BellaSugar -- You're beautiful.

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?

Source

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?Source

Would You Live at the Spa?

Yes

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.

Source

A Sense For Beauty, Part IV: Hearing

bellasugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:59:31 -0700

OK, so the way that your compact snaps shut, or the sounds that your atomizer makes may not have the same effect on your senses as the way your body lotion feels on your skin, or the way a smoky eye makes you look sexy, but don't kid yourself, hearing does play a part on the the beauty products that you choose to purchase.

For example, Estee Lauder and Lancôme have both created a snug-fitting lipstick cap that makes a clicking noise when it's closed. This gives you the assurance to know that the cap won't fall off and cause any mess inside of your makeup case or purse.

Similarly, music is often played in the background at spas to help create a calm atmosphere in which to relieve stress and anxiety. Conversely, fast music is typically played at salons to create an upbeat, energetic environment. Do you have a favorite type of music that you play when you perform your at-home spa treatments?

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Don't Look If You're Afraid of Snakes...

bellasugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:00:30 -0700

Indiana Jones isn't going to like this: In northern Israel, a spa offers a unique massage that isn't for the squeamish. At Ada Barak's spa, you can have six massage therapists work on loosening tight, sore muscles. The only catch: they're snakes.

Barak's odd treatment incorporates king snakes, corn snakes, and milk snakes. Six non-venomous serpents slither slowly around your torso. Barak told Reuters that people find the experience soothing, but I can't even look at snakes at the zoo without feeling faint. To see a video of the treatment,

Facelogic Makes Facials More Affordable

bellasugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:00:33 -0700

If you aren't able to take advantage of this Exhale Spa deal, fear not! Another affordable spa option may be in your future. Facelogic is a chain of franchised spas with surprisingly reasonable prices on facials, waxing, and other esthetic mainstays. Fifty-minute facials start at $49, but are discounted if you sign up for a year's worth in advance. Despite the low prices, this isn't a bottom-of-the-barrel operation: spa estheticians use high-end product lines such as MD Skincare, Peter Thomas Roth, and Sue Devitt in their treatments.

I haven't had the chance to stop by Facelogic, but these reviews are all glowing — so I'd love to know if any of you have had a similar experience. There are dozens of locations in the States and Canada, with 62 more scheduled to open in the next few years.

What to Expect From a Brazilian Bikini Wax

bellasugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:48 -0700

After looking at these cute retro swimsuits, you might be inspired to hit the beach. If you're going to do that, you may want to trim your lady forest — or, like some women, you may want to lose your hair completely. As I've said before, there's no right or wrong way to groom your nether regions but if you're curious about Brazilian waxing, it can't hurt to try it. Well, actually, it can and will hurt — but that's why I've created this guide to your first time.

First of all, let's get our definition straight. A Brazilian wax removes all of the hair from front to back, usually (but not always) leaving a thin "landing strip" of hair a few inches below the belly button. Expect it to cost anywhere from $40 to $80. To find out how much pain to expect,

Spa Etiquette: What to Wear for a Massage

bellasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:00:11 -0700

Last week, I had the pleasure of being pounded and stoned. (Wait, that doesn't sound right.) I'm talking about a massage, and the one I had at San Francisco's Nob Hill Spa was as therapeutic as it was luxurious. But before the treatment, I watched a spa newbie try to figure out what, exactly, to do with her robe. So if you're unsure like she was, here are a few guidelines to make your massage treatment flow smoothly.

In the room: After you change from street clothes into a robe, your massage therapist will lead you to your treatment room. He or she will then give you a moment to slip out of the robe and into the sheets on the massage table.

What to wear: Most people like to be completely nude underneath the sheets, but others prefer to leave their underpants on. Either way is fine; your massage therapist won't mind one way or the other.

Ditch the bra, though: Again, it won't be weird if you wear your bra during the massage, but it will severely hinder the therapist's abilities — which means that your massage won't be as good as it should be. You'll be on your stomach for the most part, so your chest will be concealed. When it's time for you to flip over, the therapist will block your body by holding up the sheet, with no risk of booby display.

