11 Spa Deals to Pamper Pop


Your superman, jungle gym, coach, tutor, teacher, mentor, protector, best friend, buddy, pal, go-to-guy, poppa bear, daddy-o… No matter what you call him, we are willing to bet the lawnmower, the powertools, and the ’57 Chevy that your Dad could take better care of himself. Dads are notorious for making sure everyone else in the family wants for nothing, whether it’s dolling out extra dollars for that school field trip, secretly buying you the expensive pair of shoes that Mom denied you, or treating the whole team to ice cream after a big game. Dad’s are always dolling out the dough to make others happy. But what about Pop? Shouldn’t Dad be allowed to escape the stresses of work and family and just take some time to relax… without breaking the bank? OF COURSE!

The spa is the perfect place for Dad to unwind and recharge while focusing on his overall health and well-being.  There are lots of guy-focused treatments, like Deep Tissue Massages and Gentlemen’s Facials, that  provide tangible wellness benefits (improved circulation, decreased blood pressure) without making Dad feel like a girly-girl. In honor of Father’s Day (June 17th), check out these 11 Spa Deals treatments that are perfect for pampering Pop…

$98 90 Min Father “Heal” Hot Stone Massage or Deep Tissue Massage at Elizabeth Adam Salon And Day Spa in Chicago, IL. (Was $156)

$80 Gentlemen’s Ultimate Customized Facial with Scalp Massage or Brow Cleanup at Princeton Center for Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa in Princeton, NJ.  (Was $105)

$100 “Dad’s Day Off” Package, includes: 60 Min Swedish Stress-Reducer Massage, Mini Men’s Facial, Foot Exfoliation, Massage, and Warm-Towel Wrap at Touch Of Tranquility Massage in Gilbert, AZ. (Was $150)

$92 50 Min Gentlemen’s Custom Organic Facial at Bella Tosca Day Spa and Salon in San Diego, CA.  (Was $115)

$90 2 Hour Father’s Day Package: includes Gentleman’s Facial, Manicure and Pedicure off at Northshore Nails and Day Spa in Glenview, IL. (Was $115)

$80 50 Min Adonis Men’s Facial at Jamachi Medi-Spa in Silver Spring, MD.  (Was $100)

$150 Just For Dad Package: 60 Min Xanadu Massage, 60 Min Gentlemen’s Facial and Spa Access  at Spa Xanadu in Arcadia, CA  (Was $190)

$45 Spa Week Pedicure with Hydration Therapy perfect for daddy feet at 80 LifeSpa locations Nationwide. (Was $70)

$139 Laser Hair Removal for Men’s Partial Back at Alegria MedSpa in Torrance, CA (Was $169)

$155 Dad’s Delight Package, includes: Bath, Massage and Pedicure at Penterra Spa at The Heathman Hotel in Kirkland, WA (Was $185)

$80 70 Min Father’s Day Relaxation Package, includes: 35 Min Swedish Massage and 35 Min Stress Relief Facial at Vital Touch Spa & Salon in La Habra, CA. (Was $85)

After you book Dad a Spa Deals appointment, make sure he gets the most bang for his buck with a Spa & Wellness Gift Card. Get a $100 card on sale for just $85 from now until June 18th.

Tebow Gets Pedis + More Reasons Your Man Should Spa

Three reasons your man should get in on the Spa Week action:

Reason #1: Tim Tebow gets mani/pedis.

Tim Tebow gets himself a pedicure.

Reason #2: Dwayne Wade does yoga, Pilates and gets pedicures.

Reason #3: Al Pacino has been known to rock nail polish.

Yes, going to the spa has gotten a fluffy reputation for being all about primping and looking pretty. But that’s not stopping some of sports’ biggest stars and Hollywood’s leading men from getting in on the pampering action. Within the past three weeks (and as recently as yesterday), Spa Week Daily, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Jezebel and TMZ have all reported on the spa-habits of famous men including Wade, Tebow, Pacino, Chuck Norris, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Zac Efron and Usher, to name a few.

