Ooh baby, it’s cold out there!

For those who live in the Northeast region like me can relate. Taking a stroll through the snowy lanes or out and about with winter sports can be great fun, but we still have to deal with what the harsh winter weather do to our skin.  The best winter skin care is mainly to keep your skin hydrated.  Cutting down on the extreme cleansing rituals avoid stripping the natural oils from you skin which act as a protective barrier.  Try switching to all-natural cleansers as well as using calming ingredients such as lavender, chamomile or oatmeal.  Floral water is also great for face toner.

By the time we get home, we are so tempted to take a long hot shower and it turns out that this is a big no-no for our skin.  Instead, use warm water and limit your shower time to 5 minutes or so.  Pat dry your skin with towel and immediately moisturize with a rich body cream or lotion to lock in the moisture. 

Some of my favorites are:  Kiehl’s Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion with Aloe Vera & Oatmeal, Mediterranean Spa’s Avocado Oil Body Butter, and Angels’ Spa’s Restoring Body Cream with Extra Dark Chocolate.  These spa-body products and beauty skincare are packed with rich ingredients which help to nourish and soften your skin from top to toe, perfect for the winter time. 

There are plenty of home-spa treatments to combat dry winter skin.  Try this simple remedy of soothing face bath from Barbara Close  of Naturopathica Holistic Health ‘The high concentrations of salicylic acid in oats can calm aggravated skin conditions and will relieve itching from dermatitis. Oat milk is deeply emollient to the face, leaving the skin soft and moisturized.’

Here’s how to make your own ‘Soothing Oat Milk Face Bath’

1/2 cup of oats
washcloth
 
*Place the oats in a washcloth and fasten closed with a rubber band.
*Fill bathroom sink with hot water
*Soak the washcloth for 5 minutes
*Squeeze washcloth several times to release oat milk and apply to your face as a compress.
*As the water cools, splash the oat water onto you face for soft, silky skin

So long dry,cracked skin!
Enjoy the benefits of beautiful soft skin, and the new glowing you.

It’s a new year, with a new you…but most of us are still stressful after the holidays…all with different reasons.  So, are you doing something to lower your stress?  Take a break from the office or housework when necessary, whether you prefer to go out for a nice brisk walk; join a Yoga class by yourself or with a friend, I found that having some quiet time to relax at the end of the day can also be helpful.  At Cozy Petal, we offer pampering spa bath products, and spa gifts to refresh, and recharge your senses. 

*Have a great relaxing soak – you tub is your friend!

Fill your bathtub with Dresdner Essenz’s aromatic Bath Powder.  They combined pure essential oils with other nurturing ingredients.  Pamper yourself with a luxurious and relaxing bath to lower your stress at the end of the day.
*Shower your stress away – start the day right!

Refresh yourself with Dolce Tentazione Shower Gel of Italy.  Enjoy their fun, youthful shower gel collections filled with wonderful citrus scent of grapefruit that can energize you through the day.  The aromatic of chocolate and coconut scents filled the air when you shower.  Lift your spirit and enhance your mood all day long!

*Wrap yourself in luxury – because you deserve it!

Nothing like wrapping yourself in a our supremely soft plush, Luxury Spa Robe for a relaxing evening or lazy weekend.  Each spa robe comes with a pretty sachet bag which filled with heavenly scented lavender.  Let this aromatherapeutic herbs relax your senses.  The benefits of lavender can ease stress, improves breathing and circulation which makes this spa robe with aromatherapy concept a must-have!

Start the new year right.  Get pampered!  Get relaxed!

Are you all stressed out during the holiday season?  With all that running around,  shopping, cooking and baking – we all bound to get more exhausted during the months of Novemeber and December every year – not to mention all the other holidays before and after.

Arguably, everyone in the entire world is under stress of some sorts.  Aromatherapy comes to my rescue.  Oftentimes, I reach out to natural remedies for relaxation.  One of my favorites is Lavender oil.  It soothes me, and lulls me for a good night sleep.  Essential oils are extracts from plants that have a beneficial effect on stress relief – particular oils have therapeutic properties that produce calming effect and decrease stress level.  Shown by research, the essentials oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell and part of our brain that affects our emotions, encourage feelings of relaxation, raising mood, or reducing anxiety to alleviate stress.  Below are some of the best oils to combat various types of stress. 

