The Foxy Bikini: Now PETA-friendly!

There’s been quite the uproar ever since Completely Bare launched its new luxury merkins, including the Foxy Bikini, a pubic wig made of real fox fur. Well, just as quickly as our video investigation went viral, animal rights activists lashed out in protest. The result? Cindy Barshop, owner of Completley Bare Spa and former Real Housewife of New York, has confirmed that she will now be making her merkins of faux fur… and that she and PETA are actually now friends!

In case you missed it…

I spoke with Cindy today, and despite the seemingly negative situation, she looks as this as a very positive thing to have happened.  ”This opened my eyes and made me more aware of a cause that people feel strongly about,” Cindy said. “I respect people’s opinions and I really admire how PETA supported their cause. There’s no reason to use real fur, I’ll use faux fur.”

Cindy is also taking this one step further: “I don’t think anything negative came from it! In fact, I’m currently speaking with the people over at PETA and we’re looking to put together a Completely Bare campaign to support animal rights.”

Well done, Cindy – we can’t wait to see the next big bikini trend! We just hope you don’t become too friendly with the animals to the point where they are requesting bikini waxes and faux fur merkins.

The Foxy Bikini and The Carnivale have also both been slightly reduced in price, now $175 for either, including the wax.

From Swarovski crystals to spray paint and now to feathers and real fox fur, there is one woman not-so-secretly behind the beauty craze of decorating one’s bikini region like a birthday party.

Cindy Barshop, the owner of completely bare high tech spa, famous for both a season on the Real Housewives of New York and her fearless reputation for adorning the hair-free nether regions of women nationwide, has released the latest trend: The Foxy Bikini (real colored fox fur) and The Carnivale Bikini (an array of festive colored feathers). Merkin Madness! More on that here.

In the exclusive video above, Spa Week investigates.

Lorna gets the Foxy Bikini

Michelle gets the Carnivale Bikini

So there you have it – Vajazzling‘s out and pubic wigs are in!

Not totally sold? I’m not here to sell you on it – just to tell you what it was like. Yes, there’s a party in my pants, and yes, you are invited. As you’ll see in the video, Cindy Barshop performed The Carnivale on me, and it was a highly customized experience. I asked for a peacock, and a peacock I got. One by one, using a special completely bare glue, she placed the feathers on my freshly waxed bikini zone in a shape to slim my appearance. It was way more flattering than I thought it would be. All these years of diet and exercise, and all I ever needed was a feather merkin!

Does it hurt? Not at all. When my Carnivale was on, I actually couldn’t feel a thing. Unless I touched it, obviously. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all until 3 days later when they started to itch and come loose. At that point, I just peeled them off, painlessly. (Now they are pinned to my office cork board.) The Foxy Bikini and The Carnivale are meant to last 3-5 days (daily showering included) as a kitschy and unique way to spice things up – either for your sex life or your personal confidence. They may not be the most practical or necessary thing in the universe, but it certainly has that sexy shock value that appeals to us (bored?) lovers of innovative beauty.

Including the wax, it’s $225 for the Foxy Bikini and $195 for The Carnivale.

*A SPA WEEK EXCLUSIVE OFFER*

Curious to try? Get a year worth of unlimited laser hair removal at completely bare, and receive a FREE Foxy Bikini or Carnivale with EVERY session! Unlimited Bikini Laser Hair Removal: $1000. Unlimited Brazilian Laser Hair Removal: $2000. Mention SPA WEEK when you call to book. Available in New York only. Call for an appointment or consultation: 1.855.366.6060.

I can remember the best tan of my life very clearly. It was Spring Break in Acapulco, Sophomore year of college. Every day from the moment I peeled myself out of that cheap hotel bed until the sun went down, I werked it on the beach, dousing myself in Amazing Maui Babe, flipping every half hour, and turning my chair like clockwork to exalt the sun as it moved across the sky. Making my sunsoaked days even sunnier (besides those strongggg Miami Vices) were the hands of my personal Acapulco beach massage therapist. Yes, that’s right, on the first day laying out, an Acapulco native came by offering an hour-long massage for $30 (I know, better than Spa Week!)… and you better believe I said YES.

