spa – MUAHbyAlex

RELAXATION AT YOUR DOOR

Hello beauties! Happy Sunday! & Happy December! There are not many people that would argue that massages & facials are the best way to instant relaxation. With the constant busy schedules and stressful economy that we all have, massage treatments are the best way to escape the everyday stresses of life. Taking care of your mind, body and spirit are three very important factors for me. We all love a good spa treatment. I emphasize to all my clients It’s so important to make some time for yourself on a regular basis and de-stress! It’s so important to have a little peace and quiet, and do something for yourself! Whether it’s a massage, facial, makeup application, yoga session, whatever!

When I booked my vacation to Cabo last summer, I knew that I would love to incorporate a massage into my trip. Vacation and relaxation are two words that definitely go hand in hand. I get a massage often back at home, but this was more of an ‘experience’. The atmosphere is so incredible and spending 90 minutes on the beach, next to ocean, receiving a massage was probably the most relaxing sensation ever. It wasn’t too hot because I received it in the morning when the sun wasn’t so strong, and the breeze from the ocean made it feel like there was a cool fan blowing on me the entire massage.

My girlfriend Jessica, treated us to a 60 minute massage at Marlene Weber Day Spa in Poughkeepsie for my last birthday. We definitely enjoyed it. The wait was longer than I anticipated, we sat in our robes for 30 minutes before the session began but we did enjoy a nice cup of tea and some fruit while waiting. We got a couples massage (lol) cute idea for best friends! We received sweedish massages which are my favorite, because its not too rough so I’m relaxed the whole time, but firm enough to get the knots out! The staff was very friendly and the spa was also relaxing.

But lets face it ladies & gents, spa treatments and in general massages are a great way to relax but it all depends on as to how comfortable you are. When it comes to pampering, there is NO place like home. I prefer getting treatments done right in the luxury of my house. Sometimes I do want a traditional spa day, but luckily for me, my cousin is a massage therapist and my friend Jessica is an esthetician. When I book appointments with them to come over, they bring the high-end spa works. Massage tables, sheets, Egyptian cotton towels, sumptuous oils, candles, spa music and personalized services. An in home massage enables you to really prolong your relaxation. My cousin practices Swedish, Deep tissue, Reflexology and Reiki on me. At home massages are fantastic and I feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the whole session. The lights are dimmed, soothing music plays, and soft candles are lit. I can’t imagine anything more perfect, being in the comfort of your own home, can you? I do enjoy the spa, but who wants to drive home after a 90 minute massage or facial? At home, you have nowhere to go after. No traffic. No driving. Just get yourself ready for a massage and benefit from the treatment session. At home, my stress level is down and I feel much more relaxed. After a massage and/or facial at home, I take a warm bath after to further my relaxation. Relaxing requires focusing your attention within and withdrawing it from your senses and the external world. After that and a cup of tea, I’m ready for bed! I couldn’t ask for a better experience. Massage in general at home or at the spa is good for stress relief, managing anxiety and/or depression, pain, blood pressure, injuries, cancer treatment, and boosting immunity.

If your goal in getting a facial is just to be pampered, chances are good that you’ll find what you’re looking for. So relaxing! For others, a facial is primarily a way to improve the look of their skin. Skin is very important to me, especially being a makeup artist! It’s the canvas to my art! Facials are believed by many to fix these common skin problems. Exfoliation, with astringents, masks or peels, can reach deep into the skin’s upper layer to strip away dead skin cells and reveal newer cells underneath. When I make appointments with my friend Jessica, she comes over and turns my living room into the ultimate spa. She came over tonight for my monthly at home facial. She carries over her table, steamer, lights, music, etc. She starts off with a consultation every time, targeting your skin’s problem areas. Based off that, she’ll decide which products to use. She normally does a glycolic peel to my face (it burns A LOT, but that means it’s eating the dead skin cells away, I like to think of it as a Pac Man affect) and we end it off applying a cooling mask. We usually rotate masks. My favorite she uses is the seaweed mask. Tonight she used Hylunia’s Papaya Enzyme mask. While the mask is on she massages you, which puts me right to sleep. There is nothing better than getting this done in the comfort of your own home! Especially during the holidays, the Christmas decor adds a nice touch.

If this just isn’t for you, there is a lot of home treatments you can make an apply to yourself! I’ll add some that I use, so you can try if interested.

You can create a spa experience at home, using salts and adding essential oils to your bath tub. I buy a lot of aromatherapy candles to make the air aromatic and stress free. It’s so relaxing about taking a nice hot bath in the dark with the flickering candles!