Wade attributes the spa and regular yoga/Pilates to helping him avoid injury and muscle stiffness/soreness, while improving flexibility, quickness and response time on the court. Tebow gets manicures because he wants to impress Katy Perry. Just kidding, Timmy, we know you get your nails trimmed and cleaned to improve your grip when tossing around the ol’ pigskin and to avoid painful and often debilitating blisters, calluses and ingrown nails on your paws. And, okay, maybe the third reason isn’t as convincing as the first two, but every guy likes Scarface, right? Even though we’re not really sure why Pacino has nail polish on, we have a hunch he got the VIP spa treatment being a good dad and bonding with his tween daughter.

What better time to remind the man/men in your life to treat their bodies right (and get in a little quality time with you) than to get them to the spa during Spa Week, April 16-22? Michelle’s boyfriend lost his spa virginity last Spa Week… it’s time for men everywhere to do the same.

In related news…

After Kim and Kanye‘s tirade around NYC last Friday, no one is talking about Kris Humphries, or his pedicure habits. Sorry Hump.

Images via, via, via


Spa Foodie: DIY Hot Lather Shaving Cream

Most of the Spa Foodie features we’ve put together over the past few months have been almost exclusively geared toward the needs of women (think Lavender Bath Truffles and Honey Apricot Beeswax Cuticle Cream… okay, we know our gays love this stuff too). But lest us not forget about our fellow bearded friends… men! Guys need at-home DIY spa treatments, too. Even though, there’s a big possibility that you will be the one making this recipe for your man instead of him making it himself, we’re pretty sure he’ll love to see you in the kitchen whipping this stuff up (in heels and an apron? Wink, wink). Plus, the ingredients are super cheap and most of them are already in your pantry (so he’ll love that you’re not spending loads of money). All of this catering to your man might even score you a Phenomenon-inspired John Travolta/Kyra Sedgwick sexy-face-shaving-scene. Bow chica wow wow.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bar Dove® soap
  • 1 bar Ivory® soap
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon castor oil
  • Essential oils (try sweet orange and clove)
  • 1 bottle of distilled water
  • 1 grater
  • 1 stainless steel pot (8 quart)
  • 1 ceramic coffee mug
  • 1 Pringles can, emptied and cleaned
  • 1 shaving brush (badger hair is best, boar’s hair is acceptable)
  • 1 razor (a classic double-edge razor is the most traditional, but any will work.)

Directions:

  1. Grate 1 bar of Dove® soap and 1 bar of Ivory® soap into a large stainless steel pot
  2. Add the olive oil and the castor oil to the soap mixture
  3. Add just enough distilled water to the mixture so that the grated soap starts to stick together when stirred
  4. Over low heat, continue stirring the soap mixture until everything is combined and the water begins to evaporate. This is called rebatching.
  5. As the soap thickens, add essential oils for more manly fragrance
  6. Pour the still-pliable thick liquid soap into a clean coffee mug and let it cure for several hours to a day. The final product should not be “goopy” … if it is, you can reheat it over a stove and evaporate more water out of the product. The best texture will be like chilled soft margarine (think the kind in a tub)
  7. You’ll probably have leftover soap. Pour this into a small, cleaned Pringles® potato crisps container. After it hardens, you can slice through the cardboard to make disks that you can use to refill your mug

To Use:

  • Dip  a shaving brush into very warm water and then whisk the brush in the coffee mug to create loads of lather. Spread on your face and shave as normal
  • Rinse the shaving brush carefully and let it air dry between shaves

Tips/Tricks:

  • You’ll probably have leftover soap. Pour this into a small, cleaned Pringles® potato crisps container. After it hardens, you can slice through the cardboard to make disks that you can use to refill your mug
  • You can make a non-lathering shaving oil which works as well as the shaving cream by mixing sweet almond oil, olive oil, castor oil, and adding a few drops of peppermint oil, clove oil, and sweet orange oil. Spread a few drops over a wet face using the palms of your hands, and then shave.
  • Castor bean oil is the oil that gives these shaving creams their thick moisture-rich lather

Recipe via

Wedding Wednesday: Destination Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach

Sure, fresh white snow on the ground looks beautiful. But when it comes to your wedding, wouldn’t you rather have your toes dipped in white sandy beaches? Today we’re pleased to feature Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach in Sunny Isles, Florida as a fantastic location for a destination wedding. Enjoy southern Florida’s warm weather at this oceanfront property and bask in relaxation of one-on-one attention from the on-site wedding planner.

