A Day at the Spa is Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity


Traditionally, people think of spas as a luxury. They tell themselves they can’t afford to go, they don’t deserve to go, or maybe that spas are for another level of society. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In this fast paced, modern age in which we live, spa days have become essential.



The psychological benefits of taking one day to relax and refresh are astounding. Stress is the number one killer in society today, and a spa day combats stress like no other. A day of massage, facials, manicures and pedicures, and generally being cared for by another person is often enough to offset an entire week of demanding workloads and stressful situations.



The biggest benefit of going to a spa, and the underlying feature of all spa treatments, is the psychological comfort of simply letting go. At a spa, you trust completely in the employees to take care of you, to work out the physical stress that has built up in your body, and to generally make you feel better about yourself.

Massages are common features of spas and considered one of the most physically relaxing treatments available. Allowing a trusted and trained professional to massage and work out all tightness in your muscles and reduce stress within the body is both physically and psychologically relieving.



Manicures and pedicures, also common in most spas, both feel great and leave customers with higher confidence and self-esteem about their hands and feet. Despite seeming insignificant to some, the psychological benefits of letting someone pamper your hands and feet are surprising.

The trainers and health coaches at Evolution of Well Being Spa are experts in their fields and make it their goal to help customers achieve a relaxed and healthy state. The physical and psychological benefits available to improve customer’s health and well being are innumerable.

6 Tips for Foot and Nail Care
By Karen Bruno

Your feet move you through the world, help you stand up to your day, and ground you. They also need TLC to keep them soft, strong, and free of problems.

These 6 steps will help your feet stay fabulous.

1. Smooth It Out.
Make it a habit to use a pumice stone or foot file on damp heels and calluses. Doing so will keep your feet looking good in open-back shoes.

First, soak your feet in water or a foot bath for 10 to 15 minutes to help soften the skin. Then gently remove the thickened skin with a pumice stone. New York podiatrist Isaac Tabari, DPM, recommends a warm foot bath made of black tea (tannic acid). Tannic acid, he says, is a natural antibacterial agent that may reduce the chance of getting athlete’s foot.

Moisturizing foot scrubs made from botanicals such as crushed fruit pits, sugar, or chemical exfoliators also help remove dead skin. After you scrub, apply a rich foot cream or balm containing shea butter or cocoa butter.

Look for balms or heel creams containing salicylic acid or urea to soften tough calluses.

2. Moisturize.
If your heels are very dry and cracked, see a podiatrist or dermatologist for a prescription treatment. If they’re not that bad, there are plenty of moisturizing products from which to choose.

First, you might try some medicated heel pads, which don't need a prescription, to soften calluses while you walk. After you’ve exfoliated the calluses, use a heavy cream to moisturize tough skin on your heel.

Look for creams containing petrolatum, an emollient, or a humectant such as lactic acid, which draws moisture into the skin.

3. Fight Fungus.
Over-the-counter antifungal treatments come in many forms -- lacquers, creams, lotions, liquids, spray powders, and spray liquids. These products work best on mild cases of athlete’s foot, and probably not at all with toenail fungus, which is difficult to treat.

No matter the form, they have one of the following active ingredients, which are all equally effective: terbinafine, tolnaftate, miconazole, ciclopirox, or clotrimazole. Tabari says tea tree oil, sometimes called melaleuca oil, also works well on mild cases of athlete’s foot.

Look for a medicated powder or spray if you have sweaty feet. Powders usually contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate to help keep feet dry.
If you have dry feet, look for an antifungal lotion.
Dry your feet thoroughly before you apply antifungal powder or lotion.

Dark and damp conditions let the funguses that cause athlete’s foot flourish. Basic good foot hygiene is the best way to prevent fungal infections. Wash your feet frequently and dry them thoroughly, especially between your toes. Wear fresh socks or other hosiery daily.

4. Wear Sunscreen.
Wear sunscreen on the tops of your feet. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your feet when you're going barefoot or wearing open sandals.

