Celebrate our 7th Anniversary with us! Jan. 26, 5-8pm
Come to our open house this Thursday, Jan. 26, 5-8 pm!
Brilliant Baby Powder
Let’s face it—by the end of the day our hair does not look as fabulous as it did in the morning. It could be flat, it could be a little greasy, and it could just be looking a little blah. Well, blah no more. Carry some baby powder with you in your bag or keep it by your desk, and splash a little in your hair when you don’t have time to shower. The baby powder absorbs any grease, fluffs up your hair, and gives it a clean look and feel. Plus, if your pet hates water, baby powder combed through the fur can prolong time between baths. Who knew?
It turns out there are many uses for baby powder aside from powdering babies. Walking in from the beach can result in a lot of sand on your carpet. Bust out the baby powder before you get in the house—rub some on the sandiest parts of your bod and it will absorb excess moisture, making the sand a breeze to brush off.
Green thumb? Your plants like baby powder. According to Reader’s Digest, putting three tablespoons of baby powder in a bag along with a few bulbs and shaking it around for a moment will provide a light dusting on the bulbs. The baby powder reduces chances for rot, and keeps away “bulb-munching pests.” Baby powder can also help inside the house with pests—it has been shown to scatter ants.
If you’re a runner, especially in the summer, sprinkle some baby powder on areas where you sweat the most. It will help prevent chafing by absorbing sweat, keeping friction to a minimum while you work it out. Baby powder can cool your body when you’re trying to sleep in a hot room, too. Sprinkle some on your sheets for sweat-free sleep.
There may not be any babies in your house, but there should definitely be some baby powder—you never know when there will be an ant invasion when you return from a sweaty gardening mission. :)
Hot / Cold
Hot or cold? Turns out…both! Hot and cold is trending for 2012, with spas all over the country adding hot/cold treatments to their spa menus. Think of those times when you’d jump out of a Jacuzzi and into a cold pool, and the sudden yet exhilarating shock on your body…it felt strange but I bet you did it more than once (and if not, I guess I’m a little weird)!
Hot/cold treatments are effective reducers of inflammation and joint pain—that’s why athletes are often submerged in a freezing cold bath only to be given heat packs and warming creams. According to the experts at LiveStrong.com, “When applied in successive fashion, heat and cold are believed to exert a physiological effect on your body’s pain gate mechanism, which temporarily alters pain signals traveling to and from your brain.”
The combination of heat and cold seems to heighten the individual benefits of both treatments. Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, is often used to relieve pain of the musculoskeletal system. Since cold narrows the blood vessels—the areas that seem to “pump with pain”—less blood is reaching the injured site, relieving pain.
Heat therapy allows the muscles to become more flexible, therefore creating greater mobility during treatments because of the increased blood flow to the area. It helps reduce inflammation, used as a tool to treat arthritis, pulled muscles, and strains.
Although hot/cold treatments have been used in the medical profession for quite some time, we are discovering that they can become a healthy part of our regular bodily up-keep. Spas are adding the anti-sauna: a room where it snows, but you sit on a warmed bench. Or a hot-stone massage followed by an ice massage. The possibilities for these treatments are as wide as the imagination.
And if you just have a little joint pain, try a hot pack on the area for 20 minutes, followed by an ice pack for 20 minutes, and so on for three cycles. Pain eliminated!
KooKoo for Coco-nut Water
My boyfriend, Kevin, has been touting coconut water for a few months now. We’ve been sampling different brands (we decided Zico was our favorite), and are convinced that coconut water is nature’s Gatorade.
Aside from whisking away to paradise in my mind every time I drink coconut water, I know that I am giving my body a fabulous boost. Coconut water is relatively new on the American market, but islanders and coconut enthusiasts have been drinking it for decades. Coconut water—not to be mistaken for coconut milk—is the liquid found in young coconuts before they mature.
Coconut water is full of Vitamin B and a serving (typically a glass full) has as much potassium as a banana. Add some calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, and your replenishing needs are fulfilled. Coconut water is certainly a healthier alternative to sodas and contains less sugar than sports drinks. Some athletes use coconut water instead of Gatorade or Powerade to fuel their bodies after a tough workout.
Along with a healthier diet and overall lifestyle, coconut water can be used as a tool to help lower high blood pressure.
Right now we know that coconut water is super good for us, and researchers are working with coconut water to determine other possible health benefits, too. So grab a few at the store and determine your favorite brand.
Magnificent Marula
The history of Marula oil begins in Africa as a manifestation of the fruit of the Marula tree—the “tree of life” as some have come to recognize it with its high branches and blanket-like tuft of leaves. Africans have been using Marula oil for hundreds of years to moisturize their skin and have even substituted it for water as a way to bathe.
