Home Spa Recipes

Tips for Travel

by Leslie Billera on March 25, 2011 · 0 comments

Share


Full body scans at the airport. Delays, reroutes and turbulence. Flight attendants on the brink…traveling is hard, whether it’s for work or pleasure.

How do you stay sane on the bumpy road to elsewhere? Try one or more of the following:

Pack a Snack: Even the most simple peanut butter and jelly can bring back the comfort of your home kitchen when you’re smashed in the middle seat 20,000 feet above ground. Plus, your homemade bite is bound to be a bazillion times healthier for you than anything wrapped in plastic.

Make the Mood:Whether it’s your Aunt’s buzzing fluorescent lights or a hotel’s less than adequate bulbs, come prepared. Pack a soothing candle that will fill the room with a glorious glow and offer aromatherapeutic benefits to boot.

Pillow Talk: It may seem a bit Martha Stewart to make your own lavender sleep pillow (although we highly recommend it!), but at minimum, pack something small and cozy that reminds you of home on which to rest your weary head.

B.Y.O.S: When you Bring Your Own Suds, you’re safeguarding against yucky chemicals like 1,4-dioxane, diethanolamine, and parabens. Make it organic and you’re a little closer to the great outdoors, no matter what size the hotel bathroom is.

Strike a Pose: …a yoga pose, that is. If you’ve been on your feet all day, lie on the floor with your feet up against the wall. Or tap into the warrior pose – it helps you regain focus. Print out a couple of poses from the Internet or bring a how-to book, spread out a towel, get down – and limber up!

How do you make your travel experience terrific – not terrifying? Leave your tips in the comment section below!

{ 0 comments }

Let It Shine!

by Leslie Billera on March 11, 2011 · 0 comments

Share

“Dry, dull hair” These three words are probably the most popular words found in hair care advertising. Most women lament frizz, crave shine – and will do anything to get it (including yours truly!).

Good news: all it takes for shiny hair is a trip to the grocery store – or maybe to your pantry or fridge!  The following four recipes are 100% natural ways to add shine to your hair without silicone serums and petrochemicals-laden products.

Share Some Shampoo Sheen: add a teaspoon of baking soda to two teaspoons of your shampoo. It will remove residue from your hair without stripping out natural moisture.

Love Me Some Apple Cider & Lemons! Dilute one half cup of organic vinegar in one cup of water and use it as a final rinse after shampooing. Lemon juice mixed with water in the same proportion also gives hair a shiny, bouncy look.

Brunettes Beware: If you want to avoid the bleaching potential of lemon juice, brew up some extra shine with organic coffee. A strong cup or organic joe, once cooled, makes a great hair rinse!

Cooling Care: After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool – not cold – water. Cool water closes hair cuticles which adds shine. (Cold water may cause a headache due to its tendency to restrict blood vessels, so don’t go there!).

Let us know what worked for you and if you have any suggestions for a shine-tastic, all-natural hair care solution. We love hearing from you!

Source: the green beauty guide, Julie Gabriel

{ 0 comments }

Put Some ‘Scent’ in Sensible

by Leslie Billera on January 25, 2011 · 0 comments

Share


Go. Do. Start. Finish. Cross something off the list…and add something else on.

I don’t know about you, but this is what my days look like. Task-masters extraordinaire, most of us are eager to gain closure and move on to the next.

There’s the rub: there is always something next.

It’s so easy to forget to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy something JUST FOR YOU.

That’s where aromatherapy comes in. Just think about the definition of aromatherapy: the use of essential oils from plants to heal. Aromatherapy is literally about using nature’s pure essence as a gift…one that helps to calm nerves and clear your mind. The scent of lavender, for example, alleviates anxiety, depression and nervousness.

Lavender is also a fantastic sleep aid – for those whose commitment to common sense keeps them up at night.

If you periodically clear your mind of all the ‘to do’ list clutter, when it’s time to get back to the ‘to do’ list, you’re grounded and geared up to go.

• Give Yourself Permission: Too often, America’s work culture seeps into our personal life approach. You work hard when you need to – imagine if your commitment to restoring your brain was equally driven? Recognize that it’s absolutely critical to schedule ‘me’ time into your days, weeks and months. Otherwise, the time will continue to fly…and the tension will continue to build.

