2014 Spring Spa Week: Restore Your Radiance and Peace of Mind

Bring on the bliss, along with the soft, cushy robes and slippers. Spring Spa Week has arrived! 

This special event takes R & R to the next level. At participating facilities, spas across the country discount their service fees to make treatments more affordable for the masses. Massages, body wraps and facials that normally cost hundreds of dollars can now be experienced for only $50. These offers last until April 27.

Spas provide a soothing sanctuary to restore your well-being. They give you an opportunity to set aside some time for yourself to clear your mind as well as your pores. Massage therapists and estheticians use their healing hands to melt away aches and pains in your body, and signs of aging and environmental factors in your face. Many facilities also offer relaxation, ice and steam rooms, as well as saunas and whirlpools, to help enhance the therapeutic benefits of the treatments you receive. It's the ultimate mind/body/spirit experience.

Spa Week ends on Sunday, so book your appointment soon. And, if you don't have time to participate this year, we've compiled the latest, greatest skincare products to get that gotta-have-it glow for your face and body. They help you create a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. 

Pamper yourself. You deserve it!

FACE

SHINE: 100% Pure Brightening Tonique, Brightening Cleanser and Brightening Night Balm. BEAUTY: This trio helps you refresh and renew dull looking skin during the day and while you sleep with pomegranate seed oil, vitamin C and bearberry extract. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE: DeVita Optimal Rejuvenation, Evening Rich Nutritional Moisturizer and Revitalizing Eye Lift Créme. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera gel and peptides help provide support during the day and overnight to ease under-eye puffiness and dark circles, and fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten and parabens.

SHINE: Desert Essence Age Reversal Renewing Gel Cleanser. BEAUTY: Gently exfoliate and brighten your skin without stripping natural moisture with willowbark extract, glycolic acid and sugar cane crystals. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Sanítas Skincare Vita-Rich Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and vitamins A, C, D and E minimize signs of aging, environmental factors and dryness. BEACON: Free of parabens and preservatives. Supports the Cinderella Foundation.  

SHINE: Sumbody Bright-Eyed Eye Serum and Detox Face Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Healing and hydrating oils, such as sweet almond and coconut in the serum, and jojoba, hazelnut and pistachio in the moisturizer, help smooth and soften your skin. BEACON: Free of parabens, animal oils, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, artificial preservatives and synthetic chemicals.

SHINE: Yonka Paris Pamplemousse Vitalizing Cream (normal to oily skin). BEAUTY: Pumpkin seed, lime and coconut oils, grapefruit extract and vitamin C aid in brightening and improving the texture of your skin, as well as keeping it supple and youthful looking. BEACON: No animal testing.

BODY

SHINE: Coola Body Lotion Bar (lavender chamomile). BEAUTY: Rejuvenate, revitalize and renew your skin with shea butter, and jojoba, sweet almond and avocado oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Lalicious Brown Sugar Vanilla Sugar Scrub. BEAUTY: Cane sugar crystals, vitamin E, and sweet almond and coconut oils gently slough dead skin cells and leave your body looking luminous. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, synthetic ingredients and sulfates.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Your Skincare Solution Spa-At-Home Essentials Kit. BEAUTY: Soothe your mind, body and spirit with this six-piece set--Silky Skin Body Scrub, Anti-Stress Bath Salts with Essential Oils, Anti-Stress Bath & Shower Gel, Preserve Body Moisturizer, Place of Serenity Lavender Votive and travel pouch. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, urea, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates.

SHINE: SpaRitual Instinctual Sand Scrub. BEAUTY: White sand, volcanic black sand and moroccan argan oil help eliminate impurities and lock in moisture for silky smooth skin. BEACON: Vegan, and free of synthetic dyes or parabens.

SHINE: Yonka Paris Neroli Orange Blossom Serenity Massage Oil Candle and Phyto-Bain Relaxing Bath Oil. BEAUTY: Leave your skin feeling refreshed and regenerated with a candle that transforms into a warm massage ointment and an aromatic bath treatment. BEACON: No animal testing.

Mandarin Oriental Spa Chinese Zodiac Pedicure

Courtesy Fanghong

Pigs hold a special place in my heart. As a kid, I developed an extreme fondness for these highly social and intelligent creatures when a friend received a pet pot-belly pig as a gift. I was smitten for life! 


So imagine my delight when I found out I was born in the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac. This animal possesses character traits such as diligence, compassion and generosity. Other animals represented in the Chinese zodiac include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep/goat, monkey, rooster and dog.


The Mandarin Oriental Spa recently developed a service inspired by the philosophy behind this astrological system. On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I experienced a sweet treat for my feet called the Chinese Zodiac Pedicure ($130/60 min.). Therapists customize treatments based on your animal sign and element (earth, fire, wood, metal or water), which are determined by your birth year.


We don't show enough appreciation to our feet. This pedicure represents a unique way to give them the love they deserve as it takes relaxation and rejuvenation to a whole new level. Here's how it works. 

SHINE: Mandarin Oriental Spa Chinese Zodiac Pedicure. BEAUTY: Pick a color from a bounty of SpaRitual bottles. I selected Strawberry Fields Forever, which is a shimmering shade of golden berry swirl. BEACON: These lovely vegan lacquers contain no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

My nail tech, Sammy, begins the pedicure with a foot bath. She utilizes a soothing signature body wash and sugar scrub.

She then pats my legs and feet dry.

Next, we move to a nearby pedi chair. 

A heated neck wrap and eye pillow help me relax as I settle into the chair.

 Both feet enjoy a foil mask. 

Each foot is then wrapped in a comforting towel.

Next, existing polish is removed and the toenails get clipped.

Sammy also files the toenails. 

After the mask and wrap are removed...

...Sammy gently uses a foot file to slough dead skin.

Another mask is then applied. 

Both feet are completely wrapped in large towels again.

When the mask is removed...

...both feet are soothed with warm towels.

Based on my birth year, a special earth element essential oil is placed on both feet for a healing pressure point massage.

Sammy's massage focused on specific earth element pressure points (spleen and stomach). Other elements represented by the Chinese Zodiac Pedicure include fire (heart and small intestine), wood (liver and gall bladder), metal (lung and large intestine) and water (bladder and kidneys).

Check out this video of my pressure point massage. Common symptoms when the earth element is out of balance include indigestion and a poor appetite. Recommended healing foods: Strawberries, squash and shrimp. 

Lotion is then applied for a final rubdown.

Sammy applies it to both feet and legs.

Polish application begins with a base coat and then a layer of your chosen lacquer. I selected Strawberry Fields Forever.  

The first coat is applied. 

 Next, my toenails enjoy a second coat.

A top coat completes the polish application process. 

Pedicure sandals are then placed on both feet to conclude the pedicure.