At most luxury spas, they select the brands for your treatment. When you do your own spa experience, you get to choose the products you like the best.
You have read Part I: How to Make An At Home SPA Experience Awesome!
Part II gives you suggestions about spa-style luxury, budget, and organic/natural products I’ve tried, tested, and reviewed for a spa experience or anytime!
SET A RELAXING MOOD
Scented candles are a traditional way to set a relaxing mood. One of my favorites is the exotic, sensual, Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche Perfumed Candle ($63 )
It’s an oriental amber-centric blend of vanilla, patchouli and musk along with exotic resins of benzoin and labdanum and a hint florals. The fragrance is spicy and intoxicating.
Close your eyes — imagine you’re in being pampered in an exotic locale! Visit https://us.annickgoutal.com
When you have little ones or pets, a flameless candle is a safety option, such as these elegant ivory (genuine wax) candles by Solare. These have 3-d moving “flames” that simulate the real thing, subtly flickering and changing in color and hue.
Flameless candles like these by Solare are available in all sorts of sizes, colors and even specialty items. Another bonus is that you can set these on a 4-hour timer. These require 2 C batteries (not included).
For additional ambiance, add a scented diffuser, a bowl of potpourri, or a lovely room spray. Visit http://www.shopflipo.com
SOAKING OR SHOWERING DELIGHTS!
Luxury Spa Products From a Spa! Phytomer and PhytoOcenane are authentic luxury spa brands not just used in spas and luxury cruise ships, but at Phytomer’s own spa in Saint-Malo, France.
These luxurious and effective products are marine-botanical-centric also with cutting edge technology to produce effective and pampering products that are a pleasure to use at home, as well.
The Advice Sisters have reviewed so many Phytomer & PhytOceane products I suggest you check out the search box (at the top of this page) to find all our reviews.
New PhytoOceane Fresh Cleansing Foam ($31.50), Two Sands Creamy Scrub ($39.50) with Jania (moisturizing red coral, volcanic sand from North America and thin white sand from Polynesia).and Moisturizing Fusion Cream ($56) (a facial moisturizer with seaweed RubiMarin “Gem of the Sea”) can be a nice part of your spa experience.
Reducing cellulite is a challenge, so for your body there’s a new Phytomer product called ResurfaSlim Peel and Slim Cream ($99) with actives of glycolic, lactic and citric acids + marine AHAs (Porphyra-Conchocélis) to resurface skin, and Pepper Slimactiv (pink pepper oil), plus GMR – Global Marine Reshaper that reshapes tissues to tone the skin structure.
This new product is also packed with skin-improving Antioxidants, Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Shea Butter help brighten, firm and moisturize in one application. Since it resurfaces skin, don’t forget to use sunscreen daily while using this product. Visit https://www.lespausa.com/
Vegan and Luxurious! SPARitual products are both luxurious and vegan. From their many collections, I chose the SPARitual Limited Edition Passionfruit Agave collection that smells slightly fruity, slightly floral.
Made with 95-99% certified nature derived certified organic ingredients you’ve got your luxe and vegan/organic body choices covered.
Blue agave soothes and nourishes while certified organic goji berry plumps skin with rich amino acids. Antioxidant-rich organic pomegranate leaves skin with a glow.
Try the Nourishing Sugar Scrub ($50 ), Exfoliating Cleansing Oil ($25), Nourishing Oil for Body + Hair($42), and for moisturization, a Body Soufflé ($34.). All have the same amazing fragrance to soothe and pamper you. Visit http://www.SPARitual.com
Kniepp has been making high quality natural aromatic oils and elixirs since 1891. They’re about balance: mind, body and spirit so perfect for spa experiences.
Try the Relaxing Lavender Shower Foam ($16) with essential oils (and it’s vegan).
Kniepp has tons of aromatic bath salts, but I liked the Mineral Bath Salt Back Comfort with Devil’s Claw ($20) made with pure thermal spring salt from Europe’s only remaining open pan salt works (it’s great for sore muscles). A 20-minute tub soak really renews!