5. Get Support.
Standing for a long time can make your feet sore. Wearing insoles can help make shoes more comfortable.

Look for insoles that have a plastic shell at the bottom. Podiatrists say the shell makes them strong enough to provide real support.

6. Don’t Forget Your Toenails!
Love getting pedicures? The technique matters. Clumsy trimming can lead to hangnails and ingrown toenails.

Also, make sure the nail technician gently pushes back the cuticle rather than cuts it, which can lead to an infection.

If you do your own nails, look for nail “nippers” that have a curved handle and a cutting jaw shaped to follow the natural curve of nails.
Your nails naturally become more brittle with age. Ingredients in some nail polish and polish remover can speed the process, drying out your nails. Elle, a celebrity manicurist who writes a blog for Barielle Cosmetics, suggests her clients use polish that is free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. She also recommends using a nail polish remover free of alcohol.

To moisturize your toenails, Elle suggests using a cuticle cream, petroleum jelly, or vitamin E oil. Put it over the entire nail, including the cuticle, and gently rub it in.

My Non-Greasy Homemade Lotion Recipe

(recipe yields about 2 cups of cream)


Lotion Ingredients:
• 1 cup pure aloe Vera gel, distilled water, or strong-brewed herbal tea.
• ½ cup grated beeswax.
• ½ cup sweet almond, grapeseed, or jojoba oil.
• 1 tsp Vitamin E oil.
• 15 drops essential oil.


Directions for Making Lotion:
1. In a medium-sized bowl combine aloe Vera gel, Vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Set aside for later, allowing it to come to room temp.(Sometimes it even helps to set this in a warm water bath to bring it closer to the temperature of the oil/wax mixture you’ll be adding it to. This helps it emulsify.)
2. Add grated beeswax and oil to a glass measuring cup. Place measuring cup in a small pot of water and bring water to a gentle boil. Heat, stirring occasionally, until beeswax is completely melted then carefully remove measuring cup from pot.
3. Pour beeswax/oil mixture into blender and allow to cool. (Move on to step 4 when it has cooled down, but is still soft.)
4. Once cooled, turn blender on LOW. Remove top of blender and pour aloe Vera mixture in a SLOW, continuous stream.
5. Stop blender as often as needed to run a spatula around sides to incorporate ingredients. If liquid is pooling at the top, stop frequently to push it around with spatula. (This step may take as long as 10-15 minutes, and patience is key!) Continue blending until desired consistency is reached.
6. Transfer moisturizer to clean jars and refrigerate any portion that will not be used up within a few weeks.

TOP NINE TIPS FOR A HEALTHY SKIN THIS WINTER:

1. If your skin feels tight or taut after cleansing and you use a foamy cleanser, it’s time to switch for a more balancing cleanser that will soothe and replenish you skin. Try products with calming botanicals like lavender, chamomile, aloe and raspberry extract.
2. Use a hydrating spray or spritz after cleansing and throughout the day to rehydrate and reduce any tightness, particularly if you work in a heated environment.
3. Nourish by using a non-drying creamy mask that is rich in vital oils like Evening Primrose Oil and Vitamins A, E and C, and Oats to sooth and repair. I recommend twice a week if you are feeling super dry.
4. Use a serum or booster. These specialised products contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid which is like giving your skin a big glass of water, perfect for a skin that looks taut and feels tight.
5. Amp up your moisturising. If your skin is lacking oil and feeling dry you need more surface protection and nourishment. Ingredients like Shea butter, Evening Primrose Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil helps to keep the skin layers intact and nourish with vital fatty acids.
6. Don’t forget your lips, nose and cheeks; these are the most exposed areas, particularly when you are active outdoors during winter. Apply a healing balm to soothe and shield.
7. Beware winter sun! Always protect with a high level SPF. Many foundations are multi taskers, meaning they have inbuilt SPF ingredients, great for sporty sisters who are always on the move.
8. Dry body skin? Exfoliate regularly and apply your body moisturiser twice daily when your skin is still damp to lock in the moisture.
9. Always nourish your hands by using a protective hand cream and massage oil into your cuticles to prevent them from cracking. Try wearing lightweight run gloves when you are active outdoors