And then, every single day of vacation, as if I was prepping for a future job at Spa Week or something, I took advantage of her hour-long, oil-soaked services, illuminating my tan even more. Until I looked like this (tattoo is fake, tan is real):

Well, those days are over. I no longer have the patience – nor the ignorance – to want to lay in the sun for 8 hours a day all week. I am now an advocate of faking it and not getting skin cancer. Which leads me to the SECOND best tan of my life: completely bare spa‘s new Completely Bronzed Spray Tan, one of their $50 Spa Week treatments this Fall.

Completely Bronzed is an odorless spray tan that, as you can see in the video, is applied by a technician rather than just a misting machine. Unlike most other spray tans, it dries within four hours, so you can shower faster than the time it would take you to get to Acapulco. It also has a bronzer, so until you DO take that shower, you will be extra brown.

BEFORE the shower...

Or… in my case the first time I tried it… orange! —>

BUT, thankfully the orange only lasted until I showered, and then I turned to a beautiful state of bronze. The second time I got Completely Bronzed, I asked them go a little lighter on the face, and there was NO such orange at all. However, it wouldn’t have even been so bad if I was, because I only looked like an oompa loompa that one night.

In fact, I loved the tan SO much the first time, that I went back to cb a second time before a friend’s wedding in Cape Cod!

Now I know you have two main questions: 1, how good is the GOOD part of the tan, and 2, what is the DURATION like?

To answer your first question – it was extremely even. A very rich, natural-looking color, and it did precisely what it’s meant to do: make you look great in person, and even more notably, in photos. It was THIS good (yellow dress was from the second time with the lighter face, others are from the first tan):

(Yes, that’s me in the middle blending in with those mahogany walls.)

And now… THE DURATION:

• The first FOUR days (starting from when you shower) are amazing. That is broken down as such: The first two you look like you are still on vacation, the second two you look like you just got back from vacation. If you wash your face like a good spa girl (or boy), your face will get lighter faster than the rest.
• Over the next 1 or 2 days, you will start to “chip.” It’s the sunless equivalent to peeling. It’s not that cute when you notice it, but you still maintain some sexy color throughout your body.
• After that, it’s all downhill. You want to make sure you do NOT have a bikini party anytime between 6-12 days after your tan. You’ll be spotty and uneven.

To make the spotty, chipping period less unfortunate looking, you’ll want to exfoliate your body each day as soon as you decide your tan is ready to POOF be-gone. This time it took a solid 14 days to fully fade away. Last time, I got a body scrub at Le Merigot Santa Monica to finish off the last of it so it was a little bit quicker. (Side note: sweet excuse for a scrub!)

Completely bare, helmed by ex-NY housewife Cindy Barshop, is rapidly expanding and has Spa Week locations in California, Georgia, Texas and New York. In addition to Completely Bronzed, they are also offering laser hair removal for basic bikini or a brazilian wax for $50. Check out spaweek.com for completely bare locations near you.

And if you want to tell your friends you were in St. Tropez last week, your secret is safe with me!

Disclosure: Treatments were comped in exchange for video coverage and editorial consideration.

Preview $50 treatments from your favorite spas before Spa Week!

Video Directory:  Click To Watch + Read More!

• Spa Week is Back: Fall Preview Video
• American Laser Skincare and Exhale:  As Seen on NBC
• Completely Bare: The Spray-Vacay
• Exhale: Smart Peel + Core Fusion/Yoga
• Laser Cosmetica: Photo Facial
• Halcyon Days Salon & Spa, Saks Fifth Avenue: Aromatherapy Massage

Spa Week is Back Fall Preview Video

American Laser + Exhale As Seen on NBC

Completely Bare The Spray-Vacay

Exhale Smart Peel + Core Fusion/Yoga

Halcyon Days Salon & Spa, Saks Fifth Avenue Aromatherapy Massage

Laser Cosmetica Photo Facial

Village Wellness Project Chinese Cupping

Village Wellness Project Gua Sha

Decisions are tough.