The resort features 54 hotel rooms and 43 hotel suites with scenic views, 5 star amenities and private terraces. Your out-of-town guests will enjoy the many services Acqualina has to offer like 24 hour room service (late night sundae, anyone?) and interactive child care programs to entertain the tots.

Get pampered at the resort’s award-winning 20,000 square foot spa: ESPA at Acqualina. Perhaps a Stress Releasing Abyhanga? There are 16 treatment rooms including a private hotel spa suite for two, a private spa pool and a heated jet pool with a Roman waterfall, Finnish Saunas, Crystal Steam Rooms, Ice Fountains, Experience Showers, and Relaxation Rooms. There are even spa treatments for men – so bring the groomsmen, too! If you can’t sell them on the spa, just get them out of your hair and ship them over to one of the many golf courses for the day.

Privacy, attention to detail and all hands on deck! The resort hosts only one wedding on the property at a time, ensuring that the bride and groom can take full advantage of all the options available on the premises. The four banquet rooms can accommodate up to 130 guests or you can host a larger party on the oceanfront lawn. Couples don’t have to worry about the minor details knowing that the in-house catering staff will help plan the entire menu. But don’t take it from us – check out all their wedding testimonials – that’s a lot of happy couples.

All you have to do is slip into that gorgeous gown of yours and say “I do!”

Top 10 Hottest Spa Treatment Trends for Fall 2011

Picture a world where job and family stress disappears at the door, where the only goal is bringing you UP, to make you healthier, happier, better looking, and to make you feel absolutely amazing. Step into to the spa.

But really… step INTO it. The wellness lifestyle is brewing with new opportunities, delving far beyond the basic massage and facial. Industry leaders are constantly innovating to deliver extraordinary relaxation, mind-body improvements, and tangible results. When’s the last time you’ve gone to the spa and tried something new? We’ve leveraged our exclusive relationships with hundreds of spa partners to extract privileged industry information to release the most accurate and trustworthy assessment of the direction of spa services to date. We are excited to release to you… Spa Week’s top 10 hottest spa treatment trends for Fall 2011.

Treat yourself to a wellness and beauty adventure this Spa Week® - $50 spa treatments across North America, October 10-16, 2011. The Fall spa directory launches September 12, when you’ll be able to see which spas are offering which services. Try one, try all— Spa Week is the time to indulge and experiment. All these treatments, many of which are usually anywhere between $100 and $500, will be available for just $50 a piece!

1. Shirodhara

We know what you’re thinking: Shiro-whata? Don’t try this at dinner, but drizzling warm sesame oil onto one’s forehead is extremely therapeutic. Shirodhara, which dates back to India circa 5000 years ago, is now being incorporated into more and more spa menus, and seen as an add-on to Western treatments like body wraps and Swedish Massages.

It’s the good kind of oil spill:
The ritual’s steady spilling brings physical and emotional balance while giving hair an extreme conditioning. Shirodhara is known to calm nerves, release stored emotions, purify the mind, and fight fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and headaches.

2. Bamboo Massage


De-knot your body by getting rolled out like a sugar cookie with a Bamboo rolling pin-esque Massage. The massage therapist will knead, glide and roll a Bamboo reed along shoulders, back and legs to pamper and penetrate tense muscles.

The benefits of Bamboo-ing:
Bamboo Massage promotes blood circulation, improves sensory nerve perception, and does lymphatic drainage. Bamboo also symbolizes longevity, luck and strength, making it a somewhat spiritual spa experience.

3. Cupping and Gua Sha

Did you ever wish you could literally suck or scrape the pain and soreness right out of your body? With the ancient Chinese healing therapies of cupping and Gua Sha, you can!

How it works:
Cupping uses suction on the skin’s surface to “suck” stagnant blood from deep beneath the surface, and Gua Sha “scrapes” the skin to mobilize blood flow in a similar fashion. Both alternative therapies provide extreme pain and tension relief, especially on the back. These therapies are becoming more and more mainstream, despite the temporary bruising it causes, as new consumers experience their drastic benefits.

