Ciao Bella: Spa Italian Style

FIRST A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT: Next week 11/17 #SpaWeekGossip becomes #SpaGossip. Everything else is the same, just the hashtag has changed.

Capri Palace my Fave Italian Spa

Get out your suitcase, grab a glass of chianti and pull up a plate of pasta. . . or should I say Spa-sta? This week’s #spagossip focuses on spa & beauty in Italy. Not only do several of our experts have Italian blood in them (yours truly included), but @SpaWeek will tweet live from Italy. Find out why we amore:

Spectacular Italian Spas

Italian women’s anti-aging & skin secrets

Looking molto bella with The Boot‘s best beauty brands

Cooking up some delicioso Italian recipes

Decorating your #SpaHome Italian Style

How to throw your own Spa Around the World Italian Spa Night

What: SpaWeek & Art of the Spa’s #SpaWeekGossip

When: Wednesday, November 10th, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or

For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on:

Tweetchat.com http://tweetchat.com/room/spaweekgossip

Topic: Ciao Bella – Spa Italian Style

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Spanelists: @spaheiress @reddoorspas @candydye

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)

Spa Movie Re-Treats: Blockbuster Bliss

Put on your biggest, darkest movie star sunglasses! We’re having a red carpet Oscar worthy Spa Screening this week on #SpaWeekGossip and you’ve got a front row seat!

A movie theater may not be a spa, BUT what a perfect place to escape the world and unwind for awhile. If you can’t get to the theater, kick back with a dvd and fire up your home movie night.

AND. . . guess what? We will reveal a few spas that ARE movie theaters. What a combo, technicolor me deliriously happy! So don’t wait for intermission, plan to join us as we write our spa script with:

Relaxing beauty treatment and film pairings

Spa done right (and wrong) in the movies

Fave flicks for a cinematic retreat

Gourmet popcorn & snacks

How to throw your own Spa Flick Night

What: SpaWeek & Art of the Spa’s #SpaWeekGossip

When: Wednesday, November 3rd, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or
For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on: Tweetchat.com

Topic: Spa Movie Re-treats

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Spanelists: @spaheiress @reddoorspas @candydye

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)

Halloween Masquerade Ball #SpaWeekGossip Recap

Even though due to Twitter troubles we weren’t able to mask ourselves, we still had a blast unmasking our favorite beauty masks & recipes. In fact, there were so many great DIY recipes – we’re devoting a separate blog post to them!

At the spa or at home, peel away, hardening, mud, seaweed, mint, face, hands, feet we crave them all. AND we’d rather mask and massage separately at the spa. But, a few of us didn’t know masking was an important part of skin care. It helps maintain hydration and keeps pesky lines at bay.

TRICK or TREAT: When masking at home, we get our jollies shocking our loved ones with our spa masks! Hmmm, maybe a new Halloween costume is in order?

Seriously we want these results from our masks. . . no tricks please:

lighter and brighter skin
long term anti aging
glow
smaller pores
smooth, soft skin
oil reduction
blackhead removal

We’d like to DIY BUT, when we don’t have the time to clean the kitchen, we choose these treats:

@therapearl Eye Mask
Erno Lazlo Sea Mud mask
@bosciaskincare black mask
@katesomerville Papaya mask
Philosophy Mint mask
Shiseido Sheet Mask
@LeafandRusher clay mask
@talikacosmetics Sleeping Beauty mask
@sphatika use pearl, crystal & gold
@kerstinflorian moor mud body wrap
@olehenrickson African Red Tea mask for firming face
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin mask

For homemade treats see our Masquerade post (& feel free to add your homemade beauty brews in the comments)

When to mask? @spaweek recs. at least two times a week before bed – But @artofthespa does it more Find time to mask by using fast acting masks and doing it in the shower or right after you get out.

And who won the masks from @RedDoorSpa and @Repechage?  Congrats to @LLLipgloss and @Shira_Marie!  Treats for you!

Join us next Wednesday for a Spa & the Silver Screen – we’ll be talking relaxing with our favorite movies and spa treats to do during those home screenings.

Michelle (SpaWeek) and Candy (ArtoftheSpa)

You’re Invited! #SpaWeekGossip’s Spa Halloween Masquerade Ball

Bring your beauty tricks and share your spa treats at our 1st Spa Halloween Masquerade Ball.  Sip on a Pumpkin or a Candy Corn #Spatini (recipes here) & relax with our Spanelists for an hour of spa time!

Masks are the theme – homemade, luxury, bargain, guys, gals, hand, face. . . anything you put on to pamper yourself, no screaming allowed! The Headless Horseman would be jealous!

But beware a few Trick Treatments may be lurking in those tweets!

AND. . . Mask your twitter avatar for a chance to win a giveaway.

Before the ball (even now if you like!) change your twitter avatar picture to you (or someone else) in any kind of mask (mud, mardi gras, halloween, get creative).*** Tech note: pic settings are in Profile on Twitter.