Source

Would You Pay for a Spa Nap?

bellasugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:00:39 -0700

Just when you think spa service add-ons have figured out how to drain your last dollar along with your stress levels, here comes Kohler Waters Spa in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The spa offers an unusual option with its massages. For $150, you can have a 75-minute massage — or you can opt for a 60-minute treatment followed by a 15-minute nap. Personally, I'd prefer the extra 15 minutes of rubbin', but some perpetually tired patrons might feel otherwise. If you had the option, would you pay to nap?Photo: Matthew Smith for Time Out Chicago.

Would You Pay for a Spa Nap?

Yes, I'm exhausted. Let me sleep!

No, that's ridiculous. Rub my sore back instead.

Beauty Blooper: Caught Going Commando at the Spa

bellasugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:00:03 -0700

A girlfriend of mine just got back from a Southern destination wedding where she booked an afternoon massage before the event. She arrived early to the spa to take full advantage of the steam room and sauna. She was also pleased to see that the girls-only quiet room had a nice, big jacuzzi.

Seeing as she still had some time to kill before her treatment, she jumped right into the warm water without thinking twice. She sat there, enjoying this bliss, until panic set in. Just a few minutes ago she was alone, and suddenly the room was filling with the bridal party and mother of the bride who were there for pre-wedding beauty appointments. No big deal — except for the fact that my friend was in the hot tub completely naked.

She began to worry how she was going to get out of the hot tub since her towel was far away on a chaise. It was one thing for a stranger to see her naked, but for the bridesmaids and mother of the bride? Even worse, the women that were getting ready to join her had come wearing bathing suits. It never occurred to my friend to wear a bathing suit to a spa before! She wound up asking someone for a towel and then slithering out, covering herself in the process — all the while feeling embarrassed that she had been caught commando.

Lesson learned: Only go naked to a spa or gym if you can handle being seen by others. Also, this story makes me wonder: Do you wear bathing suits to steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs at spas?

Source

How Often Do You Buy Products After a Spa Treatment?

bellasugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:01:16 -0700

I'm not sure about you, but I have a bathroom cabinet filled with aromatherapy massage oils, masks, and even stones that I've purchased after a relaxing spa experience. Yes, I had the grand idea that I'd heat the stones and give my honey a hot-stone massage for Valentine's Day. (Fast forward three years and it's still never happened). I also find that therapists can be pretty relentless with their recommendations. Since I already know that you are inclined to buy products after a makeover, now I'm wondering: How often do you buy products after a spa treatment?Source

How Often Do You Buy Products After a Spa Treatment?

I buy something every time — I trust that the estheticians know what's best for my skin.

Occasionally, I'll buy something, but not always.

I never purchase any items after a spa treatment.

Undecided.

Beauty Byte: Canyon Ranch Launches New Transforming Skincare Line

bellasugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:00 -0700

The sensationally famous Arizona, Berkshires, and Miami based Canyon Ranch Spas are set to launch their own line of skincare products called Your Transformation. The nine-unit collection which includes two cleansers, three facial moisturizers, an eye cream, tonic, serum, and a body cream are designed to plump, smooth, and protect the skin from free radicals. They have a time-release formula and contain natural ingredients such as goji berry, blueberry, bearberry, ceramides, and vitamin B3.

Kris Cryer of Chrysallis — the company who is producing Your Transformation says,

The technology has more than 25 years of research behind it and has been proven to reduce the appearance of photo damage to skin and help prevent damage caused by ultraviolet rays and free radicals — the most significant causes of aging. Because Pro-NAD is a 12-hour continuous release system, the niacin is able to be delivered deep into the layers of the skin.

The brown and white packaged products range in price from $40-$150 and will be available at the spas, online, and in Saks Fifth Avenue by the end of the month.

