Dry brushing for beautiful skin

Merben Sisal Body Brush (also available without handle)

It takes only minutes a day, but its results are long lasting.

Dry brushing the skin improves the circulation, and stimulates the lymphatic system to more effectively remove toxins. Over time, this can improve the immune response and help us keep healthy. Dry brushing also delays skin aging.  As we age, our bodies become less effective in shedding outer layers of dead skin cells. This build-up of dead skin can result in a thick, dry and somewhat leathery look, particularly on the back of the arms. The act of brushing removes older, keratinized skin cells, and encourages the skin's basal layer to produce more fresh, new cells. In this sense, dry brushing is rejuvenating. In addition to exfoliating this outer layer, dry skin brushing also stimulates the sweat and oil glands, helping to keep the skin more moist. It also helps keep young skin fresh, vibrant and free of breakouts. Some women say that regular, daily brushing can help control cellulite.

As well as exfoliating the outer layer of the skin, dry skin brushing also stimulates the sweat and oil glands, more effectively removing toxins and allowing the skin to better retain needed moisture. It can also help keep young skin fresh, vibrant and free of breakouts.

When dry brushing your skin, it is important to use the right brush. A back-scrubbing bath and shower brush is not as effective as a natural fibre brush designed especially for dry brushing.

Most people choose to dry brush right before their shower or bath. When beginning to dry brush, you should leave a couple of days in between brushings. You can then work up to three or four times weekly, or even every day if you choose.

How to dry brush effectively

1. Beginning with your feet, moving in gentle circular motions, moving towards the heart. Some people prefer to brush in longer, more sweeping strokes towards the heart, so experiment to see what feels best to you. You might prefer to do long, sweeping strokes on the arms and legs, and smaller circular motions everywhere else. Begin with the soles of the feet, and then the insteps.

2. Brush each leg, one at a time, first the back of the leg, then over the derrière. Move the brush to the front of the leg and repeat, up to your groin. If you have very delicate skin on the inner thighs, use a lighter touch and fewer brushings.

3. Now, you'll dry brush the hands and arms, again one at a time, starting with the palms and back of the hands and moving up both sides of the wrist, forearm, and upper arm. Pay particular attention to the back of the upper arms, which often have rough, dry skin that requires more attention.

4. Next, dry brush your back, from the shoulders down to the waist, one side at a time. Now move to the front of the trunk and, beginning at the groin, gently work upwards to the neck, being very careful of the nipples.

5. Shower or bath as usual.

Tips for better brushing

■ Avoid sensitive areas like the face and neck. Most dry brushes are too rough for fine, sensitive skin.

■ Use a brush designed for the purpose of dry brushing the bikini line to help prevent ingrown hairs. Spa Utopia carries the Merben Bikini Brush—with soft jute bristles that won't cause irritation.

Merben Bikini Brush

 

■ Dry brushing in the shower, with the water turned off, is a good idea to prevent skin cells from landing all over your bathroom! When you're finished, simply shower off.

■ Brush for a total of 3 - 5 minutes.

And for a change of pace...

Don't forget our wonderful Spa Utopia Body Scrub & Polish! This gentle body exfoliator will leave your skin feeling silky smooth and touchable. (So get working on your skin today to be super soft for Valentine's Day!)

The natural pumice in this formula gently sloughs off dead skin cells to reveal fresh new skin underneath, while Moor Mud hydrates and detoxifies, leaving you fresh and moisturized. Hemp Seed Oil in the formulation further protects your skin from dryness, leaving it silky and comfortable.

Spa Utopia Body Scrub & Polish

Spa Utopia introduces Bella Contour

As featured in InStyle magazine

Non-surgical body contouring—also known as body sculpting—has become increasingly popular in recent years. It allows a person to smoothe cellulite, reduce pregnancy fat, enjoy tighter skin and achieve smaller body circumferences, without diet or exercise and without invasive surgical techniques like liposuction.

You can trust Spa Utopia to bring you the very latest treatments to help you reach your ideal body shape. But first, we must be sure that the treatments we offer are both comfortable, safe and effective.

This is why we have been watching the Bella Contour non-invasive cellulite and fat reduction treatment system very closely... and are now making this exciting new service available to you.

Bella Contour offers the ultimate body contouring experience—non-invasive, painless circumference reduction that delivers real, measurable results from the first session!

One thing that none of us can achieve through diet and exercise alone is losing fat inches where we need to. But now this is possible. Safe and painless Bella Contour technology and body contouring allows you to target stubborn fat below the neck, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks and thighs. So women can say goodbye to unsightly muffin tops and men to love handles and excess fat deposits on the pectoral (breast) area, as well as diminish annoying fatty tissue elsewhere on the body. Even better, say thousands of happy Bella Contour customers, is the fact that skin texture is significantly enhanced, and the orange-peel texture of cellulite greatly reduced.

This client achieved a 5cm loss in body circumference
after just five sessions.

So how exactly does this impressive reduction treatment work?

Bella Contour employs three distinct technologies to help you achieve targeted fat loss: resonant ultrasound, interferential (electric field) therapy and vacuum massage. The treatment stimulates fat cells, causing them to release fatty acids which are then removed from the body as part of the natural metabolism. This mimics the natural physiological processes that occur during exercise. The difference is, the Bella Contour targets specific zones, allowing you to choose where you lose inches. The procedure is completely painless and the device FDA and CE approved. Best of all, it has been shown to achieve a reduction in body circumference of at least 4cm in 92 per cent of clients, with recorded losses of up to 16 cm.

The Bella Contour

We at Spa Utopia are so sure you will be thrilled with your results, that we guarantee them. Financing is available through Medicard, on approved credit. You can read more about Bella Contour here (and link to Medicard if you wish).

And...

Be sure to watch for our eBlast the morning of Tuesday, January 17, for our special introductory offer:

Introductory Bella Contour session regular cost $375 (before taxes)

Special pricing $150 (before taxes)

(a savings of 60%).

This offer is only available for a limited time.

James Riyad wins Davine's 2012 World Wide Hair Tour

CONGRATULATIONS to Spa Utopia Langley Salon Director, James Riyad, on placing FIRST in the 2012 Davine's World Wide Hair Tour. You can read more about James' participation in the competition here and in this article in the Langley Times. (Article was published just prior to James' win.) Well done, James. We're so proud of you!

Guest referral program rewards both—or all—of you!

If there's one thing we're truly grateful for, it's the way YOU, our loyal guests, like to "spread the love" about your favourite spa!

So, we'd like to give you a little something in return for those referrals you make to family and friends...

Starting today, for every new guest referred to us by an existing guest, both the new and referring guest will receive $25. to apply to spa treatments or retail products.* You can find our printable referral forms on our website. All you need do is fill your forms in and give them to those you know would love a treatment at Spa Utopia.

Here's an example of how this works:

June knows that her sister and two friends would love to have a Signature Pedicure as they have been admiring her toes over the party season. She prints out three referral forms, fills in her information, and shares these with the proposed guests. All three think this is a great idea, and each books an appointment.

When June's sister and friends arrive for their services, the Guest Services Representative confirms they are new guests, then ensures they receive a $25 credit. Within 30 days of each new referral's spa appointment, June receives an e-mail coupon for $25, and enjoys a total of $75. in Spa Utopia credits for recommending three new guests. (What's not to love?)

We look forward to helping you share good times—and exemplary spa services— with those you care about, very soon!

* Some conditions apply. Please see referral form.