Two close girlfriends had baby showers this summer and I set up a DIY body scrub station as a party favor at both parties.

This gave me the opportunity to play around with a lot of fun ingredients and make new combinations for yummy DIY body scrubs!

I’ve always favored sugar over salt as an exfoliating agent and found that adding finely shredded coconut is effective and aromatic.

Here is one of my new favorite combinations:

Makes about 4oz.

5 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons rose petals (I buy dried rose petals and run them through a food processor)
4 Tablespoons avocado oil
5-6 drops geranium essential oil

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. Store in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Can be kept in the refrigerator if you don’t plan on using it up within 4-6 months. Not recommended for use on the face.

Even when on vacation, I can’t help but check out all things spa and wellness related! I love the history of bath houses and thalassotherapy.

The Glanum archeological site near St Rémy de Provence, France is home to the remains of a healing sacred spring as well as ancient Roman Baths so I had to have a look.

The Sacred Spring was an underground cave with water flow and an additional tunnel that channeled wind. The wind created a noise that caused the people in 200 BC to considered it “devine”. They decided the “devine water” must have healing powers so an alter was built around the cave.

Over the years, this alter became more elaborate, eventually with stairs leading down to the water and treatment areas surrounding it.

Roman solders would travel from all over to receive treatments with the “devine water” for gout and other illnesses. They often stayed at Glanum for months and it was customary to leave a gift of a carved stone pillar in exchange for treatment. These pillars often included engravings of legs which led historians to figure out the water was used to treat disorders of the legs.

Next to the Sacred Spring, there are stone slabs (ancient massage tables) thought to have been used for massage and water treatments. The indent near the top held oil for the treatment.

Around 75BC Glanum became a popular destination for its Roman Bath house. The bath house was for rest and relaxation, not just healing purposes like the spring. Men used a mixture of sand and olive oil to exfoliate their skin before soaking in the pools of water.

The history is fascinating and the site is beautiful. I recommend checking it out if you’re in the area!

Lavender has been called “the soul of Provence”. This region in the South of France currently grows a large percentage of the world’s lavender supply.

On a recent trip to the area, I couldn’t pass up the chance learn a bit about this popular plant. I’ve worked with essential oils for over two decades but haven’t had the chance to see this kind of production up close.

Since WW1, the French Government has encouraged lavender farmers in the area. Farmers cleared almond orchards to make room for lavender. The leaves, flowers, and essential oil from the plant have many uses. Lavender flowers are even an ingredient in the popular cooking spice “Herbs de Provence“.

The plants bloom in late June and are harvested in early August so July is considered peak time to see the purple fields. During our trip in early May, we saw purple flowers starting to bloom but quickly learned these are lavendine plants, not lavender plants.

Lavendine is a hybrid of lavender and camphor. The two were blended to create a heartier plant that can flourish in a wider range of climates and has a longer growing period. This creates a less expensive end product that is used to scent mass produced soaps, candles etc.

You must find “lavande vraie” (literally translates to “lavender true”) for 100% pure lavender essential oil. The expert I spoke with near the village of Les Baux de Provence insists only “lavande vraie” has the medicinal healing qualities the lavender plant. Lavendine will not produce the same results for relaxation, help with inflammation, wound healing etc.

Next time you find yourself in the South of France, I highly recommend learning about the local lavender farmers. It’s a beautiful part of the local culture!

This article documenting the radium skin care trend from the 1920’s and 30’s is fascinating.

“Radior” Chin straps are guaranteed to contain Radio-active substance and Radium Bromide. If placed on the face where the skin has become wrinkled or tired the radio-active forces immediately take effect on the nerves and tissues. A continuous steady current of energy flows into the skin, and before long the wrinkles have disappeared, the nerves have become strong and energised, and the tired muscles have become braced up and “ready for service.”

(Radior advertisement, 1915)

It was thought to literally give you a glowing complexion!

Clients of all ages ask me “Should I get Botox?”.

The answer is never a simple yes or no. First, think about what you are trying to change.

Botox will temporarily soften lines on the glabella, the forehead and the “crows feet”. It works by paralyzing the muscle so it is considered to be very effective.

However, just because you’ve paralyzed a facial muscle and no longer have a wrinkle, you still may not look the way you expected. It may require several session to perfect the injection pattern and get the results you want.

Botox relaxes the muscle under the skin but does not treat the surface of the skin. If you are unhappy with the texture of your skin, have large pores and discoloration Botox alone will not make your skin perfect.

You will need to have a treatment every 3-6 months depending on how fast your body metabolizes the product. Injectables are very effective anti-aging tools but consider the overall cost when adding them to your routine.

If you decide to try Botox, find a reputable dermatologist who does a lot of injections. The science behind injection patterns and dosing is constantly being adjusted for better results. Choose a doctor who is up to date.

Avoid discount websites and deals that seem too good to be true, this is your face!

A few months ago, I started drinking 100oz of water per day.

Drinking 100oz of water per day is no small feat. The first few weeks were rough, drinking water all the time seemed like a chore and I was running to the bathroom every hour.

Between week 2 and week 3 my body adjusted. Bathroom breaks became less frequent and I woke up craving water. I easily downed 32oz before leaving my house in the morning.

What else did I notice?

I drank less coffee without even trying, my morning water became almost as important.

Four people complimented my skin and asked if I had tried a new treatment!

The texture of the skin around my eyes changed.

I don’t get hungover from two glasses of wine like before!

My one PMS pimple has stopped making it’s monthly appearance.

The jury is out on whether increased water consumption will directly hydrate your skin, but the positive effects have been obvious for me.

I’m fortunate because I can sip on fruit flavored spa water all day and I’m never far from a bathroom.

This is one lifestyle experiment I’m happy to continue!

When I discovered QC Terme, I thought it was too good to be true!

On a recent trip to Italy, we had a 6am flight out of the Fiumicino airport following  a week on the Amalfi Coast. I wanted to find accommodations as close to the airport as possible to ease our transition.

QC Terme is resort hotel with a spa 10 minutes from the airport, the perfect solution.

The QC Terme brand has properties all over Italy, follow their Instagram and you will want to make time to visit them all!

I booked a package including a hotel room, unlimited access to the thermal mineral pools, massages, and breakfast. After traveling for 2 weeks, it seemed like the perfect last day in Italy.

The day we arrived consisted of a ferry from Sorrento to Naples, followed by a 2 hour train ride from Naples to Rome so we were ready to relax.

The hotel is rated 5 stars and was lovely in a typically European way. Service at check in was wonderful but after that, we were left to wander the facility alone which was a little confusing.

We managed to find our way to the “wellness farm” and relaxed in the thermal mineral pools before our massages.

The massage facilities were top notch; heated beds and luxurious rooms. Plus I had one of the best massages I’ve had in my travels to European countries, generally the pressure is too light and they use too much oil but this was perfect.

Sadly, we had to rush out very early in the morning the following day. I would have loved to enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the grounds.

Overall we had a relaxing stay at QC Terme Roma, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a spa break before or after a long flight!