You had trouble deciding what to wear this morning, what item on your to-do list needed to actually be done, and you went back and forth between salad and sandwich for lunch today at least 7 times. With about 800 spas participating in Spa Week this season… how will you ever decide which $50 spa treatments to book?

Well, to get you started, we wanted to introduce you to  some of our wonderful spas that got SO popular in one location that they multiplied like jackrabbits across the USA. You can visit these pampering havens in 12… 32… even 78 branches participating in Spa Week!

Spa Week runs October 10-16th and booking has begun, so hop on over to Spaweek.com (jackrabbit speed) to schedule your appointments ASAP! Now let’s meet these ever-expanding spa empires…

LifeSpa

It’s the spa famous for offering FREE 2-hour daycare during Spa Week while you get pampered! LifeSpa and Salon is a full-service spa and salon located inside select Life Time Fitness centers. Open to both members and non-members, they offer innovative hair, body, skin care and massage therapy services. They have 78 total locations in Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, New York, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, and New Jersey. Spa Week specials include:

• 50 Min Customized Massage with Choice of Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Relaxation or Muscle Therapy Techniques and Warm Foot Cleanse
• 50 Min Signature Facial with Natural Vitamin Infusion and Soothing Arm Massage
• 60 Min Pampering Package: Includes 30 Min Spa Manicure, 30 Min Pedicure and Deep Hydrating Treatment

Red Door Spa

Celebrating 100 years of beauty expertise in 2010, the renowned Red Door Spas is always on the cutting edge. Red Door Spas guarantees guests a unique and encompassing experience which delivers the highest level of technical expertise and impeccable guest service, and for years has been one of Spa Week’s most coveted. You can find one of their 32 spas located in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC and Washington. Don’t miss out on their Spa Week specials:

• 50 Min Spa Week Stress Melter Ritual with Exfoliation, Aroma Therapeutic Body Wrap and Relaxing Scalp Massage
• 50 Min Spa Week Renewal Facial for All Skin Types
• 60 Min Spa Week Spiced Eden Pedicure with Pressure Point Massage and Warm Paraffin Treatment

Completely Bare

If you watched any of this past season of Real Housewives of New York, you know that Cindy Barshop believes in the best hair removal on earth. Or maybe it’s because you’ve visited the RHONY star’s completely bare spa, acclaimed by many as the #1 destination for hair removal for both men and women. They offer breakthrough treatments (ahem) and unparalleled service, from specialty waxing to laser treatments (go behind the laser beam with this live laser hair removal video!). You can find one of their 7 locations in California, Georgia, Texas and New York. Their Spa Week specials include:

• Completely Bronzed Spray Tan
• Laser Hair Removal for Basic Bikini
• Brazilian Wax

Exhale Spa

Known for their award-winning Core Fusion classes, Exhale is a new kind of spa – merging the paths of mind and body well being. They provide an experience that improves and transforms lives in one environment, and they’ve got quite the zen’d-out facilities in which to do it. They have 12 locations in California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Texas. Take advantage of the following Spa Week offers:

• Smart Facial Peel Tailored To Skin Type with Cell-Stimulating Botanicals
• 5 Pack of Mind Body Classes: Transform your Body with your Choice of 5 of exhale’s Award Winning Core Fusion and Yoga Classes
• Pure Manicure and Pure Pedicure Package: Includes Full-service Nail Therapy with Ginger-Infused Lotion, Organic Lavender Foot Scrub Exfoliation and Smoothing Organic Heel Balm

