George Brown College - Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics - Part 1 - Facials

View of the boutique area and reception at the
George Brown College Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics

Recently the Spa Travellers visited the George Brown College Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics for student facials and what an educational and fun evening we had!

The school is a bright and modern state of the art facility, offering courses in esthetics, makeup and nails. They are located in the heart of Yorkville, in Toronto, and operate a charming boutique at street level with the classrooms and treatment rooms located on the lower level.   Depending on what module the students are studying in a particular session, treatments are available to the public, at a very reasonable cost. The treatments are given by the senior level students under the supervision of their instructor. 

Our adventure started when we phoned the school to inquire what was currently being offered;we were told facials, body treatments and pedicures.  So of course we wasted no time booking appointments for all three.

The tone of the school is very upbeat and friendly.  We filled out forms, listing any particular concerns and problems, then we were greeted by our students and their instructor, changed into a terry towel top and were ushered into the treatment room.  The room was very spacious and inviting with lovely soothing music playing in the background.  The instructor went over with us any medical concerns in a very thorough fashion to ensure that the products and treatment we would receive would not interfere with any medical protocols or potential allergies.

The treatment began with a pre-cleanse and then a cleanse done with a very gentle massage of the face and neck area.  Then came steaming, an ozone treatment, a made in heaven massage of the shoulders, neck and face that was one the best I have every had, following was a mask, then application of treatment products to various parts of the face.

The School uses the Dermalogica line of products, which is a very advanced line of products available globally at finer spas. Dermalogica has developed Face Mapping® skin analysis. Face Mapping® analysis is the process of analyzing the skin, zone-by-zone, to diagnose skin condition and prescribe subsequent products for optimum results. This can only be done by estheticians trained in this technique.

Dermalogica product display at the school

Our student estheticians were the very lovely Melissa and Theresa, who were friendly, gracious and extremely professional.  We learned after the treatment that this session was their debut!  We certainly would never have guessed from the confident and professional treatment that we had.

The boutique is stocked with a wide selection of products, Dermalogica as pictured above, Sothys Paris, Paul and Joe, LALicious and Barefoot Venus, plus Essie and Creative nail polish.  As an added bonus, when receiving a beauty treatment, you receive 20% off all product purchases.

Barefoot Venus Lip Fables

We picked up this body butter from LaLicious (review to follow).  The Island Guava scent is the most incredible scent. You want to spoon it up right from the jar. It actually says "Do Not Eat" on the label!

More body products from LaLicious.

Another made in heaven product the Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub.

The school is located very close to Pusateri's, so there was nothing for it but to stop in for tea and cake to end our evening.

We had a great time at the School. The facial treatments were first class as were the products used.  To our readers, we would really recommend having a student treatment from a beauty school in your area. If you are on a budget, and who isn't these days, you can still treat yourself to a little luxury and well-deserved down time.

Casa Acoreana at Kensington Market - Toronto

The Spa Travellers recently went to the Portuguese owned shop, Case Acoreana.  This is a locally owned and operated shop which has been in business since 1962 in the heart of Kensington Market in downtown Toronto.  They only accept cash so be sure you break open your piggy bank before coming.  It is not much to see from the outside but it was hopping inside with customers shopping for good deals.  The walls were covered from floor to ceiling with all kinds of spices, coffee, candy and anything else you would normally find in a bulk food store.

The intention was to buy tea, which we did but we could not resist some of the other goodies surrounding the place.  We tried their Steel Cut Oats, which we heard so much about.

On top of our list was tea from the Metropolitan Tea Company which is served at the Drake Hotel. 

Casa Acoreana claims to have the best Earl Grey tea around which is served at Carol's Cheescake in Yorkville.  We came to try green sencha tea with the scent of rose and cherry and I also wanted the Blood Orange tea.  Both had scents which sent us to heaven.  We also bought Rooibos Orange blend, which is a herbal tisane from Africa.

We want to show you some of their coffee display.
 

To the right is some of their many loose leaf tea jars.
 

If you have a sweet tooth, you will not be disappointed!





 
As we went to have our items weighed, we were greeted with friendly customer service which made us understand why they are so popular.
 

We will be back again. We encourage you to buy bulk in your local community.

