Our upcoming Green Scene ("Mayan Marvel," September 2010) contains helpful tips on how to detect greenwashing when perusing "organic" product labels. That's when companies try to unjustifiably tout a product's environmental virtues.
As John Vater, co-ower of Spa Adriana in Huntington, New York, warns, "The big print giveth and the small print taketh away."
Here's some information about avoiding this pitfall:
Read labels with a discriminating eye. John and his wife, co-owner Adriana Vater, caution spa professionals against taking a product label at face value. "If the packaging claims it doesn't contain something, you should ask yourself what's there to do that ingredient's job," Adriana says. "Every component of a product has a purpose, and sometimes a so-called 'green' ingredient is just as offensive as the original."
Educate yourself. The Vaters say it's important to develop an understanding of how product ingredients work. "With today's Internet access, you can quickly look up the chemical composition of any item," John says.
It's not always easy going green. How do you ensure that your spa's environmental initiatives result in real, positive change? Send your ideas to Katie O'Reilly, associate editor, at koreilly@creativeage.com.
Anna Nelson is CND nail-art royalty, and she was treated as such at the 2010 Mercedes-Benz New York Fall Fashion Week. Nelson, whose azure animal print nail design was chosen by fans to be the best out of 650 entrees in CND’s first online nail style competition, used the company’s Colour & Effects to create her winning piece. A welcome reception awaited her when she first arrived at the CND nail studio.
After getting a firsthand look at the week’s preparations for the fashion shows, Nelson joined CND president Jan Arnold for dinner at the Japanese restaurant Koi, which is located in the Bryant Park Hotel. What was the conversation topic of choice? Nails, of course! Although Nelson is primarily a hairstylist, her second passion is nail design. She brought along her portfolio of nail tips, which impressed Arnold.
But the fun didn’t stop there. Nelson sat front-row center in some of the week’s hottest shows, which included Diego Binetti, Twinkle and The Blonds. At each, she was invited backstage to apprentice with Roxanne Valinoti, Angi Wingle and Kristina Estabrooks, some of CND’s most noted nail professionals.
“Beauty comes first, art second,” says Nelson of her labor of love. “Nails are a treasure—you can incorporate design, color and technique into a fashionable finish.” —Stephanie Flores
DermaQuest Skin Therapy launched its mineral makeup line, DermaMinerals, just last September. And already it’s winning praise from leading industry magazines–including yours truly (see “Raves & Faves” in the April issue of DAYSPA). Its latest honor came from Natural Health, the United Kingdom’s leading magazine on health, beauty and holistic living. The pub picked DermaMinerals Dual Pan Concealer as the best in that category. It also listed DermaMinerals Breathable Coverage Liquid Mineral Foundation SPF 30 as a finalist in the Best Foundation category.
Comments from the panel include this rave about the award-winning concealer: “Not only does this cover up blend in brilliantly, it comes in a double color palette, so you can match your skin tone perfectly. The solid texture is soft enough to smooth in without being too drying. Plus, it doesn’t give you the dreaded caked-on look, or leave any tell-tale signs that you’ve been covering a blemish.”
The magazine’s annual Natural Health & Beauty Awards honor the best in the industry. A panel of experts tests thousands of products from more than 120 brands. The award-winning products will be announced in the May issue of Natural Health.
… make an organic mask! Watch as skincare expert Keith West-Harrison whips up a batch of his company’s best-selling organic product.
Who needs gritty granules to exfoliate skin? Not the green folks at My Sacred Fig. The independent product line of Great Face & Body in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is green to its core–the employees even walk to work!
The company proves that you can make a highly effective enzyme mask with a few ripe bananas and a handful of other natural ingredients. Watch co-owner and celebrity skincare expert Keith West-Harrison as he shares his secret formula for the best-selling Organic Banana Dream Exfoliating Puree.
Blossoming trends in consumer packaged goods could change
the way you do business this year.
Earlier this year, London-based independent market analyst Datamonitor released its annual “Trends to Watch in Packaged Goods” for 2010. Skin-enhancing bedding, superfruits and gluten-free products are now making a dramatic entrance on the world’s stage.
Here’s a peek at how they may impact the spa industry:
Beauty Rest
Spin: Wearable skincare products utilize nanotechnology to incorporate ultrafine particles, such as those from copper or aloe vera, into bedding and clothing. For instance, SkinGlow pillows and comforters, which are manufactured by London Luxury, feature Cupron Copper Technology. It professes to smooth or reduce the appearance of wrinkles after just a few weeks of use—as long as skin is in direct contact with the product.
Spa: Incorporate the comforters into your treatment rooms. Plus, link to wearable skincare products on your website.
Superfruits
Spin: Packed with powerful antioxidants, the latest superfruits come from rain forests and jungles all over the world. They include baobab (a tart African fruit), borojo (a natural energizer from South and Central America), maqui (a berry native to South America) and yumberry (known as yang-mi in China).
Spa: These natural wonders could be the next big thing to hit the skincare market since açaí berries and coffeeberries.
Bamboo Bonanza
Spin: This sustainable plant has become the ingredient of choice for companies that want to bolster their green credentials.
Spa: Whether it’s present in your lighting, flooring, equipment or retail products, bamboo can enhance your decor and commitment to eco-friendly practices.
A Gluten-Free World
Spin: Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye. As the incidence of food-related allergies rises each year, sufferers of diseases such as celiac—an autoimmune disorder triggered when the protein is consumed—are receiving more recognition. In fact, Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics reports a doubling of new gluten-free products since 2005.
