As some of you may know that I am the brand ambassador for Burke Williams; a group of luxury day spas that are scattered around California. For the last year it has been my job to explore the individual spas and experience some of the unique treatments each locations offers. There is a different theme and a different set of treatments at each Burke that set them apart from each other, but one thing they all have in common is their commitment to excellence. I have truly loved each treatment I’ve received at every location. For my latest Burke adventure I headed a few miles north to Sherman Oaks. The decor/theme of this one was like an English country complete with a telephone that looked like it came straight from the streets of London.
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Although you may not have heard of it before, tea tree oil has been used for thousands of years. Since well before the time of European colonization, the Budjalung – an indigenous people who live in southern Australia – have been chewing and mashing tea tree leaves to help treat wounds, soothe coughs and even relieve skin problems. Commercial production didn’t begin until 1923, when a researcher named Arthur Penfold published a report on the medical benefits of the oil. Today, you can find tea tree oil in everything from natural medicines to bar soaps and deodorants, and it’s not surprising when you consider all of its uses:
If humans weren’t so obsessed with youth, Florida would have a different name – and if Burke Williams had existed in 1513, Ponce de León would have saved himself some work.
Place both of your hands at your hairline, spread your fingers, and run your nails from your forehead to the back of your scalp. Doesn’t it feel amazing? Imagine how much better it would feel if you received a professional scalp massage from a trained masseuse. There are few simple pleasures in this world that are so relaxing and rejuvenating, but scalp massages do more than just feel incredible; they also offer a variety of impressive benefits. Here are just a few:
Silence is a gift we often take advantage of without even knowing it. The other day, I found myself at home, sans family, the music that usually weaves in and out of the rooms in our house were muted, no buzz from the washer and dryer and all of the televisions were off. I found myself confused for a second; I felt time. I was enjoying the silence.
How high does your blood pressure rise on a typical workday? If it stays low and even, you’re living life like it’s golden. For many people, career demands are a primary source of stress, and doctors have been telling us for decades about what it can do to our health. Stress can raise your blood pressure. It can cause headaches and contribute to anxiety, depression and digestive problems. Stress can even wreak havoc on your appearance, slowly making you look as bad as you feel
A skilled esthetician is a bit like a modern-day shaman, alchemist or medicine man. She borrows rare ingredients from Mother Nature, mixes them up and creates beautifying potions in the form of facials, scrubs and wraps. Unlike those mystics of yore, however, an esthetician doesn’t guard her knowledge. She’s happy to explain even the most exotic-sounding services in terms her clients can understand. If you want to know what “parafango” means, what it is and how it works, she’ll tell you. And so will we.
Nothing can ruin a woman’s mood faster than a broken nail. When you chip, break or split one of your newly manicured tips. Luckily, a little smart nutritional planning can help you avoid the stress that comes with brittle nails. When you add these three foods to your diet, you’ll strengthen your nails from the inside out.
Did you know that acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S.? It affects nearly 50 million Americans, and 85% of people suffer from acne at some point in their lives. So how do so many celebrities and girl-next-door beauties retain their radiant skin? They begin by learning about what causes acne so that they can better understand how to fight it.
Relaxing in a hot tub to banish stress is one of those experiences we all have in common. We’ve all done it before, and a long, hot bubble bath or a heated massage is even better. You know first-hand how powerful heat can be when it comes to relaxation, but why is a hot shower so much different than a cold one? What is it about heat that relaxes our bodies and soothes our minds? It takes just a moment to turn the knob and warm things up – zero-effort, really – but behind the scenes, heat works on your body in complex ways.