4. Acupressure

No pressure to get pricked here. Acupressure employs the concept of acupuncture, (the granddaddy of healing) only rather than needles, it uses physical pressure of hands, elbows and other devices. Practitioners target specific points along the body’s energy pathways, or “meridians,” to encourage healing and balance in the individual.

What it’s good for:
Relief from allergies, chronic arthritis pain and migraines; pain-sufferers can reap the benefits of this ancient Chinese medicine without fear of being poked.

5. Bottoms Up at The Spa


It’s always happy hour at the spa, but more and more spas are incorporating alcohol into their treatment offerings.

On the cocktail menu:
Champagne and wine-infused treatments can smooth skin tissue, stimulate blood flow and are a powerful ingredient in anti-aging. Beer yeast is rich in elements that increase skin elasticity and improve acne by suppressing sebum. Even Scotch Whiskey is showing up on the spa scene; it’s full of sugars, minerals and vitamin B6, giving it excellent hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Shellac Attack


There’s been a lot of hype around UV Manicures, especially the popular Shellac Manicure since it first launched last Spring – the hard lustrous finish! The zero dry-time! The 14-day no chipping/smudging/denting promise! And did you see the Shellac flash mob? A cross between gels and a regular manicure, products like Shellac and Axxium are certainly no fad, as the color selection gets larger and trendier each season.

Why Shellac?
Spa-goers love Shellac Manicures because they get a long lasting, no-mess result, and spas love them just as much because it brings in new clients and revenue, without increasing the service time. Shellac Manicures are a win-win!

7. Men’s Treatments

Did you know men make up for 31% of active spa-goers? And did you know the most common spa packages offered are for men, with 45% of U.S. spas offering such a package? By incorporating no-frills, guy-friendly scents like sandalwood, mustard seed, eucalyptus and thyme, spas are able to successfully market to men.

What services are considered guy-friendly?
Hot Shaves, Gentlemen’s Facials, Golf Ball Massages and more have enticed male consumers to experiment and experience the health benefits of the spa just as frequently as their female counterparts (who, oftentimes, are the ones who got them hooked!).

8. Mobile Spas  (not to be confused with Spa Week’s Mobile App)

With more and more mobile food establishments rolling around the country serving gourmet dishes and desserts, spas aren’t far behind. One of the emerging trends is getting your massage, facial, or other spa service street-side, in a spa on wheels.

Why go mobile?
Mobile spas are in high demand as they conveniently bring the day spa experience right to your home, office or venue. With gas prices at an all-time high, the mobile spa experience saves time and money, and is now a popular and sought-after addition to wellness and bridal parties and even corporate events.

9. Deep Sea Spa-ing

The word “spa” is derived from water, so it is a wonder that water-based spa treatments are so often overlooked. The Jacuzzi is perhaps the most well-known version of “hydro-therapy,” but more and more aquatic treatments like Hammam Rituals, Vichy Showers and Watsu are a booming trend, especially in hotel spas.

How to H2O:
Each of these water treatments utilized hydro-thermal therapy to relax tight and sore muscles and promote smooth and cleansed skin all while stimulating blood circulation to promote healing. Hammam Rituals combine heat, aromatherapy, steam, bubbles, water and mud to cleanse the skin and detoxify the body. A Vichy Shower is a unique aquatic therapy that invigorates your body while laying flat under powerful water jets, inspired by treatments used in the French city, Vichy. Watsu, short for water Shiatsu, is a massage performed in a warm, shallow pool.  As the water gently cradles the guest so the massage therapist can work the full 360 degrees of your body.

10.   Spa with a Conscience

“Green” spas and treatments are thriving right now in the industry; spa owners are making critical revisions by incorporating renewable energy, holistic and eco-friendly services and indigenous ingredients into their businesses, and it’s paying off in the long run.

But how?
More and more consumers are considering a spa’s environmental philosophy, along with price and location in their decision to visit a new spa. Spas are practicing conservation by purchasing organic linens, biodegradable aesthetic gauze and eco-friendly cleaning supplies to keep each guest sanitary and safe during their appointment. How’s that for a feel-good spa day?

Mobile spas photo courtesy of Appease Inc. Shellac photo courtesy of CND.