For mental stress:  Lavender, Basil, Grapefruit, Patchouli, Cardamom, Sandalwood, Geranium

For emotional stress:  Sandalwood, Geranium, Rose, Bergamot, Palma Rosa, Vetiver

For physical stress:  Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Marjarom, Chamomile Roman, Bergamot, Geranium

Try some of these aromatherapy ideas for relaxation today.

*Select the essential oils according to your needs

*Prepare a nice hot bath – add a few drops of appropriate oils

*Play your favorite relaxing music CD

*Light an aromatherapy candle – be sure to get good quality candles that give off the purest scent

*Diffusers – great option to replace candles if you prefer:  creates a soothing and relaxing mood

*Body products – rub on your body along with a massage if possible, or dab a few drops of skin-safe essential oils on pulse points

Essential oils are not meant to replace your regular medication if serious illness occurs.  Most aromatherapy oils are fairly safe, but please make sure to check if you have any allergy before using.

Go ahead, enjoy your holidays and get relaxed with aromatherapy to reduce seasonal stress.

Source:  Natural Stress Reducers, Aroma Cures

Whenever I head out to California, I often tried to make time for an afternoon at the spa.  Like many Day Spas in other regions of the nation, there are plenty of holistic spas to choose from at the west coat.  Somehow, I do feel that California has the most offerings… perhaps due to their healthier lifestyle.

Any quintessential California health and wellness retreat includes the pleasures of the spa, they breathe new life into that celebrated tradition. Morado, the spa at Borrego Ranch Resort is a beautifully appointed retreat where guests can spend their days indulging in an array of pampering and holistic therapeutic spa treatments. From body-centered massages, soaks and scrubs, to acupuncture and herbal medicine, Morado offers a wide variety of options, ranging from the traditional to the delightfully unexpected…it seems that I might have to try them out myself.  For those who did, feel free to drop your comments here.

Happy Spa Hunting!

JERSEY CITY, N.J.– At the end of a stressful day, we all need a way to relax and feel pampered, especially during the holiday season.  Cozy Petal is an eBoutique that provides their customers with a luxurious and soothing feeling through their spa inspired products and loungewear at their online Spa Gift Shop.  With this holiday season,  there are plenty to choose from their unique Spa & Bath Gift Baskets such as Peaceful Rose,  Happy Feet, French Indulgence, or Calm & Relax.  Send someone you care or reward that hard working individual in your life with these special pampering- bath gifts for any occasion.  Cozy Petal also offers a variety of unique spa-themed gifts for teen girls’ sleepover, and bridal shower parties.

“With the daily stress of women, my company offers them a guilt-free way to relax with the home-spa experience. Cozy Petal also focuses on wellness life style by offering natural and organic products,” says Founder, Ellen Lau Zarrell. ”I feel that there is a way for women to lounge around in a stylish, fashionable way. I call our lounge-wear ‘Lounge-Around-Wear’ which are versatile to be worn at home and when going out.”

Now you can simply surf on Cozy Petal, and find exciting gift packages that create an experience to remember. Whether it’s an in-home Spa Gift Basket or Luxury Robe, Cozy Petal has perfect ideas for that special someone in your life. On top of treating someone you love to an unforgettable gift, you will be giving them the chance to transform themselves into an oasis of tranquility where they can escape and rejuvenate while turning their home into the ultimate day spa. Perfect alone, or hold a Spa Party.

Gift givers can select from an array of products that say “You deserve it” including; Luxury Spa and Bath products, Spa and Bridal Shower Gifts, Luxury Style Spa Robes, Spa Sleep Masks, Spa Slippers, Aromatherapy products such as Chocolate Scented Neck Pillow and Shower Gel. Fashionistas can also personalize their own Rhinestone (Bling Bling) Spa Flip-Flops.

Cozy Petal also carries a beautiful selection of intimate apparel, sleepwear, lounge-wear and accessories. Products can be purchased online at www.CozyPetal.com which carries many leading brands of spa and bath product lines that can help you relax, revitalize your heart & soul and rejuvenate your senses.

Watch a loved one’s eyes light up, surprise that special someone and reward that hard working individual in your life from Cozy Petal. Our gifts provide your loved ones with amazing lasting memories.

