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 Control fly-aways and frizz with these tips. Let’s face it, with all of the wind, freezing temperatures, dry indoor heating, and mixed precipitation, wintertime can leave you wanting to keep your hat on–even indoors. Keep your tresses looking and feeling healthy with these winter hair care tips:
- Shampoo less often: Prevent a dry scalp and tresses by shampooing less than usual, and rinse hair with cold water to lock in moisture.
- Deep condition: Once or twice a week, use a thick, extra-moisturizing deep conditioning treatment to keep hair pliable. Use products with natural ingredients, such as shea butter.
- Add oil: Rub a dime-sized drop of olive or saffron oil between your palms and apply to hair, root to ends, for quick relief of winter frizz.
- Hands to hair: Every time you apply moisturizing lotion to your hands, touch the ends of your hair to tame fly-aways.
- Attack static: A round boar-bristle brush will calm static–so will rubbing your head with a fabric softener sheet.
- Avoid alcohol: Hair sprays that include alcohol can make hair dry and brittle–instead use a styling cream.
- Limit dryer time: Gently blot hair with a towel before using your blow dryer to keep drying time to a minimum. If you can, switch to the “cool” setting although this will take longer to dry.
 Nothing says love like a relaxing massage! Are you wondering what special gift to get your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Show the one you love how you really feel and go for an ultra-romantic experience at @ease Spa, where we are having the following special packages from Feb. 1-28:
*Valentines Day Specials*
Couples’ Retreat
$350 3 1/2 hr Special
1 1/2 hr couples massage with reflexology
1 1/2 hour facial with body wrap
light lunch
$99 Special
1 hr massage or facial
1/2 hr scrub or reflexology
When booking please mention the promotion of interest.
Not to be combined with any other offer.
In the United States, the personal care industry is a highly unregulated one. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate beauty and cosmetics products and therefore it is up to the consumer to evaluate them. The following is a list of ingredients to avoid in personal care products:
1. Parabens (Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Parahydroxybenzoate) – These preservatives are the most common-used preservatives in skin care products. Studies have linked these preservatives to breast cancer and hormone disruptions.
2. Imidazolidinyl Urea – This preservative is the second-most used preservative in personal care products and is used as an antimicrobial. This preservative can cause an allergic reaction to skin and it may also release formaldehyde, a toxic chemical.
3. Propylene Glycol – This chemical helps skin absorb other ingredients in personal care products. Some studies have shown that it may disrupt reproductive health and can cause allergic skin reactions such as hives and eczema.
4. Triethanolamine (TEA) – This chemical acts as a detergent and prevents products from separating; it is found in soaps, shampoos, and lotions. TEA irritates skin and some studies have linked its use to certain cancers.
5. Synthetic colors – Many beauty and skin care products contain synthetic dyes. Coal tar dyes, Blue1, and Green3 all have been linked to cancer.
It is not always feasible to avoid every harmful chemical in personal care products however, a little research will help you discern the bad stuff. Also, use common sense–if the product contains an ingredient that you cannot pronounce, chances are that it is harmful. Using products with natural and organic ingredients will also prevent the use of these harmful chemicals.
Now that the winter season is upon us, dry skin will be an inevitable problem. However, certain steps can be taken to prevent it and you don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive scrubs and moisturizers. The following are some tips on how to prevent and soothe dry skin:
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Do not use hot water when bathing – To prevent dry skin, never use hot water when showering. Using hot water will strip skin of its natural moisture. Instead, use warm water to shower and limit it to 15 minutes. Your hair texture will also benefit from warm showers as you will be removing less of its natural oils. Warm showers are the first step in preventing dry skin.
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Do not use perfumed soaps – Soaps with perfume may smell great but they tend to dry out skin. Look for soap that doesn’t contain harsh chemicals and try soap with natural ingredients as aloe vera, cocoa butter, and natural oils. A good drugstore solution is Dove. Dove soap is recommended by dermatologists for dry skin and is a cheap find.
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Try homemade scrubs – You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a scrub to treat dry skin. You can make one yourself for very little. The following are some recipes for homemade scrubs:
Brown Sugar Scrub
¼ Cup of Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Dry Milk Powder
2 Tablespoons of Oatmeal
½ Teaspoon of Vanilla
¼ Cup of Coconut Oil
Combine the ingredients to make a paste. Then, gently rub the scrub into your skin and rinse with warm water. Your skin will be left smooth and smelling sweet!
Easy Salt Scrub
1 Part Sea Salt
1 Part Coconut, Almond, Safflower, or Vegetable Oil (Do not use Olive Oil as it will leave behind an odor.)
5 Drops of Essential Oil (Choose whichever you like as this is for scent only. Good ones are rose and lavender.)
Combine the ingredients and make the needed amount. Rub on skin and rinse thoroughly. This is scrub is cheap and easy to make.
