Need to Know: BB vs. CC Creams

January 29, 2013 | By

It feels like every beauty brand under the sun launched a BB Cream in 2012, erupting in both consumer frenzy and an ever-growing range of options for us beauty buffs to choose from. But now, it looks like BB Creams may have to take a backseat. There’s a new sheriff in town, and it’s (predictably) CC Cream.

In case you still aren’t familiar with BB Creams (short for beauty balm or blemish balm), here’s the quick 101: BB Creams got their start in Korea. They’re just multi-tasking products, usually somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and concealer on the coverage spectrum, and most contain anti-aging ingredients, sunscreen, shine-control, and/or blemish fighters. They’re meant to be a one-stop shop for all your skincare needs.

Editor’s Note: My personal favorite BB Cream is made by Clinique. It contains an SPF 30 to keep me protected and has a light sheer coverage perfect for daywear. I’ve been using this for months with no complaints. Another favorite that also offers great coverage is Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm. BB Cream is perfect for wear under makeup, too.

So what’s CC Cream? It’s short for Color Correcting Cream, and it’s a next generation BB. Think more color/tint to the coverage to correct redness, even out blotchiness, or add a bronze-y glow. Many formulas have been tweaked since the BB days for an even lighter, airier feel, and even more in-depth anti-aging ingredients have been added.

So far, we’ve tested this one: Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream. This product was more mousse-like in texture than BB Cream, and was totally weightless. The level of coverage was similar, but the CC cream was easier to apply. However, it’s what you can’t see that’s the most important in this case: The anti-aging and skin repairing properties in this cream seem to trump its BB predecessors.

So, what kind of girl are you — BB or CC? And is DD cream next? Only time will tell.

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Cosmetics Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Spa Insider: Beautyhabit’s Teresa Mitchell

January 18, 2013 | By

Teresa Mitchell

As the founder of high-end boutique Beautyhabit.com, Teresa Mitchell has the enviable task of seeking out the best beauty brands from all over the world. We asked Mitchell to share 5 brands she thinks the world should know about. Hear Mitchell wax poetic about those favorites below:

1. Cinq Mondes: “You can’t go wrong choosing anything from the famed Parisian spa Cinq Mondes! My absolute favorite body scrub on the planet,” says Mitchell.

“The reason why this body scrub is so amazing is the very fine texture of the grit. It’s both gentle and incredibly effective at the same time. It does not leave an oily film — in fact, when it makes contact with water, it creates a milky emulsion that envelops your skin.”

2. NEOM Luxury Organics: “I am a true believer in aromatherapy and the powerful effects scents can have on our mental and physical wellbeing. NEOM Luxury Organics Candles, even when unlit, smell like a luxury spa. My favorite is the Happiness Candle. It’s a blend of White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon.”

3. ISUN: “I once had a lovely facial treatment at the Montage in Beverly Hills, and they used ISUN products. My skin literally glowed for days. The standout for me in my home care routine is the Phyto-Infusion II Serum.”

4. Tata Harper Skincare: “I love the Tata Harper Irritability Treatment Oil. I need her to make this in a larger size than the 5ml! I get cranky being a mom and working full time and all the good stuff life throws my way. This aromatherapy treatment oil is so well-blended, so relaxing to me. I use this every day. It makes me happy. It’s like a mini spa in a bottle.”

5. Anne Semonin: “When I take a buying trip to France I never leave empty handed! I stock up on many goodies, but this is my VERY special treat… The Anne Semonin Mountain Bath Oil is my holy grail of baths. This is my bath to end all baths — and I love baths. The scent is so uplifting with the combination of oils and extracts including Chlorophyll. Heavenly. Worth every Euro spent!”

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The Hyatt Regency Newport, Rhode Island

January 11, 2013 | By

Newport, Rhode Island is a relaxing place. We can’t imagine many people that wouldn’t want to spend a long weekend there, let alone at the Hyatt Recency Newport Hotel & Spa. So that’s exactly why we included it as a prize in our A Better You giveaway.

This January, you can enter to win a three-night stay for two in a water view room, including two 50-minute spa treatments and a $50 daily food and beverage credit* during your stay. It might just be one of the best ways to spend a weekend, so if you have a special someone in mind, don’t wait another minute: Enter here to win that trip.

*Dining taxes and gratuities are not included.

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, Win Tagged With: , , , ,

National Bubble Bath Day

January 8, 2013 | By

Here at Spa Week, we love any excuse to indulge and unwind, and today we’ve got the perfect excuse: January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day!

Jana, one of Spa Week’s staffers, also happens to work at one of our favorite bath-time havens: LUSH. Having soak-tested many of their products, she filled us in on the perfect bath cocktail to enjoy on a chilly winter day:

1. The Avobath Bath Bomb

2. The Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds Bubble Bar

3. You’ve Been Mangoed Bath Melt

She says, “The zing of the lemongrass in Avobath, paired with the spicy patchouli in Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds, and finally a soothing skin treatment in You’ve Been Mangoed is the perfect ‘pick me up and hug me’ bath for frigid January days. Using the three together is a trifecta of treatments. It’s an experience. It’s the only way to bathe.”

