokes to firm sagging facial and neck skin, ease away facial lines, stimulate blood and oxygen, and release toxins. The treatment can also involve hot towel wraps and oils.
Virtually anyone on your list will appreciate the gift of massage therapy this holiday season.
December Gift Card Special at the Spa
Purchase a $150 Spa Gift Card (in Spa, Online or by Phone) and Receive One (1) $20 Spa Buck for you or a friend!
Source: www.massagemag.com by Karen Menehan
Dec01
Eyebrow Extensions: Everything You Need to Know About the Celeb-Tested, Luxury Service
Original post by Diana Nguyen // eonline.com
Have you ever watched a movie and noticed an actor’s eyebrows look totally different on screen than they do in real life? Perhaps it’s great film editing or makeup magic? Or maybe you just saw the grand effects of really good eyebrow extensions?
You may have already heard of eyelash extensions—the process in which one synthetic or mink hair is hand-glued to one natural eyelash for a more dramatic effect. Well, now, Cara Delevingne or Lily Collins-status brows are only an appointment away. Some celebs even opt for eyebrow extensions to change their look for specific roles, said Charity Engebretsen, owner of Master Lash by Charity in Santa Monica, Calif.
“Eyebrows are so inherently important for the symmetry of you face,” noted the Hollywood pro. “They provide a youthful lift to the eye area (where many of us age first) and correct many over-tweezed, over-waxed and generally thinned out brow lines.”
So, what exactly does the luxury service entail? Here’s everything you need to know.
Prep for the Appointment:
“Come without any eye makeup or eye cream,” Charity recommended. “These products can interfere with the adhesive’s bond and ultimately the life of the eyebrow extensions. It’s also a good idea to let the client’s natural eyebrows grow out as much as possible to allow for as much of the extensions to be directly placed hair to hair.”
It Takes Patience and Money:
A technician glues 200-400 singular strands of hair to either your existing brow hair or skin. “The process usually takes approximately an hour give or take, depending upon the request or needs of the client,” said Charity. “The average rates also depend upon the request or needs of the client, but you can expect to spend between $150-$300 nationally.”
They Aren’t Permanent:
“Eyebrow extensions can last between 1-3 weeks with the proper care and maintenance. The best way to care for your extensions is to be as gentle as possible—meaning don’t brush through them with too much vigor, avoid using oils around the brow line and keep your shower steam to a minimum. Excessive sweating is also a no-no,” the expert noted.
Be Wary of Poor Service:
“You may want to watch out for clumpy adhesive, over-layering of extensions and overall improper application,” warned the extensions guru. “It’s best to make sure to ask for a certified technician with experience.”
Removal is Easy:
“You can either let them naturally fall off over time, or you can see your technician for a quick removal, in which a safe and gentle solution is used to soak them off within minutes.” You can also gently massage tea tree oil to the extensions, take a very hot shower and let the lashes fall right off.
There’s also an at-home system available—but considering how long it takes us to draw in our brows every morning, this luxury service may be worth it!
Want Eyebrow Extensions?
Reserve Your Experience with Jessica, Lash Artist.
From full, natural run-way brows; to sleek, contoured eyebrows that give an instant facelift! Brow Extensions are waterproof, sweat proof, and safe for sensitive skin! They last 10-21 days on the skin with proper care! Brow Extensions look so natural, that once they are placed on the brow…the technician can’t even tell which is natural hair and which are extensions!
Starting at $85 and up
Sep10
…Our makeup artist thought that I had rested all weekend, got tons of sleep and lost weight! It firms, it works, you see results right away.
– Kathie Lee Gifford
The award-winning NuFace Trinity is a multi-solution device is FDA-cleared and clinically-tested for improved facial contour, skin tone, and wrinkle reduction to give you a more radiant, younger looking appearance.
- Natural, non-invasive facial-lift using microcurrent technology
- Visible results that are long-lasting with continued use
- Easy to use in as little as 5-minutes a day
- Designed with interchangeable anti-aging treatment attachments
- Professional quality results in the comfort of your home
Jul28
Rising temperatures of the summer or in the heat of the moment, no woman wants their foundation melting down their face. Rhonda Allison’s Sheer Tint Day Cream is “the” foundation for summer.
Not only is it lightweight, but it provides a natural equivalent of SPF 18 to protect and moisturize the skin with a hint of color. Sheer Tint Finisher evens out your skin tone with its universal tint and the best feature is it gives a luminous glow like you are holding a candle to your face. Who doesn’t look good in candle light?
Sheer Tint Finisher is perfect for all skin types and can be used with your other daytime moisturizers. Providing potent antioxidants and vital UV protection, this aloe and mineral based day cream forms a safe, soothing emulsion leaving skin protected, refreshed and glowing!
So ladies, don’t sweat it! This foundation will have you covered.
Jul13
By Andrea Almeida
Posted: Jul 13, 2015 10:43 AM EDT
Updated: Jul 20, 2015 3:00 PM EDT
Source: Better Connecticut
Jun29
If you are a woman over the age of 30, you are most likely comfortable in your own skin by now. But being comfortable “in your skin” is very different than being comfortable “with your skin.”
