I often find it very interesting to learn about the various beauty rituals from women around the globe.

Australian women love tea tree oil which gives their skin a youthful glow.  This oil can help to heal some skin and hair problems such as acne and dandruff.  Just add a few drops to your normal cleanser or moisturizer or to your shampoo to stop the flakes.

There are many natural ingredients you can use from your own pantry as beauty skincare products.  Turn avocado, honey, and cucumber to be your home-spa products. These wonder foods of nature can help to moisturize and revive your skin.   Belgium women apply their body with avocado which can also reduce fine wrinkles.

Women in Hungry and Poland use honey to heal their chapped lips.  In Croatia, it is common to mix ground almonds and honey to create a peel-off mask since honey has amazing effects to tone and hydrate the skin.

Try this anti-aging facial mask commonly used by the women in Ukraine to smooth fine wrinkles.  Mix cucumber puree with one egg white and one teaspoon of lemon juice.  Apply it to you face and leave it on until it dries; peel it off  and rinse with warm water.  For a rejuvenating mask, Indian women will mix a little yogurt with a teaspoonful of saffron.

You might have already heard about the chocolate spa treatments that are offered throughout many day spas and resort hotels.  Naturally, the most fitting place to receive such descendant spa treatment would have to be Hershey, Pennsylvania.  The Hotel Hershey has a Chocolate Spa that attracts many clients for its Chocolate Fondue Wrap.  This cocoa-mud wrap is filled with antioxidants which are prefect antiagers.

To maintain that fabulous spa experience at home, pick up a couple of spa and bath products.  Pamper yourself or spoil your best friend with the Restoring Body Cream with Extra Dark Chocolate from Cozy Petal.  This sumptuous body cream can make every day a spa day by offering the ultimate indulgence for both body and soul…chocolate has never felt so good!

Source:   Chocolate Spa

There is a buzz about The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa this weekend.

No official announcement from the White House, but it seems most likely that President Obama and First Lady Michelle will be spending a romantic weekend retreat there. Will that be an early Mother’s Day celebration without the girls?

The Spa’s pool are at the Grove Park Inn is greatly designed with a glass skylight and waterfalls for that ultimate water experience.

What a getaway retreat without going to the spa? The White House couple can sample many of the unique Spa Treatments to release stress and tensions. Special spa packages such as:

‘Fire, Rock, Water and Light’ – Indulge in a rejuvenating full-body exfoliation, softening buttermilk and honey whirlpool bath, cozy body wrap, and a remarkable Vichy shower waterfall massage. How fabulous!

‘Sanctuary of the Senses Facial’ – The spa’s most extravagant treatment consists of a luxurious European facial choreographed to the music of the mountains. Spa gift products and Sanctuary CD are included to relive the memory at home.

‘Grove Stone Massage’ – A classic massage combined with warm, smooth basalt stones can certainly help them to de-stress and melt the tension away.

‘Aromatherapy Massage’ – Relax and reboot with healing oils rubbing through the skin for spa therapy. What a great way to renew the body and mind!

Well, with these pampering spa treatment packages, it sounds good for anyone who wants to check out this resort hotel for a little R& R.

Source/ Photos: Discovery Spas by Julie Register

‘Do you feel like you need a break from your busy life?
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Check out Spa Finder for this unique Spa, Yoga, Golf Getaway trip.

Joan’s taking Camp Reveille on the road!
Don’t miss this unique girl getaway!

Take advantage of this phenomenal price for The Ritz-Carlton
experience in the beautiful Sonoran desert landscape.

Pamper yourself; challenge yourself; laugh and play like a kid again;
and be inspired by Joan and other women from around the country.

Learn more about The Reveille on the Road package at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona – Read More>

I love this trio combination of SPA, YOGA, and GOLF!

What a fantastic way to unwind and be pampered for a fun weekend.

I read a lot about the Sturebadet Spa in Stockholm and thought that I must get a traditional Swedish Massage while I was there.  This is one of the oldest spa in Sweden and located in the heart of town, at a busy Sturegallerian shopping complex.

Founded by a medical doctor, Carl Curman in 1885, this spa was created as a communal bathhouse.  His innovative concepts regarding bathing therapy was to encourage the people in Stockholm to promote good health and wellness through exercise and many forms of bathing.