• Schedule Me Time: If everything is mapped out on your calendar, schedule your soothing baths , wake-up workouts, and mojo-lifting meditation there too. Squeeze it in. Make room for it. Once you get it on that calendar, don’t let it fall off. It’s a priority – move it around but keep it on the calendar.

• Bundle Up…with lavender bundles that is. Dried lavender gives off a sweet scent that will fill any room with warmth.


{ 0 comments }

Why Hydrotherapy Gets a Good Wrap

by Leslie Billera on October 21, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic use of water, steam and ice. For centuries, hydrotherapy has been used to treat injuries and a wide range of illnesses. Whether it’s used for something serious or as a mental stress reliever (which, let’s face it, can also be ‘serious’), hydrotherapy is a wonderful way to unwind.

The three types of hydrotherapy are cold water, hot water and alternating between the two.

In warmer climates, we tapped into the benefits of cold-water therapy. With temps going down, hot water therapy takes center-stage.  Hot water:

  • Stimulates the immune system
  • Increases circulation
  • Calms and relaxes the body
  • Soothes nerves

Alternating between hot and cold water treatments have been found to alleviate upper respiratory congestion and stimulate organ function through improved circulation.

That’s a Wrap!

One hydrotherapeutic technique usually reserved for the spa can be easily done at home – with the help of a friend or special someone.  A body wrap can help you lose inches, speed up metabolism, purge toxins from your body and best of all – simply slow you down.

To do a DIY body wrap, you’ll need:

Follow these steps to hydrotherapeutic bliss:

1. Exfoliate arms, legs and torso in a circular motion. Rinse off in the shower or use washcloths

2. Apply essential oil moisturizing in circular motions. Take your time and enjoy putting it on.

3. Wrap legs and torso in plastic wrap, leaving arms free

4. Lie down on a flat surface. Place wool blanket over your body, and lie heating pad on top of that.

5. Breath deep, sweat, and detoxify for 15 minutes.

6. Cut yourself out of plastic wrap with safe scissors.

{ 0 comments }

Mano-a-Mano

by Leslie Billera on October 5, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

Are you hands in fighting form?

The term mano-a-mano  – translated in Spanish as “hand to hand” – originated with bullfighting and refers to a knock-down, drag-out direct confrontation.

Hopefully, your mitts don’t need to be on that level of fighting condition…but they do need some TLC from time to time.  In these DIY recipes, organic lavender partners with other non-toxic ingredients to keep your fingers frisky and fresh.

Before you get creative, don’t forget one of the easiest, chemical-way to clean fingernails – a toothbrush and good old-fashioned baking soda dipped in water! This is a quick way to refresh your digits, kind of like mouthwash for your hands!

Give a Hand for Lavender Love

Hand Rescue Cream: yields 5 oz.

Ingredients:

How to: Melt beeswax in a pan. Add the lemon juice and oils and stir with a wooden spoon until blended. Transfer to a jar. Shake occasionally until the cream is cooled and uniform. Use as an all-natural hand cream every day.

Manicure in a Jar: yields 4 oz.

Ingredients:

How to: Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and transfer to a wide-necked jar so you can easily gain access with your fingertips. One by one, dip your fingertips into the jar, massaging the sugary mixture gently into cuticles and knuckles. Julie Gabriel, the creator of this yummy recipe, recommends waving your hands gently to please your senses. Then, briskly immerse your hands in warm water to remove excess oil. Dry your hands and apply Hand Rescue Cream.

Recipe Source: the green beauty guide, by Julie Gabriel

If you opt for a professional manicure, consider how your salon measures up on the green front.

{ 0 comments }

Bring the Spa-gasm Home!

by Leslie Billera on September 30, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

Your body feels supple and smooth. Your skin is glowing. Your busy brain is at rest.

The Zen-tastic feeling you get when you leave the spa is like nothing else. If you’re like me, you feel rested, relaxed – and ready to take on the world in a calm, self-assured way.

Home is Where the Spa Is

On the the reality front, frequent visits to your favorite spa can be pricey and time-consuming. As fall approaches – along with harsher climates that may dry out your skin – now is the perfect time to commit to an at-home program of sumptuous bath and beauty that delivers benefits beyond great skin.