Until we sip again...

Please Support Relief for Haiti

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and now the country has been almost destroyed by an earthquake.  Around the world people are rallying to help through telethons, special concerts, direct donations. Today at my workplace our manager who is an amazing baker brought in two very large containers of cookies and sold them to raise money for the Red Cross.  Within no time the cookies had vanished and a tidy sum had been raised to donate to the Haiti relief.

By clicking on the picture in the sidebar you will be taken directly to a Red Cross site where you can make an online donation.  Even $5.00 or $10.00 will add up in the long run.

To all our blogging friends, please add this widget to your template. It is available from Blogger Buzz as a widget and can be added to your template just by clicking and saving it into your template.

Help is coming to Haiti from around the world, but it is going to take a long time to rebuild, so every donation counts.

Thank you, spa readers!

Reflexology - An Overview

Dana giving reflexology treatment to Anna.

If the eyes are the window of the soul, then the feet must be the doorways to one's overall health and well being.  Reflexology is a relatively new healing modality, as it has more or less evolved into being in the mid twentieth century.  Its roots are derived from acupuncture which dates back roughly to 2500 B.C. in China.

In essence, the feet are mapped out to connect to different organs and systems within the body.  It is believed that by massaging, kneading, stroking and putting pressure on different points on the soles of the feet and toes that the practitioner can aid in releasing tension, toxins and to some degree sickness from the body.  It can also help the mind relax and create balance to systems in the body that are either under or overactive.  






A summary of the body's systems that are worked on are as follows:  nervous system, glandular system, sinuses, eyes and ears, muscular skeletal, respiratory, excretory system, digestive systems, lymphatic systems, and the circulatory system.

What will usually happen when you come for a treatment with a reflexologist is the practitioner will likely have you sit down across from them, or perhaps lie down and have you remove your shoes and socks.  They will then spray your feet with a cleansing and deodorizing spray which contains alcohol, essential oils and witch hazel.

After this, they will begin to apply gentle but firm pressure on the different pressure points that connect to different areas in the body.  As the patient, you may feel some minimal pressure on these points but often there will be one or two or more areas that the pressure is more sharp or painful. The therapist may also feel an area that is a bit uneven or built up.  They will take note of these areas, perhaps ask a few questions about your health history or diet and exercise patterns to find out more about what is going on.  They will return to some of the troubled areas once they've been through all the systems and work on them a little more until some of the pressure and tenderness subsides.  They may also give you a few suggestions to help improve the health in these areas.





You can get a reflexology treatment from a student at the Institute of Aromatherapy for $35.00 or $45.00 for a treatment with an advanced graduate student.

Information provided by Dana McGlynn, B.A.
Student at the Institute of Aromatherapy
You can make an appointment by calling 416-698-5850
Dana is available for appointments on Saturdays in the Toronto Beach area

If you would like to read more about reflexology, we suggest the following:

Stories the Feet Can Tell (1938) and Stories Feet Have Told (1945) published by Eunic Ingham

Reflex Zone Therapy of the Feet (1974) published by Hanne Marquardt

Reflexology Today - The Stimulation of the Body's Healing Forces Through Foot Massage published by Doreen Bayly

Tea Series: Chinese Tea Pots and Porcelain

There is one further consideration to be made when drinking a fine cup of tea and that is the tea pot and cup and saucer which you drink from.  Throughout all parts of Asia, several distinct styles developed.  I would like to introduce you to a few traditional tea pot styles and talk about the porcelain the Chinese are famous for. 

Below is a picture of our tea samples in class along with a gaiwan, which is a small, lidded cup and saucer used to brew loose leaf tea as a taste testing sampler.  Once brewed, there is a little cup stored inside which is taken out and used to drink the tea which has been poured off.  The tea leaves stay behind in the gaiwan.  This is still used in China today.

Yixing Teapot

Made from Zi Sha clay, found in the hilly southern area of the Yixian region.  The Yixing teapot is unique in that the inside is never glazed.  Each time the teapot is used, it absorbs some of the oil from the tea leaves.  These tea pots are meant for only one type of tea for each teapot.  The idea is that the more you use it, the less tea you will need.   The more expensive ones are signed by the artist and are usually red or brown in colour.   Perfect for Oolong teas.

