Articles by Spafinder Team

When I got pregnant, I was prepared for the nine-month moratorium on sushi, margaritas, and unpasteurized cheese. Modern American pregnancy, as everyone knows, comes with a long list of dietary no-nos. What I didn’t realize is that the list of spa prohibitions is just as punishing. Hot baths were a daily de-stressor, and the news that I’d have to give them up, along with saunas, steams, and a handful of spa treatments, dismayed me. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine a more welcome time for any spa treatment than when your lower back and shoulders are aching from your newly recalibrated center of gravity, your feet feel fat as flippers, and your supposed pregnancy glow is mottled with new freckles.

There’s no better gift than the gift of spa for Mother’s Day… except perhaps giving your mom a spa gift that includes you tagging along for some mother-daughter bonding and some indulgent relaxation for yourself! Now that’s what we call a present! We’ve come up with some tips for making the most of a mother-daughter day at the spa to ensure that your mom gets the most out of the experience and that your day of leisure shows her how much you appreciate her.

Along with last month’s passing of a comprehensive universal healthcare bill came a tax on the use of tanning-beds and artificial UV rays – setting sun-bed users and tanning salon owners up in arms.  Nevertheless, along with the protests comes a spotlight on new research drawing attention to the dangers of sun abuse, and for […]

About 80 percent of sun damage occurs before the age of 20, according to Ariel Ostad, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. That’s why products with free-radical fighters (from alpha lipoic acid to vitamin C), are necessities as we get older. They help fight the damage done, by slowing the oxidation process that causes sun spots and wrinkles, and preventing further damage, such as collagen and elastin breakdown. These free-radical fighters also work chemically in the deeper layers of skin to help it endure and recover from sun exposure.

Part of Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, Shirodhara is the pouring of a thin, steady stream of warm, herb-infused oil onto the center of the forehead. You lie face up while the oil runs from a copper funnel that hands overhead; the therapist may move the apparatus so that the oil falls in small circles or figure eights, and the oil runs off your forehead into your hair.

Sometimes a salad at the spa is just not enough. This hearty and spicy sweet duck dish from Red Mountain Spa is the perfect mix of healthy and satisfyingly indulgent. Using extra-lean Muscovy duck, you get a delicious meaty meal that’s made from fresh ingredients and is full of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C.

The reviews are in and the positive response is overwhelming. Die-hard spa-goers and first-time-spa-visitors around the country took advantage of SpaFinder Deal Days and we asked them to tell us what they thought. The results were positive, often moving, and affirmed what we already thought to be true…you love SpaFinder Deal Days!

SpaFinder lists Melanoma resources and links

Health Guru Dr. Oz teamed up with SpaFinder to give away a lovely three-day trip to historic St. Michaels, Maryland for some deep relaxation at The Inn at Perry Cabin. But you don’t have to be a prize winner to enjoy a luxurious weekend along the water of the Miles River… at the very same location where hilarious rom-com The Wedding Crashers was filmed!

Ah, the great outdoors! Now that spring has sprung, what better time is there to go hiking? Here are the 2009 Readers’ Choice picks for the best spa hiking getaways. From the Southwest to the Northeast, enjoying nature while getting a rigorous workout can be the perfect path to fitness or a great supplement to a spa treatment. Take a hike at some of these top spas.

Melanoma is a very serious and dangerous type of skin cancer that begins in melanocyte skin cells, the cells that produce melanin. You may know that melanin gives skin its color and when melanocytes are exposed to sunlight tanning occurs. These cells also protect the deeper layers of skin from being damaged ultraviolet rays. However, when these cells are exposed to too much sunlight or UV rays they can begin to multiply and grow abnormally and may become cancerous.

iPhone users are raving! SpaFinder has released the iPhone app that will take you directly to deep relaxation. With our SpaFinder App spa-goers have all the tools they need to discover descriptions, discounts, deals and directions to spas close to them. Not only can you find and learn more about spas in your area, but you can also book appointments in real-time using SpaBooker for added convenience!

Six Senses Spa believes that the food that they serve at their spa should be enjoyable, balanced cuisine. So as opposed to the overly lean, often unsatisfying diet food that is sometimes served to health conscious spa-goers Six Senses Spa focuses on the important dietary needs. This delicious salad is a perfect balance of satiating and healthy and includes lightly seared scallops (which are high in omega-3 and vitamin B-12) and loads of raw veggies. The summer is a perfect time for enjoying lovely seafood and crisp, raw vegetables since the longer vegetables are cooked the more nutrients deplete. So pick up some fresh ingredients and balance body and mind!

Do you have the best mom? Think you can explain why in 140 characters or less? If you are a mother-lovin’-Twitter-pro then it’s time to enter Enchantment Resort’s “Tweet To Win” Mother’s Day contest. By simply tweeting why you love your mom so much to @EnchantmentAZ you will be entered to win a trip to Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ for 2 nights, including spa treatments at Mii Amo, Enchantment’s spa. At the very least you will have the opportunity to win a beautiful hardcover copy of Mii Amo’s cookbook “A Journey of Taste: Favorite Recipes from Mii Amo Spa in Sedona”, as Enchantments will be giving a copy away everyday to one lucky winner.

Spa Recipes from Cavallo Point

While some of us may have wondered how it is possible that the bushy-browed Brooke Shields can need help growing eyelashes, there is no question that having full, long lashes is something desired by many women (and men too). And with demand comes a market, and in the case of eyelash elongating, a rapidly growing […]

This natural nail polish remover passes the sniff test. Brought to you by Vital Juice You jumped on the “3 Free” nail polish trend a long time ago. (Translation: Polish free of nasty chemicals toluene, DBP and formaldehyde.) But have you ever wondered what’s lurking in your polish remover? Unlike most on the market, A […]

Delicious desserts may not be on your list of top five criteria for choosing a destination spa, but that may change after trying Tree at The Lodge at Woodloch’s recipe for Dark Chocolate Crème. Tree Restaurant has re-invented traditional spa cuisine by presenting diners with all the sophistication and succulence of a five-star gourmet meal, while maintaining its wellness focus.

Spa Ojai’s new café menu is the perfect prelude to a treatment. Brought to you by Vital Juice Spa fans already know that Spa Ojai, with its painted tiles, sparkling white adobe architecture and bubbling hot tubs, is among the most beautiful day trips from LA. But there was once a drawback. The café fare […]

By Erika Allen Have you always wanted to be in the Guinness Book of World Records?  Have you ever dreamed of having a massage in an open lavender field in Australia’s spa Capital, Daylesford?  Both of those goals can be accomplished at the end of this month during Daylesford’s upcoming Massage en Masse, during which […]