Luxurious Boutique Spas vs. Monthly Spas

As a spa-frequenter, you may find yourself wondering, "How can I pamper myself as often as possible while not letting financial stress counteract my spa day?" Several "Contract Spas" have made this pampering and saving a dime theory possible. Are you losing something by going to a contract spa instead of checking out the hole-in-the-wall or front page of spa magazines boutique spas?

I personally am obsessed with massages. Therefore I try to get a massage at least once a month. A massage at a boutique spa usually runs $125/hour +. A massage at Massage Envy or other contract spas usually runs around $59/hour. You also have to keep in mind the 18% gratuity that is not included in these prices. So the contract spa runs at about 50% less than the cost of the boutique spa. I'd say it's a pretty good idea to join (if you know you'll actually go).

Some things you may be sacrificing

When I walked into one of my favorite spas (Asha Salon & Spa in Woodfield, IL), the masseuse had me sit in a chair where I placed my feet in a beautiful bowl full of fresh flower petals, oils, and whatever secret ingredients were in there. He then wiped my feet and massaged them as if I was a Messiah, and the actual massage hadn't even started yet.

At the contract spas, they may use a hot towel on your feet before giving your feet a rub down. This might make you feel like you have dirty feet and may make the sensitive feel self-conscious. (Not a good tactic during something that's supposed to put you in pure blissful serenity).

Conclusion

I'd have to say for the avid spa-goer (I need to coin a better term for spa-goer), signing a contract isn't too bad of an idea (unless you have no financial limitations). Go to your once-a-month contract spa massage or facial and get your pamper on with no regrets. If you get a bonus or have some extra Ben Franklins to spend and you want to check out a new place, don't feel guilty. You can have the best of both worlds. Let someone treat you like a Messiah once in a blue moon and a princess once a month!

The Best Lip Balms for Summer

It's summertime and our fragile little lips are experiencing harsh overtime. When we're indoors, the air conditioner creates a cool, dry climate, and as soon as we go outdoors, the sun is scorching, the wind is blowing, and if there's nothing on our lips to protect them, then we're going to be smacking our lips together trying to get that dead skin off. Yuck!

Here are some of my favorite summertime lip balms:

Fresh- Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 - blends reparative oils and waxes together with real sugar. Natural ingredients are key to good lip products. I have sensitive lips and I've gone through just about every lip treatment product on the market, and keep coming back to this one. Although it's on the more expensive side (ranking in at around $22) it is definitely worth it. Another bonus- it's unique metal texture makes it quick and easy to find when you dig around in the bottom of your purse.

True Blue Spa - Watch Your Mouth SPF 45 - This is my favorite lip balm for sun and wind protection. I wear this in the summer when I'm outdoors and even in the winter when I'm snowboarding. This lip screen offers so much protection, it is even recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. This is a very inexpensive balm (around $5 at Bath and Body Works) and is definitely worth it. I keep one in all of my beach bags (and purse!).

Benefit - Dr. Feel Good Duo - This tantalizing twosome can whip any lips back into shape. I first saw it being used at a Blue Mercury store on a lady whose lips looked beyond repairable. After using the Buffing Lip Beads and the Silky Lip Balm, this lady looked fabulous! So fabulous that I bought a set of these for my mom and two sisters. Whenever my lips are super chapped, I put some of the Silky Lip Balm on to get a deep moisturizing treatment in, and then I'll buff with the lip beads later. I think it's best to leave the lip balm on overnight for full results.

Einstein Lip Therapy - This is another product duo I swear by. The creator of the line, Benjamin Einstein (also co-creator of Hard Candy nail polish) was fascinated by his mother's huge collection of lip balms. He was inspired by everything from Carmex to La Mer. My favorite of the two products (with the pink lid), Lip Therapy Hydrating Cream, is a creamy moisturizer containing vitamin C beads. When it is applied, this sloughs away dead skin and leaves your lips feeling silky smooth. The second product (with the red lid), Lip Therapy Cooling Relief, is a salve-like healing balm. Both products come in cute pink or red little lip pots, with a medical cross on the cap. Their small size makes them very convenient to travel with.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

If you are one of the unlucky many of us who weren't aware of a thing called stretch marks when we were 13, and didn't start applying shea butter to our hips and stomachs from that day forward, don't worry, there is still hope!

I'm not even kidding, if I apply Clarins High Definition Body Lift lotion (yes it's expensive, but I do believe it is worth it) to areas where there are stretch marks for just a few days in a row (at least 4 days in a row for best results), they will fade away. Of course if you don't use the lotion every day, they will eventually come back. But it works very well if you need to get into a bikini in a few days.

Another tactic I use to battle these is taking a dry skin brush and brushing over them. This action increases blood flow. I then add a detoxifying product like Elemis Cellutox Active Body Concentrate and put that over the areas, which is also supposed to help reduce any cellulite. I believe a combination of these two products works like a charm! Let me know if this works for you.