Source

The Skinny on Spa Upgrades

bellasugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:00:22 -0800

There's nothing quite as relaxing as settling in for a spa treatment. That is, until your esthetician introduces the upsell. "Your facial would be so much more effective if you added on this mud mask," she might say. "It's just 25 dollars." And so you're lying naked under a sheet, worried that without the mud mask you'll be left with less-than-perfect skin, and you don't want to be awkward...

I truly dread the upsell. Even though some add-ons are worthwhile, others are just so-so, and they can easily make your total bill skyrocket. That's why I was excited to run across these opinions on whether certain spa add-ons are worth the expense. Microdermabrasion and paraffin wax treatments are generally considered worth the extra cost, whereas aromatherapy is deemed a waste of money. I agree, especially on aromatherapy; most spa products have a pleasing scent of their own, and dropping extra cash to sniff happily seems unnecessary.

So, how do you politely turn down add-ons that you're not interested in? For a few suggestions,

What's Really Going On at the Spa

bellasugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:00:48 -0800

Set aside a few minutes to read this excellent article from New York magazine. It's a thorough, unblinking look into the reality of the spa and salon business, from the amount of money that workers make to the what they really think while they're waxing off your hair.

For instance, the writer interviews her facialist, Francesca Kim, who reveals the pay structure at her employer, a Manhattan spa:

In her current gig, she began at an hourly rate of $10 to $12 — the industry maximum, she tells me — plus commission for each treatment she does for a client. But without notice, the owners started removing the hourly rate from treatment slots. Sometimes the commission was 40 percent of the treatment price, sometimes 25 percent. It varies irregularly, though the more expensive the procedure, the lower her cut (tips make up 20 percent of her income).

I don't know about you, but this is absolutely fascinating to me. I've long wondered about the wages at spas, opting to over-tip for even the least expensive services. Now I'm glad that I've been doing so, and I'm thinking I should probably amp it up a few bucks more. But that's just one aspect of this story. Be sure to check out these poll results, which are equally intriguing.

Oh Man: Guys Are Being Groomed for Barber Lounges

bellasugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:01:19 -0800

The term "metrosexual" was just a blip on the cultural radar, but the business of men's grooming is far from a fad. Some guys will always opt for a trip to the simple, no-fuss barber. My dad, for instance, pays a whopping $7 to have his "ears lowered," as he puts it. Works just fine for him.

But for a certain breed of man—urban, well-paid and trendsetting—Supercuts won't do it. Instead, this kind of guy is heading to men-only spas and salons. These places cater to the modern-gentleman type who knows how to make a martini, reads GQ, and so forth. And the perks sound fantastic. For instance:

At the rockabilly-inspired Belmont Barber Shop in Chicago, guys can shoot a game of pool after their shave.
At Los Angeles spa Mark Matthew, men are ushered into an area that looks more like a swank living room than a spa. Leather chairs, flat-screen TVs and complimentary beer, wine or scotch create a gentlemanly environment.
Shown here, MR in San Francisco offers a $65 monthly membership that includes a haircut, a touch-up, a shoe shine, and a drink at the bar. (Yes, there's a bar.)

Of course, there are dozens of other options all over the country, but these three give a good idea of what's out there. Something tells me that more than a few dudes wouldn't mind getting a gift certificate to one of these places. Even Papa Bella might
go in for a manly manicure if he were able to watch the Bears while doing it. Okay, maybe not. But I think he's the exception, not the rule.
Source

Should Facialists Be Honest No Matter What?

bellasugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:24:28 -0700

Usually, a spa is a place where you can be pampered and feel good about yourself. That's not the case with some aestheticians who dole out straightforward—some would say mean—pronouncements on the state of their clients' skin:“If you don’t stay out of the sun and use the products I suggest,” Manhattan aesthetician Julie Lindh warned one client, “you will have saggy skin, jowls, and look like someone’s grandmother in a couple of years.”Ouch. The client in question continues to visit Lindh because of her facial, but I'm not sure that I would. When it comes to working with aestheticians, would you rather get hyper-direct advice like this, or would you rather just be pampered?Source

Should Facialists Be Honest No Matter What?

