Eggnog, gingerbread men, Hanukkah gelt, seven-course meals… regardless of holiday parties and vacations and pictures for which you’d prefer to not be at your most bloated state, it’s a naughty season. Yes, and this is why Holiday Season is also the season when curious spa-goers call up their local holistic health centers and wonder:

“‘Tis this season for a colonic?”

Such is the case at Fabylous Living in Chelsea, NYC (which you may remember from my ear candling experience) – owner Fabiola Turner’s phone has been ringing off the hook about colonics. What’s it like? Should I be afraid? Will it help me not gain 400 pounds this December? So she picked up the phone and called me - to come in and film so we can show people once and for all what this colonic biz-nass is all about. At Faby’s spa, it’s not just a colonic, but a full pampering experience. It includes massages, hot towels, vibrational therapy, aromatherapy… and – the kicker! – it even includes a coffee and a chlorphyll enema.

The idea behind a colonic is that food enters the intestine and a lot of it doesn’t get flushed out, causing toxins to accumulate, which can result in illness. Especially in today’s world, where we’re breathing polluted air and consuming pesticides, our bodies are overwhelmed trying to get rid of it all. So a little “push” now and then really helps the digestive system do its job better.

Although some believe a colonic is not necessary or even risky, I’ve done three with great results… so call me a believer! But before you bare your butt, you probably want to know:

First, how does one prepare? Here’s how to prepare for a colonic.

Then, what exactly are those benefits?

THE BENEFITS OF A COLONIC:

First and foremost… the reason I personally love it… That SKINNY FEELING! It’s like, the greatest bowel movement ever X 100, and sometimes it’s exactly what a girl needs. I once did a colonic specifically to de-puff before an event in a tight dress, and it really does wonders as an immediate de-bloater. Also, cleaning your colon can help your body modify its appetite, aiding in long term weight management.

A boost of energy. Colonics allow the nutrients and vitamins to be properly absorbed into the body again. Although sometimes immediately after I’ve heard that many people feel a bit fatigued, all three times I’ve done it I’ve felt energized. Ready to run a mile! Well, maybe a half mile.

Your colon could use some exercise. As Fabiola puts it, if you have a sluggish colon (AKA are constipated often), a colonic gets the muscles moving, making your colon stronger and more effective.

Boosting your immune system. It is believed that a clean colon helps your body fight disease, because instead of focusing on expelling built up toxins in the colon, it fights toxins elsewhere.

Now… you may be wondering about those other liquids that were flushed up into my intestine:

COFFEE AND CHLOROPHYLL ENEMAS

WHY A COFFEE ENEMA? Coffee is known for its many antioxidants, which helps benefit the health of your liver. Caffeine also stimulates your gallbladder to release toxic bile. Here’s a good medical explanation, if you’re looking for more detail.

WHY A CHLOROPHYLL ENEMA? The green stuff in plants is great for rehydrating the body and soothing the intestinal lining. It removes toxins and is effective in alkalizing your system when it’s too acidic.

So, there you have it. So, after watching the video, do you think you’ll try a colonic to help you feel slimmer this season?

And if you have any questions, don’t be shy to ask me anything! Either in the comments below or you can email me at michelle(at)spaweekmedia(dot)com – I know it’s a touchy subject and I’d love to help you out. Oh, and also, if 4.5 minutes wasn’t enough, check out this Live Spa TV session I did of  my very first colonic.

Fabylous Living – Chelsea
145 West 28th Street, Suite 900
New York, NY 10001
212.279.0558

DECEMBER SPA DEAL: Colonic Therapy and Hot Stone Massage with Organic Oils for new clients for $160, normally $250

Long before my Spa Week days, I had a gig interning in the Public Relations department at Saks Fifth Avenue. One of my jobs was to help coordinate any filming production that went on in the flagship store, from news segments to movie scenes. (And psst, that was when they were filming the first Sex and The City movie!) While that was fun and all, I’ve never enjoyed a filming at Saks quite as much I did the other week, when I received an hour-long Aromatherapy Massage from Victor at Halcyon Days Salon & Spa, nestled quietly beneath the hubbub of the famous department store.

But before I introduce you to Victor, let me introduce you to the spa. Halcyon, which translates from ancient Greek to “calm, peaceful days”, has some of the most elegant spa destinations in North America, 13 of which are participating in Spa Week this season. The particular one I visited at Saks Fifth Avenue is a sweeping space with an enormous salon, a spa cafe, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a few different lounge areas, and 10 treatment rooms. Beautiful plush blankets, rather than just towels, added a rich touch to the decor and comfort.

Now, Victor: The man was built to give massages. I liked his demeanor, his accent, the cup of orange-flavored water he poured me, and most of all, his big strong HANDS. Using a variety of techniques, Victor kneaded the stress out of me from top to toe. Penetrating deep into my muscles, he dug his fingers into just the right body parts. My neck and my calves were particularly memorable. This aromatherapy session used a variety of different scents. As you see in the video, when it got to my neck and head part, he asked which essential oil I preferred: Chinese Jasmine or Organic Ginger. I chose ginger, which really helped open up my sinuses. It was an outstanding massage that hit all the marks, knots, and shopping kinks.

So, as I found out upon leaving, this particular Halcyon location booked up for Spa Week next week within just a couple days of the $50 Directory launch! (This is not uncommon.) However, they had said they were working on getting more therapists and estheticians in for Spa Week to accommodate more clients! So give them a call and see if anything is open for next week. Seriously.