Face it, as we age, so does our skin. Many women battled acne in their teen years only to have it return as an adult, while some women had clear skin UNTIL they were adults. Add to that the appearance of dark spots caused by sun damage and the loss of elasticity leading to lines and wrinkles. Yikes…where do we go from here?
The latest approach in skin care solves all three of these problems in one treatment – The HydraFacial. Today’s skin care products and most facial treatments use ingredients and techniques that penetrate the skin down to the epidermis. Using Vortex Fusion technology, the HydraFacial infuses ingredients all the way down to the dermis. This is where all the action takes place. Inflammation and infection from acne are found here, increased melanin from hyperpigmentation and the foundation of collagen and elastin creation all take place in the dermis. Additionally, this treatment gently and effectively extracts oils and impurities from the pores without any redness or irritation. What this means is that the solution to our biggest skincare problems can finally go where it needs to be to achieve the results we want.
The HydraFacial will visibly hydrate your skin, leaving fine lines and wrinkles looking fuller. Just one 30-minute HydraFacial treatment will improve hyperpigmentation, acne, sun damage, oily skin and even skin tone. Your skin will be bathed in antioxidants, peptides and hydration leaving it the cleanest, firmest, brightest and most hydrated it has ever been.
Sounds amazing, right? Well, it is and it is achieved without any downtime, discomfort, redness or irritation. Whether you’re concerned about acne, dark spots or wrinkles, we invite you to pamper your skin with a HydraFacial treatment.
HydraFacial SPA™
30 Minutes
This treatment is for all ages and all skin types. Great for acne as well as anti-aging. The results drivenHydraFacial SPA™ treatment delivers immediate and long-term skin health benefits that you can see and feel.
$190+
INTRODUCTORY PRICE $175+
HydraFacial SPA™ with DermaBuilder™
30 Minutes
A treatment enhancer, skin strengthening and smoothing system. A complex of peptides that helps to repair and improve the structure of the Dermal-Epidermal Junction by stimulating broad-spectrum collagen/elastin proteins.
$240+
INTRODUCTORY PRICE $225+
HydraFacial SPA™ with Britenol™
30 Minutes
Intensive spot corrector, clinically proven to eliminate brown spots, sun spots and hyperpigmentation. A robust combination of antioxidants help detoxify skin and fight environmental free radical damage and Alpha Arbutin, Berry extract to shatter pigment and Vitamin C for brightening.
$240+
INTRODUCTORY PRICE $225+
Jun26
School is officially out for the summer! Teachers, parents and kids countdown to summer because it is a dedicated time to drain the brain and decompress from the school year. We can’t all just drop everything and head to the Spa when we are stressed out. For some of us, it would be a daily visit. In between regular spa treatments, there are ways to diminish stress and find balance in your daily routine. Identifying the sources of stress in your life and finding ways to avoid them or reduce their impact is crucial to easing stress.
We all know stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. There are some triggers, such as losing a loved one or a job, we hope to avoid. There are others that can be prevented or curbed just by shifting the approach. Running and other cardio-induced exercises, meditation, prayer and yoga are great for many but when others are subjected to such exercises, they can be found boring or actually stress inducing.
The key to reducing stress is to prevent it. Getting enough sleep, a proper diet, avoiding excess caffeine and other stimulants and taking time out to relax may be helpful in this regard. Enjoy your summer and every season, stress-free, with these stress-alleviating suggestions:
Sit back and sip some tea.
Coffee will only get you so far before you have a caffeine crash. While still being hot and comforting, tea (especially herbal) won’t make you dehydrated and shaky. If you’re feeling tired and think you need a caffeine boost, go for cold water (or iced tea) instead. The cold temperatures will wake you up.
Make aromatherapy an essential
part of your routine.
Essential oils are the root of it all, benefiting the mind, body and spirit. Aromatherapy and essential oils are quick, easy, effective and relatively cheap little savers from stress. Ask yourself how you are feeling, and there is a blend to cure any situation.
Stretch and breathe.
If you start your day in a stressful way, you’ll probably feel stressed for the rest of the day as well. Start your morning with 5 minutes of silence and ease. Stand up and stretch your body, then bend over and touch the ground. Try to just feel your body and pay attention to your breath. Throughout the day, you will find you are more alert and relaxed. A morning stretch is like breakfast for your body.
Break up the routine.
Break up your routine into smaller, and more achievable segments. Shave your legs one day, paint your nails the next day, wash your hair the day after, etc. This approach also works with keeping your house clean and tidy – just do one little chore every day and you’ll stay on top of everything more easily.
Sit by the glow of a candle.
Candles have a relaxing effect, especially gently scented ones. Some of the scents that can help with our stress and anxiety are very common. Lavender is one of the most well known stress relievers, helping with everything from anxiety to aiding sleep.
Who said there is no rest for the weary?
This one’s important! Rest your mind and your body. Make sure that whenever you plan to rest – really rest. That means that you will have to make a conscious effort to push all stress-related thoughts and worries away.
Don’t forget to reward yourself.
Many see visiting a day spa as an extravagance and something that can be eliminated from the budget when money gets tight. However it is very important to take the proper care of your body and of your mind (especially during stressful times), and visiting a spa for a regular treatment is the perfect way to do this. You may be surprised at some of the physical health benefits you receive from regular visits to the spa.
What activities help you recoup during the summer months? Post your stress-relieving tips below.
Mar10