  • Add it to the Agenda: It may seem silly to add ‘take bath’ or ‘give self massage’ to your calender…but if you don’t, will it get done? Prioritize yourself the way you prioritize so many other things. You deserve it.
  • Gifts from the Heart: Check out Napa Valley Bath’s gift packages and gift one to the CEO of Your Life: YOU.  The Ultimate Body Care package is a great value and includes Lavender Lotion, Lavender Sugar Scrub, Lavender Salt Scrub, and Organic Lavender with Flowers Soap. This is the starter kit you need to combine the therapeutic affects of aromatherapy with the all-natural skin care (from sloughing to soaking) your body craves.
  • Light My Fire: There is a reason fabulous upscale spas are alight with flickering candles. Napa Valley Bath sells a unique Organic Lavender Soy Massage Candle that serves double duty as both massage oil (soy has a lower burn point so the oil is warm to the touch…not boiling hot like synthetic candle wax). A friend of Peggy’s swears by the soy wax as a cuticle softener!
  • Lost and Sound: While silence is golden, you probably need at least some kind of soundtrack to drown out the noise of your home or the world beyond it’s doors (urban dwellers, I’m talking to you). Visit iTunes, search for “Spa Music” and download a couple of tracks for under five bucks.
  • Sip to Sanity: A cup of tea (ideally rich with antioxidants) can transport you. Add a spoonful of artisinal honey and all the sweeter!
  • Daily ‘Do-Nothing‘ Time: Call it meditation, checking out, me-time…whatever nomenclature you use, put 15-20 minutes aside – every day – to shut your eyes, breathe deeply and clear your mind. After all, a high end spa experience delivers solitude and peace in addition to rubs and scrubs.

{ 0 comments }

Raves for Rosemary

by Leslie Billera on September 11, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

I’ll never forget my first roasted chicken with rosemary. It was made with love by an Italian friend we were visiting in Tuscany and I still dream of it from time to time.

Now I can apply this warm and fuzzy feeling for this native Mediterranean herb to my personal care experience.

Greeks wove Rosemary wreaths into their hair believing that Rosemary strengthened the brain and enhanced memory. From a health and skincare perspective, rosemary – a member of the mint family (the same as lavender!) – is known to:

  • boost mental activity
  • relieve respiratory problems
  • stimulate hair growth
  • tone skin
  • heal skin dryness

The Sweet Scent of Rosemary Therapy

On the aromatherapy front, rosemary is a potent inhalant that enhances mental energy. Since it’s known for strengthening memory, it is also an ancient symbol of fidelity and has been referred to as the ‘remembrance herb.’

Delight your senses and indulge your skin with a unique take on rosemary goodness – try Napa Valley Bath’s Organic Rosemary Soap (it includes barley grass for extra, earth-bound richness) and let us know what you think!

{ 0 comments }

De-Stress with a Self Massage

by Leslie Billera on July 15, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

We’d all love to dash over to the nearest deluxe spa for massage treatments a couple of times a week.

But who has the time – not to mention the cash flow – to do it as frequently as our levels of stress demand?

Hands On Control

Wiggle these treatments into your daily schedule – after you get home for work, or maybe on your lunch break in your office or cubicle.

Not only will these self-massages refresh and relax you, they’ll give you a jump start for what’s next.

Face It!

We think of stress as building up in shoulders, neck and back…but your face holds it own tension. Follow these steps to a simple facial massage:

1. Sweep your hands over your face and lightly tap your fingers against your skin.

2. Place an index finger on each side of the sinus cavity (the bridge of your nose) and gently sweep downward.

3. Take your index finger and middle finger on each hand and place them on your temples, gently rubbing them in small circles.

Optional: Use a droplet of Napa Valley Bath’s Organic Lavender Massage oil and tap into lavender’s calming effect.

Back Up

Don’t let the stress that builds up in your back lead to serious back injury down the road. Work it out now for a healthier back later.