 Would you recognize the style of a Japanese Tea Pot as seen below?  This style is also popular in Korea. They are distinguished by a right, long handled pot.  This tea pot is meant for brewing Japanese Sencha tea.

Very popular today is the cast iron tea pots which are perfect for keeping your tea hot, but be careful using with a delicate tea as the water can be too hot which is not good for some tea leaves.  If using with a delicate tea, pour water from the kettle that has been cooled slightly.  As a general rule, tea does not need to be brewed longer than three minutes.

Remember, when pouring a cup of tea for a guest, it is bad Feng Shui to point the spout towards your visitor.  The spout sends out hostile energy and can create misunderstandings and quarrels in relationships.  Also, never serve tea or coffee in chipped cups or serve drinks in chipped glasses.  The Chinese believe that chips and cracks cause bad luck in business.

Before airline jets, clipper cargo ships were used to export tea and porcelain to the Dutch, Spain, Singapore, South East Asia and other Europeon markets. Tea was originally sold to Europeans in clay vessels sealed with wax which were porous and contributed to loss in transport. Merchants changed packaging to wooden chests and finally to porcelain storage jars which increased tea sales as Europeans bought tea solely for the containers. The vases were made to emulate a female figure. Even back then, packaging was everything. The blue and white (mei piing) porcelain tea jars and five colour (wu cal) porcelain tea jars were sought after.

The Chinese blue and white porcelain is one of the all time famous creations which is blue colbalt under clear and glossy glaze. Occasionally they were octagonal shaped and some had gold gilt on the rims. These collections come in many designs and might include pagodas, river landscapes, houses, garden settings, European scenes, ducks, full moons, berries, gords, vines, various tendrils, deers, leaves, birds and lotus flowers. Most popular to the European trade was the famous "willow pattern".

Marine diver's search for shipwrecks looking to find time capsules on the ocean floor.  For the modern day collector, there is some opportunity to purchase pottery made during the Chinese Dynasties from these newly discovered treasures.  To view some ancient porcelain, check out the website below.

http://www.gotheborg.com/

Until next time we sip....

Elizabeth Grant - Skin Care Line

Elizabeth Grant's humble beginnings as a product developer started after the Battle of Britian during World War II in London, England when due to an unfortunate circumstance, one side of her face and neck were hit by the shrapnel of a bomb. This caused her to have devastating scarring which put a damper on her career as a well known make-up artist in downtown London, England. Due to the high personal embarrassment of being in the fashion industry with face scarring, she temporarily stepped back from  her career and it was during this time that she found a solution for her skin problems.  She eventually came across a doctor who gave her a salve which contained a type of sea kelp to help heal her face.  She discovered incredible results after using this remedy and found the courage to return to work.

The developer and spokesperson for these fine products is therefore an unexpected English grandmother who described herself as "Having a light bulb go off in her head" one day when a client gave her a compliment on her skin (This was after her scarring was repaired.) and this is what gave her the idea to develop the remedy into what is a leading skin care product which is now available internationally.

In order to have good make-up, you need to have solid skin care. This is a product line I have been purchasing off the Canadian Shopping Channel for about four years now and I can truly say that no other product on the market today makes me happier. I particularly enjoy the Biocollasis line of products.   She also has a line with caviar, vitamin C and Biocollasis with Gold, to name a few. If you have a problem spot, chances are she carries a product to solve just about any skin issue. Below is a look at her luxurious day and night creams.

The primary ingredient in each of her products is a seaweed from the ocean floor called Torricelumn which is harvested several times a year.  Not only does it keep my skin incredibly moisturized but it also keeps my skin brighter.  I have no crow's feet (now that I am fresh out of my 30s) and it keeps my complexion free of blemishes at the same time. I am also an avid fan because the product line contains no perfumes which I usually find irritating when it comes to skin creams.  I also prefer her cleansers and toners over any other brand.  She describes them as treatments and not just cleansers.  I can advise you that the product does deliver and I feel as if I have lost my best friend whenever I let supplies run out.

I look at Elizabeth as a successful and stylish woman who has an astounding life and career. When she comes on the air, she brings special packages for sale to "all her girls", which is how she affectionately addresses each of her very loyal customers.  Even though she is well into her eighties, she speaks passionately about her products.  I am proud to say that I am one of her girls.

