Post by Breanna Crowley, Spa Week’s Associate Director of Operations

So yes, I work for Spa Week, and no, I do not go to the spa all the time.  In fact, I probably get there less than you do.  I’ve had the basic facials, massages, waxings and microdermabrasions before, but for this time around, I wanted to try something new.

I don’t know about you, but between the hard water and the heat in my apartment always blasting, telling you that my skin got dry over the winter months is like telling you that Charlie Sheen is slightly egotistical.  After speaking with my client Soli Davis, Director at Shibumi Spa at the Eastern Athletic Club in Tribeca in NYC, it became apparent that I was in need of body scrub.  Now I just had to find the time to sneak over there to let her work her magic! (Read Michelle’s account of Soli’s magic too. And this one. Soli works a lot of magic.)

The service I received was the 45 Min Anti-Oxidant Head to Toe Exfoliation with Marine Enzyme Peel and Body Exfoliation of Pomegranate and Cran-apple Sugar Scrub (and yes, Shibumi is offering this for only $50 during Spa Week so you can indulge and repair your skin as well).

Let’s talk a little about the treatment. Simply put: it was AMAZING. Really, I wasn’t expecting it to be a full head-to-toe experience, but it was.  This top to bottom exfoliation has a cranapple-pomegranate sugar scrub for the body, then you are wrapped in a Mylar blanket for deep hydrating penetration; the face is cleansed, followed by a papaya enzyme exfoliation with an anti-oxidant mask.  After the scrub was over, I hopped in the shower and have never felt skin so soft in my life.

The next best part is the “Shibumi Experience.”  After your service, you have the opportunity to work out, take a class, lounge in the steam and sauna or chill out in the spa lounge and listen to the waterfall.

If you are looking to revive your skin and put your best foot forward this spring, I suggest you call Shibumi now to book your appointment.  But hurry, services as good as this book up fast, even if they are extending their Spa Week (shhh….)!  212.343.8788

Don’t forget to check out the hundreds of other locations offering Spa Week Body Scrubs (click for a video) – and book now, because they’re all only $50, kids! To name a few…

75 Min Chocolate Mint Body Scrub

Bliss Spa & Salon North Andover, MA

978.689.4400 http://www.blissspaandsalon.com

45 Min Salt or Sugar Scrub in Vichy Shower Room

Ultrabeauty Day Spa Philadelphia, PA

215.969.0299 http://www.ultrabeautydayspa.com

60 Min Aromatherapy Scrub Massage

Organical Botanical East Greenwich, RI

401.451.6000 http://www.theorganicalbotanical.com

50 Min Rose Herbal Body Scrub – Udvartan, plus One Free Yoga Class

Pranaa Ayurveda Spa & Yoga Plano, TX

972.608.0402 http://www.pranaa.com

45 Min Sea Me Exfoliating Treatment

Deva Spa New York, NY

212.274.8686  http://www.devachansalon.com

45 Min Scrub Combo including Salt Scrub, Mud Treatment and Soap Wash

Russian & Turkish Baths New York, NY

212.674.9250 http://www.russianturkishbaths.com

60 Min Authentic Korean Body Scrub with Cucumber Facial Treatment

Tribeca Spa of Tranquility New York, NY

212.226.4141 http://www.tribecaspaoftranquility.com - Photo above courtesy of TriBeCa Spa of Tranquility

MORE HERE!

If I had another Bat Mitzvah, my praises for the Holy Land of Israel would include a footnote about the salt.

Dorit Baxter Day Spa, one of New York’s coziest and most classic day spas located in Midtown Manhattan, has a wide assortment of treatments and an expert staff that feels a lot like family. When it comes to ingredients they use only the best, and so they import their salt from the Dead Sea of Israel. These salts contain over 80 minerals that are essential to your skin’s health. I’ve had a number of salt scrubs in my day, but this one was hands down (and up and down and up and down…) one of the most thorough, exfoliating, relaxing and massaging of them all.

The video says it all. Dorit Baxter has been part of the Spa Week family for many years, and you can try the 45 Min Sea Salt Body Scrub with Warm Hand Paraffin there during Spa Week for just $50. Booking begins this coming Monday, March 14th. And if you think you’d just be heading in for a hypothetical jaunt to a salty beach in the Holy Land, you’re wrong! Check it out–

Benefits of a Body Scrub:

• Exfoliates and cleans the skin better than regular soaps or cleansers
• Removes dead skin cells to reveal a younger skin layer
• Thoroughly cleans your pores allowing your skin to breathe better
• Stimulates blood circulation and removes daily toxins from your skin
• Helps future skin regeneration which keeps your skin looking younger
• Strengthens and firms skin tissues

Paraffin wax is used to treat a wide variety of problems such as:

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Eczema
• Fibromyalgia
• Fibrositis
• Inflammation
• Muscle Spasms
• Overworked/Fatigued Muscles
• Psoriasis
• Scar Tissue
• Stiff Joints
• Tendonitis
• Tennis Elbow

AMEN.

Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa
45-47 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
212.371.4542

The Little Luxury: St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Relationship status: During one lonely jaunt to my local drugstore, I stumbled across this find right in between a super expensive Oil of Olay option and a menacing generic type. For less than the price of a Subway Sandwich I slipped this baby into my basket and have since been completely committed.

What is it for? How often does your face just feel saturated with makeup, dirt, moisture or all of the above? Just splash a little water all over your face and get to scrubbing twice a week and your skin is guaranteed to feel like new.

Aromatherapy in a Bottle? Close. One up on your typical scrubs is that it doesn’t smell like some yucky hospital solution. Sweet and delightful, apricot is one of the sweetest smells you can ever imagine.

Why St. Ives? Aside from the ridiculously cheap price, I’m dedicated to this scrub because it lives up to it’s packaging and does what it says. It wakes up the skin cells through an invigorating mixture of exfoliating beads, Swiss Botanicals, and Pure Swiss Glacial Water. After just one use my skin felt clean, tout and refreshed.

Who does it work for ? It’s good for all skin types. Oily, dry, prone to breakouts– it works magic for everyone.

Add this gem to your regimen: If you’re anything like me and you enjoy the thought of splurging but hate to see the negations in your bank account then take the cheap but good route. This scrub is just as capable of delivering the glow you crave sans the sticker shock of Yves Saint Laurent. Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize!

Good, cheap fun: $4.29 (6 oz/ 170 grams). Order online at Drugstore.com

Get scrubbed like a pro: I have to say, St. Ives great for frequent usage, but there truly is nothing comparable to a scrub at a spa. Don’t believe me? Try one yourself for just $50 during Spa Week — see which spas are offering scrubs near you.

Hot Stone Scale: 5 out of 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Candace Amos

Summer days can mean cool breezes and the sand between your toes – they can also mean melting makeup, sweat-clogged pores, itchy dead skin, lotion & deodorant buildup…and ew. We just grossed ourselves out.

Sounds like the doctor ordered a sugar scrub to reveal fresh, clean, summer-soft skin. But if you’re like us and you can’t make it to the spa for a weekly rubdown, it’s time to call Sugar Mama Honey Scrub and Bubbling Exfoliant from Glowology into service to help you scrub-a-dub your way to a spa worthy glow in your own shower.

WIN THE SET! (3 Winners)

A perfect bath and post-shave treat, Sugar Mama Honey Scrub is a decadent delight for you and yours, completely calorie-free. With a feather light cotton candy consistency, ultra-fine sugar is spun into honey, and then blended with shea butter, organic olive and sunflower seed oils to deliver an indulgent bath experience. Deliciously rich and highly effective, this body scrub gently exfoliates to remove dead surface skin cells, leaving skin silky soft, smooth and ultra-moisturized.

Key Ingredients:
Aloe Vera – Provides moisture to soften, soothe and comfort skin.
Honey – Creates a water-tight film, allowing skin to rehydrate itself. Moisturizing, softening, sweet and fragrant.
Olive Oil – Moisturizes, protects and nourishes skin. It is very beneficial for dry or damaged skin.
Shea Butter – Protects skin’s suppleness while providing moisture to improve the appearance of dry skin.
Sugar Cane – Helps to dissolve and remove the outer layer of dead skin cells. By decreasing the thickness of dead cells on the surface, a new layer of skin with a smoother texture and a more uniform color can be revealed.

A soothing shower secret with gentle exfoliating properties to smooth and soften skin for luxurious results you can see. With the Bubbling Exfoliant, tiny bubbles dance with oats and honey to gently remove dead surface skin cells without over-drying. Creamy, yet still lightweight, it’s formulated with skin-enriching emollients, that leave skin refreshed and primed for moisturization.
Key Ingredients:
Coconut Oil – Conditions skin, relieves dryness and flaking, prevents wrinkles and protects from the damaging effects of UV radiation from sun. Lathers readily and softens skin.
Glycerin – Absorbs moisture from the air and thereby helps products retain moisture. It improves the spreadability of products and provides skin moisturizing benefits.
Honey – Creates a water-tight film, allowing skin to rehydrate itself. Moisturizing, softening, sweet and fragrant.
Soybean Oil – Provides a dose of natural vitamin E, to moisturize and soothe.

TO ENTER:

Just let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook Page -

What spa treatment is it IMPOSSIBLE to recreate at home?

3 winners will be chosen based upon the truthfulness and originality of your answers.

Enter by commenting on the post below or writing it on our or the thread for this post.

Deadline: Monday, July 5th at 11:59 pm EDT. Please link your comment to a valid email address.

Disclosure

The video of everything you need to know about Spa Week Spring 2010… what better place to tell you than from inside the spa, mid-hot stone massage and pore extraction?

It’s not too late to book YOUR $50 Spa Week appointments! Spa Week is April 12th – 18th, when luxurious massages, facials, scrubs, pedicures, Botox, slimming treatments, Vajazzling and so much more are available for just $50 a piece (Normally $75 – $500 treatments).

Visit spaweek.com to browse the full list of treatments in your region, and call up to book before the week is over!