Get a cocoa kick from this chocolate body scrub. Legend has it that the great Mayan Emperor Montezuma tossed back some 50 cups of chocolate a day. My question is: What did he have for dessert? Today, the good news about chocolate, especially the dark variety, just keeps on coming. Not only does it kick […]
home spa
Cold-be-Gone Eucalyptus and Epsom Salt Soak
A soothing, eucalyptus-laced Epsom salt bath to ease symptoms of a cold. Muscle aches, zero energy and stuffy sinuses are seriously, the worst. Once a cold hits, the best thing you can do is to stock up on chicken soup, tissues, liquids and Epsom salts. Epsom salt is a naturally-occurring mineral that eases muscle aches and helps you get a good night’s […]
Crantini Cranberry Toner
A skin-tightening toner good enough to sip. Tone and tighten with this cosmopolitan astringent! This cranberry toner recipe features vodka (yes, vodka!), which is a natural preservative and an effective pore minimizer. Vodka can be a bit drying so if you have dry skin, cut back or skip it altogether. However, if you do skip the […]
Lash Extensions 101
It’s long been a celebrity secret. Super long, flirty lashes that defy the boundaries of mascara. But the secret is out of the makeup bag, and semi-permanent eyelash extensions are making a glamorous sweep across the Valley. What do you need to know before you go? Here’s the long and short of it. Just the […]
Jewel of Joya DIY Honey Hair Mask
Bring out the superstar shine in your hair with this honey hair mask courtesy of Joya Salon’s secret weapon. We know a little secret. Joya Spa at the Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia in Paradise Valley, AZ is well-known for its lavish interior, breathtaking vistas and world-class spa services. But did you know that Joya hides a […]
Make Your Own Melt-and-Pour Loofah Soaps
A fun and easy recipe for making your own colorful, fragrant loofah soap. You won’t believe how easy it is make your own soaps—when you get expert guidance that is. We were lucky enough to have DIY queen, Anne-Marie Faiola, share this recipe for revitalization with us. Inspired by her love of crafting suds and sundries, Anne-Marie founded […]
Queen Bee Tub Teas
A DIY skin-softening milk bath fit for a queen. In my home, I go by many names—Princess of the Pooper Scooper, Lordess of the Laundry, Diva of the Dishwasher. But the name I answer to most often is Queen Bee (at least in my mind anyway). When all heck breaks loose and you need to […]
Maximizing Your Spa Dollars
How do you save money at the spa in this not-so-pretty economy? It can be done. And with the gloomy financial clouds hanging thick and heavy over our heads, we think it’s even more reason to give yourself a spa day out. Here are our tried-and-true tips for making the most of your spa bucks. […]
Simply Sweet Vanilla and Brown Sugar Scrub
A healthy sugar scrub to relieve dry, flaky skin. At just 19-years-old, Lauren Hamilton churned her passion for natural products into a successful beauty business. What started as a terrible teen acne (we’re sure you remember those days as fondly as we do!) has flourished into Simply Sweet Body Scrubs, an all-natural, healthy and affordable line of scrubs. […]
Spring Cleaning Citrus Bath
An energizing home spa bath. Dust away those cobwebs and beckon in spring with this refreshing, energizing bath! The fresh lemon peel gives you a kick of energy and lifts dead skin cells, the fragrant orange peel will dust away depression and anxiety, the parsley stimulates circulation and the comfrey acts as a mild antiseptic. Crank up your favorite tunes, close […]
Cocoalicious Body Glow
Bring out your glow with this do-it-yourself chocolate body scrub. You know that warm, glowing sensation you get when you’re first caught in the throngs of Cupid’s arrow? Or that singular flush that comes from biting into a decadent dark chocolate dessert? Well somewhere in between love and chocolate is normal, everyday life and this […]
Safflower Power Massage Oil
A light and lubricating massage oil. They don’t call me Sunny the snooping spa hopper for nothing. See, I was hanging out at the spa one day and my supersonic sound zeroed in on a group of massage therapists chatting about the best type of massage oil. Turns out, they all agreed that good ol’ […]