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Spa Review: Bellus Academy

To celebrate San Diego's Spa Week, Bellus Academy invited me to review a massage with student, Michael Lim. Bellus Academy provides training and multiple license programs to prepare its students for a career in the beauty and wellness industry. Obviously, Michael is training to be a masseuse. Upon entering the Poway building, I love the expansive space and high ceilings. My recent visits to independent masseuses in teeny tiny rooms, has made me more appreciative of roomy spas. After checking in, Michael took me aside to discuss my goals for the massage. I told him the top of my legs are always sore from my daily running. I told him I just started Pilates again, ergo my upper back and hips are sore. Finally, I told him my forearms are sore from the batting cages and my biceps are sore from holding a baby. Who knew holding a baby for fifteen minutes was a workout. 

Michael then escorted me into a giant room full of beds sectioned off by curtains. I felt like I was in a military's hospital barracks, but better decorated and smelling of lavender. Once in my curtained area, I undressed and waited for Michael to return. Laying there on the bed, the room's sound system played soothing music, but I could still hear the whispers of neighboring massages. I found the noises distracting, but didn't notice it much when my own massage began. Michael used some great techniques I have never experienced or rarely get to enjoy, which is saying something. I average two to three massages a month and rarely use the same masseuse. I know what people are doing out there. 

My only complaints would be the document you have to sign at the beginning that explains a student is rubbing you, not a professional, therefore they may hurt you. Also, the lack of attention on the areas I had pointed out as sore. I felt like he gave those areas the same time as everywhere else. Granted, I had a ridiculous amount of messed up body parts, but they still felt a bit neglected. I also like my masseuse to touch my scalp at some point and he didn't do that. Overall, it was a good massage that ended with a delightful spray of something pretty smelling and only cost $30. For the budget conscience, the Bellus Academy is a fabulous way to tend to your massage needs.

My reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for reviews, although I am given the service for free. If the service is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.

Top Five Holiday Gift Ideas For Mom

 

Hands down, moms are my favorite person on my shopping list. There is nothing more rewarding than giving a gift to someone who gives so much. In celebration of Mama, here are five fabulous gift ideas for the mothers  in your life that deserve a lovely treat...

1) Spa Breaks

A massage, facial or any kind of pampering is absolutely, hands down, the best gift idea for a woman who has given birth.

2) Kendara Scott 'Danielle' oval earrings - $58

They are elegant, timeless and ageless. Jewelry is never a bad idea for gift giving. Just be sure of her pierced ears.

3) Custom Made T-Shirt Memory Quilt

I recently worked with a mom who had a full section of "memory" and sentimental tops. This is what she wore for every year to her daughter's horse riding competition, this is from a past job, this is from a grand event, her youngest daughter gave her this and so on. We all have the "sentimental" section in our wardrobe, but when it takes up a hefty amount in the closet, maybe its time to put it somewhere else... like on a quilt! A custom made memory quilt is a wonderful way to hold onto memories without wasting precious closet or drawer space. Also, now that they have a real use, you can relive the moments far more often.

4) Maid Service

I don't care what kind of mother you have, she is either cleaning right now or has cleaned in the past. Give the woman some much needed help and hire a monthly, weekly or one time maid service.

5) Personal Stylist

Most businesses are jam packed in the holiday season and then slow in January and February. As a personal stylist, mine is the opposite. Even if I didn't refuse shopping appointments after mid December, I would not be as booked as you would imagine. It is January, February and March that become insane because people are buying up my services via gift certificate in December to be used in the new year. Every other day this month, someone contacts me to purchase a gift certificate for their mom and I got to tell you, mothers LOVE it. This is one of the few times they get to look at themselves and really think about what they want.

Time For a Spa Day

I had a birthday last week. To treat myself I took four days off (as you may have noticed with the lack of blogging) and enjoyed one of my favorite spa days. I had a facial, a manicure, a pedicure and a massage. Man alive! I really, really like those luxuries. I am sure any woman juggling an all consuming job, friends, family, hobbies and exercise can relate.

Those with big wallets can indulge whenever they like, but there are those that need spa breaks. I am in fact one of them, being the frugal flan that I am. My facial and mani-pedi were products of one of the group buying websites like Groupon and Buy With Me. My massage was bought on special from an independent masseuse, Body Works Spa in San Diego. Masseuses that work for themselves and not a big company or large spa, often have cheaper rates as well as delightful specials. I take advantage of said specials whenever my favorite gal runs them. Then there are the sites that run specials like Yelp and Spa Breaks.

We all need a little pampering. Go get yours. I know, looking and feeling rested can definitely dent the paycheck, but it doesn't need to leave much of a mark.

Spa Review: Beauty and Body Lounge in Hillcrest

Usually when I review a spa, I go once and call it a day. This review shall encompass three visits.

A few weeks ago I went into Beauty and Body Lounge at the edge of Hillcrest in San Diego. I requested the Resurgence Renewal facial. A deluxe facial that felt amazing and made my skin feel dewy soft. My facialist was Joanna, an incredibly informative woman with a genuine love for her work. She truly looked at my skin, questioned me thoroughly on my facial goals and took the time to get to know my skin as well as me. Plus her extraction process was incredibly effective. Although more painful than other spa experiences, my face had never been more clear.

She also taught me how to take better care of my face at home. My nose gets a lot of build up so she showed me how to clean it properly. I realized I was not cleansing the creases of my nose when I washed my face. She also showed me how to pinch my nose very lightly when washing it so that I get the cleansing deep into the pores. My nose has never, ever looked better. I have completely prevented the gross build up that my nose gets. to top it off, she showed me how lightly exfoliating with a washcloth and warm water at a certain angle could really take my skin to a new level of flawlessness.

So my skin looked fantastic immediately after my facial and looked fantastic a few weeks after the facial, but between that…

Two days after my deluxe facial, my face had a billion teeny bumps on my face, like a rash. It was not visible to the eye, but was completely evident to my fingertips. I called Joanna immediately expressing my concern. She got me back into the spa as soon as possible to give me a sensitive skin regiment and then take home some recovery treatment and sensitive skin cooling gels by Murad – all complimentary of course. It was not a serious condition and my skin felt better right away. A couple days later the bumps went away and my skin was back to normal.

Joanna explained to me that the deluxe facial was probably too much for my twenty-seven year old skin. Plus, my skin has a very advanced recovery and cleaning system. I generally have no acne, no major issues - nothing that needed to be treated in a deluxe way so with my skin, less is definitely more and more is definitely too much.

About a week later Joanna wanted me to come back again to give me a facial tailored to my skin’s need – complimentary again. She wanted to be sure that her client was completely happy with her experience. Who am I to say no?

From my first visit she noticed that my skin was a little dry so the next facial focused on hydration. Plus she took care of the milia on my cheeks and around my eyes. My face has never looked better. I am really excited.

To sum up, the Beauty and Body Lounge is a boutique spa in a small space with incredibly attentive treatments and costumer service. I felt comfortable, informed, and my skin looks fantastic. It was a true privilege to have Joanna as my facialist.

Besides the fact that I adored the service I received here, I will be a returning client because its proximity to my house and the prices are great. Other services they offer are waxing, massage, acupuncture, laser hair removal and beauty coaching.

My reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for reviews, although I am given the service for free. If the service is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.

The Champagne Facial by Adriana Spa

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of experiencing Adriana skin care. Located near my apartment in San Diego’s Bankers Hill, I was able to walk to their establishment and enjoy the sunny day before entering the house turned spa. Once inside the cozy and creative waiting room, I was greeted by the lovely Rose and offered a glass of champagne to compliment the aptly named Champagne Facial. Since I had a little too much champagne the evening previous I declined and climbed right into the spa gown. The creams smelt fabulous, the music was soothing, Rose had a wonderful touch and my skin looked great afterwards. Two days later I have absolutely no breakouts and my problem chin looks amazing. One perk I noticed that set Adriana apart from other spas was the massage time. Instead of leaving the room while the various masks took its time to absorb or harden, Rose stayed and massaged my hands, neck and the entirety of my arms. Let me tell you, after the week I had, I needed that extra attention.

My reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for reviews, although I am given the service for free. If the service is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.

Balensi Spa In San Diego

Balensi Spa in Chula Vista recently asked me to check out their spa and get a facial. I cannot tell you how fabulous it was! It was a much-needed pleasure for myself both emotionally and physically. The spa itself has a calming coziness I have not seen in other Spas in San Diego. The décor and ambience of it speaks of both luxury and of my family’s country cabin. Once laying down and waiting for the facial to begin, I was put at ease immediately by my aesthetician, Lorena Balensi herself. She was informative, soothing and sweet, never speaking one unnecessary word. I was given the European facial to specifically to treat my dehydrated skin with products from Sothys. I was massaged, lotioned, exfoliated, oiled, extracted and lotioned some more with a variety of masks, creams and electronic tools. All while listening to music that was more interesting then the usual relaxation tunes, but just as peaceful. It’s hard to decide what the best part was, the fabulous pampering of the process or the after effects. I looked incredibly fresh and smooth. I felt like I could see my skin again. When I peaked in the mirror my face was reminiscent of a photo my mom took of me in front of her garden when I was twelve. As for the lasting effects, the electronic tools and serums she used ensured that the bacterium was killed and no breakouts would occur afterwards. Two days later I only have two minor red bumps on my chin already fading. Mama’s looking good.

My reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for reviews, although I am given the service for free. If the service is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.

The Perks of a Sunless Tan by Artesia Day Spa

Looks like this is my week of beauty. Yesterday the haircut and now a sunless tan at Artesia. I am good looking! I stopped by the tough-to-find Artesia Spa & Salon (very end of Fifth Avenue and up the large staircase) to get a sunless tan spray. Now, I have never gotten a fake tan of any sort before, but with the threat of cancer and wrinkles nipping at my heels its time to think a little differently. Do I want to be tan? Yes. Do I want sun damage and an early death? No. So hello Spray Sun from Artesia. The spa’s decor is beautiful, both chic and relaxing with large windows in the hair salon and comforting darkness in the relaxation room and private rooms. Candles, paintings, swaths of fabric, incredibly lush furniture and a tame waterfall adorn the place. It is no wonder then that, there was quite a bustle of clientele there when I arrived this afternoon with San Diegans getting highlights, massages, and haircuts. I also saw that there was an impressive manicure and pedicure room that although empty today, was quite impressive. Since I was a virgin to this tan process I did not have a clue what to expect. I was lead to the relaxation area while Olga prepped my room. I was then instructed to loose my robe and lie down in a 5-inch deep bath to be rubbed for 15 minutes with exfoliating creams that were rough, but still left my skin feeling soft after it was washed away. The whole tub event was both relaxing and soothing. I felt like I was being baptized and cleansed or something. It was the décor and tub. They had a spiritual tone. Got to love that. The actual spray was detailed and effective and I felt very welcome by both women I interacted with. Also, my esthetician made me feel very at ease in general and incredibly comfortable with being nude. A+.

My reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I never accept payment for reviews, although I am given the service for free. If the service is unimpressive or boring I don’t write about it.