Stellar Spa Blog & Buzz

Treat Yourself

For your convenience, we at Stellar Spa invite you to purchase spa products online, book your services online, and purchase gift certificates online.  Our enhanced virtual presence is an extension of our world-class services, with easier access to our natural, organic, and sustainable products.  Treat yourself, because you deserve nothing less!  Find us at www.stellarspa.com 

Introducing, Paul, an Experienced Esthetician

Stellar Spa introduces Paul, a new addition to our 5-Star skincare team.  Paul is an Experienced Esthetician with more than 13 years in the day spa industry.  His specialties include: treating acne, anti-aging, advanced knowledge of product ingredients, and skin-therapy treatments.  "I thoroughly love what I do, and that shows in all of my treatments!" His first experience at a luxury day spa, drew his curiosity into the realm of helping people attain peace, relaxation, and beauty.

Stellar Spa’s Seawater Negative Ion Inhalation Treatment Room Combines the Therapeutic Effects of the Sea with the Healing Benefits of Massage

“Vitamins in the air’ is how many people refer to the beneficial effects of negative ions. Studies over the past 50 years have shown that a high concentration of negative ions creates an overall calming and clearing effect on the mind and body, leaving you refreshed and restored. Seawater Negative Ion Inhalation Therapy is one of the unique alternative health services Stellar Spa offers their clientele. Patrons have the option of scheduling their massage treatment in the Seawater Negative Ion Inhalation Therapy Room in order to maximize their results. To enjoy the benefits of negative ion inhalation, clients need only to request this special room when scheduling their massage treatment.

via www.stellarspablog.com

Mother’s Day Self-Indulgence Package

 Mother’s Day

 Self-Indulgence Package

 Indulge Mom with a two-hour spa vacation that begins with a deliciously scented Avocado & Melon scrub for her back and feet that will warm her overworked muscles leaving her skin soft, smooth and hydrated, then one full hour of Swedish massage to erase any signs of stress.

 Mom will continue her pampering journey with a nourishing Organic Red Rose facial, a soothing Cucumber Eye Gel Mask and a nourishing Advanced Vitamin C Hand Treatment to leave her hands hydrated and brightened.

 As a finale, we’ll spoil her with a special Mother’s Day gift bag filled with a selection of delightful skin, bath & body care products to continue her soothing experience at home.

 Ahhhh … relax, rejuvenate and unwind!

This package can only be booked by calling Stellar Spa at 415-924-7300.  It cannot be booked online.  It's available from May 1^st, through May 31^st, 2013.

(Two-Hour & 15-Minutes | $235.00)

Hot Stones And Winter Renewal

Take the pressure and anxiety out of the holiday season and treat yourself to our special Winter Renewal Hot Stone Package. Your two-hour relaxation escape begins with a soothing Hot Stone Massage customized with your choice from one of our pure essential oil blends. You will relax and drift back to a special moment or occasion as the heat of the stones penetrates deep into the layers of your muscles and the pleasant aromatic scent engulfs you.

We’ll then leave your skin looking soft and radiant as we treat you to our super-intensive Nutrient-Rich Pumpkin & Orange Organic Facial, a Soothing Cucumber Eye Gel Mask, and a refreshing Peppermint Mocha Foot Scrub. As a finale, we’ll send you home with the remaining oil at sessions end to continue your relaxation and soak away the holiday stress.

Share the experience with a friend or treat yourself to a winter season gift. This special package is available December 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 (Two-Hours | $230.00)

On Display for Holiday Shopping ~ Vanessa Gade And Margo Zucker Jewelry

Stellar Spa is proud to carry the works of two notable local jewelry designers, Margo Zucker and Vanessa Gade.  Each bring to bear their unique style, from incorporating unusual or rare stones, vintage pieces, sterling silver and 14k gold to perfectly balanced geometric structures that still maintain an element of movement with an elegant interplay of angles and curves.

We invite you to view the jewelry collections on display at the Stellar Spa boutique.

About the Artists:

Margo Zucker Jewelry Collection

After twenty-one years as a successful graphic designer in San Francisco, Margo Zucker left her corporate design career to pursue a passion for designing and producing jewelry. Using only the finest freshwater pearls and semiprecious stones combined with sterling silver and gold fill or vermeil, Margo creates unique, elegant and contemporary jewelry. Her inspiration comes from the gemstones and pearls themselves as well as the colors and textures found in nature.

By incorporating unusual or rare stones, found objects or by juxtaposing rough-cut stones with softer stones or pearls, Margo's jewelry expresses a unique point of view. She enjoys creating custom pieces for clients and most of her work is one of a kind. All of Margo's jewelry is made by hand in her studio in Marin County, California.

Vanessa Gade Jewelry Design 

Bold, kinetic and sculptural with an elegant interplay of angles and curves, Vanessa Gade's jewelry makes a contemporary statement balanced with a timeless wear-ability. The diverse urban landscape of San Francisco provides the ideal creative backdrop for Vanessa's work and can be seen in the architectural qualities of her jewelry designs. The structural nature of her pieces is gracefully countered by a fluidity and movement influenced by her love of the ocean and her youth along the beaches of Southern California.

