Ask Susie
» What is a serum?
» What bath products are best?
» What's the difference between high-priced candles and low-priced candles?
» Where can I get Miraval's self-sealing tea bags?
» What bath products are best?
» What's the difference between high-priced candles and low-priced candles?
» Where can I get Miraval's self-sealing tea bags?
Questions & Answers
Many spa skin-care product lines include serums, but when I've tried them, I've felt like they just left a greasy film on my face. What are they? And when (if ever) do I need them?
I've wondered about that myself, since lately many potions in my skin-care arsenal seem to be labeled "serums." After looking through my drawers of creams, gels, scrubs, bars, balms, clays, astringents, concentrates, elixirs, and serums (okay, my secret is out), I decided to call on some experts. Jurgen Klein, the chairman and founder of Jurlique, explained that the word serum likely migrated from the medical world, where it's used to describe very active, concentrated substances -- like vaccines -- that are usually used in one-shot vials for injection. Skin-care company owner Kerstin Florian pointed out that serums are concentrated formulas for very specific conditions, such as hypersensitivity and dryness. And I loved the very clear explanation I got from Paul Cain, the president and CEO of Babor. He says the difference between a serum and a cream or lotion is like the difference between a single vitamin capsule and a compounded multivitamin. The former is intended to provide a maximum direct dose while the latter is meant to cover a broader spectrum of needs. He added that a serum may feel greasy if it has been formulated to feel thicker and more concentrated. Another serum meant for the same purpose may have a formulation you find more agreeable. It looks like we have lots of choices!
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At my local bath shop, there are body scrubs made of salt, pumice, ground walnut shells, grapeseeds, and who knows what else. Do they all do the same thing? How do I choose one?
All of the substances you mentioned have one property in common: abrasiveness, which is why these ingredients are used in exfoliating scrubs. However, each substance provides different sensations and results, especially when combined with other ingredients. For example, salt will have a different effect on your skin than grapeseeds, which are high in oil. This is why I prefer to buy skin-care products at a spa, where I can get firsthand information from a therapist who frequently uses them.
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Scented candles in spa shops cost from $15 to $40, but elsewhere I see them for as little as $5. What's the difference?
Candle price has to do with the cost of the wax and other ingredients (color and especially fragrance), how the candle is made, and by whom. Most modern candles are made with paraffin, a petroleum by-product, but many people prefer candles made with natural ingredients such as soy wax, which is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Fragrance-free beeswax, a by-product of honey making, is considerably more expensive, but it burns more slowly than paraffin or soy wax. Bayberry wax, which is more expensive still, comes from the bayberry bush and has a unique rich scent. In less expensive candles, sometimes only the wick is scented, or the fragrance is added just to the top portion of the candle. In better-quality candles, the entire batch of wax is blended with powerful fragrance oils so the scent lasts throughout the life of the candle. Whether or not the candle is handmade and, of course, the quality and complexity of the design can also affect the cost. Ask the spa shop staff whether a candle is worth the extra expense.
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In the spa's Quiet Room at Miraval, Life in Balance, in Catalina, Arizona, there are self-sealing tea bags that you fill yourself from canisters of fresh tea. I'd love to buy these bags to use at home but can't find them anywhere. Do you know where I can purchase them?
I'm so glad you asked, since this sort of tea-making ritual sounds like something many of us might enjoy. I called Miraval to see if they would share their "secret" and found that you can order the tea and the pouches directly through the spa shop at 800-825-4000, ext. 5530. The tea is called Elixr, and the most popular blends are Apricot Zest ($7.50 for 2.8 ounces), Citrus Ginger Mint ($7.50 for 2.3 ounces), and Lover's Rose ($8.50 for 2 ounces), all packaged in beautiful canisters. Miraval sells the tea pouches for $5 for a pack of 100.
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--Diana Johnson, Seattle
I've wondered about that myself, since lately many potions in my skin-care arsenal seem to be labeled "serums." After looking through my drawers of creams, gels, scrubs, bars, balms, clays, astringents, concentrates, elixirs, and serums (okay, my secret is out), I decided to call on some experts. Jurgen Klein, the chairman and founder of Jurlique, explained that the word serum likely migrated from the medical world, where it's used to describe very active, concentrated substances -- like vaccines -- that are usually used in one-shot vials for injection. Skin-care company owner Kerstin Florian pointed out that serums are concentrated formulas for very specific conditions, such as hypersensitivity and dryness. And I loved the very clear explanation I got from Paul Cain, the president and CEO of Babor. He says the difference between a serum and a cream or lotion is like the difference between a single vitamin capsule and a compounded multivitamin. The former is intended to provide a maximum direct dose while the latter is meant to cover a broader spectrum of needs. He added that a serum may feel greasy if it has been formulated to feel thicker and more concentrated. Another serum meant for the same purpose may have a formulation you find more agreeable. It looks like we have lots of choices!
Back to Top
At my local bath shop, there are body scrubs made of salt, pumice, ground walnut shells, grapeseeds, and who knows what else. Do they all do the same thing? How do I choose one?
--Joyce P., East Orange, New Jersey
All of the substances you mentioned have one property in common: abrasiveness, which is why these ingredients are used in exfoliating scrubs. However, each substance provides different sensations and results, especially when combined with other ingredients. For example, salt will have a different effect on your skin than grapeseeds, which are high in oil. This is why I prefer to buy skin-care products at a spa, where I can get firsthand information from a therapist who frequently uses them.
Back to Top
Scented candles in spa shops cost from $15 to $40, but elsewhere I see them for as little as $5. What's the difference?
--Name withheld
Candle price has to do with the cost of the wax and other ingredients (color and especially fragrance), how the candle is made, and by whom. Most modern candles are made with paraffin, a petroleum by-product, but many people prefer candles made with natural ingredients such as soy wax, which is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Fragrance-free beeswax, a by-product of honey making, is considerably more expensive, but it burns more slowly than paraffin or soy wax. Bayberry wax, which is more expensive still, comes from the bayberry bush and has a unique rich scent. In less expensive candles, sometimes only the wick is scented, or the fragrance is added just to the top portion of the candle. In better-quality candles, the entire batch of wax is blended with powerful fragrance oils so the scent lasts throughout the life of the candle. Whether or not the candle is handmade and, of course, the quality and complexity of the design can also affect the cost. Ask the spa shop staff whether a candle is worth the extra expense.
Back to Top
In the spa's Quiet Room at Miraval, Life in Balance, in Catalina, Arizona, there are self-sealing tea bags that you fill yourself from canisters of fresh tea. I'd love to buy these bags to use at home but can't find them anywhere. Do you know where I can purchase them?
--Nadia R., New York City
I'm so glad you asked, since this sort of tea-making ritual sounds like something many of us might enjoy. I called Miraval to see if they would share their "secret" and found that you can order the tea and the pouches directly through the spa shop at 800-825-4000, ext. 5530. The tea is called Elixr, and the most popular blends are Apricot Zest ($7.50 for 2.8 ounces), Citrus Ginger Mint ($7.50 for 2.3 ounces), and Lover's Rose ($8.50 for 2 ounces), all packaged in beautiful canisters. Miraval sells the tea pouches for $5 for a pack of 100.
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