For those of you who’d prefer a DIY, here’s how Martha Stewart maked her own pretty bath fizzies in ice cube trays:

Tools

  • 1/2 cup citric acid
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
  • About 6 drops food coloring
  • 10 to 15 drops essential oil(s)
  • Special equipment: 2-ounce travel-size spray bottle, plastic pipette, silicone ice-cube tray, storage jars, flour sifter

Directions

  1. Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch in a glass measuring cup.
  2. Pass mixture through a flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar.
  3. Fill spray bottle with water, and add food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly (it should become damp but not fizzy) until you can pack mixture with your hands.
  4. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Using a metal spoon or your hands, mix ingredients until color is even throughout (mixture will begin to dry out; when this happens, spritz until packable again).
  5. Spoon into ice-cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of tray gently.

Now go dust off your favorite book and relax! Let us know how you decide to celebrate National Bubble Bath day!

 

Filed Under: Products, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

5 Spa Treatment Trends for 2013

January 3, 2013 | By

The Aquabella room at the Westin Playa Bonita, Panama

By Ava Roxanne Stritt, Spa Travel Gal and member of the Hot Mom Spa Squad

What can you expect in the spa world for 2013? Well, you can forget crazy trends (like those banned fish pedicures). This year, it’s all about practical concepts to try out at your local spa (or on your next vacation).

Trend: A Hot/Cold Hangout (Not the Google Kind)
Spa-goers are staying longer and coming more often thanks to amenities that encourage you to, well, hangout. One of the hottest (or, perhaps, the coldest) trends is water therapy. At the Westin Playa Bonita in Panama, one can hang around all day in the Aquabella room, equipped to deliver either a hot or cold hydrotherapy treatment. Expect varied water experiences, like the Raindance Experience Shower, vitality wading pools, an herbal sauna to promote circulation, an amethyst crystal steam room to aid in hydration, and the Pediluvio Stream, where one walks on round river stones to massage your feet.  Bonus: Medical evidence has shown that this type of spa treatment has a direct influence on inflammation and pain.

Trend: Spa Suites
At one time a “spa suite” was thought to be a spacious treatment room, which one could reserve for just a few hours or possibly half day. Now, welcome to the new definition of spa suite: A hotel room conveniently situated next to (or even within) the spa. The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead has created an entire Spa Level with distinctive spa rooms and suites that cater to those of us that love to live in Zen throughout the day. No longer does one have to leave the serenity of the spa to journey back to her hotel room. Everything you need for total relaxation is within reach — or available with a quick dial to the Spa Concierge.

How about a spa suite on a spa island? The Rosewood Mayakoba offers an island suite on a Spa Island amidst relaxing nature sounds. This secluded area is the perfect getaway for a spa lover in an extremely unique location. It even has a private plunge pool!

Trend: More Extravagant Girls’ Nights Out
Many hotel spas are starting to offer special packages to add more incentive for a girls’ night out. One of the most decadent is offered by The W Atlanta – Downtown. Their “Girls Night Out” package includes a WOW Suite with a panoramic view to die for! Your cool corner room comes complete with cocktail fixins’, mani pedi supplies, lip balms and a party CD featuring either Fergie or Pitbull (my choice)!

And here’s a little secret spa tip for a more extravagant girls’ night out at your local spa: Call and ask how many appointments are available at any one time. If you book appointments for exactly that size group or girls, you’re effectively monopolizing the entire spa for yourself. You just made the spa your own private girlfriend getaway, without having to pay big bucks to literally close the place down. Celebrities like Katy Perry have done it, and now you can, too.

Trend: More Men in the Spa
More men will be heading to the spa in 2013 than ever before, and isn’t MORE MEN always a good thing? It used to be that men only booked appointments during a vacation or honeymoon, but today men feel comfortable to visit their local day spas more regularly. In fact, many spas now report that 33% of their customers are male. One cause might be all the new spa treatments created to target guys, like sports massage, facials that include an amazing shave, and meticulously groomed (but not polished) nail services.

Trend: Massages Without Hands
Massages using items other than hands have been a trend on the rise for a while now. We have seen stones, seashells, herb-filled orbs, and even golf ball massages (courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta). The trending item for 2013 seems to be Bamboo. One of the first to offer this was the Emerald Mist Spa at the St. Kitts Marriott, where heated bamboo stalks roll away knots in tense muscles. There are also massages that use no tools or hands at all (well, sort of). The Harbor Beach Marriott has Reiki body treatments that hail from the mountains of Tibet. They are based on ancient healing techniques that use very subtle, light body contact to channel life force energy to create a positive change in your mental and physical wellness. It makes for the perfect way to start the New Year or refresh your life. Afterwards your energy level is higher and you’ll feel calm and relaxed.

Ava is the author behind Spa Travel Gal, a blog about skincare, spa, and travel.

Filed Under: Spa Treatments, Spas Tagged With: , , ,