Different tribes in Africa use the Marula oil in different ways—as massage oil for babies, to preserve meats, and as an essential part of the diet of Bushmen. In the U.S., we typically use Marula oil in cosmetics; its fatty acids and natural antioxidants maintain our skin and hair. But it’s no wonder it’s an African diet staple: Marula fruit has eight times the amount of Vitamin C than an orange.
The Marula tree
The Leakey Collection utilizes materials from Kenya in creating beautiful and eco-friendly collections of jewelry and fashion accessories. Their Beads for Learning collection is dedicated to helping students in Kenya gain a quality education (yay!). And the Leakey Collection has most recently begun selling Marula oil so that we can all benefit.
Marula oil is rich in antioxidants—Vitamin E, flavanols, condensed tannins, and catechins—a makeup similar to green tea. Its benefits include the restoration of dry or cracked skin; skin affected by psoriasis, eczema, redness, acne; improves the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and sun damage; and can be used to heal chapped lips. Marula oil absorbs quickly and because of its natural chemical makeup, has a long shelf life.
And if you find yourself stranded in South Africa, seek a Marula tree—you can use its oil for your skin, eat its fruit, and even treat a snake bite. There’s a snake in my boot!
Red Flower Power
I went into Rituals the other day to buy some sweet smelling products for a few friends. Among the excellent variety of retail options—from SkinMedica, to Ilike, to Bioceuticals (all great choices)—I decided on three different varieties of Red Flower body wash and body lotion. I was lured by the Italian Blood Orange scent (to die for), its distinctly citrus flavor and by its organic creation.
Red Flower prides itself on its rich heritage-based creations; ritual inspired, natural, flowery products. The company originally started with just six candles and a few teas—now they’ve expanded to over 100 natural, body lovin’ lotions, washes, and soaps, hair products, candles, and perfumes. Its founder, Yael Alkalay, drew from her Argentinian and Bulgarian roots to create Red Flower.
The best part about Red Flower products are arguably the fantastic craftsmanship of their scents. Aside from Italian Blood Orange, I bought Spanish Gardenia, and French Lavender for my friends…I would have liked to keep them for myself but that’s not very Christmas-y. 
Here are the scents and the products offered with that scent:
Cardamom Amber: oil and room diffuser.
Icelandic Moonflower: sea salt scrub, petal topped candle, little flower candle, body lotion, cleansing body wash, hair wash (shampoo), and conditioner.
French Lavender: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, body wash, hair wash, conditioner, and massage oil.
Indian Jasmine: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, body wash, massage oil, and room diffuser.
Italian Blood Orange: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, hand soap, hand lotion, body lotion, body wash, hair wash, and conditioner.
Japanese Peony: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, and body wash.
Moroccan Rose: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, body wash, and massage oil.
Spanish Gardenia: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, body wash, hair wash, and conditioner.
Wild Cherry Blossom: room diffuser and rice buff.
Ocean: petal topped candle, little flower candle, sea salt scrub, body lotion, body wash, hair wash, and conditioner.
All of Red Flowers products are the culmination of natural ingredients with the base around flowers—that flowers are nature’s way of keeping us healthy and beautiful. Check out www.redflower.com for more! Or stop into the spa to smell for yourself.
The Rave about Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil was the star of a facial I got over the summer (sigh…warm days and sunshine seem so long ago). Ilike offers exceptional rosehip toners, lotions, whipped moisturizers, and exfoliants, all primed to transform your skin and offer its multitude of benefits. I took home a few samples of the good stuff and I loved it! My stocking is still empty…(I actually have no idea if it’s empty or not, I don’t live with my parents, but a girl can try).
Rosehip oil comes from the berries found on wild-rose bushes in the Andes Mountains. These are not your typical rose bushes, but are characterized by bunches of bright red berries (actually seeds) at the ends of non-thorny stalks. Rosehip oil is pressed from a collection of these berries, or “hips”. This oil is ripe with essential fatty acids, getting rid of wrinkles, especially the crow’s feet around the eyes. Apply it all over your face to halt premature aging and maintain moisture in the skin.
When regularly applied, rosehip oil can alleviate symptoms of rosacea and mild eczema, as well as seasonal dry skin and allergic reactions. It also fades scars, restoring even skin color, and can help with scars you thought you’d have forever—like chicken pox and acne scars!
Rosehip is popular during facials because of its penetrating power. It instantly sinks itself into your skin and starts working to restore it. You can apply rosehip oil up to twice a day for whatever you use it for! It smells pretty good, too.