If you’re located elsewhere, here’s the rundown on the other Halcyon locations:

There are six Halcyon Saks Fifth Avenue locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and Michigan. You can also find 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 Spa Week treatment options include:

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

The Salon & Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Avenue at 50th Street
New York, NY 10022
212.940.4000

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.

Ominous gray rain clouds covered the skies of NYC last week, but things were looking mighty bright inside of Laser Cosmetica… especially when the lights started flashing onto my sun-damaged face, zapping it into instant, even-toned obedience.

If you’re tuned into the hot medi-spa treatments and facilities out there, you’ve certainly heard of Laser Cosmetica, a prestigious mecca for all things laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation with locations throughout New York. One of the three treatments they’re offering during Spa Week for $50 this October is a Photo Facial, normally costing $495. With a 90%  savings, I had to go investigate!

The goal of a Photo Facial is to get rid of discoloration, even out skin tone, tighten your skin and reverse the signs of sun damage. It serves to give your skin an instant and lasting boost of smooth, vibrant texture.

As you’ll see in the video, it didn’t hurt, and I was extremely impressed with the results that immediately followed. It wasn’t at all red or dry like they said it might be – although more sensitive skin types should be prepared for this. It’s now eight days later, and what I’m most excited about is that I’ve seen a general improvement in my skin’s evenness. Some of the veiny, blemishy redness in my cheeks and nose (I blame summer) has significantly decreased. It’s amazing how such a quick (about 20 minute) procedure with no extractions, no exfoliants… no creams, no toners, not a speck of 24 karat gold… can produce such awesome results. Facial of the future… I think so!

Check out some of these Photo Facial Before & Afters from Laser Cosmetica’s clients:

And to formally answer any remaining questions you may have after watching the video, I’ll leave it to the authorities at Laser Cosmetica who explain it best. This Q&A is taken from their website:

What are Photo Facials?
Photo Facials are a revolutionary advance in laser cosmetics that removes discoloration and textural irregularities, resulting in the appearance of healthier, more vibrant skin.

Who should get treatment for Photo Facials?
If you suffer from photo damage, sun damage, or other environmental damage, Photo Facial works exceptional well at removing discoloration, improving skin texture and tone while providing a slight skin tightening effect to the skin. Years of sun bathing and exposure to the natural elements can be removed after a short, no down time protocol.

How frequently do I need treatments?
A typical protocol would be five sessions, spaced three to four weeks apart. For discrete vascular areas such as spider veins and broken capillaries, a more aggressive approach may be determined.

How does a Photo Facial rejuvenate my skin?
Photo Facial uses gentle light and thermal energy to promote collagen production in the dermis and restore skin to a more youthful state, through wrinkle reduction. Brown spots (pigmented imperfections) from sun damage and aging, red blotching from spider vessels or rosacea (vascular imperfections), and rough porous skin texture will improve over a treatment series. Treatments consistently achieve visible improvement with little discomfort. Studies have concluded that flushing, redness and symptoms of rosacea improve more than 75% on average.

Does the treatment hurt?
There is little to no discomfort involved in the photo rejuvenation process. Our systems employ a chill tip that minimizes any discomfort. We offer a host of pre and post laser topicals to help alleviate any pain, or irritation.

What happens after each treatment?
Temporary pinkness of the skin can last a very short time (minutes, hours, a day) but the improvement in pigment and vascular irregularities can often be appreciated by the time you return for your next treatment. Brown spots and freckles temporarily become darker before they lighten. Particularly sensitive areas may crust.

Is photo rejuvenation safe?
Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are no long term health hazards from light or thermal energy used. Both have been used for decades in medicine, surgery, and aesthetics without adversity.

What kind of results can I expect from Photo Facialtreatment?
Each treatment will result in gradual lightening and improvement of pigmented and vascular imperfections. Skin tightening textural improvements are realized towards the end of the treatment series.

4 Laser Cosmetica locations in NYC – call 866.481.6788
110 E 40th Street, Suite 407
18 West 23rd Street, 2nd floor
57 W 57th Street, Suite 1209
160 Broadway NE, 6th Floor

In Great Neck – call 800.231.3830
833 Northern Boulevard, Suite 240

In White Plains – call 866.481.6788
10 Chester Avenue, First Floor

www.lasercosmetica.com

Available $50 Spa Week Treatments Oct 10-16:

• Photofacial
• Microdermabrasion or Glycolic Peel
• Laser Hair Removal Choice of Lip, Chin, Underarm or Regular Bikini

Supple Spa is New York’s ultimate destination for an MTV-date-like couples Asian massage experience—red curtain-lined walls, silk rose petals, cheesy t-shirt decor et al. Their treatment rooms, named Tokyo, Sunset, Kaleidoscope, Daydream and the Paris Room were created especially for first dates. They’ve been featured in New York magazine and Time Out New York for their unique approach to couples spa time.

A few weeks back I needed a first date myself for my Supple Spa Massage, so who better to invite than one of the 45,000+ spa lovers on our Facebook page? It couldn’t be just anyone, but when I asked for your best spa pickup line, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! Watch the video above and read the Facebook sequence below for all the romantic, mega knot-busting details with Lisa Gardner… toilet scrubbing included.

Want to book Supple Spa for Spa Week? Get your Deep Pore Cleansing Facial, 60 Min Deep Tissue Massage or 60 Min Swedish Massage for only $50… but make that $100 if you do it up right. Call and set your spa romance on fire! 212.929.5948

And they lived happily ever after <3

Supple Spa
55 West 19th Street, Second Floor
New York, NY 10011
212.929.5948
http://www.supplespa.com

Disclosure