Nowadays, I can see the locals going into this modern spa for a relaxing spa treatments, or any of the exercise workouts during their lunch hours. 

The spa offers more than massages, you can get state of the art exercise facilities in the gym, personal training sessions as well as aquarobics and Yoga.  I received one of my best facials along with their spa products in Sturbadet.  My massage therapist managed to release my kinks and pains from my hectic travels.  I felt that my stress melted away quickly. 

One of my favorite spots of the spa is the gorgeous swimming pool.  Built in 1902 with beautiful Moorish tiles which blends with Art Nouveau style.  Sturebadet has a separate Turkish Bathing area which was loved by Greta Garbo back in the 1920’s. 

I also heard that the cafe serves one of the best breakfast in town.  More reason to return to Sturebadet on my next trip.

Yes, it’s as amazing as they said about the Blue Lagoon – Iceland’s famous geothermal spa, 40mins from Reykjavik which I had an opportunity to visit.  This unique pool of seawater heated in the middle of a moss-covered lava field is probably one of the most visited places in Iceland. 

After a shower in the communal shower, I entered the lagoon and could see the surrounding filled with black lava rocks, covered with steam rising from the waters.  Stunning and surreal!

There it was, I slipped into the pool of milky, blue-green seawater, with the steamy air in front of my eyes. I found myself floating in the water with that weightless sensation.  The contents of the water are rich in minerals like algae, salts, sulfur and silica that are beneficial for psoriasis, eczema, and joint & muscle pains.

My feet sinked slowly into a bed of white silica mud – we were told that this strange paste-like mineral is a great skin softener.  Without hesitations, many of us grabbed a handful and smeared on our faces and bodies.  The mud gently cleanses and exfoliates the skin, while the algae revitalizes you.
What a great way to enjoy a spa-treatment. We felt our stress slowly melting away and all senses relaxed.

The waters in this basin are a constant temperature of 110 degrees F. Known for its special properties and beneficial effect on the skin, no wonder the Blue Lagoon has attracted many visitors around the world in search for health, relaxation and an exotic experience.  

Head out for this unique ‘Spa treatment’ and don’t forget to pick up a few spa and bath products from the gift shop.

Try these simple spa steps when you are traveling.  DIY spa bath products for easy spa treatments.

1)  sleeping eye mask – shield off light for a good night sleep or power nap

2)  few green tea bags – simmer in hot water, cool down and use as compress to get rid of puffy eyes

3)  few packs of sugar – add few drops of water to create a facial/ hand/ feet scrub

4)  travel size essential oil set – create your own aromatherapy spa:  lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus or citrus to rejuvenate, enhance breathing and relieve sinus pain.

5)  facial mist – hydrate your skin (DIY) mix the appropriate essential oil with water for simple beauty skincare

6)  golf ball – place under your feet, roll on pressure points to reduce sore muscle aches

7)  spa slippers – relax tired feet

8)  cotton gloves – cover moisturized hands overnight for soft skin

8)  pillow mist – (DIY) mix lavender essential oil with water – spritz on pillow before bedtime

9)  your favorite relaxation music CD

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!

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!

Bali holds a special place in my heart !!

Through my travels, I have discovered Bali my way, or shall I say that Bali found me many years ago.

Not sure if it is the culture, the spiritual air of this place, or simply they know about relaxation through its tranquil settings, to me: Bali + Spa = Haven!

In truth, it has been awhile since my last trip to Bali, but whenever I read anything about Bali and Spas, my eyes light up with by their wonderful photos; my heart fluttered with their words describing its settings, and all those fabulous Spa Treatments & packages.  Now, I know that these might not mean as much to other gals, but to me, it is a quick trip to memory lane, and best of all is the excitement to start planning my next trip! 

So, I have just read about Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa  and just loving their special spa treatments to renew and restore both your body and spirit such as ‘Welcome Aromatherapy Bath in-suite’, ‘Tropical Coconut Body Polish & Seaweed-Cucumber Conditioner’, ‘Fresh Fruit Facial’, or ‘Floral Footbath Ritual’.  Their special package includes Yoga, and Spa Cuisines to purify and energizing the body good.

With quotes like this:  ‘Step into the world of Anantara and experience our timeless touch in surroundings of mystical allure.  Let your worries end and your journey begin.’ – Bali, I will be there again real soon!