If anyone asks why your pic has changed tweet them:
“I’m going to the #SpaWeekGossip Spa Halloween Masquerade Ball. Feel free to tag along”

RSVP: 

What:  Spa Halloween Masquerade Ball

When: Wednesday, October 27th, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on:   Tweetchat.com

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Spanelists: @spaheiress @reddoorspas @candydye

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)

Hair, There, Everywhere #SpaWeekGossip Recap

Things got a bit “un”hairy this week – due to the amazing advice for follicle freedom from special guest expert @CompletelyBare Spa and our chatters. Bikini, legs, pits and face hair – beware!

Wax On, Wax Off. . . waxing is the number one way to smooth our beautiful selves. Advice from seasoned waxers to those a bit scared of the pain? Take Tylenol before waxing & don’t go when Flo’s visiting. @SpaWeek’s advice? Have a sip of vodka! Then reduce redness and inflammation with a cool compress.

The absolute worst way to lose it? Nair! Reeking chemicals are so anti-spa.

Most lemmed for spa stubble stopper? Laser hair removal though many are curious about threading too. Check out these Spa Shaving Alternatives

Need a spa or salon to get your smooth on? Faves:

@DyannaSpaNYC
@SalonThreading in NYC
BellePelle in San Francisco
Spa Bella in Wichita Falls
@WooNashville in Atlanta

Meanwhile war was waged over the top tweezer. @Tweezerman v. Rubis. What’s your preference? Vote!

 

#SpaHome hair removal heroines?

@CompletelyBare’s Bikini Bump Blaster
The Bliss Philips Hair Removal System
Rubis & Tweezerman tweezers (Over Pluckers Anonymous here we come!)
The Venus Razor especially the “Spa” edition
Veet is a winner here and in the UK

Next week join us for the first #SpaWeekGossip Halloween Masquerade Ball! We’ll be talking beauty treats. Plus, mask your twitter avatar for a chance to win a #spa treat! Share our invite with your friends!

Michelle (@SpaWeek) and Candy (@ArtoftheSpa)

Hair, There, Everywhere? Go Bare if You Dare at this week’s #SpaWeekGossip

Do you ever feel like half your life is spent taking it off? Hair that is. It seems like wherever we don’t want it — there it is. While how & where you decide to go bare is completely a personal choice, come and chat with us about:

- The best spa treatments for dealing with unwanted hair
- Cost effective home alternatives & DIY secrets
- Dealing with hair removal anxiety & ways to numb the pain
- Pros and cons of temporary v. permanent hair removal
- Rip off removal methods that live up to their name

Giveaway Alert from Completely Bare Spa!

What: SpaWeek & Art of the Spa’s #SpaWeekGossip

When: Wednesday, October 20th, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or
For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on: Tweetchat.com (link to http://tweetchat.com/room/spaweekgossip

Topic: Hair, there, everywhere

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Spanelists: @spaheiress @reddoorspas @completelybare

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)

SpaDate: #SpaWeekGossip Recap

Thank you Hallmark for this week’s topic on Spa Time with Your Sweetie, just in time for Sweetest Day, October 16. And with ubercool manelists @ozsultan and @nandoism on board, you know we’re getting a real man’s perspective too!

We agreed that spa is essential to men’s health just as it is to women’s. So get over your spa shyness guys! It’s not girly to spa! Some of the where and hows of getting your couple time at the spa on Sweetest Day and any day.

Some of the spas our guys love:
Supple Spa in NYC
@RedDoorSpas
One & Only in Los Cabos
Salon de Tokyo NYC
@ChateauElan in Atlanta
Playa Grande in Los Cabos
Villa Semana in Bali
@Royal Palms Hotel
@Laubergedelmar
@MansionPeachtree
Hotel de Arts in Barcelona
& on any beach!

The spa treatment of choice, especially to indoctrinate our spa virgins, was a sports massage. . . but we found out many guys like laser hair removal too! The treatment we think they would love? Facials for razor burn!

Some ways to get him there:
- Promise him golf time
- Take him for fitness services
- Make sure the spa doesn’t put him in a pink spa robe
- Add a facial massage to his haircut

If you can’t get Mohammed to the mountain, bring it to him:

Boffo Brands:
@Zirh
@Kiehls
@Axe (the top brand!)
@Art of Shaving
@Aveda

Music, candles & bath salts help make a ro-MAN-tic spa night for two. How to plan a spa evening at home for him: http://ow.ly/2T19K

Don’t have a sweetest guy to take to the spa? Then how about your Sweetest friend? For only $50 at SpaWeek spas through this Sunday that’s $100 worth of love!

Pop in next Wed. at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT when we’ll dish how not to be so “Hairy” unless your last name is Potter!

Michelle (SpaWeek) and Candy (ArtoftheSpa)

Make a Sweetest Day Spa Date: SpaWeekGossip 10/13

It’s Sweetest Day this Saturday October 16. Hallmark thanks so much for giving us an excuse to take our Sweeties to the spa!