After bath or shower, hydrate your skin with one of Kneipp’s many Body Oils ($20 each). I picked the Beauty Shape Sandalwood Fruit & Grape Seed Oil (vegan) with nourishing Vitamin E and fatty acids to help firm, smooth and strengthen.Visit https://www.kneipp.com/us_en/products/
There’s such a “cool factor” to the eco-Friendly and luxe products of Indie Lee. They’re very pampering but not obnoxiously over the top expensive.
Test out the brand with Indie Lee Lemongrass Calendula Body Lotion ($22). The very light, liquid-y body lotion in a flip-top tube offers and an instantly hydrating blend of shea butter, calendula oil, and jojoba oil and faintly scented with lemongrass.
It’s also paraben, phthlate, sulfate, fragrance and cruelty free. There’s not a thing I can think of that isn’t faboo about Indee Lee!
There’s a lot more to discover from this boutique line of good for you products visit http://www.http://indielee.com/
Le Petit Marseillais is Beautiful Budget Bath & Body and it’s from FRANCE! This is truly my newest exciting budget beauty find!
I used to bring these lovely bath and body products home from Paris, but now there are f 17 products in Walmart/Target, CVS etc.
There are 8 body and hand moisturizers,2 liquid hand soaps, 6body washes and a bar soap with prices ranging from $3.99-$7.97.
The soft fragrances have been made by top perfumers: Orange Blossom, Lavender Honey, Vanilla Milk, White Peach & Nectarine, and Cotton Milk & Poppy.
My favorite is still the basic 72% extra pur with olive oil cake of bar soap to hydrate But I love them all. Visit https://www.lepetitmarseillais.us/
HELP FOR YOUR HAIR
The Oscar Blandi At-Home SalonGlaze Shine Rinse ($28) is an easy way to re-illuminate your hair color with lots of shine. The ammonia-free glaze treatment only just 3-5 minutes after cleansing and conditioning.
Even better, you can mix it with your everyday conditioner and leave on 1-3 minutes for a shine “boost.
This is a little luxury product that makes a noticeable difference. The 5 oz. bottle will last a long time, too. Get Oscar Blandi at Ulta.com and other fine stores and online sites.
Pureology’s new Clean Volume collection of Shampoo, Conditioner, Instant Levitation Mist and Weightless Mousse(all products under $30) offers a “haute hair” experience with weightless volume and body and is safe for even color treated hair.
The Clean Volume Shampoo and Conditioner really clears out all the dirt, sweat, and styling products but won’t strip your hair of what it needs to stay healthy.
I’ve always liked Pureology’s luxe, vegan, eco-friendly products because they’re sulfate and silicone-free, vegan, have a signature AntiFade Complex to protect color from fading.
Clean Volume is meant for fine, color treated hair but I have thick hair and I loved the extra volume. I also like the aromatherapy benefits from a signature scent of apple, citrus, blackcurrant, jasmine, and cedarwood.
Get yours at a salon selling Pureology or at Ulta, Beauty Brands or Look Fantastic. Visit http://www.pureology.com
Budget Hair Packed With Good Stuff: A big price tag doesn’t impress me. The products have to work!. One budget beauty line that satisfies is 
Shea Moisture with a gazillion budget beauty products and 39 different Shea Moisture Shampoos,
Try the Argan Oil & Almond Milk Smooth & Tame Shampoo (and conditioner) with Marshmallow Root Extract & Cherimaya ($8.99/each) good for fine, straight or wavy hair to silken, hydrate and de-frizz.
Made with natural and certified organic ingredients there are no sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, parabens, petrolatum, ad it’s cruelty-free.
Precious Argan Oil (Liquid Gold) tames frizz. Almond Milk is rich in protein,hydrating vitamins A and E. Marshmallow Root Extract detangles hair and creates a weightless anti-humidity coating.Cherrimaya offers antioxidant protection. This is luxe, for less. Visit https://www.sheamoisture.com
GET A GREAT FACIAL MASK
Facials are a classic spa treatment. Some masks are 5-minute miracles but I’m suggesting two that take 20 minutes. Do yours while soaking in your bath, or during your mani and/or pedi.
