Tuesday 30 June 2009

WESTERN LOIRE - SPAS FOR YUMMY MUMMIES AND SO MUCH MORE



If you love pristine beaches of fine yellow sand, gourmet food, fine wine and world-class spas then the Western Loire is a perfect destination if you want to splash out on a romantic weekend. Its also great for budget family holidays – eating out doesn’t need to be expensive – the area is also known for its crêpes and local cidre.

And its quick and easy to get to, particularly from the UK as the low-cost airlines fly to Nante.

The Western Loire is just below Brittany and has miles of unspolit coastline with ancient fishing ports such as Piriac-sur-Mer, Le Croisic and the mediaeval fortified town of Guérande, in the heart of ancient salt marshes. A unique local landmark of this area are the “carrelets” pictured below –the huts on stilts in the seabed which are dotted along the coast and still used for fishing.



Fortunately the region is not yet on the radar of the holiday hoards so you you can still listen to the sound of the ocean and breathe in the fresh salty air in relative peace!

The salt marshes and wetlands around Guérand, for example, are protected and of great ornithalogical interest as they provide a refuge for many migrating species flying between Europe and Africa. There are guides at the Salt Museum who can take you through the marshes and point out the wildlife which you might otherwise miss.

The superior quality of the local salt which has unique minerals is why it is known as “white gold” and also the reason this region is has world-class thalassotherapy treatments – where seawater is the main rejuvenating ingredient.

One of the other delightful aspects is that they actively encourage family participation in spa rituals. Many have dedicated babycare to give parents a break, programmes for new fathers to interact with babies and special programmes for young mothers.

This is all in addition to fitness programmes, weight loss, smoking cessation, physiotherapy, beauty, and cosmetic treatments which can be tailored to individual requirements with all the benefits of the latest techniques combined with the special properties of seawater. And there are always other activities such as golf and horse-riding nearby.

At the traditional fishing village of Pornic is the Alliance Pornic Resort Hotel & Thalassotherapy Centre. This is in a quiet and intimate setting next to the beach on the edge of a small village. The rooms are bright and light - designed for relaxing and most have sea views and balconies. You can also walk from your room to the thalassotherapy area. The restaurant, La Source, is designed like a ship and overlooks the large bay.

The spa is state-of-the art with a seawater indoor pool that is heated to 30oC. There is an aquatic trail with Jacuzzi, jet streams, cascade showers, bubble baths and bubble beds, a steam room, men and women’s saunas, a fitness and gym room.


The spa has an exceptional menu of treatments that span European, Asian and Oriental traditions. As well as slimming and cellulite programmes. Surprisingly the resort only has three stars but it more like a five star.

The food here is excellent and you can walk off any excess by rambling along the nearby cliffs and beaches.

In La Baule, the Royal-Thalasso is a very different kind of hotel and spa experience. It is one of those really grande 19th century resort hotels, with red carpets, cabinets of glamorous clothes and jewellery and a top-hatted doorman.





Here you are in the centre of town, minutes from the beach and right next to the casino if you want to indulge.

The Spa again is impressive catering for parents who want to destress – they have male and female nannies for children. The area and care dedicated to the younger ones is phenomenal.

This is a great luxury hotel but it doesn’t stint on the family stuff.
From the moment of arrival, younger guests are given special attention with their very own welcome gift. In the room, they will find specially created bathroom amenities and, they also have their own menus at the restaurant and with room service. The hotel also has a Baby Club for smaller guests of 10 weeks to 5 years which is open daily

Other activities such as horse-riding, watersports, tennis and hiking are also available. And if you fancy a quick spin round the town …you can always hire a “Segway” from the local tourist office. You can ride the pavements and terrorize the locals on this two wheeled electric transport device.

Don’t miss:
* Restaurant Le Beau Rivage, Pornic – local fish specialities, overlooking the beach. www.restaurant-beaurivage.com
* The mediaeval town of Guérande which overlooks the ancient salt marshes – the Pays Blanc and the Pays Noir are where peat can be found. For more than 1000 years the salt-panners have fashioned the mosaic of clay and water into a unique ecological site.
* Visit the Salt Museum at Terre de Sel Pradel and buy the Guérande Gros Sel and Fleur de Sel – the salts prized by top chefs.
* Crêperie La Salorge, Saille T +33 (0)2 4014 4419 – traditional creperie (sweet and savory)serving the local cidre;
Restaurant Le Gulf Stream, Plage Le Baule - brilliant food and wine! T: 33 (0)2 40 24 48 07 www.legulfstream.com

Factfile:

France Information Line: 09068 244 123 www.franceguide.com
Easyjet flies from London Stansted/Luton to Nantes Bookings at www.easyjet.com/
Pornic Resort Hotel Thalasso, Pornic T: 33 (0)2 40 64 01 80 www.thalassopornic.com
Royal-Thalasso Barrière, La Baule Reservations: + 33 (0)825 826 016 www.lucienbarriere.com
La Baule Tourist Office T + 33 (0)2 40243499

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Sunday 28 June 2009

NEW GENERATION ANTI-AGING TECHNOLOGY FROM MEDIK8

Medik8, is the brand name for a collection of innovative skin products created by UK scientist Elliot Isaacs.