1. Take a medium-sized ball and place it between your shoulders and a wall.

2. Bend your knees and slowly roll the ball up and down your back.

3. Feel the tension in your back dissipate.

Nectar for Your Neck

Anxiety and stress can cause muscle tension in your neck. Rolling your neck in a circle from time to time during the day is a simple and effective stretch. Try this quick neck massage too:

1. Use both of your thumbs and find the indentation where your neck meets your shoulders.

2. Gently press your thumbs into the indentation and rub slowly.

If time and location allow, light a soy burning candle and set the mood. Soy burns cleaner than traditional paraffin candles. We recommend our Organic Lavender Soy Massage candle for its glowing aromatherapy (and you can use the melted soy as a massage oil!).

Do you have a quick fix for stress relief? Let us know your favorite ways to de-stress right here!

{ 0 comments }

Rub a Dub Dub: The Benefits of Bath-Taking

by Leslie Billera on July 10, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

I consider bathing the comfort food of cleanliness. A decadent soak in a warm bath spurs a host of beautiful – and very real – benefits…

  • Water suspends your weight, enabling your muscles to relax as you take on a lighter sense of physical being
  • Your blood pressure safely decreases in response to your blood vessels dilating from the warmth
  • Sore joints – if you have them – feel more relaxed
  • Tension just seems to melt away
  • In cooler temps, a warm bath becomes a special way to warm both body and spirit

Ingredients in a glorious green bath include milk, salts and fragrant oils – forget about detergent-based bath foams. When it comes to bathing ingredients, less is definitely more.

Consider some of the ingredients we opt for in our bathing milks and teas:

  • Organic mustard – an amazing detoxifier
  • Organic buttermilk – high in fat, buttermilk is an amazing skin softener
  • Dead sea salts – cleanses and detoxifies and an absorber of essential oils
  • Organic lemon and rosemary essential oils – therapeutic aromatherapy
  • Lavender – the ultimate cure for insomnia
  • Chamomile – relaxes and uplifts spirits
  • Calendula – a skin-soothing botanical

Is it any surprise why the Romans made bathing a vital social event of every day life?

One Stipulation for Soaking…

Make sure that the bath water is no hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celcius) and that you soak no longer than 20 minutes. Prolonged bathing – even with the most natural and luxurious bathing salts, teas and milk – can dry out the skin, so stay within these guidelines for maximum benefits.

{ 0 comments }

Goosebump Alert: Try Cold-Water Therapy!

by Leslie Billera on July 3, 2010 · 0 comments

Share

As the temps get hotter and hotter this time of year – true of pretty much anywhere you live in the U.S. – now is a great time to tap into cold-water therapy!

The underlying premise of cold water therapy is that briefly and somewhat regularly exposing the body to certain kinds of natural stresses (like cold water) can enhance health.

Cold Shower Power

The communal DIY site, Earth Clinic Folk Remedies, recommends cold showers – but encourages you to heat the bathroom before to make exiting a cold shower more palatable. According to the site, cold-water therapy…

  • Brings blood to the capillaries, therefore increasing circulation throughout the body
  • Cleans the circulatory system
  • Reduces blood pressure on internal organs
  • Provides flushing for the organs and provides a new supply of blood
  • Strengthens the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
  • Contracts the muscles to eliminate toxins and poisonous wastes
  • Strengthens the mucous membranes, which help resist hay fever, allergies, colds, coughs

Note that the site also warns against cold showers for women who are menstruating.

4 Steps to Chilling Out

How to take a cold shower may seem obvious, but taking a modified approach will help you ease into cold-water therapy.  Here’s the best way to introduce a cold-water shower into your personal care routine.

1. Begin with your standard warm water shower, hopefully scrubbing up with a bar of organic soap.

2. When finished, step out of the water stream and turn off the hot water; leave the cold water running.

3. Start the cold-water therapy by wetting your feet first. Next, expose the hands and face.

4. Finally, step under the shower. Let the cold water run over your scalp, face, the front of your body, then down your back. Start with a couple of seconds and work up to 40 seconds.

Do whatever is comfortable: you can get great benefits from applying cold-water therapy to your feet, hands and face alone!

Cold Water Trivia

Cold-water therapy was first popularized by the German priest Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897). In the winter of 1849, Kneipp successfully battled then-incurable tuberculosis by plunging several times weekly into the frigid Danube River. His 1886 book, My Water Cure, became an international best-seller.

Still committed to your languorous bath time? We support you 100%!

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries