Cielo Makeover Party!

A new skincare spa, Cielo Spa, owned by SB local Roxanne Zbinden, is having a "Makeover Friday" party on July 7th from 2-7pm. A celebrity make up artist will be there along with a Babor Representative to answer your questions about the skin care line. The address is 1725 State Street Suite C (behind Salon U). Check www.spadefined.com as Cielo will soon be added!

Le Reve Anniversary Celebration

This Saturday, July 1st, Le Reve Day Spa will be celebrating seven years in business. One of the many things I love about this spa is their commitment to community and charity. Each year Le Reve's anniversary is a fundraiser and proceeds go to a local charity; this year the proceeds will go to the Angels list which provides treatments (massage, acupuncture, etc) to cancer patients. Please show your support and have fun -- July 1st, 2-5 pm at 21 W. Gutierrez. For questions, call or email the spa directly; their information is on www.spadefined.com under Day Spas in Santa Barbara.

In the News!

Spa Defined just listed 6 great local spas in this Sunday's Newspress and Woman Magazine. I was excited to highlight some of the "best kept secrets"...yes, I hesitated because I like that they are wonderful little hideaways, but I also want to share the info! If you miss this Sunday's Santa Barbara Newspress, you can go to www.womanmagazineonline.com and click "hot local spas". Thanks Anabelle for being such an awesome editor to work with...and the fun email games are hysterical:) Also, thank you to my favorite Santa Barbara wedding and spa photographer -- Rick Mia for the beautiful photos!

Bellezza Vita

Many thanks to Teresa dear at Bellezza Vita who treated me to a Pumpkin Peel. I have some post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and a little congestion. The peel really seem to assist in the clearing up stage and itt gave my skin a beautiful glow -- I have gotten a lot of compliments -- thank you so much Teresa!

Laura Mercier

I had an important interview this morning and one of my "esthesistas" as we like to call ourselves (one of my esthetician friends), who is also a make up artist, did my make-up -- Thank you Monica!:) She used Laura Mercier make-up and I really liked the finish look -- not too much or heavy. I have also recently tried the liquid mineral Youngblood make-up and love the way it goes on, but I think it was too light for my interview. I also got some Sheer Cover Mineral Make-up...I'm going to give that a go! I continue my search/research for great products that I can recommend to others and that doesn't make my tempermental skin break out! Most mineral make up is good for clients who just got a facial; you can put it on after a facial -- I really wouldn't recommend that with traditional liquid makeup.

Guthy Renker Skin Care

I just got some great products in the mail that I am excited to try -- actually both lines are provided through Guthy Renker (the Proactiv people). Natural Advantage which contains Retinol and Meaningful Beauty which also addresses signs of aging with antioxidant ingredients. I'll be 31 next month and my skin is changing so much -- it's a little scary, but I really want to know about the best products for hormonal and aging skin. The Natural Advantage contains the retinol (vit A) which will help diminish fine lines, but won't the assisted exfoliation also assist with minor breakouts?...hmmm....can't wait to try it!

Spa in Chicago

My best friend, Kim, who just moved to Chicago from Denver, just turned 30! She went through the stresses of moving and starting a new job -- I thought she could use a little pampering! So I got her a gift certificate to the Ruby Room. From it's reviews, it seems to be an awesome spa...more alternative too offering acupuncture and energy healing. I'm excited to hear which treatment she picked!

De Cut

I just got my hair cut and colored by Pui at De Cut. I LOVE the color she does! Plus, the shampoo and scalp massage that each client gets is so relaxing and lasts about 15 minutes! I'm not really happy about the parking (lack of) at La Cumbre plaza where De Cut is and De Cut is not a fancy nor super relaxing spa environment, however, the color results and they way the staff works together is awesome.

Mobile Spa

Spa Defined is happy to announce that we will be adding a mobile spa resource to our website! Indulgence is the mobile spa company and they have worked with Four Seasons and do an amazing job in bringing the spa to your home! Caroline, the owner, originally from Brazil, is such a genuine, compassionate woman and I'm excited to promote her and the good work she is doing! Indulgence has also been mentioned in Santa Barbara Magazine. Indulgence should be on Spa Defined in the next two weeks -- be sure to check back!

Here Comes the Guide Wedding Magazine

I am so thrilled that Spa Defined has been picked for "The Scene" in Here Comes the Guide Wedding Magazine! To check it out, go to:
http://www.herecomestheguide.com/scene/index.htm

Spa Defined is the ultimate resource for Brides and their bridesmaids for relaxation and de-stressing! Thank you HCTG Mag for choosing Spa Defined!

I passed my state esthetician exam!

Whew! After many hours of studying I passed my written and practical esthetician exam! So I'm official now and I'm not quite sure where and when I will start practicing. I was very disappointed in the questions of the written questions -- there were actually mis-spelled words! The questions weren't even academically challenging, just worded poorly and not the best choice of questions. The state is so behind with requirements, etc and it's quite discouraging. I'm not completely happy with my education either, but perhaps my expectations for a cosmetology academy were too high? I do look forward to working with clients/patients in the near future; I hope to travel and live temporarily in Hawaii and work there as an esthetician for 6 months to a year, that will be a fun adventure!