Steam Beauty Blog
On Monday afternoon, I went to Vdara Salon, for a mani/pedi. The menu read Organic Manicure $40, with Champagne $50. At first I thought it was a champagne treatment. In reality, a glass of champagne with any nail service is $10 extra. Nice touch!
Now everything about my nail service was awesome, there was just one little glitch in the beginning of my appointment, which I’ll bring up later.
I had the Organic Manicure and Pedicure with Champagne. My nail tech was exceptional! She was professional, and experienced. She did a scrub and mask with hot towels on both my hands and feet. My hands and feet were so soft and smooth afterwards my husband actually noticed.
They use Sparitual products in the salon. Sparitual is an organic and vegan line. I am familiar with this line and I use it at home. Between the refreshing scent of eucalyptus and ginger, the texture of the scrub, and a sip of champagne, I was feeling delighted, thankful and beautiful. I had also almost forgot about the small glitch in the beginning.
Vdara Salon and Spa opened its doors on December 1, 2009, the 18,000 sq. ft. Salon and Spa is committed to sustainable luxury. Vdara Health & Beauty was the first Las Vegas spa in the Green Spa Network and has carefully chosen retail partners that share its concern for the environment.
The Glitch:
I walked in the salon at 12:00pm
Scheduled my appointment for 12:30pm.
Discussed with the two people at the front desk who made my appointment whether I had enough time to go down to the hotel café for lunch.
I decided to have a smoothie at the beverage bar in the waiting area so I would not be late for my appointment.
The beverage bar was about 10-15 feet away from the front desk.
12:30 came
There were 4 people at the reception desk including the 2 who made my appointment
12:35 came and went
12:40 hmmm maybe she’s running behind
12:45 should I ask about my appointment?
12:50 finally someone came over to ask if I was waiting for an appointment
Someone forget to mark me as Arrived in the computer system so no one including the two people who made my appointment knew I was there. Huh?
By the way, I was the only person sitting in the waiting area or at the beverage bar.
My suggestion for all of the front desk specialists out there, pay attention to who is in the room. Remember not too long ago we all survived with out a computer program telling us what to do.
Tags : beauty, manicure, nail treatments, pedicure, Vdara Spa and Salon
For my first treatment in Las Vegas I decided to stick to the basics and get my favorite treatment, a Scalp, Hand and Foot massage.
Most of the time this is all I want, I could spend hours having my scalp and feet massaged. So my spa adventure began with my all time favorite massage.
I had a great experience at Aria Spa. The architecture was modern with a Japanese influence while the feeling was more cozy then Zen. They have a traditional Ganbayaku room with heated marble stones that you lay on to help speed up your metabolism. Unfortunately I didn’t get to try this room because I didn’t know it was there. (Oops my spa attendant forgot to add that room to the tour. Bummer for me)
The saunas and steam rooms were quite large without feeling vacant. Surrounding the soaking pools were lounge chairs to relax in between soaks and steams, or you could venture outside to the co-ed relaxation room and heated pool.
After the spa tour, I quickly changed into my thick comfy robe and had a seat in the waiting area. The complimentary beverage bar was stocked with fruit, hot teas and cucumber water. I got comfortable quick and sat back to soak in the vibrant scent of Eucalyptus and wait to be called in for my treatment.
My treatment was excellent. It was well-organized and had a flow, meaning feet first, then hands, then back to wrap the feet in hot towels and then the scalp and neck. She used the right amount of oil and worked it all the way through to the ends of my hair.
A well-organized treatment is just as important as using the right amount of oils and creams. Any treatment should flow from the first touch to the last. As a client, you should feel a rhythm that lets you fall into a deep relaxation mode.
After steaming the oils into my hair and trying out all the pools my first spa experience was complete. I left Aria Spa with a menu in hand. They really have the Scalp, Hand and Foot massage down. I can’t wait to try more.
Tags : Aria Spa, beauty, Foot Massage, Hair Oils, Hair treatments, Hand Massage, Las Vegas Spas, Scalp Massage
What a way to wake up! I began Monday morning at the Bathhouse at the Hotel at Mandalay Bay with a coupling of treatments called the Experience. Mine consisted of The Black Moor Mud Bath and then a Chocolate Scrub (well, it was Valentines Day).
The spa attendant gave me the tour, showing me all the details, each pool and what temperature they were, each sauna and steam room, where to change and where to wait. So while I waited for my treatment, I relaxed in the hot pool with an icy lemon and cranberry water. At the time of my bath my spa attendant escorted me to my room. I couldn’t wait to climb into that dark bubbling water. The room was private and complete with bottled water on ice, scrubbing mitt and towels. The lighting was dim and so perfectly set up for a deep relaxing soak.
The bath looked hot and had a sweet earthy scent. My spa attendant explained the benefits of the Black Moor Mud. It was a 25-minute soak and the purification of free radical build up was a natural benefit of this bath. My spa attendant offered me a combination of pineapple and cranberry juice and brought me two of them, which I easily drank throughout the course of my soak. I could feel the detox happening. Black Moor Mud also increases microcirculation as your body absorbs the rich minerals and trace elements of this mud. It was heavenly!