Spa: Gluten can also be found in cosmetics and skincare products. They may irritate those who suffer from celiac disease if applied near the mouth. Reach out to this population—which affects approximately 3 million Americans—by setting up special gluten-free retail areas and treatment menus.
San Francisco’s SenSpa, which won DAYSPA’s 2010 Top Honor: Website, has another reason to celebrate in this still-young year. The facility is christening its Wellness Apothecary over the weekend of March 12-14 with a grand opening befitting the name of the new addition.
SenSpa will provide:
Workshops on skin care, stress management and aromatherapy.
Mini-makeovers using Becca Cosmetics.
Wellness Passes, which give guests 15% off products purchased that weekend and 10% off in the future.
One free travel size of a custom-blended body scrub upon purchase of a full size.
Champagne, tea and snacks.
The Wellness Apothecary will be the permanent home for SenSpa’s wellness coach and master aromatherapist. The space also holds aromatherapy and scrub bars, a cosmetics station and selections of supplements and vitamins for purchase.
March is Women’s History Month. Take inspiration from this spa and help the women in your community who need it most.
Pineapple Day Spa, the recipient of the 2010 DAYSPA Top Honor for Design, reaches out to its local community in Pine Bush, New York, to care for survivors of domestic violence.
“It’s important during the holidays to remember the less fortunate, especially children. Seeing their little faces light up and helping to bring some happiness to their lives is so rewarding,” says Lisa M. Crary, CEO of Sanítas. “We were delighted to support Dolls for Daughters and provide 150 dolls to Denver-area children in need. We look forward to being able to donate even more dolls next holiday season.”
Aveda makes consciousness the new chic during the New York City shows.
While the catwalks inside Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week touted the latest looks for fall this month, Aveda worked hard backstage and on the streets of New York City to promote global issues that never go out of style: the need for clean drinking water and the importance of reducing waste.
The earth-friendly skin- and haircare company set up six water fountains throughout Manhattan during Fashion Week that served up New York City tap water, rated among the cleanest in the nation.
The effort was dubbed “Aveda CatWalks for Water.” In partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, it raised awareness about clean water issues and encouraged the use of reusable bottles to reduce plastic waste. “New York City has some of the highest quality drinking in the world,” says Cas Holloway, commissioner for the city’s Environmental Protection department. “It’s important to take advantage of this invaluable resource during Fashion Week and to promote clean, high-quality drinking water and the investment it takes to maintain our system.”
Aveda also provided limited-edition reusable aluminum water bottles to designers, models, makeup artists and others working backstage. Aveda first began providing reusable water bottles at Fashion Week in 2008. Since then, it’s saved more than 7,500 plastic bottles from landfills.
Five fashion labels teamed with the company to make this year’s efforts even greener. The houses of John Patrick Organic, Jason Wu, Christian Siriano (left), Sophie Théallet and Rodarte advocated recycling, responsible eating and environmental kindness during fashion’s biggest show.
All participating designers replaced bottled water with New York City tap water and handed out the limited-edition EarthLust Aveda reusable bottles (autographed by the designers); eliminated the use of fur in shows and retail sales; served organic or locally-sourced food to models, stylists, makeup artists, and production staff backstage; and printed all show invitations and programs on post-consumer recycled paper.
Aveda’s Catwalks for Water program was a precursor to the company’s 2010 Earth Month initiative, which aims to raise $3.5 million during the month of April to protect clean water. It calls on governments small and large to take strategic local and global action to protect waterways, empower communities and help make clean water accessible to everyone. To date, Aveda has raised more than $14 million for environmental causes through its’ annual Earth Month campaigns.
For more information on any of the company’s green programs, visit aveda.com/aboutaveda.
You don’t need us to tell you that Valentine’s Day provides one of the biggest opportunities all year for imaginative packages and promotions. Chocolate, roses and champagne alone account for a good number of February-favored treatments, and when you add in the possibility for guests and their significant others to experience services at the same time, that’s twice as nice.
Here’s a selection of what some spas across the country are planning for this romantic—and hopefully profitable—weekend. Forget a Valentine: If you don’t have a Cupid-themed specials menu yet, take a cue from these facilities.
The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, is offering a 70-minute private workshop called Harmonize: The Art of the Couple’s Massage. The $190 experience helps duos learn the correct techniques for at-home usage.
Offered through February 25, The Chocolate Spa-Sampler at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, combines a cocoa massage and bath with either a polish or sugar scrub. The three-hour experience costs $196.
The 24K Gold Facial at Spa Réveil in Austin, Texas, promotes a youthful glow at a discounted Valentine’s Day price during the month of February of $150.
A few hours away, V Spa at Hilton Anatole in Dallas will feature a number of special services, including the Champagne and Roses Facial (50 min.$110) and the Touch of Love Massage (50 min./$105 or $210 per couple). Both treatments include a glass of champagne.
800 West Salon & Spa in Marlton, New Jersey, celebrates Valentine’s Day with a spa party for clients that includes wine, cheese, shopping, manis/pedis and makeup application. The event can be the celebration, or it can be prep for another night out.
Anna Nelson is 
Earlier this year, London-based independent market analyst 
San Francisco’s 
Over the recent holiday season, 
The earth-friendly skin- and haircare company set up six water fountains throughout Manhattan during Fashion Week that served up New York City tap water, rated among the cleanest in the nation.
Five fashion labels teamed with the company to make this year’s efforts even greener. The houses of 
You don’t need us to tell you that Valentine’s Day provides one of the biggest opportunities all year for imaginative packages and promotions. Chocolate, roses and champagne alone account for a good number of February-favored treatments, and when you add in the possibility for guests and their significant others to experience services at the same time, that’s twice as nice.