I am happy to share a link to her website below and hope that you will one day give her products a try as I know you will not be disappointed.  Thank you Elizabeth Grant! I would like to wish you a very happy birthday on January 27th as I know you will be in Toronto during that time.  I love your products!

http://elizabethgrant.com/store/home.php?cat=306

This post is dedicated to Ms Grant and our new English blogger friends including Grace London, Miss Worthy, Miss Chevious, British Beauty Blog and Helen & Sheenie. We enjoy reading your posts and learn a lot from all of you.

Toronto Spa Series - The Old Mill Inn and Spa

The Old Mill Inn - Winter Scene

Front View with Waterfall

If you mention The Old Mill Inn and Spa to most Torontonians, probably the first thing that will come to mind is weddings.  The history of the building and the beautiful setting make it a romantic site for weddings and gatherings of all kinds.  The Inn is located on the shore of the Humber River, which was a meeting place and portage route for Native Canadians.  The current building is built on the site of the original mill which dates back to the late 1700's, when it functioned as an actual lumber mill.

View of the Humber River

After a series of fires the Old Mill was rebuilt and the The Old Mill and Spa today combines a luxury hotel, restaurants, banquet rooms, a wedding chapel, terrace and gardens, and a modern fully equipped spa facility.

What is particularly special about The Spa at the Old Mill is the beautiful tranquil setting and the old world ambiance.  It is just a short subway ride away from the city centre in the west side of Toronto.  When you arrive at the Spa you feel like you could be at an inn in a tiny European hamlet from another century.  

During the crazy rush of pre-Christmas preparations, I decided to take some time out and have a massage at The Spa.  The luxury and pampering begin the minute you step through the door.  Everything about The Spa exudes charm, from the friendly staff that greet you when you enter, the beautiful antique decor, to the delightful "Quiet Room" where you can sit and unwind before your treatment.  I was shown into a bright modern change room which was equipped with modern lockers,operated by convenient safety codes, so no need to fumble with locks or keys.  After slipping into a wonderfully soft plushy robe and slippers, I waited for my treatment in the Quiet Room and sipped on a cup of tea served in a beautiful china cup and saucer and nibbled on bite-size chocolate biscotti.  There was a wide selection of teas to choose from, along with lemon water and cucumber water and fruit.  The relaxation had begun!!

 

Quiet Room

My massage therapist came to greet me, on time to the minute, and ushered me into a lovely room furnished in an antique style that seemed more like a small sitting room than a clinical massage room, with beautiful antique wallpaper and even a fireplace.  Before starting, she took the time to ask me questions about the type of work I did, if I had any particular muscular stiffness and what areas I would like her to concentrate on.  My right shoulder and arm were very sore from too much time spent on the computer and overuse of my mouse, and so she concentrated on that area, getting out every kink and ache that had been bothering me.    

After the massage ended, I finished off my treatment with a short sauna in the small sauna located in the change room, followed by a refreshing shower that was fitted with an overhead "rainforest" shower and dual body jets, a hydrotherapy massage bonus. The room was well stocked with towels, shower and shampoo products and a hair dryer. 

 

The Spa offers a wide range of body treatments, hot stone massage, customized facials, aromatherapy, reflexology  and reiki and manicure and pedicures.  Although it is a luxury setting, the prices are affordable and even having a small treatment would make a great break.

I can highly recommend The Spa at the Old Mill.  Just taking a couple of hours for time out in such a special setting was like having a mini getaway and did a lot to relax and renew my energy at a busy time of the year.

For anyone planning a trip to Toronto I would encourage you to book time into your holiday to visit this beautiful historic site, enjoy lunch or high tea and enjoy some first-class pampering at The Spa at The Old Mill.

 

Winter Scene at The Old Mill Inn and Spa

Best Beauty Discoveries of 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS!

2009 was a year for a lot of new spa experiences and discovering some very exciting beauty lines and products, so in no particular order, here they are.  I will be reviewing some of them in greater detail in posts to come.