Creating a hydrating cooling mask by blending a little cold cream, yogurt, aloe vera gel, honey and avocado. Apply with a clean fan brush, and letting sit for 20 minutes.

Oil up your skin using your favorite oils. Read my last post about this!

Combine cold cream, two drops of tea tree oil, five drops of lavender oil, a spoonful of olive oil into a blender. Once it’s all nice and smooth, lather all over your hands and feet! Put on rubber gloves and white socks for the softest hands and feet ever!

Deep condition your hair using coconut oil ! Also mentioned in my last post

Warm up your favorite lotion while your in the shower, nothing better than rubbing in heated, soothing lotion

Although I love my at home pamper days, sometimes it is nice to just get out of the house and enjoy the perks of getting pampered at a spa too. My favorite spas in my area are La Tua Bella beauty bar, Marlene Weber & Haven Spa.

Jessica is currently booking at home facial parties, so perfect for this season! I can not emphasize enough how lovely this is! Hour and ten minutes of pure BLISS. I’m absolutely going to host a facial party at my house for all my girl friends, once my schedule calms down a bit. Michelle also does onsite massages and will book parties. For information on at home massages and facials please feel free to contact me so I can forward your their information so you can book your party or at home treatment ! If your not local or from the area then try contacting your local spa. They sometimes have someone that free lances for them or that will do on site work. Also, Please subscribe to my blog if you haven’t yet! I just got an AMAZING brazilian blowout this past week and will be doing a post about that too since so many people ask me about it! Here’s some photos below from my friend Kyra’s beautiful winter wonderland wedding last night! Oh & Heather’s spiked Louboutins.. lol she has every pair I want! Have a great week 🙂

XO,

Intraceuticals Oxygen Infused Facial

Hi dolls! What an exciting week! Bridal trials, special fx makeup, and spa treatments! My friend Jason from this past season of Face Off called me over to watch him create a new fx character. I’ve been meaning to go to his workshop and learn for a while now, but with both our busy schedules, it seemed impossible. It was so fun! He’s so talented.

Ok ladies…Lets talk beauty! Spa treatments, for most of us, are something of a treat. Anniversaries, Christmas presents, birthday surprises…. —a girls favorite gift. I take my spa days seriously, since most treatments are pricey, I need good technicians that are educated and can perform amazing services. Which is why, my beauties, I can’t wait to tell you about my Oxygen Infused facial at La Tua Bella Beauty bar in Rhinebeck, NY.

Luckily for me, I was invited for a complementary 2 hour infusion service. *Perks of a beauty blogger. I feel like this is exactly what I needed. I am a work-a-holic! Even when I’m not working at the salon or beautifying my clients, I’m still working, whether it’s networking, advertising, prepping for a shoot, cleaning my brushes, emailing back and forth with clients… It never stops. With all that work, comes stress, and with stress comes congested skin crying out for help (no matter how much time I spend at home giving myself homemade facials), an Oxygen Facial was exactly what I needed. Who doesn’t love a bit of pampering? A little pampering goes a long way. Indulging in any beauty treatment, at home or at the spa can give you a feeling of instant glam and a pick me up confidence booster for sure!

La Tua Bella is not your local makeup store, or your idea of a regular spa/salon. This “beauty bar” is a unique blend of affordable services that combine professional salon/style pampering with such a wide range of services and products. I arrived early, sporting my cotton leggings and an off the shoulder, comfy sweater from h&m. I love everything about Rhinebeck, & in my opinion the location of this spa is perfect. In the middle of a cute town I adore. So walking up to La Tua Bella, I’m already in my glory, sipping on hot green tea, wearing my fingerless gloves made by UGGs. Open the door and you are in princess glamy land that is suitable for ANY age. I was welcomed by Megan, the owner, who made me feel right at home. Soft music played as she offered me a beverage and a mini cupcake (which I indulged in after my services). The set up is perfect. A new sink & chair under a canopy, to give you enough privacy for your relaxing blow out. It features a beauty bar (literally) filled with products to test. Megan carries so many of my favorite products including Model In a Bottle setting spray, Benefit makeup products, Hylunia skin care, Somme Institute just to name a few, which are displayed on wooden shelves, and very neatly arranged. There are stylish, yet comfortable chairs, perfectly bright lighting in the main room, followed by low lighting in the spa room, which immediately relaxed me. Everything about this place is pleasing to the eye, and VERY CLEAN!