- Use a humidifier – Heating systems in homes can remove skin’s moisture during the winter months. Using a humidifier will help keep moisture in your home and on your skin.
Did you know that only 11 percent of the 10,500 chemicals used in mainstream cosmetics have been screened for safety? Think of how close the particles of your makeup get to your skin, eyes, nose, and mouth–it’s impossible for makeup to not be ingested, inhaled, or imbedded in your bloodstream on occasion. For a list of organic makeup lines, check out this blog. Organic cosmetics are made from mineral pigments and organic plant extracts. Many of these products offer natural sun filters and long-lasting color and unlike conventional makeup, none of these products contain synthetic dyes, artificial fragrances, or petro-chemicals.
Every fall and spring, New Jersey residents can score amazing deals on professional spa treatments throughout the state, thanks to New Jersey Spa Week! Coming Oct. 12-18, spas in New Jersey (and New York) are offering luxury spa services, some normally costing up to $200, for just $50. At @Ease Spa, our $50 Spa Week specials will include:
50-minute Shiatsu Thai Massage
50-minute Algae Wrap or 50-minute Dead Sea Mud Rub
50-minute Massage or 50-minute Facial
You can book your appointment now–spa week fills up fast, so be sure to give us a call and get ready to treat yourself!
Indulge in the exotic aromas and healing properties of Mediterranean pomegranates with this enriching 2-1/2 hour package. The pomegranate’s deep red color and abundant fruit seeds have been symbols of love and fertility for thousands of years, and its arrival represents the fall season.
Our package includes:
- 1 hour Pomegranate Oil Massage
- 1 hour Facial
- 1/2 hour Pomegranate Body Scrub
Enjoy and hour-long massage using pomegranate seed oil, which contains high levels of antioxidants that fight free radicals and skin aging. Because of these properties, pomegranate seed oil is used to rejuvenate and moisturize dry, cracked, mature, and irritated skin, bringing elasticity back to the skin. For our signature one-hour facial, treat your face to deep cleansing, exfoliation, and nourishment. Completing the experience is our polishing pomegranate body scrub, which blends natural extracts and pomegranate seeds and is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. You will be left feeling smooth, hydrated, and delicately scented with a sweet berry fragrance.
Available now through Oct. 31, 2009, for just $150!
Modern life is stressful enough, but when a curveball comes our way and throws our lives off balance, stress can be detrimental our health. One way we can regain control of our health during a stressful phase is to eat foods and supplements that will help our bodies deal with the overload. Here are some suggestions:
- Vitamin C helps reduce the physical and psychological effects of stress. You may surprised to know that one of the best natural sources of Vitamin C is potatoes (with the skin). Other sources include citrus fruit such as oranges, strawberries, canteloupe, and raw green cabbage.
- Calcium helps regulate the heart rate, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission. When the body is working too hard to fight stress, it will lose more calcium than usual. Sources of calcium include dairy products, broccoli, tofu, and raw almonds.
- Magnesium is very calming and is good for anyone who is hot-tempered or dealing with anxiety. Some of the best sources of magnesium include green vegetables such as spinach, nuts, and seeds.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are also good for reducing stress and maintaining a healthy heart. Natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna, flaxseed oil, herring, mackeral, and walnuts.
Although we don’t do manicures or pedicures at @Ease Spa, we recognize that getting your nails done is part of a normal beauty routine. It is important to choose a clean, safe, reputable nail salon as viral, bacterial, and fungal infections can be an unfortunate side effect from salon tools that are not sanitized. If you are not sure whether your salon is clean enough, there is a new product on the market to help protect you, the SaniManiPedi liquid solution. All-natural, biodegradable, and never tested on animals, this botanical formula sanitizes water without using harsh chemicals. You simply tear open a single-use package into your foot bath, and sit back and relax knowing you are not prone to infection. SaniManiPedi also sells a nail tool kit so that you can bring your own tools to the salon, which is the only way to ensure that they are clean and sanitized. You may also want to read SaniManiPedi’s safety tips for visiting a nail salon. If you are in need of something for the girl who has everything, SaniManiPedi would make a great gift for a woman of any age.
You may think of epsom salts as an old-timey remedy. You can add some magnesium sulfate to a hot bath to soothe aches and pains, but epsom salts have beauty benefits, too. Here are some to try:
- Oily, flat hair? Dissolve 1/2 cup of salt into 3 cups of lukewarm water and use the solution as a pre-shampoo rinse.
- Exfoliate rough skin by rubbing a few handfuls of salt into your pre-moistened skin.
- Give your face a deep cleanse by adding 1/2-teaspoon of epsom salt with your normal face cleansing cream.
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