Cozy Petal maintains a focused vision of excellence, taking pride in its dedication to its customers by offering the best quality merchandise.

Holiday special is offered to Cozy Petal customers.  Simply enter code HOLSALE at Checkout for the entire month of December 2009.

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V Spa at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas is offering festive flavors for their Holiday Spa Treatment Menu.  Located just outside of downtown Dallas, the 45-acre Hilton Anatole Hotel offers gracious Texas hospitality with modern elegance.  The wellness complex is also home to the Zen-inspired V-Spa. 

Their luxurious holiday spa treatments of chocolates and peppermint are a simple way to help reduce stress, focus energy, uplift spirits, reduce anxiety or just relax and enjoy this special time of year.

Chocolate is beneficial for the skin because of its high content of cocoa butter, which is a natural skin softner and conditioner.  The antioxidants prevent free radical damage to skin and protect its natural elasticity.  Chocolate also contains caffeine which can stimulate circulation and give skin a healthy glow.  If you around Dallas for the holidays, try out these spa treatments and get a little pampering at V Spa.

Resource:  Spa Finder

Almost everyone I know love, love chocolates! 

As most of you know that we associate chocolates with pleasure, so even just the smell will stimulate a body’s ‘feel good’ chemicals and a sense of well-being.  And now we’re not restricted to simply eating chocolates, we can enjoy it calorie free with these Chocolate-Scented spa-bath products at Cozy Petal that are perfect for this year holiday gifts.  Send someone you love a little Spa-Love!

First, you can get our ‘Chocolate Scented Neck Pillow’ which is perfectly designed to stay in place around the neck and shoulders.  Washable cover in pink swirl embroidery pattern on the top side, plush fabric on the neck side for comfort. The detachable insert can be microwaved to provide aromatic,
moist muscle therapy.  Its delicious scent of chocolate elevates the mood by raising endorphins & boost the immune system.  What a nice reward for those hard working individuals to get some Chocolate Therapy to ease their daily stress.  It’s portable and easy to travel with.

Do you want to send love ones a luxurious spa-bath gift?  To indulge them with our divinely decadent chocolate scented body scrub, body cream or shower gel?  These aromatherapeutic spa bath products nourish, revitalize and restore the body good.

At Cozy Petal, we offer the leading brand of spa and bath products from Angel’s Spa of Tuscany, Italy.  This European company employ the principles of aromatherapy to cleanse, moisturize, restore and refresh.  Their products combine mineral-rich spa water from an ancient Tuscan spring with pure essential oils to support an overall sense of well-being.  Ingredients that can balance, stimulate, and refresh to keep the body and soul in harmony.

Try the ‘Raw Sugar Body Scrub with Extra Dark Chocolate’.  Indulge in this luscious blend of raw sugar, nourishing oils and the divinely decadent aroma of extra dark chocolate is a great body and mind treatment.  Gently buffs away dryness – replaces it with soft, glowing skin.  It contains refreshing mint leaves which refreshes her all day long.

The ‘Restoring Body Cream with Extra Dark Chocolate’.  Divinely decandent & deliciously light aroma of chocolate, and the Coco Butter restores the skin.  Pamper your moms and let them experience the luxury they all deserve!

Finally, our ‘Dolce Tentazione ’Chocolate & Coconut Shower Gel’ from Italy.  Think of this Shower Gel collection as dessert for the body.  These fun, youthful gels will make them think that they have stepped into a bakery shop, with mouth-watering fragrances that are light, breezy and perfect for someone who enjoy something new and playful.  This aromatic of chocolate and coconut scents of this Shower Gel fills the air when they shower.Lift their spirits and enhance their moods all day long!  What a great way to start the day!

Feel free to visit out Spa Shop at Cozy Petal to pick up something special for this holiday season!

Ok, if you are still skeptical about the Spas on the cruise ships, the AquaSpa on the new Celebrity Equinox ship is getting very positive reviews for their ‘floating spa’.  

Dena Braun of the Phoenix International Travel Examiner commented ‘In the past, cruise ship spas haven’t measured up to their rivals on land. While I still think destination spas are the best choice for someone whose focus is only on the spa, Equinox’s AquaSpa is the best cruise ship spa I’ve experienced and is a solid spa offering for the average luxury traveler looking to combine elements of relaxation with other vacation elements.’