1.  Experiencing an authentic Hammam in Morrocco. The ultimate exotic experience.  An ancient beauty ritual of steaming and exfoliating the skin.  Discovering the amazing exfoliating properties of Moroccan black soap and scrubbing gloves.  

2.   Going to Blue Mountain Resort in the early Fall to the Scandinave Spa.  It was incredibly relaxing soaking in the outdoor pools and enjoying the Fall colours against a backdrop of a bright blue sky.  The weather was still warm enough to sit outside in the sunshine and going between the different heated pools was beyond bliss.  After the hot pools, having a nutritious lunch overlooking the pools and a relaxing massage.  A wonderful outdoor spa experience.

3.  Visiting the new Murale beauty product store for the first time.  So many hard too find brands of make-up, perfume, skin care and body products all under one roof.  A candy store for the beauty product lover.

4.   Having my make-up done with the NARS Fall collection at Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale and then going with friends to have our make-up done at the Bay with a visiting NARS rep.  NARS products are amazing, the colours are beautiful and most importantly their reps and customer service is hands down, the best.  A visit to a NARS counter is a fun experience.

5.  Being introduced to a myriad of wonderful lines at Sephora.  Korres make-up primer, Juice Beauty tinted foundation, Serge Lutens perfumes, the list goes on.

6.  Urban Decay, 24/7 pencils.  The texture is soft and goes on like velvet.  The range of colours is extensive. Urban Decay is vegan friendly and not tested on animals.

7.  Argan Oil for face and hair.  I had the good fortune of visiting an Argan oil cooperative in southwestern Morocco.  The Berber women produce the oil using traditional and very labour intensive methods. Even purchasing the oil directly from the cooperatives is still expensive as Argan oil is a costly and precious commodity. A little of the oil goes a long way.  It can be used on the face, the body and hair to moisturize and renew.  A rare and incredible product.

Beladi, Women's Argan Oil Collective, Essouiria, Morocco

8.  Discovering Julie Hewitt's Noir collection lipsticks.  A line of vintage red lipsticks, you can't just buy one, you will want to have them all.  Film Noir is a sheer all purpose red, good for all occasions.

9.  Diving deeper into the wonderful world of perfumery, through blogs like the Perfume Posse and Perfume Shrine, discovering L'Artisan, Serge Lutens, Andy Tauer and Amouage.  Although Oud was the fragrance du jour of 2009, I will always love Gardenia.

10.  Nuxe Paris, a wonderful line formulated using pure plants and essential oils. A historic line ahead of its time.  I will be writing lots and lots on this wonderful line in my Winter Moisturizing series.

11. Chantecaille Aromacologie products, a beautifully formulated luxury skincare line. Launched this Fall at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.  The products are formulated with rose and other essential oils.  The Nano Gold Energizing Cream actually contains particles of 24-karet gold.

 
12.  Having fun with all the new colours, sparkle and glitter in the world of nail polish.  Nail art is alive and well, the more bling the better, and yes Zoya was the original "3 free". Can't wait for the China Glaze re-launch of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz this Spring and Up Up and Away.

13.  Paul and Joe Make-up.  The packaging is just too adorable and retro.  You feel like you are in a scene from a 1940's movie, applying your make-up in a stylish ladies lounge while Humphrey Bogart waits at the bar.  Great discovery to find it for sale in Toronto at the George Brown School of Make Up and Esthetics.

14.  The George Brown Yorkville School of Make Up and Esthetics.  A teaching school with a small store filled with amazing hard to find, niche lines, including Paul and Joe AND budget priced treatments done by senior students.

MORE TO COME...

Although they are not yet available in North America, reading about the Illamasqua and Rouge Bunny Rouge make-up lines on the British blog sites, they both look like wonderful lines.  I can hardly wait until they are available in North America.  For now, North Americans will have to make do with on-line shopping.  Illamasqua is available on-line from Sephora U.S. and Rouge Bunny Rouge from Zuneta.com based in the U.K.

Lipstick Queen Lipsticks.  Although available in the U.S., Unfortunately they are not for sale on-line to Canada, however there are a few exclusive stores that carry them in Canada.  The Spa Travellers will shortly be going on a small shopping spree and will report back.  Stay tuned.

Wishing each and every one of you a very healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous 2010.

PEACE.