Have You Ever Been to a Spa Party?
Recently on my television show, we set the scene for a spa party. Where most parties are about turning up the energy, a spa party is all about dialing it down. It’s a really great idea for a bridal shower, a teen party, or a girlfriends’ get-together. A spa party could be entirely a do-it-yourself event with homemade treatments that you and your guests perform on each other, or you could hire professionals to service your guests. At our party, Susan Ciminelli, owner of the Susan Ciminelli Day Spa and Salon in Manhattan, brought a team to pamper us and to teach us about skin care. Sara Carey, the editor-in-chief of Everyday Food, shared a delicious shrimp Caesar salad recipe from our new cookbook, Everyday Food: Light. And my makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg demonstrated how to apply a full makeup routine in under five minutes! To find out what makeup she used, click here. To find out more about how to throw a spa party, click here.
1 Doesn't the audience look relaxed dressed in their comfy cotton robes, which were a gift from Cotton Palace? They're the exact same ones you'll find at the best hotels and spas. http://www.cottonpalace.com/401test.html
2 And don't you love their soothing gel eye masks? These are from Dream Essentials and they make a great party favor! http://www.dreamessentials.com/product-37/solace-gel-soothing-eye-mask
3 We turned the potting shed on set into a little spa. Susan Ciminelli, from the Susan Ciminelli Spa and Salon in NYC, brought her team to pamper our party guests, who were actually members of our studio audience.
4 Here I am getting a hand massage from Susan Ciminelli while sipping a carrot, ginger, and grapefruit juice. Healthy juices are so easy to make if you have a juice extractor. There are delicious recipes in the Feb. issue of Whole Living Magazine.
5 Joey Kola joined the party and waited for a massage while Katy Carter soaked her feet in chamomile bath in preparation for a soothing reflexology session. Katy loved her beet and apple juice.
6 Meanwhile, Mila Yelnikova gave Ali Carter an aromatherapy facial, which is very relaxing. It gets the blood flowing, increases circulation, helps balance the body's energy, helps the body heal itself, and helps to unblock blockages.
7 Joey still waiting!
8 Katy and Ali's mother, Lisa Carter, relaxed while Marina Polyakova preformed reflexology. Different points in your feet affect different parts of your body. For example, you can work the foot to miraculously cure a shoulder problem!
9 Funny Joey laughing it up with Katy - I don't think he minded waiting one bit!
10 At long last, Joey was given an expert massage from Susan Ciminelli.
11 Joey was in heaven! Susan's spa http://www.susanciminelli.com/ offers several different kinds of massage and many at 30, 60, or 90-minute intervals.
12 The audience then turned their attention to the crafting area, where...
13 I'm taught Ali and Lisa how to make bath fizzies, a combination of citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch, which, when combined with water, fizzes up. http://www.marthastewart.com/271871/bath-fizzies
14 The powdery mixture is scented, tinted, slightly moistened, and pressed into ice-cube trays, where they dry at room temperature. Gently pop out the cubes and store them in glass jars.
15 Mila and Marina looked on with great interest.
16 Here we are mixing. Ali made lemon fizzies, I chose lavender, and Lisa wanted peppermint. The scent is obtained from essential oils. The tint from a bit of food coloring.
17 Thumbs up for Joey's massage!
18 Now here we are gently removing the cubes from the silicone ice cube trays.
19 We prepared these jars of bath fizzies for Lisa, Ali, and Katy to take home and enjoy.
20 A lovely portrait - Ali, Lisa, me, and Katy
21 The audience really enjoyed that segment!
22 To help demonstrate how to care for one's skin, we pulled audience member, Meredith Bailey Wynne. Susan began by washing Meredith's face with a milk cleanser, never soap! Soap dries out the skin.
23 Also, just as soap scum builds up in the bathtub, it will also build up on your skin.
24 Susan also made a mask by mixing plain full-fat yogurt with honey and some crushed up bee pollen, which she applied to Meredith's face.
25 The lactic acid in milk softens the skin and honey, a humectant, attracts moisture from the air to the skin. Honey also naturally kills bacteria. This mask is very soothing and can be used one or two times a week.