Rosehip is just another natural product that works with your body to replenish and heal—it’s amazing how the earth provides everything we truly need to look and feel our best!
Benefits galore out of this bright plant!
Do Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning? A scalpel? Hmmm…
Don’t worry. Dermaplaning is a painless, facial renewing process that happens to involve a scalpel. But it’s certainly not surgery and it doesn’t hurt. The scalpel is used at a 45-degree angle to scrape the dead cellular layer, built up proteins, and fine hairs from your face, leaving you with more even skin tone and texture, less facial hair, and a whole lot of good looks.
Many women use dermaplaning because it reduces facial hair. Debbie Smigiel, dermaplaning guru and 20-year dermatological veteran, came to Rituals Spa last Monday to train the staff on dermaplaning. As an expert, she performs at least ten peels per day on her clients and “has less facial hair than ever” after undergoing this ticklish procedure herself. Peach fuzz can trap excess oil and dirt, so its steady removal helps your face stay cleaner, and therefore, smoother.
Dermaplaning is an alternative to microdermabrasion and is recommended before facials. When the dead layer of skin is removed, it allows the moisturizers and products used in facials to penetrate the skin faster and deeper. Better yet, dermaplaning can be done every two weeks.
Smigiel says the only people who shouldn’t have dermaplaning done are those with active acne. Even men can have the procedure done on their cheekbones, nose, and forehead.
If Smigiel’s flawless face is any indication of how well dermaplaning works, I’m just going to have to book an appointment. Book yours today!
Pink Grapefruit makes you pretty, inside and out
My jar of Bodyceutical’s Calendula & Pink Grapefruit Body Butter sure did not last long. I used it every day, loving both the citrus scent and the soft skin that came with it. The butter was smooth, creamy, and light—it didn’t weigh down my skin at all. It absorbed immediately, giving me a glow that lasted all day. So of course, it got me thinking: What else does the grapefruit do for us?
Grapefruit oil works as a beauty booster because it is rich in anti-oxidants and Vitamin C. It helps your skin stay clean, perfect for sufferers of acne or troubled skin; there are a ton of grapefruit acne cleansers on the market by companies like Neutrogena, Aveeno, and even CVS. The essential oil allows dry and dead skin to regenerate and fight aging. When added to massage oil (grapefruit oil works well with lavender oil and calendula) or to a bath, grapefruit oil boosts energy, can fight a mean headache, level moodiness, and give your mental health a much-needed pick-me-up. Tired after a day of holiday shopping? Hop in the tub with a grapefruit oil bubble bath!
But grapefruit oil is good for more than just your skin. Supplementing your diet with grapefruit oil can build your immune system and help your body get rid of the stuff it doesn’t want on the inside. The high Vitamin C content is a soldier against colds and flu.
It is effective as a shield for the colon, digestive system, urinary tract, and the kidneys, working as a disinfectant against germs. This diuretic helps remove excess water from the body and has been used for treating cellulite for this reason.
Some products to try are Bodyceuticals’ Organic Pink Grapefruit & Calendula Body Butter and their Pink Grapefruit Energizing Oil; Out of Africa Organic Shea Butter Body Oil-Grapefruit, or Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit.
Once you get hold of some grapefruit oil (available at Rituals Spa, too!), here are some suggestions on how to incorporate it into your beauty routine, thanks to Puritan’s Pride.
Stimulating and Uplifting Bath
4 drops Lavender Oil
3 drops Rosemary Oil
2 drops Geranium Oil
2 drops Lemon Oil
2 drops Grapefruit Oil
Add the oils to a warm bath as the tub is filling and soak for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes.
Respiratory Chest Rub
1 ounce carrier oil
4 drops Pine Oil
3 drops Eucalyptus Oil
2 drops Frankincense Oil
2 drops Grapefruit Oil
Mix oils together and massage over your chest and back as needed.
Cool or Hot Compress for Respiratory and Circulation
1 quart hot or cool water
3 drops of Grapefruit Oil
2 drops Orange Oil
2 drops Pine Oil
1 drop Black Pepper Oil
1 drop Geranium Oil
Mix the oils with water in a large bowl. You can choose hot or cool water depending on preference. Place part of a towel or other cloth in the water and allow it to soak for at least 5 minutes. Apply to the forehead, chest and/or back as needed.
Skin Cleansing and Antiseptic Blend
1 ounce Jojoba Oil
4 drops Clary Sage Oil
3 drops Geranium Oil
3 drops Patchouli Oil
2 drops Grapefruit Oil
2 drops Cedarwood Oil
2 drops Juniper Oil
Blend Oils together and apply to specific areas of skin where needed.