Decorated in cool blues and whites, the spa sets guests at ease in the Persian Garden (see photo above, courtesy of Celebrity), a room with heated, tiled chaise lounges overlooking the ocean, steam and sauna.

So, do you think that the spa treatments at the AquaSpa are same old same old?  They range from meditative relaxation to sensory heaven treatments.  AquaSpa delivers a one-of-a-kind spa experience. In addition to deluxe manicures, facials and aromatherapy massage, pamper yourself with special spa treatments.  Experience their Sensory Heaven Treatments: a state of bliss conceived to help melt away stress and tension.  Using unique spa-bath products like Enriching Milk Bath, Exotic Lime & Ginger Salt or Coconut Rub & Milk does not sound like the spa packages from your local day spa. 

Egyptian Ceremony of Milk & Ginger / Asian Ceremony of Stone /
Tahitian Ceremony of Flowers / Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap or Float / Algae-Detox Cruise Ritual, and more…

Don’t forget to try out the AquaSpa when booking your next vacation at Celebrity Cruise.  Sounds like that you are going to have your ’spa-cation’ on top of your vacation.  How divine!

Several weeks ago, I had a wonderful opportunity spending a leisure afternoon by the Dead Sea ‘beach’ in Israel. What an amazing experience!

The Dead Sea is really a saline lake.  It is located 400 meters (1,300 feet) below sea level and is the lowest point on the surface of the earth.  The waters of the Dead Sea are unique, not just by having a total salt concentration that is ten times higher than ocean water, but also by its unique composition.  I learned a lot from one the incredible places I have ever been.

Since ancient times, the medical healing properties of the Dead Sea have been well-known.  I read that Queen Cleopatra was well aware of the miraculous influence of the minerals and used the salts and mud from the Dead Sea to regain her youth.

The Dead Sea is an ideal spot for many people who seek relief from skin and rheumatic disorders.  Modern medical researches confirm that these Spa-Bath and Body Products have healing properties.  Many skin allergies such as psoriasis and eczema may be helped by using Dead Sea minerals.  If you don’t have the opportunity to visit this ‘First Resort of the World’, you can enjoy these benefits by purchasing from the many skincare products out there.  Buyer beware!  You should purchase from reliable sources to avoid getting garden mud in your face.

Though I have brought back several Dead Sea beauty skincare products and now enjoy them in the privacy of my own home, but it was that special fun experience when you smearing the black mud on your face and body as you float on the well known Dead Sea. Don’t fret for those non-swimmers…you just float…like sitting on the invisible chair in the middle of the lake! 

How divine!  Everyone felt like a kid that day…laughing and giggling as we played with the soft black mud, the salty water feels oily and slippery on your skin due to all the minerals in the Dead Sea water.  My skin felt extra soft and supple, and my body was so relaxed afterwards.

If you want to find out the beauty secret of the Dead Sea Products, now you can try them out yourself…

It has been hot and humid for the past few weeks; a typical summer month.  I have enjoyed a great deal using natural and organic products for my skin.   My body benefits from the therapeutic and premium ingredients of a line of beauty and skincare products of Pharmacopic.   All their bath and body products are paraben-free and vegan.  Their holistic approach to personal care promotes health and wellness inside and out by combining herbs and unique blends of antioxidants, vitamins and premium essential oils to help your skin young and healthy, naturally.

One of my favorites is ‘Body Basics’ Spa Gift Set.   The citrus scent of this Body Wash can also be used as shampoo.  I feel refreshed after a great morning shower and what a way to start the day.

By the mid afternoon, do you feel tired from the hectic work load as me?  So I take breaks to ‘reboot’ myself and dab a little Lavender Body Lotion on my hands.  For centuries, lavender has been cultivated for its soothing and healing properties.  This body lotion suits me well.  It nourishes and soothes my skin with avocado oils and essential oils.

For the cooler days, I use the Rosemary Bath Salts to relieve sore muscle aches at the end of a stressful day.  Putting on my favorite music CD, light a soy candle and enjoy a fabulous soak.  This therapeutic bath salts draw out impurities and relax my body for a home spa hydrotherapy experience.

Natural and Organic bodycare and skincare products do the body good!