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.
Access is key to pretty much everything in Hollywood. No matter how exclusive the restaurant, club or hotel, there will usually be an additional red rope or guest list that separates the uberconnected (or uberwealthy) from the rest of the mere industry guests. Such is the case at the VIP room at Voda Spa (www.vodaspa.com), based in the heart of Los Angeles. "It functions as a private spa within a spa," notes the Trend Watch section in the December issue of DAYSPA.
So what separates this treatment room from the rest of the spa's lavishness? It can accommodate a party of eight clients and has its own private spa, sauna and treatment room. It also helps industry power-hounds stay connected with the latest technological gizmos, including a flashy TV and an iPod docking station. Sounds suitable for celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, John Travlota and Jennifer Hudson, all of whom have visited Voda, according to spa owner Tania Shparaga.
Of course, the paparazzi prohibit privacy-seeking stars from frequenting the same places on a regular basis. So who keeps the VIP suite warm in between celebrity visits? Voda markets the room to corporations whose high-stress officers could benefit from some group relaxation. "This is probably the best area to relax and be more open," Shparaga says. "Everyone needs to get away from the business world."