Cool winter air is the perfect excuse to wear luxurious scarves, sip hot cider or tuck yourself into bed with a good book, but beauty mavens fear it for good reason — it wreaks havoc on skin moisture. Frigid temperatures and harsh wind can cause skin to dry, crack, peel and even wrinkle prematurely. To keep your skin summer-dewy during the chillier months, you have two options – hibernate until winter is over, or employ a solid defense with a skincare regimen tailor-made for surviving the cold months with your radiant skin intact.
Bring up the topic of stem cells at a dinner party, and you’re likely to start a heated debate. That’s because these special cells were once mostly extracted from fetal tissue, a practice that many people found morally questionable. Today, stem cell techniques have evolved and scientists are able to cultivate plant and animal stem cells in laboratory
Ambiance is everything at a day spa – some people schedule services just to enjoy the calming environment. There’s nothing worse than having your massage ruined by loud voices coming from another room. It’s impossible to relax and enjoy the feeling of hot stones on your back if you can hear a bachelorette party loudly laughing through their pedicure sessions a few rooms over. Here are five faux pas that will ruin the spa experience – for others, as well as yourself:
Scientists call the gingko tree a “living fossil” because it’s part of a family of trees that have been around for a long, long time -- over 270 million years! History has shown us just how strong the gingko plant truly is – after the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, six gingko trees stood tall among the rubble at ground zero. Today, those same six trees are still growing and thriving. We’re lucky the gingko tree is so resilient, because its leaves and seeds contain powerful compounds that offer these impressive beauty benefits:
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.
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