Originally the range begin with several core products aimed at people with worrying skin conditions such as rosacea. But the range recently added some new serious anti-aging products with optimum concentrations of all the major ingredients proven to help skin rejuvenation, packed so that they do not loose their potency and at fairly decent prices compared to bother cosmeceuticals on the market.

Isaacs knows his skin/ingredient science in depth - he is a graduate of
The University of Leeds - Pharmacology and Physiology Department. With nearly 10 years experience in cosmeceutical formulation, he was recently honoured with the prestigious Grade A Membership of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists.


Elliot has witnessed all the recent trends in anti-aging skincare including the rush for Retin-A® in his father's chemist shop when he was a small boy. This planted the seed early-on for developing a scientific skincare brand.

In the late 1990’s his sister began to develop a skin redness that would not go away. One skin cream she used appeared to contain the right anti-inflammatory actives but paradoxically seemed to be causing more irritation than it calmed. So he turned his own hand to making a product which turned out be and still is Medik* bestselling product Red Alert® in 2004.

The new range is available through expert doctor and other skin professionals but you can view online at the new website www.medik8.co.uk/



We particularly like the new Vitamin C serums C-Tetra (3%) and CE Tetra (7%) for stimulating collagen. The serum sinks into the skin immediately, leaving it softer looking immediately...CE Tetra which is aimed the older lady or man costs £60 (30ml). This product is unique as no other company offers Terahexadecyl Ascorbate in serum form and at such concentrations.

Use with the Hyra 8 moisturiser £49 (50ml:



Other new products include a great ani-cellulite cream £34 (90ml)


Also new is the Retinal 40 Boost Concentrate - a highly concentratedserum which you add to the Hydra8 Moisturiser - £75 (5ml.

Tuesday 23 June 2009

DISCOVER SPIEZIA NATURAL ORGANICS FROM CORNWALL


Made in Cornwall and the passion of lovely Amanda Barlow (pictured), Spiezia, is a range of organic beauty products all made with care for the environment. The essential oils are extracted by cold pressing - so a very little goes a long way.

In particular the rose oil which is pressed from the finest rose buds from an organic farm in Iraq....and everything is bottled in recycled glass made locally.



Find out more on Amanda's website www.spieziaorganics.com

Thursday 18 June 2009

Dr Elisabeth Dancey creates the Bijoux Medi-Spa London's Belgravia


Bijoux, a jewel of a mini-spa opened last week in Belgravia. Created by Dr Elisabeth Dancey it offers high-tech anti-ageing treatments as well as holistic and organic treatments.

Only a stone's throw from master milliner Philip Treacy and the fab Italian restaurant Mimmo & Ischia, Bijoux is both discreet and welcoming. At the front is a beauty shop with exclusive organic face and body products from Spiezia (more about Spiezia in my next blog) and anti-ageing mineral make-up guru Susan Posnick, cosmeceuticals from SkinCeuticals, Dermaceutic, Mene and Moy.


"I wanted to create a unique and individual beauty experience for clients who want to enhance their looks thanks to the latest cosmeceuticals and offer a holistic, organic range of body treatments to achieve total well-being," says Elisabeth.

We recommend Vavelta - the live cell treatment for ageing, scarred and damaged skin and Dermaroller - this exciting little medical device created by a German metallurgist gives results equal to a fraxelated laser without the pain, expense and downtime!


Bijoux is at 149 Ebury Street London SW1W 9QN
T: + 44 (0)20 7730 0765
www.bijoux-medispa.co.uk
www.elisabethdancey.co.uk

Thursday 4 June 2009

MINERAL MAKE-UP: Susan Posnick's new collection




At ELIXIR we love mineral make-up. It sits on the skin beautifully without highlighting large pores and wrinkles. One of the best brands is by international celebrity make-up artist Susan Posnick.

Susan is passionate about her brand and insists that it contains the highest-quality minerals and the highest concentration of them.

The star-product in her collection is COLORFLO, a mineral-based, light-diffusing, SPF26 foundation (pictured above) in powder form that brightens the skin and makes beauty simple.

This self-dispensing, portable and refillable brush contains highly pigmented iron oxides, plus Vitamins A and E, providing beautiful, natural coverage. Micronized Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide provide the most powerful and natural sun protection available, SPF26.

The luxurious, natural goat hairs in the brush are considered to be the best fibres by make-up artists and help provide a flawless finish. Simple to apply, COLORFLO covers like a liquid or cream foundation, with the smooth finish of a powder. COLORFLO is sweat proof, water resistant, and gently floats on the skin, creating a radiant glow without looking shiny.

Light diffusing particles help soften fine lines and create a virtually invisible finish. COLORFLO is available in 13 shades – including a perfect shimmer and bronzer; shades to suit Asian skins and pinker tones for English rose complexions. The skin-loving minerals will not clog your pores or irritate sensitive skin; in fact, the ingredients are so gentle you can apply COLORFLO immediately after all skin treatments, including Microdermabrasion, to cover redness. Simply, CLICK. DUST. GO – refills are available which means you can change shade to suit the season!

COLORFLO retails for £39.95 in the UK with the refil costing £21.95

The range is available from premium salons and spas nationwide and all products are also available via mail order.

Look out for her new lipstick range which gives you moist sexy lips in colours which suit almost everyone - and they come with a magnetic cap so you won't loose it!

Stockist enquiries: 020 8997 8541 www.skinbrands.co.uk