As I got ready for my Intraceuticals Oxygen Infused facial, I noticed all things were in place. A warm candle-lit room, with a familiar scent that greeted me.. “Chill Pill” one of my favorite lavender essential oils that I actually had with me in my purse. The bed was heated, which was a nice touch. I then embarked upon nearly 2 hours of sheer BLISS. An oasis of calm, came over me and all the stresses of modern life left me. Intracueticals Oxygen Infusion treatment involves a machine that infuses atomized moisturizers and high powered serums onto your skin by using a stream of pressurized oxygen. It hydrates the skin immediately, temporarily diminishes all fine lines and tiny imperfections, while plumping and smoothing the skin’s surface. It’s recommended to receive 6 treatments for optimum results. There are 2 different types to choose from.

Rejuvenate ~ Achieves a youthful glow and visible reduction of fine lines and wrinkles through deep hydration, promotes natural collagen and elastin production for improved skin texture

Opulence ~ Super concentrated vitamin C and natural plant extracts safely and naturally treat hyper-pigmentation with deep hydration. It’s a botanical brightener to reduce hyper pigmentation and lighten dark spots, scars and other imperfections.

The Intraceuticals Infusion Oxygen Facial boasts a long line of celebrity fans including Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Eva Longoria and even Justin Timberlake. It uses hyperbaric oxygen (which is basically pressurized oxygen) along with Hyaluronic Acid to deliver specially formulated serums deep into the skin’s structural layers so skin becomes instantly brighter, firmer and younger. Hmm… An oxygen system that claims to deliver this “miracle treatment” …without needles? Sounds not only weird but also bogus… right? This experience, truly vanished my doubts. This treatment was completely painless, as a matter of fact the cool, tingly, sensation almost tickled. No discomfort, redness or irritation. Megan was even nice enough to even offer me a lip infusion.

When I saw the results, my jaw literally dropped! My face looked visibly and instantly plumper and any tightness that I had on my forehead, cheeks and chin was completely gone. My skin immediately had a gorgeous glow. I didn’t notice much of a difference with my lips, but Megan said if I follow up with 2 to 3 more treatments, I will. Afterwards, my skin was incredibly soft, and still is. I got so many complements on my skin yesterday and today! It was such a lovely experience and something I could get used to every month. Actually, scratch that… EVERY WEEK! I think this would be a nice treat for a best friend, or if your a guy looking to get your girlfriend a gift… this is definitely it! This perk me up treatment was a revelation! I can see why Madonna is so in love with this! She even bought the machine so she can do the treatments at home. Katy Perry gets this treatment before every performance. Eva Longoria even says this is a “necessity before every major event.” Here is a clip from celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke demonstrating the exact facial treatment I got done. Check it out!

I want to thank Megan at La Tua Bella Beauty bar for making my first oxygen facial such an amazing, pleasant and memorable experience. I am officially loving this product line, and a fan which means I’ll definitely be going back for more. Remember, you can go to any spa for a facial, but not many have Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion treatments. I recommend this La Tua Bella Beauty Bar 100%. It’s so unique, and perfect for any spa day, ladies night out, or even a young girls birthday party. Actually, a group of young girls were walking in as I was leaving to have a birthday party there! Every now and then everyone deserves a relaxing, pampering day. (even guys)

$165 initial treatment

Series of 6: $800 ($190 savings).

Please check out La Tua Bellas website at http://www.latuabella.com

If you decide to book a service after reading this, please let them know you read this article.

Have you ever tried an Intraceuticals treatment? Want to try it after reading this post? Was my review useful? Please beauties… Do tell!

Disclosure: A treatment was provided for review.

Go for the glow!

Ah November, you are here and creeped up on me way too quickly. I can’t believe I find myself holiday shopping already! I started buying gifts and goodies for my girls. Oh, how I will miss summer dearly but can’t say the beginning of these crisp days and nights excite me. Every year when the weather turns cold, I find myself craving hot baths, hot showers, and of course hot tea. Sure it all sounds fabulous and feels nice, but I’m trying to refrain myself from doing so (besides the tea part!). Let me tell you why. The hot water may feel amazing when it’s cold outside, and a great way for warming you up from this chilly weather, but it is an absolute NIGHTMARE for drying out your body and scalp. I’ve mentioned before in one of my previous posts that I used to suffer from psoriasis. I have to work extra hard to keep myself hydrated to avoid any dryness that can trigger dry skin and psoriasis. Hot water can suck the hydration right out of our bodies, leaving us with dry skin and dandruff. If you absolutely love taking hot showers like me, then here is a few pointers to keep yourself hydrated this winter!