Next was the chocolate scrub. Thankfully, it was not a sweet-smelling chocolate experience. Instead this rich and rough scrub with a deep cocoa scent was massaged gently over my entire body. The effect was intoxicating. My massage therapist knew exactly how much pressure to use so that it was effective but not painful.
My skin felt amazing after the Experience. I stayed for a bit to relax with chilled cucumbers on my eyes in the dry sauna. I really could have stayed all day.
Tags : beauty, black moor mud, chocolate scrub, massage, spa treatments
My husband Brandon had to go to Vegas this weekend for Project/Magic so since it was Valentine’s weekend we decided I should tag along.
My motive was not only to spend time with hubby when he wasn’t in meetings but also to try as many spas and treatments as I could in the short time that I would be there. We drove in Sunday afternoon, had a bite to eat, he went to a meeting and I went to the spa. We stayed at Aria in the city center, so there began my Spa Treatment Adventure. I was on a Spa mission and I am now a huge Vegas Lover as long as there is a spa involved.
After Aria on Sunday night, I began Monday morning at the Bathhouse at The Hotel Mandalay Bay, then off to Vdara for a mani/pedi, with champagne, and then to finish off at QUA Baths and Spa at Ceasers Palace.
Stay tuned to the next few blogs where you’ll hear the sweet smelling details from each one of these splendid spas.
No frills, YES! Amazing massage, YES!
Would I recommend it? YES!
Why? Because it’s all about the massage at this spa.
If you like traditional shiatsu massage then THIS is your place.
If you don’t mind wearing disposable boxer shorts paired with an oversize white t-shirt branding Beverly Hills then THIS is your place.
If you love a deep tissue, get all the knots out, even the ones you didn’t know you had, kind of massage then THIS is your place.
The space itself is about to be renovated and I agree a facelift will make it more inviting. But there’s something about a hidden treasure like this that lets you look beyond the décor and feel grateful for their expertise in what they do.
45 minutes $60
They also gave me a punch card so after 10 you get 1 free.
And they validate parking.
Today I decided my hair could use a deep penetrating conditioning treatment.
Instead of going to a salon I went to Le Spa at the Sofitel Hotel. 
I’m familiar with this spa because they use and retail Carita Hair and Skin care products.
I was the Hair and Treatment Specialist for Carita for a few years so I know the products and the spa well.
This hair treatment is called Pure Tranquility and that says it all.
Arrive early so you can enjoy tea in the relaxation room. This is one of my favorite parts because it’s cozy and relaxing and gets you in the right frame of mind for your treatment.
When ready, the therapist will escort you to your room. Already relaxed you’ll climb into the cozy massage bed ready for your treatment.
Pure Tranquility involves an acupressure massage while the Fluid de Beaute and the Nutri-Repairing Mask soak into your hair.
Not only do I love the extra neck massage but I also love the added hand and arm massage.
After the treatment your therapist will take you to the steam room where again you will relax with your hair wrapped in a cap to hold in all that moisturizing goodness, allowing it to penetrate into the hair even more. After this treatment, my hair was soft and shiny. It was exactly what I was looking for
This treatment is a perfect add on treatment. So if you decide to check it out give yourself something extra and add it on to a massage or facial.
$90 tip included 
My good friend and client Paula Miranda has a blog called Paulisms. It includes fashion, food and of course Paulaisms. She asked me for an ism a while back when I owned Steam Salon. Beauty is my focus and it came out in my ism. Check it out on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKjJZgihl4k
What is an ism? Check out her blog at http://paulaisms.com/.
Of course my first treatment to blog about is my very own, “Steam Treatment”. A luxuriating yet beneficial hair and scalp treatment you can do at home. This treatment should be done at least 2x a week. The perfect time is before you go to sleep so your hair and scalp can soak it up. It is not a greasy oily mess, think of it like lotion for your hair. When you massage the oils into your scalp and hair they will penetrate. It feels soothing like that awesome feeling when the lotion is soaking in. I love it! I often coat myself with lotions, oils and creams. Especially in this dry LA weather.
The step by step can be found on my website. It’s a short video with explanations, but if you have any questions you can always email me at info@steamcreamsandoils.com
A soothing tip for you; the Steam scalp and hair oils are great for dry cuticles and hands. So after massaging into your scalp and hair try working the rest into your hands and nails.
Hi Everyone, I’m Carla, the creator of The Steam Healthy Hair System. In developing this line of nutritious hair oils and supplements I’ve experienced a lot of hair and body treatments. In my blog I’ll be sharing my journey through LA and beyond, trying out some of the best treatments to be found. Some will be at the salon or spa, some will be at-home treatments. My passion is Beauty. And one of the best ways to tap into your own unique and natural beauty is to pamper and nourish yourself. So join me on my quest and we’ll all be Beautiful together.