The Clear Proof Deep Cleansing Charcoal Mask ($24) by Mary Kay is great for Summer featuring charcoal to unclog pores, absorb excess oil, reduce shine, help keep skin clear.
Soothing honeysuckle and navy bean, and rosemary and peppermint extracts offer aromatherapy and feel gently cooling. as you leave the gray mask on 10-20 minutes.
Rinse off, follow with your favorite moisturizer. If you tend to break out from products in Summer, this is your face-saving mask! Visit https://www.marykay.com
The Savannah Bee White Hibiscus * Royal Jelly Facial Mask Infuser ($29) is so eco-friendly, this all natural 20-minute mask can be put into it’s re-sealable pouch and re-used up to 5 times.
I’ll call it eco-friendly natural budget beauty at just $6 per use! This product is a powerhouse of hydrating and anti-aging ingredients including White Hibiscus to firm, antioxidant Pulp of Baobab Fruit, Honey to soften and keep skin hydrated and Royal Jelly for natural moisturization and smoothing properties.
Good for all skin types, this is a real find! Visit: https://savannahbee.com
PAMPER YOUR HANDS AND FEET
One of my favorite products from Mary Kay isn’t one product, but a trio: the Mary Kay White Satin Hands Pampering Set ($36) but for a spa experience try White Tea & Citrus version *use our search box to find several reviews of this fab set.
Three products give you what the name implies, silky satiny hands: Satin Hands® Protecting Softener, White Tea & Citrus Satin Smoothie® Refining Shea Scrub and White Tea & Citrus Satin Hands® Nourishing Shea Cream.
This is “off label” but I’ve used it on my feet too. Just be sure to rinse it off thoroughly (wear socks or slippers when you moisturize the bottoms of your feet).
The light fresh scent of the green tea and citrus that I’m suggesting for your spa experience is uplifting but subtle, There’s an unscented version and other fragrance if you prefer.. Visit https://www.marykay.com
Luxury and Vegan Mani/Pedis can be extra fun with Dip Into Pretty’s Pedi Spacers and Nail Polish Set ($15.99)
You get re-use-able, cute, silicone toe separators (my sample had pink flowers) matching three different polish colors (mine was “Passionately Pink”).
The formula is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor-free,
I think it covers all the bases for luxury and for vegan, don’t you? I found mine on Amazon.
For Budget Beauty look no further than the Essence Cosmetics Out of Space Stories Nail Polish collection (less than $3).It looks luxe, featuring shimmery, holographic and glitter formulas.
When I tested these polishes, they lasted a lot longer than some of their pricier sisters and I was really happy about that!
I like “Outta Space is the Place” (2nd from left) a ladylike cream with a hint of pink, and “Beam Me Up!” a shimmery pink to enhance a tan or perk up pale skin. Visit https://essencemakeup.com/
NOURISH AND PAMPER YOUR INNER BEAUTY
Using Beauty products on your skin is pampering, but you need to take care of your inner well-being too.Gluten-free Vitafusion gummy vitamins are fun to eat as well as full of good for your body.
I use Vitafusion’s Gorgeous Hair, Skin & Nails. It has 5000 mcg Biotin; 90 mg Vitamin C and 60 IU Vitamin E) and plus a host of other daily vitamins. I compared these to other leading adult women’s gummies and Vitafusion had more nutrients so I switched!
For better sleep, try the cherry flavored Beauty Sleep with 3 mg of Melatonin, and 400 IU Vitamin D to support bone, teeth, muscle and immune health. Relaxed Mood (200 mg L-Theanine) helps me keep calm, with 1.5 mg of Zinc. and a yummy mango flavor. When I need it, delicious “peach tea” Everyday Energy gummies 40 mg caffeine from green tea, 100 mg L-Theanine. B-vitamins,and 100mg CoQ10) get me going again. Prices range from $6 to $15 per bottle depending upon size and type. Visit http://www.gummyvites.com/en/vitafusion