–Exfoliate! Exfoliating helps the skin absorb products better, giving you a smoother appearance. The three most important things you can do for your skin are clean it, moisturize it, and protect it from the sun. Exfoliation helps to deep cleanse your skin, which will help it retain more moisture and look fresher, younger and healthier. If exfoliating at home is just not enough then I definitely recommend having your skin polished at the spa! One of my favorite services to receive would definitely be microdermabrasion. I feel that it really improves skin texture and eliminates discoloration making your skin very even toned. Microdermabrasion also erases fine lines ! You want to make sure you go to a very reputable establishment before receiving this service. Your task should be performed by a licensed esthetician or even a dermatologist. If you suffer from rosacea, I wouldn’t recommend getting Micro because it can leave your skin aggravated and cause redness. The micro process removes the very top layer of your skin, so some people’s skin will turn pink after for a short period of time. ( This doesn’t happen to me ) I like to get this done a couple days before a big event, leaving my skin polished and glowing. DO NOT go into the sun after getting Micro! Your skin will become easily irritated and more susceptible to sunburn. Regular removal of dead skin cells and surface impurities or exfoliation helps prevent excessive thickening of your skin which makes it look pasty and not fresh. EW! For my at home exfoliations I use Ole Hendricksen’s Walnut Complexion Scrub found at Sephora. I also LOVE Karuna’s exfoliating mask, which I use once a week. Use gentle circular strokes when exfoliating and don’t SCRUB or work on any area for too long because it will cause irritation. I exfoliate at home once a week. For your body you can use stronger scrubs and brushes. I use a loofah. I also love sugar scrubs. I exfoliate my body every time I shower and moisturize as soon as I get out so my whole body feels ultra soft.

Getting micro in this photo! I look like a mummy lol

–Moisturize within minutes of stepping out of the shower. People think the best time to hydrate is after your skin is dried off….wrong. The best time to lather on facial moisturizers and body lotions is when your skin is still slightly damp. Your body absorbs the product better and in turn you end up using less product then you normally would!

Simply Bee-utiful Lavender Honey lotion.. All natural.. feels so good !

-For shampoos stick to brands without sulfates. Sulfate is not good for your scalp and very drying. A LOT of shampoos have sulfate. I use Onesta shampoo & Nature’s Gate shampoo which are both natural and sulfate free.

–Argan Oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil and sesame oil is my best kept secrets to smooth, soft skin…especially in the winter months. I mix a few drops into my body lotion, rub into my cuticles and layer on top of my moisturizer for added hydration.

This oil is what I use to shave my legs 🙂

There are many things to love about this time of year.. My birthday 😉 Thanksgiving, Christmas, crisp snowy mornings, holiday parties, festive lights, hot tea and cocoa, ice skating, jingle Ball, fireplaces with a room filled with lit candles, so much.

Jingle Ball’s After party last year with Redfoo

My birthday last year.. dressed as batman lmao

Ghetto fire place … haha we ran out of real fire wood

But unfortunately with these cold months ahead also brings on puffy eyes, headaches, runny noses, etc. So irritating to deal with, and takes a toll on your beauty routine as well. Make sure to take your vitamins, especially Vitamin C during these months, drink herbal teas, and keep warm. But here are some easy tips to help these beauty issues for the winter.

New tea cup 🙂

Puffy eyes? You need a soothing product to give them a quick boost. Bliss has some great eye treatments to help energize for an instant eye lift! Try fresh sliced cucumbers and frozen green tea bags for an at home remedy.

Headache? Try an essential oil to dab on your temples, back of neck and under nose to inhale. I learned this at the spa. They usually do this before a massage. Also, eye pillows help! For an at home remedy drink apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water 😉

Dry, Raw nose? Drink water! Also, Saline water is best natural remedy for dry nose. Saline nasal drops are available in pharmacy stores. Inhale steam, all you have to do is boil water in a bowl, once it has started to boil remove the vessel from the stove. Inhale the steam. The moisturizing effect of steam will help to relieve pain and dryness in the nose. It will also open the pores.

Colds and sore throats? Sip on a cocktail of an immune-boosting squeezed lemon juice with warm water, ginger and raw honey (must be raw as this preserves healthful enzymes). Mix together one small tablespoon of raw honey with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.

Increase your intake of healthy fats and oils this winter: avocado, coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseeds and oil, chia seeds, nuts, oily fish and fish oil! Ok time to get ready for bed and catch up on my shows. Sorry for posting so late tonight, I had a surprise birthday dinner to attend for my favorite lady, Monica! Here are some photos below… Enjoy 🙂