26 Kisha Pippins-Fields and Sara Harris showing off their moisturizing gloves
27 Jamie Stuiso – tres chic in her shower cap
28 Karine and Rafael Mendez
29 Karine Mendez's shower cap looks just like a cupcake!
30 My makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg, demonstrated how to apply professional looking makeup in just five minutes. You can watch that video, as it's posted below.
Watch Daisy's Five Minute Makeup Routine here:
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
wondering what brands of makeup were used in the 5 minute makeup segment. Are they listed on the site anywhere?
Thanks,
Elaine in Sonoma CA
Posted by: Elaine Garcia | January 27th, 2012 at 1:19 am
Great show on Hallmark Channel where audience were so lucky with all gifts. You do look lovley.
Posted by: ann | January 27th, 2012 at 2:59 am
You looked very relaxed on the spa show Martha! How lucky are Lisa, Katy and Ali lucky to get such pampering! Most women think they are too busy taking care of their families, working ect..to take time for themselves, or they feel guilty! Thanks for helping change that mindset Martha! I'm with Joey, I need a massage!
For Elaine, at the top in Martha's intro there is a place where she talks about the makeup segment and says to "click here" to find out what products Daisy used.
Posted by: Cindy F | January 27th, 2012 at 10:03 am
Hi Martha, Thanks so much for this fascinating blog post today! I have never been to a spa or a spa party in my life. I grew up with three brothers and who knows why my mother never taught me anything about using beauty products. I was teased by others in school and didn't use lipstick until I was in high school. After I graduated, I quit using it and still don't now. I find this blog and your photos beautiful! Your audience looked so lovely and it would have been fun to be there! You looked fantastic and Joey was absolutely charming! Hope you have a terrific day and weekend! Off to see The Daily Wag with Francesca talking to your beautiful kitties! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 27th, 2012 at 10:11 am
Martha,
Yes, I've been to a spa party before. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | January 27th, 2012 at 10:23 am
"Hello Beautiful"
I have a mobile spa business.Been doing parties for over 25 years. My husband is in latter stages of his illness. I am now reconstructing my business. It was so encouraging to find out you are promoting Spa Parties. I do workplace Spa's also. I am going to use your ideas to further enhance an already successful Spa Escape.I teach people how to Spa at home. I also have a team of women that also do what I do. I help train them. So much fun. Not a "real job" Getaway Spa's are great, but not everyone has the time or $$$. Love you for your awesome creativity. I want to be just like you when I grow up. Ha ! If you know anyone who wants to be a Spa consultant have them contact me.
With admiration & respect
Bea Ann Garcia
Executive Director
Image & Spa consultant
visit me on line http://www.beautipage.com/pampermebea
pampermebeautiful@q.com
Posted by: Bea Ann Garcia | January 27th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Ooh, love the idea of a spa party! I may use this idea for a close get-together with friends. And the nice thing is it doesn't have to be really extravagant or posh to still be relaxing!
Posted by: Naomi A. | January 27th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Yes, i have had and been to many spa parties, but we call them Jafra cosmetic parties, we have skin care, make up, body care, and lots of great great products. i have used Jafra for 35 yrs, when nothing else would work for my young skin, Jafra did, and i have loved everything about Jafra since then, i am a consultant, and party goer and giver, Love people loving Jafra
Posted by: sandra | January 27th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Hi, Martha,
That was fun and so appropriate to lift the spirits in dreary weather! When I asked my grown daughter about make-up, style, and fashion, her response was: "Make the effort!" Too often we go out of the house (to run errands, work, play, etc.) and don't even wear the barest of make-up, earrings, etc., and just look dull, dull, dull like we just don't care! It's important that we care about ourselves...and others will, too!
Posted by: Bobbie | January 28th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Hi Martha, So, is Daisey Schwarzberg the answer to you looking so beautiful all the time??? Love seeing all that stuff. Great show. Thanks.
Posted by: Julia | February 2nd, 2012 at 11:28 am
Loved this segment. Thanks for sharing easy, home-made spa ideas that we can do in the comfort of our own home!
Jenny
Posted by: Jennifer Kim | February 21st, 2012 at 2:50 am