She describes her work as contemporary, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic reminiscent of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Particular pieces have been inspired by everything from art deco architecture, ikebana flower arrangements, suspension bridges and even criss crossing power lines. Her designs tend toward an asymmetrical pattern encased within a perfect circle, evident in her debut Inner Circle collection first launched in 2007, which now has become her signature line. She enjoys the challenge of creating a perfectly balanced  geometric structure that still maintains an element of movement, all the while utilizing the negative space as an integral part of the design.

Stellar's Anti-Aging Skin Care Series For Glowing Holiday Skin ~ Crystal Free Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion Essential or Triple-Peel Facial Treatments

Slough off summer skin and get ready for fall and winter festivities with 10% off a series of three Crystal Free Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion Essential or Triple Peel Facial Treatments.

As an added bonus, receive a complimentary Enzyme Hand Peel treatment that will help lighten pigmentation, repair sun damage, and gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin, with all Crystal-Free Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion or Triple Peel treatments received in November.

Safe for all skin types, this non-invasive skin-resurfacing treatment, developed for the medical and spa industries, utilizes cutting-edge technology to safely and effectively address skin issues such as sun damage, uneven skin tone, acne, rosacea, skin discoloration, and overall age-management, with no down time. Using a three-phase system of ultrasonic waves, this advanced crystal-free microdermabrasion treatment is gentle enough for sensitive skin and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, firm and tighten slackened skin, lighten pigmentation, and improve clarity, tone and texture. Each treatment begins with exfoliation, resurfacing and intensive deep pore cleansing followed by nutrient and vitamin penetration and ending with rejuvenation, healing, firming and nourishing. Read more about these advanced skin care treatments.

Get ready to glow!!!

Available November 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012

New Nutrient-Rich and Ultra-Hydrating Fall Seasonal Services

Nutrient-Rich Pumpkin & Orange Organic Facial

This nutrient-rich facial is filled with active levels of vitamins A, B, C, D & E, carotene, and antioxidants. It's been designed to feed the skin with the necessary nutrients and hydration needed to regenerate and nourish from the summer months. Your complexion is further enhanced with a natural enzyme exfoliation process, while extractions deeply clean pores, leaving your skin refreshed and revitalized.

This treatment includes massage of the face, neck and shoulders and a complimentary soothing eye treatment to help relive tired, puffy eyes and the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. Available beginning October 1, 2012. 60-minutes | $120.00

Ultra-Hydrating Coconut & Cranberry Body Scrub

Tapping nature's bounty, this ultra-hydrating and resurfacing full body scrub combines a tantalizing blend of organic sugar cane, cranberry seeds, coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, and vitamin E to exfoliate and nourish your skin, leaving it flawless, deeply moisturized and exotically scented.

As a finale, a full body application of our delicious shea butter body cream adds to the nourishment and hydration your skin will receive. Available beginning October 1, 2012. 60-minutes | $110.00

Massage Spotlight: Deep Tissue vs Firm Swedish - What Is The Difference?

So, you want to schedule a "deep" massage but aren’t sure what the difference is between massage styles. Scheduling the correct massage style to address your concerns and symptoms is of the utmost importance to ensure your therapist understands what you seeking to address and so that you receive the most benefit out of your massage session.

Swedish Massage is a classic spa-style massage which promotes general relaxation, improves circulation, and relieves muscle tension. It can be performed with light, medium to firm pressure. Swedish massage is the most requested type of massage and is typically the basis for most massage therapists. This massage style uses long, rhythmic strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the superficial layers of muscles, and may include passive or active joint movements to encourage further relaxation and muscle relief. A firm Swedish style means just what it says: a full‑body relaxation massage with a firm touch. However, it is not as technical as a deep tissue massage style.

Deep Tissue Massage has a different goal from a Swedish massage. The intent of a deep tissue massage is to release precise muscles or muscle groups from chronic holding patterns resulting from injury, fatigue or stress, and increase the range of motion in those muscles. It also aims to release underlying connective tissue to realign structural imbalances by working deeper into the muscle and tissue. When chronic tension is released, muscles return to their aligned position, and bones fall to the correct posture. Deep tissue massage works very specifically and will be tailored to your specific needs.

There are several massage styles which are considered "deep tissue" including: myofascial release, cross-fiber friction, and trigger point work. These massage styles may produce some temporary muscle discomfort or soreness afterwards. Techniques used during your massage session may include a combination of hands, fingers, thumbs, forearms, elbows and stretches. Please remember, it is your massage session. Communicating your preferences and tolerances to your massage therapist will help produce the best results and provide the most relief for you.

 

Waxing Tips! How To Remedy Ingrown Hairs And Bumps After Waxing

Exfoliating is the key! When you wax, you are removing the hair from the follicle. When the hair grows back (in about 2-5 weeks) it may get trapped under the skin, potentially causing ingrown hairs and bumps. By exfoliating, you are removing dead skin cells and allowing the hair to re-grow without causing ingrowns or irritation.

The skin is more sensitive to the sun after waxing services. We recommend waiting 3 to 5 days after you have waxed to hit the sun. So plan ahead if you are going on vacation or spending time in the yard and remember to apply sunscreen throughout the day!

At our spa boutique, you’ll find several exfoliating body scrubs and accessories such as our ayate cloth, nylon loofah, and body brush. We also carry two unique products to specifically help with ingrown hairs and irritation caused from waxing. Ask your Esthetician for more details.