 

The Hallmark Sweetest Day Card I bought for my guy!

 

What’s that? You say your man won’t go near a spa? Well you know it IS Spa Week this week – why not take him for a $50 treat? And don’t forget yourself – I don’t know where else you can indulge both you and your man for $100.  (PS:  It’s also National Boss’ Day on Oct. 16 – get your brownie points with a spa gift!)

So grab your guy and join us at #SpaWeekGossip as we chat:

- The best spas for retreating with your man including Spa Week picks
– Top treatments for enjoying together & our personal spa romances
– Ideas for getting your guy to the spa if he’s a Spa Virgin
– Skin & body products for a Masculine #SpaHome Mecca
– Giving your guy spa time at home

What: SpaWeek & Art of the Spa’s #SpaWeekGossip

When: Wednesday, October 13th, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or

For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on:
Tweetchat.com (link to http://tweetchat.com/room/spaweekgossip
Topic: It’s a Spa Date

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Experts: @spaheiress @reddoorspas and more on the way

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)

Eco Spa Recap #SpaWeekGossip 10/6

Turns out that doing good and looking good go hand in hand at our eco a-go-go #SpaWeekGossip party this week. Whether it’s a massage with oil, a treatment made right in front of our eyes – we went crazy for green spa treats and saving green with Spa Week’s $50 treatments starting Monday!

Top tweeted treatments & spas:

@RedDoorSpas Phyto Organic line of treatments
@looloos USDA Certified Organic Spa Treatments
Masks mixed in front of you like @RedMountainSpa
Seaweed Body Wraps
@CallawayGardens and @RancholaPuerta
Aveda Spas for cruelty free products
@Skin2Skincare products certified organic
SpaWeek Spas listed in green http://ow.ly/2PvzQ

Our suggestions for spas to go greener:

- Recycle gift bags, plastic containers
- Reduce water use by having guests bring their own robes, towels & going naked!
- Using energy efficient lights and equipment
- Connect with guests electronically saving paper
- Unplug appliances not in use (Great for #SpaHome too)

Ecotastic brands included Floriani, Dr. Hauschka, Weleda, Ren, Arcona, Juice Beauty, Janson Beckett & Repechage CranApple Scrub.

OF COURSE we all love making our own natural treats in our #SpaHomes. Raves & resources

50 All Natural Beauty Products You Can Make Yourself – Planet Green http://t.co/83cpqQ8
10 Natural ways to ease sore muscles from @OrganicSpaMag ~ http://bit.ly/96Vgr8
Beauty Treats & Eats recap we dished loads of homemade bty recipes http://ow.ly/2PwEX
@SpaHeiress recommends olive oil & sugar best scrub

AND OUR ACTIONS speak louder than words: Composting, recycling and unplugging at home, are ways we’re making the planet & our pockets greener.

Spas are doing good too. October is breast cancer awareness month and November is diabetes awareness month. Spas all over are going pink and blue to help find a cure for these top killers of women. Gotta love that!

Check out Breast Cancer Initiatives at Spaweek
Check out Spa4Diabetes Initiatives at Spa4Diabetes

Next week join us for a Spa Date to celebrate Sweetest Day and getting your honey to the spa. For just $100 you BOTH can have a romantic rendez-vous.

Michelle (SpaWeek) and Candy (ArtoftheSpa)

Eco Spa: Saving Face while Saving the Planet SpaWeekGossip 10/6

Blue Marble Spa at Mission Bay Hyatt is Eco Friendly!

Think spagoing and beauty are indulgent pastimes of the young and wasteful? Wrong! Spagoers are among the greenest folks I know. After all, we’re being proactive in our health so why wouldn’t we do the same for the earth. Besides, we could be engaged in consumer centric behavior like shopping!

The question is how can we enjoy our spa pleasures and home beauty rituals all while being kind to Mother Nature? And what products are organic and chemical free (and can be gotten without hugging a tree?)

So grab your granola and join us for this week’s #SpaWeekGossip as we talk:

- The ways spas are going lean and green (and where to save green by indulging in $50 treatments during Spa Week)
- How to nurture your nirvana au natural
- Organic lotions and potions that save the planet and our pusses
- Ways to go eco in your #SpaHome
- And a special nod to Breast Cancer Awareness month with spas and beauty companies that are going pink!

What: SpaWeek & Art of the Spa’s #SpaWeekGossip

When: Wednesday, October 6th, 2 pm EST / 11 am PAC

Where: On Twitter with hashtag #SpaWeekGossip or
For easier chatting (hashtag entered automatically for you) tweet on:
Tweetchat.com (link to http://tweetchat.com/room/spaweekgossip

Topic: Eco Spa: Saving Face while Saving the Planet

Who: @spaweek @artofthespa & YOU!

Experts: @candydye @ecomod @spaheiress @reddoorspas

See you there!

Michelle (Spa Week Daily) & Candy (Art of the Spa)