Natural Body Spa & Shop

Have you heard about the “Green Spa Pledge?” Spa-ing with a conscience is one of Fall 2011′s top 10 treatment trends, but Natural Body spas have always performed on the  foundation of being eco-chic. Having taken this pledge, and having partnerships including Earth Share, Green America Approved Businesses, Green Spa Network, and the U.S. Green Building Counsel, Natural Body specializes in nature-based products and providing services that not only consider their customers but the environment as well. They have 13 locations throughout Georgia, Florida, Kansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Their Spa Week specials include:

• 50 Min Primavera Purifying Facial
• 50 Min Organic Signature Massage

Jurlique

We hear it’s a pretty good spot for a spa bachelorette bash! Among other things. Jurlique strives to raise and produce the purest, most potent ingredients and uses naturally active ingredients to balance all skin types for a younger-looking complexion. They have 4 locations in New York, California, and Arizona. Don’t miss out on their Spa Week specials:

• 50 Min Medley Massage
• 50 Min Skin Restoring Facial
• 50 Min On-the-Go Manicure and Pedicure Combo

Fresh

Yes, many of these storefronts that you see have little skincare spas in the back, and they’re just as delicious-smelling as their famous bath, body, beauty and skin products. Fresh is known for their exotic and yummy-smelling ingredients like ginseng, anise, nectarine, brown sugar, lychee, and even cannabis. With 5 spa locations in New York, Texas, California and Nevada you won’t want to miss out. Take advantage of their Spa Week specials:

• 45 Min Umbrian Clay Purify & Balance Facial Experience
• 45 Min Black Tea Age-Delay Facial Experience
• 45 Min Ancienne Ultimate Age-Delay Facial Experience

American Laser

With over 8.5 million treatments conducted since 2002, American Laser has been busy… like our jack rabbits. Their Skincare Solutions are designed to improve the areas you almost love and transform those you wish you could love. Anyone else admiring the pic above? They have 26 locations throughout California, Illinois, and New York. They are offering the following Spa Week specials:

• Skin Tightening
• Foto Facial
• VelaShape

Laser Cosmetica

Gotta love the big fuzzy bear! Laser Cosmetica is the authority on Laser Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation. With 6 locations in New York, they are offering the following Spa Week deals:

• Photofacial (originally $500!)
• Microdermabrasion or Glycolic Peel
• Laser Hair Removal Choice of Lip, Chin, Underarm or Regular Bikini

Halcyon Days Salons & Spas

Rest your pretty little feet after a day of shopping with 6 The Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and Michigan. With 13 total locations, you can also find them at Halcyon Days Salon and Spa at Neiman Marcus NorthPark in Dallas, Texas. The company also goes under other aliases: Kiva Day Spa in Chicago, Illinois. Philipes Day Spa & Cosmetique in Indiana, Indianapolis. Essentiels Day Spa in Boulder, Colorado. Charles Grayson Spa & Salon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stonewater Spa & Boutique in Missouri and Florida. $50 treatment options include:

• 50 Min Aromatic Well-Being Facial
• 50 Min Therapeutic Full Body Massage
• 70 Min Featured Pumpkin Manicure + Pedicure Retreat

Clarins

Clarins helps bring the luxuries of France to you (oui s’il vous plaît) with facial and body treatments that were developed in Paris but are available for our pleasure. They have 16 locations throughout California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts. Ladies AND gents, their Spa Week services include:

• 60 Min Clarins Tri-Active Facial Treatment
• 60 Min CLARINS Men Facial

Massage Envy

They are a spa with a big heart (after all, massage leads to heart health) and are proud to show their support for the troops. Massage Envy is making wellness a part of everyday life with 14 locations participating in Spa Week this season throughout New Jersey and Florida. Their Spa Week specials include:

• 50 Min Relaxing Escape Swedish Massage
• 50 Min Aromatherapy Massage or Sports Massage
• 50 Min Happy Mommy Pre-Natal Massage

Did this help at all? Confuse you more? Be sure to check out all the spas participating in your area on spaweek.com, and when making decisions about the spa just remember: when in doubt, DO IT ALL. ;)

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