Yes. It's better to know what needs to be done.

No. Such talk is only meant to make the client feel bad.

Undecided

Brits Think Bottom Facials are a Bum Deal

bellasugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:00:27 -0700

I got such a kick out of this column about bottom facials. Apparently, this spa service is new to England, and a 30-minute session is £40 (about $80). The columnist, Carol Midgley, doesn't understand the appeal:

Unless you are the type of person who habitually drops their pants and moons in public (in which case you are Paul Gascoigne), then there’s only really your partner who sees the bloody thing. And if a man will dump you over a stray arse pimple, then I suggest you leave him. Now. Because he’s a nightmare.

Well, she has a point there. Butt seriously, folks (sorry, I can't help myself): go ahead and

Should Children Be Going to Spas?

bellasugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 05:52:07 -0700

I'm fascinated by this story about parents who take their kids to day spas for massages, manicures and facials. “I got a massage and I loved it! It’s sooooo relaxing,” one 11-year-old girl said of her first spa experience, which she had at age 9. Do you think it's appropriate for third-graders and fourth-graders to have spa treatments?Source

Should Children Be Going to Spas?

Sure. Why shouldn't they get pampered at an age-appropriate level?

No way. Kids don't need to be spoiled like that.

Undecided

:10 Minute Manicure Offers Nail Services in Airports

bellasugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:51:44 -0700

If you're jetting out of town for the Fourth of July, but don't have time to schedule in a manicure or pedicure before you leave, you might actually be happy if your flight is delayed. :10 Minute Manicure is a chain of nail salons, most of which are located in airport terminals throughout the United States and Canada. The salons offer quick services such as express pedicures ($35 for 20 minutes), reflexology and massage—all offered in time increments as short as 10 minutes, so you can squeeze in some pampering before your flight. For a list of the airport locations, just

Women Who Spend $1,000 a Week on Beauty

bellasugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:45:09 -0700

How do you define a beauty splurge? A Bliss spa treatment? A Dior lipstick? After seeing this article on extreme beauty regimens, you might have to rethink your definition.

The story begins by introducing a real estate agent who spends 10 hours and $1,000 a week on beauty treatments—and the wild part is, she says her routine is minimalist by LA standards. But she and the other people profiled are typical of many upper-middle-class women, says Lisa Oliver, the head colorist at The Salon by Maxime in Los Angeles.

“Depending on how much Botox and the pricier stuff you get done, when you add in hair care, nails, face and body, it’s got to be between $2,000 to $3,500 a month,” Ms. Oliver said. In Los Angeles, she added, such grooming is considered basic maintenance.

“If you are high maintenance, you could spend a lot more money,” Ms. Oliver said. “I can think of a couple of people where $3,500 a month might be low.”

Boy, do I feel like a penny-pincher in comparison! Don't get me wrong, I like to look my best and I splurge occasionally, but I don't know where I'd find the time (much less the $1,000 per week!) to have that many beauty treatments. I'm curious: How much do you spend every month on looking good? Is there a point when it becomes too much? And would you want to trade places with these women?

Byron Williams Brings Out the Stars

bellasugar — Sat, 05 May 2007 06:00:27 -0700

Hollywood makeup artist and hairstylist Byron Williams hosted a soiree in Beverly Hills on Thursday to celebrate his new salon, and the swanky, spa-tastic event was star-studded to say the least. Not surprising, considering that Williams — a veteran of the renowned Prive Salon in LA — counts Kirsten Dunst, Rachel Zoe, and Lindsay Lohan among his clients.

LL and RZ were there, as were Mischa Barton, Paula Patton, Bijou Phillips, and Monet Mazur. (Kirsten is probably a little bit busy promoting Spider-Man.) To see a gallery of the well-coifed stars at the event,